The Catholic School Leaders Podcast
Leadership in a Catholic school can be a challenging vocation. Whether you are in a current leadership role at your school or are aspiring to be a future leader, this podcast will help you walk with other exceptional leaders from all over the country to grow Catholic education for the next generation.
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Pastor-Principal Partnerships: One Mission, One Team
<p>Episode Title: Pastor + Principal Partnerships: One Mission, One Team<br>Host: John Mihalyo<br>Guests: Julie Capirchio (Principal) + Fr. Gregory Stowe (Pastor)</p><p><br>Summary</p><p>Julie and Fr. Stowe share what a healthy pastor–principal partnership really looks like: shared mission, constant communication, honest disagreement behind closed doors, and a united front in public. They explain how parish and school can function as one community, why “no surprises” matters, and how trust is built over time—especially through hard seasons.</p><p><br>Key Takeaways</p>One campus, one mission: parish + school thrive when they act as one b...
Creating a Strong Leadership Team in Your Catholic School
<p>The Catholic School Leaders Podcast<br>Host: John Mihalyo</p><p>Guest: Dr. Trevor Timmerberg, Assistant Superintendent, Archdiocese of Louisville</p><p>Episode Overview</p><p>Being a principal can be a lonely job. In this episode, John and Dr. Trevor Timmerberg unpack how a strong, healthy leadership team helps you lead with clarity, build trust, and move your school forward—without carrying everything on your own.</p><p><br>What You’ll Learn</p>Mission-driven vs. maintenance-driven leadership teamsHow to choose the right people (not just the right positions)The right team size and meeting lengthHow to prevent “meetin...
Is Your Catholic School the Next Indiana University Football Team?
<p>Episode Summary</p><p>In this episode of the Catholic School Leaders Podcast, John uses the turnaround of Indiana University football to challenge Catholic school leaders to rethink what’s possible for their schools.</p><p><br>Indiana went from an afterthought to a national champion because leadership refused to accept average. Catholic schools can experience the same kind of transformation—when culture, expectations, and people are aligned.</p><p><br>Key Takeaways</p>Every turnaround starts with “no more.” Stop accepting excuses and lowering expectations.Culture comes before results. Strong schools expect excellence—they don’t just hope for it.Peopl...
Why Visibility, Collaboration, and Clarity Matter in Catholic Schools
<p>The Catholic School Leaders Podcast<br>Host: John Mihalyo</p><p>Guest: Sarah Schneider, Associate Director of Enrollment, Catholic Schools Center of Excellence (CSCOE)</p><p><br>Episode Summary</p><p>In this episode, John sits down with Sarah from the Catholic Schools Center of Excellence in Minnesota to discuss how collaboration, visibility, and intentional leadership are driving enrollment growth and strengthening Catholic school communities.</p><p><br>Sarah shares how CSCOE supports 151 Catholic schools across Minnesota through enrollment support, professional development, grants, and shared learning—helping schools avoid isolation and move forward together. The conversation focuses on the re...
From Chaos to Clarity: Creating an Advancement Strategy That Works
<p>The Catholic School Leaders Podcast<br>Host: John Mihalyo<br>Title: From Chaos to Clarity: Creating an Advancement Strategy That Works</p><p><br>Episode Summary</p><p>In this episode, John continues his planning series by focusing on why Catholic schools need a clear advancement game plan—and why advancement is about far more than raising money.</p><p><br>Without a plan, fundraising feels chaotic, rushed, and inconsistent. John explains what happens when schools rely on hope instead of strategy, and how intentional advancement planning builds trust, strengthens donor relationships, and creates long-term sustainability.</p><p><br>Li...
Hope Is Not a Strategy: Why You Need a Game Plan for Enrollment!
<p>Hope Is Not a Strategy: Building a Real Enrollment Game Plan</p><p><br></p><p>Host: John Mihalyo</p><p><br>Episode Summary</p><p>In this episode, John explains why hope, tradition, and “we’ve always done it this way” are not strategies for enrollment growth. Schools that lack a clear game plan end up reacting, scrambling, and relying on luck instead of intentional, data-driven decisions.</p><p>John kicks off a new series focused on building strategic plans for enrollment, advancement, leadership, and culture—starting with enrollment.</p><p><br>Key Topics</p>Why hope is not a st...
Buy It Nice or Buy It Twice: How Smart Schools Think About Money
<p>As Catholic school leaders prepare for budgeting, tuition setting, and planning for the months ahead, many struggle with how to spend money wisely. In this episode, John explores two common extremes: fear-based spending that leads to cutting corners, and undisciplined spending that creates confusion and shortfalls. The answer lies in strategic, mission-driven investment that strengthens schools for the long term.</p><p><br>This episode challenges leaders to move beyond scarcity or carelessness and instead invest with clarity, confidence, and purpose.</p><p><br>Key Takeaways</p>Fear-based spending hurts mission, morale, and growthCheap choices often cost more in...
New Workshop Announcement: The Five Reasons You Keep Missing Your Enrollment Goal
<p>Title: New Workshop Coming December 11th!<br>Host: John Mihalyo</p><p><br>Episode Overview</p><p>In this short episode, John introduces an upcoming free workshop for Catholic school leaders: “The Five Reasons Your School Is Consistently <br>Missing Its Enrollment Goal.” The workshop will be held Thursday, December 11, 2025, at 12 PM EST and will break down the often-overlooked factors behind enrollment shortfalls—and how to correct them before they impact your budget and school stability.</p><p><br>What You’ll Hear About</p>Why enrollment growth is the number one driver of school sustainabilityCommon mistakes that keep schools...
What Black Friday Teaches Us About Recruitment in Catholic Schools
<p>Catholic School Leaders Podcast:What Black Friday Teaches Us About Recruitment in Catholic Schools<br>Host: John Mihalyo</p><p><br>As Black Friday ads start flooding inboxes and stores jump straight into holiday sales, John invites Catholic school leaders to look at what these shopping “mega-events” can teach us about enrollment. From excitement and anticipation to joy and commitment, the emotions shoppers experience on Black Friday mirror what families should feel during your school’s recruitment process.</p><p>In this episode, John unpacks how schools can harness that same energy to build stronger interest, deeper engagement, and meanin...
Your Big Event is Over....Now What?
<p>Catholic School Leaders Podcast<br>Host: John Mihalyo</p><p>In this episode, John talks about an often–overlooked part of fundraising events: what happens after the gala, dinner, or major celebration ends. He walks advancement directors and school leaders through the importance of gathering your team soon after the event to reflect, celebrate, and identify opportunities for improvement.</p><p><br>In This Episode</p>Why every major event needs a post-event auditThe key questions to guide your reflection:What worked—and why?What didn’t work—and why not?What should we keep, stop, or change for next yea...
