Building a Sustainable Hybrid School: Key Strategies for Success

In this episode of the Hybrid School Builders Podcast, host Rebecca Foley provides valuable insights and practical advice on creating and maintaining a sustainable hybrid school. She covers essential topics such as securing a reliable physical location, establishing a robust staffing structure, developing a clear budget, and ensuring market validation. Rebecca emphasizes the importance of proactive planning, effective communication, and realistic goal setting to build a solid, stable foundation for your hybrid school. Throughout the episode, she shares real stories and hard-won lessons to help founders navigate their journey with confidence. Join Rebecca and learn how to build a sustainable hybrid school that reshapes the educational landscape, one community at a time.

00:00 Welcome to the Hybrid School Builders Podcast

00:57 Understanding Sustainability in Hybrid Schools

01:43 Securing a Solid Location

02:08 Building Strong Relationships with Shared Spaces

04:53 Staffing and Infrastructure Essentials

07:40 Budget Planning and Financial Feasibility

09:04 Avoiding Burnout and Leveraging Strengths

12:18 Market Validation and Fundraising

19:19 Creative Solutions for Sustainability

24:59 Final Thoughts and Resources

Understanding Governance vs Operations in Nonprofit Hybrid Schools

In this episode of the Hybrid School Builders Podcast, host Rebecca Foley delves into the often confusing distinction between governance and operations in the context of nonprofit hybrid schools. She explains the roles and responsibilities of the board and staff, and offers practical advice for founders navigating the complexities of setting up a nonprofit organization. Foley also emphasizes the importance of clear bylaws, effective board training, and the need for a sustainable mission to ensure long-term success.

00:00 Welcome to the Hybrid School Builders Podcast

01:02 Understanding Operations and Governance

02:02 The Role of the Founder and the Board

03:24 Navigating Board Governance

05:17 Best Practices for Board and Operations

07:35 Ensuring Clear Roles and Responsibilities

10:33 Appointing and Supporting the Executive Director

13:34 Writing Effective Bylaws

19:05 Final Thoughts and Resources

Organizing for Success: Essential Tips for Hybrid School Founders

In this episode of the Hybrid School Builders Podcast, host Rebecca Foley, a grassroots founder, offers practical organizational tips for establishing and managing a sustainable hybrid school. Rebecca discusses the importance of using a shared drive for document storage, setting up a business email, and maintaining accurate records of financial transactions and employee salaries. She emphasizes the necessity of having a structured approach to filing important documentation, especially for nonprofit organizations. Rebecca also highlights the benefits of planning ahead for salaries and tuition increases to ensure smooth operations and financial health. Tune in for valuable advice on staying organized and building a robust foundation for your hybrid school.

00:00 Welcome to the Hybrid School Builders Podcast

00:56 The Importance of Organization

02:05 Digital Tools for Efficient Management

02:37 Setting Up Business Email and Shared Drives

04:19 Nonprofit Documentation and Shared Drives

06:02 Keeping a Digital Paper Trail

08:37 Planning for Employee Salaries and Raises

11:40 Budget Planning and Tuition Increases

13:46 Final Thoughts on Staying Organized

15:19 Closing Remarks and Resources

Essential Steps to Start Your Hybrid School: Becoming a Business Entity

In this episode of the Hybrid School Builders Podcast, host Rebecca Foley provides a comprehensive guide on the initial steps to start a hybrid school, focusing on becoming a business entity. She explains the process of filing articles of incorporation, obtaining an EIN, and opening a business bank account. Rebecca emphasizes the importance of separating personal and business finances and provides practical advice on managing cash transactions. She also touches on additional requirements for nonprofits, such as setting up a board and filing for 501(c)(3) status. This episode is packed with actionable insights to help new founders navigate the essentials of establishing a sustainable hybrid school.

00:00 Welcome to the Hybrid School Builders Podcast

00:56 Laying the Groundwork: Starting Your Business

01:22 Becoming a Business Entity: The Essentials

04:08 Navigating Nonprofit Status

05:20 Setting Up Your Business Finances

07:31 Final Steps and Additional Paperwork

09:55 Conclusion and Resources

Essential Tips for Securing and Utilizing Facilities for Your Hybrid School In this episode of the Hybrid School Builders Podcast, host Rebecca Foley discusses key steps to establishing and managing a facility for a hybrid school. Rebecca provides practical tips and considerations for creating agreements with shared facilities, such as churches or community centers, emphasizing the importance of clear communication and detailed documentation. She outlines specifics such as identifying access points, setting payment expectations, handling emergencies, and ensuring safety. Rebecca also mentions the development of a comprehensive course to assist founders in navigating these processes. Listeners are encouraged to reach out for further support and resources. 00:00 Welcome to the Hybrid School Builders Podcast 00:52 Laying the Groundwork for Your Hybrid School 02:00 Introducing the Upcoming Course 02:44 Finding and Setting Up Your Facility 03:39 Creating a Clear Agreement for Shared Spaces 09:23 Ensuring Safety and Communication 14:07 Final Tips and Conclusion

In today’s episode, Rebecca speaks directly to hybrid school founders—especially those leading or launching nonprofit programs. Whether you’re in the dreaming stage or already running a thriving hybrid school, this episode unpacks one of the most misunderstood but essential pieces of building a sustainable nonprofit: your board of directors.

