Free 6-Lesson Email Course

The Business Skills Every Aspiring Head Needs to Lead with Confidence

Built from interviews with 200+ heads of school. Six focused lessons. Zero cost. Delivered to your inbox over six days.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

200+

HEADS INTERVIEWED

300+

LEADERS ENROLLED

6

FOCUSED LESSONS

Free

ALWAYS

Who This Is For

You've built your craft. Now build the business skills to match.

Most aspiring heads of school get promoted because they're exceptional educators. Then they step into the role and discover something nobody told them: leading a school is also running a business.

Enrollment pressure. Budget constraints. Board dynamics. Competitive positioning. These aren't things you learn in a classroom, and they're rarely taught in traditional leadership prep programs.

This course exists to change that. It gives you a practical foundation in the financial, strategic, and management skills that define great heads of school, before you need them.

Aspiring heads who want to be ready when the opportunity comes

New heads building confidence in the business side of school leadership

Senior administrators considering the move to headship

Leaders who want a clear-eyed view of what the role actually demands

“

“The role of Head of School has drastically evolved over the last decade. Gone are the days of being a master teacher. Every day I'm called upon to think and plan strategically to ensure my school stays ahead of the curve in an ultra-competitive market. Entrepreneurial thinking, data-driven decisions, and mission alignment are just a few of the critical skills I rely on daily.”

Kevin Folan

Head of School, Providence Country Day School

Course Curriculum

Six lessons. One clear path forward.

LESSON 1

📊

Key Stressors

Understand the market and financial pressures independent schools face today, and why effective leadership starts with seeing them clearly.

LESSON 2

🎯

Strategy

Rethink your approach to strategy. Learn how to make tough choices, focus resources on what matters, and align strategy with your school's vision.

LESSON 3

👥

Talent Management

Discover best practices for recruiting and retaining great people, and learn how a talent development model drives school performance.

LESSON 4

💰

Financial Acumen

Identify the critical financial skills every head needs, and build a practical framework for developing the fluency to lead with confidence.

LESSON 5

🚀

Entrepreneurial Mindset

Cultivate your inner entrepreneur to fuel growth. Includes an Entrepreneurial Skills Checklist to help you spot opportunities and drive results.

LESSON 6

⚙️

School Operating System

Learn how to turn a strategic plan into daily action. Discover the operating rhythm that helps great heads focus their team and execute with clarity.

What Heads Are Saying

Business acumen isn't optional. It's the job.

Every head in this space knows it. Here's how some of the best in the sector put it, in their own words.

“An entrepreneurial mindset is core to agility and success. It means incorporating that mindset into program innovation, hiring, community partnerships, enrollment strategies, all of it.”

Rob Phillips

Head of School, Seattle Academy

“As aspiring heads, it's essential to develop strong business skills to handle the complexities of school management. A solid grasp of finance, strategy, and data-driven decisions is key to sustaining and advancing a school's mission.”

Dr. Autumn A. Graves

Head of School, St. Anne's-Belfield School

“School leadership requires entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship. Running an organization takes systems-thinking, data-driven and relationship-building competencies, and fearless confidence in people.”

Kristy Lundstrom

Head of School, Mount Vernon School

“As head of school, it's essential to cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset. It's not just about managing daily operations. It's about spotting new opportunities and taking strategic steps to strengthen your school's position in the market.”

Dr. Dennis G. Chapman

Head of School, The Village School of Naples

What You'll Get

Everything you need. Nothing you don't.

Six focused lessons delivered to your inbox, one each day over six days, each designed to take 15 to 30 minutes.

Practical business management insights distilled from interviews with more than 200 independent school heads.

An Entrepreneurial Skills Checklist to help you spot opportunities and think like a head of school.

A course completion certificate you can add to your professional portfolio.

A clear introduction to the Moonshot Lab community, where you can go deeper at your own pace.

Zero cost, zero commitment. Great leaders shouldn't have to wait for this kind of knowledge.

Peter Baron, Founder of MoonshotOS

Your Instructor

Peter Baron

Founder, MoonshotOS | Certified Top Coach™

I've spent more than 20 years working with independent schools on strategy, sustainability, and growth, across roles at Blackbaud, the Enrollment Management Association, Admissions Quest, and now MoonshotOS.

What I've learned from more than 200 conversations with heads of school is this: the business fundamentals aren't complicated, but nobody teaches them to aspiring leaders. That's what this course is designed to fix.

If you're serious about headship, this is the starting point I wish someone had given me earlier.

200+

HEADS INTERVIEWED

300+

LEADERS ENROLLED

20+

YEARS IN THE SECTOR

From the Course

What leaders are saying after taking the course.

“An invaluable resource for both current and aspiring heads, offering deep insights into the independent school business model. The material is both practical and inspiring. I could not recommend this more highly for anyone looking to become a more innovative and effective leader.”

Pete Moore

Head of School, Oak Hill School

“TLHoS helped me prioritize and craft the right questions. Too often I have the right ideas, but not a clear process for understanding what's important and what critical information needs to be gathered. This course definitely leaves me thinking more clearly about the responsibilities of independent school leadership.”

Kyle Edwards

Head of Learning and Development, Edovu Ventures

“It was an incredible experience and very insightful for a condensed class. Thank you for making me think more out of the box with your prompts!”

J. Andrew Waugh, M.S.Ed., ILC

Independent School Leader

Common Questions

Before you enroll.

Who is this course for?

Aspiring school leaders, new heads, and senior administrators who want a practical grounding in the financial, strategic, and management side of running an independent school.

Is it really free?

Yes, completely. No credit card, no trial period. Six lessons, delivered to your inbox. The course is our way of giving back to the sector and introducing you to what MoonshotOS is all about.

How long does it take?

One lesson per day over six days. Each lesson takes 15 to 30 minutes, including a short homework activity designed to help you apply what you're learning.

Do I need prior experience?

None. The course is designed to introduce you to these skills, whether you're currently in a leadership role or working toward one.

What happens after I finish?

You'll receive a course certificate, and you'll have the option to continue your development inside Moonshot Lab, the MoonshotOS membership community for independent school leaders.

Can I talk to Peter after the course?

Yes. Once you complete the course, you can schedule a 30-minute advisory call to discuss your goals and explore how Moonshot Lab or our other programs might support your path to headship.

Start building the skills today.

Six lessons. Zero cost. The foundation every aspiring head of school deserves.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

Looking for more?

This course is the starting point. If you want to go deeper, Moonshot Lab gives you ongoing access to sessions, tools, and a community of independent school leaders focused on building stronger, more sustainable schools.