MOONSHOT LAB

The business skills your role demands. Built for the leaders running independent schools.

Moonshot Lab is a membership community for independent school heads and aspiring leaders. It was built after conversations with hundreds of heads of school who said the same thing: the business side of this job is something nobody prepared me for. It is expected to come with the role. It rarely does. Moonshot Lab exists to close that gap.

200+

Heads of school interviewed in building the Lab

75+

On-demand coaching sessions — so a busy week never means you fall behind.

9

Expert practitioners you can tap for guidance — included with membership, not billed separately.

All-in

One membership fee. No hidden costs or add-on charges

WHY THIS EXISTS

Independent schools are complex, mission-driven businesses. Moonshot Lab is where leaders build the financial fluency and strategic thinking needed to lead effectively.

Heads of school step into the role with deep expertise in education, culture, and people.

The business side, financial strategy, enrollment modeling, board alignment, and operational efficiency are different kinds of fluency: one that takes time, the right resources, and the right community to build.

Moonshot Lab is where that happens.

WHAT MOONSHOT LAB IS

A working community for school leaders. Not another course to complete.

Moonshot Lab is a membership built around the business of running an independent school. Every month, you get live sessions with expert coaches, peer discussions with other heads, hands-on AI workshops, and a library of tools built specifically for school leaders. It is practical, focused, and designed to fit around the real demands of the job.

01

Expert coaching sessions

Monthly live sessions with coaches and consultants on finance, enrollment, strategy, AI, and operations. Every session is recorded and available on-demand so you never miss a takeaway.

02

Heads Business Strategy Group

A small, confidential peer group for current heads of school. Five to eight leaders meet monthly to work through one focused business topic together. No prep required. Just show up ready to think.

03

AI Lab

A monthly hands-on session to build practical AI fluency. Learn what matters, try real tools, and leave with something you can apply at your school the same week.

04

Advisor access + resource library

Tap nine leading practitioners across finance, enrollment, marketing, and operations at no extra cost. Plus an ever-growing library of frameworks, guides, and templates built for independent schools.

“

Peter's passion for independent schools and their leaders is palpable. The Moonshot Lab experiences I have engaged with thus far have been thoughtful and intentional and designed to empower me to make the best business leadership decisions I can for my school's future.

Brenda Leaks

Head of School, Seattle Girls School

WHO THIS IS FOR

Built for current heads of school and aspiring leaders.

Moonshot Lab is designed primarily for current heads of school who want to sharpen the business side of their leadership. The Individual Membership is the right entry point for aspiring heads who want to build the fluency that will set them apart when the opportunity comes.

You are a current head of school navigating enrollment, revenue, or operational pressure

You want your leadership team aligned around the business model, not just the mission

You are an aspiring head building business fluency before the opportunity arrives

You want peer accountability and expert access, not more content to consume

You are serious about AI and want a structured, practical way to build fluency with peers

WHAT CHANGES WHEN YOU JOIN

What you walk away with each month.

Every month inside Moonshot Lab is structured around practice, not passive learning. You show up, engage with real challenges, and leave with something concrete to apply. Over time, that monthly rhythm is what builds genuine business fluency.

01

Sharper financial and strategic thinking
Every session is grounded in the eight business competencies independent school leaders need most. Finance, enrollment, strategy, operations, and AI.

02

A leadership team that speaks the same language
The school membership gives your full team access, so the business thinking spreads across your organization, not just to the head.

03

Decisions grounded in data, not gut instinct
Tools, frameworks, and advisor access that help you work through real challenges with real rigor, before they become crises.

04

A business model that gets sharper over time
The monthly cadence keeps you returning to the same strategic questions with new information, new peers, and new tools. That repetition is where real clarity builds.

INCLUDED WITH MEMBERSHIP

Nine expert advisors. No extra fees.

The MoonshotOS Advisors are leading practitioners across the competencies that matter most to independent school leaders. Members get access to their expertise directly, as part of their membership, at no additional cost.

Ask questions, get unstuck

Post a challenge in the community and get direct input from advisors who have seen the problem before and know what works in independent schools.

Expert input. No separate fees.

Ask questions, get feedback, and think through challenges with advisors who know independent schools. It's included in your membership, not billed separately.