Most grassroots hybrid schools start with eager friends or parents filling board seats without really understanding what a board does—or how different nonprofit governance is from running an LLC or for-profit school. Rebecca breaks it all down clearly, from the board’s legal responsibilities to how to structure your very first meetings so your organization is set up for long-term sustainability.

This episode is packed with practical steps, realistic examples, and the foundational principles every founder needs to confidently lead (and collaborate with) a well-functioning board.

What You’ll Learn

• The true purpose of a nonprofit board—and why “things running fine” doesn’t mean you’re compliant
• The difference between being governed by a board vs run by one
• Why 501(c)(3) status is a tax designation—not the definition of “nonprofit”
• The three foundational board duties:
  • Duty of Care
  • Duty of Loyalty
  • Duty of Obedience
• What your first board meetings should accomplish
• How to educate brand-new board members who are parents, volunteers, or friends
• The roles of the board officers (president, secretary, treasurer) and how to select them
• What should—and shouldn’t—go into your bylaws
• Why committees matter and how to structure them without overwhelming volunteers
• The difference between governance and operations (with real-world examples)
• How to ensure financial transparency without creating burdensome processes
• Key policies every nonprofit hybrid school must have:
  • Conflict of Interest Policy
  • Whistleblower Policy
  • Document Retention Policy
  • Clear financial transparency practices
• How to define and support the “executive director” (or equivalent) role in a school context
• What healthy accountability between board and operations really looks like

Key Takeaways

• A nonprofit hybrid school must be governed—not just run—and the board carries real legal responsibilities.
• Your first few meetings should focus on education, bylaws, officer selection, and structure, not on random agenda items.
• Good governance protects your mission, your staff, your families, and the future of your program.
• You can avoid years of confusion by building strong systems and clarity from the very beginning.
• Sustainable hybrid schools require boards that provide oversight without micromanaging operations.

Strategic Planning for Hybrid Schools: Ensuring Sustainability and Success

In this episode of the Hybrid School Builders Podcast, host Rebecca Foley discusses the crucial concept of strategy in building and sustaining a hybrid school. She explains how both businesses and nonprofits need to strategically plan to succeed. Rebecca breaks down the definition of strategy, illustrating its importance with examples from the restaurant industry to hybrid and micro schools. She further delves into the nuances of strategic planning for nonprofit hybrid schools, emphasizing the roles and responsibilities of the board in aligning with the school's mission. Throughout the episode, Rebecca provides valuable insights into assessing past, present, and future scenarios, prioritizing tasks, and ensuring realistic, feasible plans for long-term success. Tune in to gain practical tips on forming a strategic roadmap that includes stakeholder input, prioritizing goals, and maintaining accountability to achieve a stable and thriving hybrid school.

00:00 Welcome to the Hybrid School Builders Podcast

00:56 Season One Wrap-Up and Future Plans

01:18 Understanding Strategy in School Planning

02:35 Strategic Planning for Business Owners

05:32 Applying Strategy to Hybrid Schools

07:01 Strategic Planning for Nonprofits

15:21 Gathering Stakeholder Input

20:42 Identifying and Prioritizing Goals

22:14 Implementing and Monitoring the Strategic Plan

25:58 Conclusion and Resources

Effective Meeting Strategies for Hybrid School Founders

In this episode of the Hybrid School Builders Podcast, host Rebecca Foley shares valuable insights for aspiring and current hybrid school founders. Drawing from Patrick Lencioni's book 'Death by Meeting,' Rebecca discusses the importance of building a strong leadership culture and offers practical tips for running productive meetings. She covers the concept of 'mining for conflict' to encourage healthy dialogue and provides a framework for organizing different types of meetings—daily check-ins, weekly tactical meetings, and monthly strategic meetings. These strategies aim to improve communication, efficiency, and overall productivity, whether you're working alone, with a small team, or in a larger group. Rebecca also highlights the significance of role specialization and clear delegation in avoiding burnout and ensuring smooth operations. Tune in for advice on creating an effective meeting culture that drives your hybrid school towards success.

00:00 Welcome to the Hybrid School Builders Podcast

00:56 Building Culture and Leadership

01:42 Effective Meeting Strategies

07:18 Daily and Weekly Check-ins

08:33 Strategic and Tactical Meetings

09:37 DIY Tips for Hybrid School Founders

15:02 Delegation and Specialization

19:55 Conclusion and Resources