If you are starting in a new leadership position this fall, you have a PROBLEM:
- You really want to have an amazing first year.
- You want to exceed everyone’s expectations.
- You want to build trust with the teachers and improve the culture and come in under budget and increase enrollment (and all the things...)
- You want to do all of that without burning out.
- You want to do all of that while still prioritizing your spouse and your kids.
Here's the problem:
- What you want is VERY difficult to pull off.
- Are you 100% sure that you can make all of that happen?
- You need the right plan.
- You need the right support.
I can give you a step-by-step plan and the right support for you to have a FANTASTIC first year!
And your time commitment is just 4 hours a month!
I am going to help you have a FANTASTIC first year. You may be asking: "OK.... but how exactly?"
- A 12 person cohort of private school leaders going through their first year in a new position
- The perfect mixture of support and training
- 12 months (June 2026-May 2027)
- Your time commitment? Just 4 hours a month!
Just imagine...
It is the last day of the 26/27 school year:
- You are looking back with pride on an AMAZING school year.
- You feel VERY proud of what you have accomplished.
- You have built excellent relationships with the teachers, students, parents and board members.
- You improved teacher morale and the culture is SO much better than it was back in September.
- You are not burnt out.
- You don't feel guilty because you have been present and engaged with your family all year long.
- The Parent Survey results are really good!
- You feel happy, fulfilled, energized and excited about the future.
- You had a FANTASTIC first year!
If you join the Fantastic First Year Mastermind, you will get the right mixture of support and training to make this list a reality. And you can get all of this in just 4 hours a month!
"If you are thinking about joining the Fantastic First Year Mastermind, Mark Minkus is the perfect leadership coach for you!
Working with Mark during my first year as an administrator has been invaluable. From our first meetings, where Mark helped me prepare and plan for my first faculty meeting, to our biweekly check-ins, he consistently guided and listened as I navigated complex interactions with faculty, students, and parents.
Mark has played a vital role in the success of my first year as an administrator. His wisdom, responsiveness, and ability to offer clear, actionable guidance made a meaningful difference in my leadership journey."
Jackie, Lower School Director, Huntington Beach, CA
"The best investment my school made in me as a new interim division head was to enlist Mark's mentorship.
Mark helped me provide stable servant-leadership to my teachers, families, and students, but also kept me focused on maintaining commitments to my family and to myself.
There's no doubt he played a crucial role in helping me earn the full time Upper School Head position, and he's helped me build mindsets and practices that will enable me to stay (happily) in independent school leadership for a long time."
Joe, Head of Upper School, Milwaukee, WI
"My first year as Head of School brought challenges that went well beyond what I expected, and Mark Minkus was such a steady, grounding presence through all of it.
Mark was always just a call or text away, and our monthly meetings honestly felt like a lifeline, whether I needed help thinking through an issue or just making sure the work felt sustainable.
Mark really got it, and every time I got off the phone with him, I felt more confident and capable. He had such an impact on me that I encouraged my Assistant Head of School to work with him too!"
Laurie, Head of School, Sierra Madre, CA
Here's the plan!
"OK, so I DEFINITELY want to have a fantastic first year.....
How exactly are we going to do that?"
We are going to follow 3 easy steps!
Step 1: Support
Step 2: Training
Step 3: Community
Step 1: Support
- A cohort of 12 leaders, just like you, going through the same experiences at the same time
- "On-Call Consulting" with Mark Minkus. He will always be just a text away when you need advice, a pep talk or a vent session. (8 total hours over 12 months)
Step 2: Training
- Your training commitment is 4 hours per month. You can certainly do more than that, but this Mastermind can get you a Fantastic First Year in 4 hours a month.
- 1 Hour (Week 1): On-Demand Monthly Masterclass on topics like: culture, teacher morale, fundraising, facilities, student discipline, enrollment and much more!
- 1 Hour (Week 2): Monthly, LIVE Group Coaching Call where we discuss and apply the Masterclass and solve problems you are dealing with at school
- 1 Hour (Week 3): June/July 2026 = Summer On Ramp, August-October 2026 = First 90 Days Entry Plan and November 2026 to May 2027) 1 module per month in THRIVE Academy or Parent Academy
- 1 Hour (Week 4): Monthly LIVE Dilemma Lab*
- TOTAL: 4 Hours Per Month
- *"Ummm, what the heck is a Dilemma Lab?" A leader presents a real dilemma from their school. The cohort members ask clarifying questions. Assumptions and blind spots are revealed. Options are explored and the group’s wisdom is applied. A clear, actionable plan is created in real time.