Mark Crotty
Educators Collaborative

David Hanson

Winthrop & Associates

Hugh Jebson

St. John's Episcopal School

Bridget Johnson
The Deans' Roundtable

Karen McCann McClelland
Sidwell Friends School

Mattingly Messina
Throughline

Brendan Schneider

SchneiderB Media

Ann Marsh Rutledge
SAIS

Kaitlin Windle

Apte

“

In a field where we sometimes keep our best ideas to ourselves, Peter has built a community that encourages collaboration, growth, and the belief that our business model can evolve. Moonshot Lab is a space where I've found practical ways to move strategy forward with my team.

Amy Smucker

Head of School, Proctor Academy

Image

Independent School Strategist

Certified Top Coach™

Host, Independent School Moonshot Podcast

Founder, MoonshotOS

MEET THE FOUNDER

Peter Baron has dedicated his career to helping school leaders thrive.

For more than two decades, Peter has worked alongside independent school heads, admissions directors, and boards to solve complex enrollment and sustainability challenges.

As the founder of MoonshotOS and co-creator of industry-leading resources for independent schools, he brings a rare combination of strategic thinking, practical tools, and deep respect for the work heads of school do every day.

Moonshot Lab is the culmination of those experiences — a place where school leaders can access the systems, language, and support they need to lead with confidence.

MEMBERSHIP

Choose the membership that fits your school.

Whether you are joining as a full school team or as an individual leader, everything is included in your membership fee. No surprise add-ons, no content locked behind higher tiers.

Most popular

SCHOOL

School Membership

Full access for your entire leadership team. The most effective way to build shared business fluency across your school.

$2,500/ year

+Entire team included

+Expert coaching sessions (live + recorded)

+Heads Business Strategy Group

+AI Lab

+Access to all nine MoonshotOS expert advisors

+Premium Access to the Independent School Moonshot Podcast

+Live workshops

+Resource library (frameworks, guides, templates)

+60-minute onboarding and strategy call

INDIVIDUAL

Individual Membership

Designed for aspiring leaders building toward the head role. Full access to all programming.

$1,500/ year

+One person

+Expert coaching sessions (live + recorded)

+Monthly AI Lab

+Access to all nine MoonshotOS expert advisors

+Premium Access to the Independent School Moonshot Podcast

+Live workshops

+Resource library (frameworks, guides, templates)

+60-minute onboarding and strategy call

–Heads Business Strategy Group not included

All programming included. No hidden costs. Cancel anytime.

Looking for something more intensive? If your school needs a full strategic planning process paired with an operating system for execution, the Business Model Retreat or Strategy + SOS may be the better starting point.

READY TO JOIN?

Your school deserves a leader who understands the business behind it.

If the business side of school leadership is something you've been figuring out on your own, you don't have to. Enroll today and your onboarding call is the first step toward building the fluency your role demands.

COMMON QUESTIONS

Frequently asked questions

What is Moonshot Lab?

Moonshot Lab is a membership community for independent school leaders. It combines expert coaching sessions, peer strategy groups, AI workshops, advisor access, and a growing library of tools, all designed specifically for the business of running an independent school.

What is the time commitment?

Most members engage a few hours each month, typically one expert coaching session and one strategy group meeting, plus occasional use of the resource library. Every session is recorded and published to a private member podcast feed, so a busy week never means you miss a takeaway.

How is this different from a conference or a consulting engagement?

Both of those are episodic. Moonshot Lab is ongoing, built around consistent practice and peer accountability. You also get direct access to nine expert advisors as part of your membership, not as a separate billable engagement. The value compounds over time in a way a single event cannot.

I am an aspiring leader, not a current head. Is this the right fit?

Yes. The Individual Membership was built for you. You get full access to expert coaching, the AI Lab, advisor support, live workshops, and the resource library. The one thing reserved for current heads of school is the Heads Business Strategy Group.

Is the Business Model Retreat included in the membership?

No, the Business Model Retreat is a separate, facilitated one-day session for your leadership team and board. It does include a year of Moonshot Lab membership. If you are interested in the Retreat, you can learn more on the Business Model Retreat page or book a discovery call.

Can I learn more before committing?

Yes. You can book a free 30-minute call to walk through what the Lab offers, who gets the most value from it, and what members are working on right now. No pressure, just a real conversation.