Step 3: Community
- Between coaching calls, between modules, between crises, you’ll have access to the PSL Pro Membership Community of leaders who “get it” and who “get you.”
- Inside the community, you can: ask real-time questions, share wins and challenges, get perspective before you send that email and avoid leadership isolation.
- While you are NOT required to attend, the PSL Pro community goes LIVE every week for the "We Get It" Roundtable, Success Path Group Coaching, Monthly Masterclass and a Monthly Q&A Session.
You will get the exact mixture of support and training that you need.
"Invest in your success as a first-year private school leader by joining the Fantastic First Year Mastermind cohort!
Mark offers a judgement-free, practical, and deeply encouraging platform to support first-year private school leaders. With his many years of experience, Mark has walked me through countless “what do I do?” student situations, always with the child’s success at the center of the solution.
Mark cares for the whole person and it is evident in the ways he encourages me to take care of my mental health and self-care."
Julie, Principal, Boise, Idaho
"During my first year as a Head of School, Mark Minkus has been an exceptional leadership coach and thought partner. His guidance around time management, decision making, and strategic thinking was transformative.
He has a unique ability to bring clarity to complex situations and provide practical, actionable strategies that make an immediate impact.
Just as important, Mark builds confidence. He understands the realities of the role and consistently reinforces that you can lead it well and that you are not alone.
I am a stronger, more focused leader because of his support."
Steve, Head of School, Ellicott City, MD
"Working with Mark during my first year as Head of School was invaluable. He provided steady, thoughtful guidance at every turn and helped me navigate complex challenges with clarity and confidence.
In a role where you are expected to support everyone else, it is rare to have someone supporting you.
Mark gave me the perspective, validation, and encouragement I would not have had otherwise, which in turn helped me become a better leader and more effective supporter for my people."
Margaret, Head of School, Nashville, TN
How much does it cost?
How much is it worth?
- 12 months of support from a cohort of 12 leaders going through the same experiences at the same time (Priceless)
- 12 LIVE, Monthly Group Coaching Call (Value: $1200)
- 12 LIVE, Monthly Dilemma Lab (Value: $1200)
- 12 Monthly On-Demand Masterclass (Value: $720)
- "Summer On Ramp" Plan (Value: $895)
- Your "90 Day Entry Plan" (Value: $995)
- Lifetime access to THRIVE Academy (Value: $695)
- Lifetime Access to Parent Academy (Value: $895)
- "On Call Consulting" by texting Mark Minkus, 8 total hours over 12 months (Value: $2400)
- 1 Year Membership in PSL Pro (Value: $365)
Total Value: $9365
Actual Cost: $2500 (one-time payment)
OR 12 Monthly Payments of $250 ($3000 Total)
What's included in the Fantastic First Year Mastermind?
The Power Of The Cohort
- 12 Leaders, 12 Months, 1 Goal
- You don't have to do this alone. When something is a challenge, it is always easier to do it with someone else.
- You will find a mixture of challenge, support and encouragement here as you connect with other private school leaders who are all going through the first year together.
LIVE and On-Demand Training
- Monthly, LIVE Group Coaching Call (Second Thursday of the month at 2PM ET/11AM PT)
- Monthly, LIVE Dilemma Lab (Fourth Thursday of the month at 1PM ET/10AM PT)
- Monthly, On-Demand Masterclass on topics like: culture, teacher morale, fundraising, facilities, student discipline, enrollment and much more!
"Summer On Ramp" and "90 Day Entry Plan"
- During June and July, Mark will teach you exactly what you should be doing during the summer so that you are OVER-prepared for the first teacher work day and the first day of school.
- From August through October, Mark will give you the roadmap to have a smooth start to your school year
"On-Call Consulting"
- You will have Mark's phone number so that he is always just a text away when you are dealing with a situation and you need advice....fast!
- Within a few hours, Mark will get back to you when you need advice on a sticky situation, a pep talk, a vent session or all of the above!
- 8 hours total over 12 months
THRIVE Academy
- THRIVE Academy is a transformational digital course that will take you, step-by-step, through the PSL Pro Success Path.
- 7 Modules, 39 Lessons, over 9 Hours of video content
- A downloadable, 86-page workbook with guided notes, reflection questions, actions steps, tracking calendars, graphs, charts and more
- You will change your life lesson by lesson, strategy by strategy, day by day.
Parent Academy
- Parent Academy is your step-by-step framework for building effective partnerships with parents, while reducing your stress and anxiety.
- Mark took his 33 years of experience successfully working with thousands of private school parents and packaged it into an online course for you and your teachers!
PSL Pro Community
- PSL Pro is a membership community that helps Private School Leaders go from feeling stressed out, discouraged and lonely to feeling energized, fulfilled and supported.
- While not mandatory, you are welcome to attend the weekly LIVE meet-ups, share your wins and your struggles and post in the community.
Don't just take my word for it...
"Working with Mark over the past three years has been one of the most valuable parts of my journey as a Principal.
From the very beginning of my headship, during what was an intense and often challenging first year, Mark provided a steady, thoughtful and highly perceptive space for reflection. He has an ability to listen deeply, ask the right questions and, importantly, know when to challenge and when to simply hold space. That balance has been critical.
His coaching has never been about quick answers, but about building confidence and judgement over time. Through that, I have developed a much stronger sense of my own leadership voice and a greater ability to navigate complexity with calm and perspective.
What has made the greatest difference is the consistency of his support. Across moments of uncertainty, high-stakes decision making and periods of real pressure, Mark has been a constant, helping me to step back, think clearly and lead with intent.
The foundations laid in that first year have shaped the years that have followed. I am a more reflective, more assured and more purposeful leader as a result.
I would recommend Mark without hesitation to any school leader looking for coaching that is both supportive and stretching in equal measure."
Chandini, Head of School, Dubai
"This has been an incredible experience. It provides a truly unique space where leaders can support and learn from one another.
The weekly calls have been invaluable, offering insightful discussions and guidance. THRIVE Academy is packed with exceptional content, but what truly sets it apart is the community aspect.
This combination makes it unlike any other group I’ve been a part of. This is the professional learning network I’ve been searching for. Having a community of leaders ready to support each other is powerful.
We all are at different stages in our careers but I'm quickly learning we all face so many of the same challenges."
Crissy, Former Head of Middle School, Texas
"Administrative life and family life often can come into conflict. Mark provided me with some simple, yet powerful tools for reclaiming time at home that too often I was using for work rather than being present with my wife and kids.
Working with Mark helped center and refocus me and I am already seeing daily benefits. My time with family is more rewarding and I don’t carry the same guilt I used to when giving my family dedicated time and attention.
My school is doing more “leading itself” as I have started to implement needed processes. Mark’s coaching helped provide perspective on those processes and instilled the confidence to then step back and let them work."
Mark, Principal, Monclova, OH
“As a first-year Head of School, I had no idea what I was doing and quickly felt overwhelmed by the weight of my new responsibilities. Before I started working with Mark Minkus, I struggled with setting boundaries and found myself letting work consume all my time.
Mark gave me the tools I needed to succeed quickly. He helped me establish healthy boundaries, prioritize effectively, and identify my "why" so I could align it with my daily work. With his guidance, I’ve learned how to keep my priorities straight, which has allowed me to live with much more freedom and much less stress. Thanks to Mark, I’m now able to lead with confidence and clarity, knowing how to balance work and life more effectively.
Mark gave me the recipe to be successful. The boundaries that I have put in place have given me the margin to be fully present, whether at work or at home.”
Casey, Head of School, Lake Jackson, TX
"I contacted Mark about THRIVE Academy and leadership coaching because many aspects of my work were becoming unaligned. I felt like the pieces about serving at school that I loved were being overwhelmed by the parts that were draining my energy and joy.
Mark was able to use his wisdom and experience to zero in on small changes I could make to realign myself and the way I lead at school. This year has been much different for me because of this, and I feel like I have a renewed sense of purpose and effectiveness as I lead."
Dan Lazor, Principal, Wycoff, NJ
