Zen & the Art of School Administration

For schools, districts, and leaders ready to do less and do it better

Strategic Partnership

I work alongside leaders and organizations to bring clarity to complex systems—designing thoughtful, aligned approaches that strengthen practice without adding unnecessary complexity.

Certified Expertise

I bring both classroom and systems-level experience to this work, holding teaching and administrative certifications, project management certification, alongside training in digital systems and leadership development.

Statewide Results

Experience spans district and statewide initiatives, with a focus on building systems that can scale effectively across large and complex organizations.

About Me

I’m on a mission to help schools and educational leaders do less—but do it better.
I believe strong leadership isn’t about adding more initiatives; it’s about creating clarity, aligning systems, and supporting the people doing the work every day.

With over 30 years of experience across special education, instructional leadership, and large-scale system design, I’ve worked at every level—from the classroom to district leadership to statewide initiatives. As Project Manager for the Michigan Association of Administrators of Special Education (MAASE), I lead work that supports educators and leaders in building systems that are both effective and sustainable.

My approach brings together proven structures, practical strategies, and a deep understanding of how schools actually operate. As a Full Focus Certified Coach and Certified Google Trainer, I integrate leadership development with digital systems and workflow design—helping educators streamline their work, reduce complexity, and focus on what matters most.

I work alongside leaders and organizations to strengthen what already exists—refining systems, supporting implementation, and creating a more sustainable way forward. The goal is not just improvement, but alignment that holds over time.

Ready to simplify the work? Let’s begin.

OUR SERVICES

Browse my current list of services to see which ones are right for you.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT

Designed for schools and organizations managing complex initiatives and large-scale work. Through strategic project management and systems design, I help bring clarity to priorities, streamline implementation, and ensure work moves forward in a focused and sustainable way.

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GROUP COACHING

Designed for leadership teams and departments ready to streamline their work and improve how they function together. Through group coaching, I help teams leverage practical tools and aligned systems to create clarity, strengthen collaboration, and move work forward more efficiently.

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INDIVIDUAL CONSULTING

Designed for educators and leaders ready to strengthen how they manage their time and work. This coaching focuses on practical tools and systems that bring clarity, improve organization, and support more intentional, effective leadership.

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DISTRICT & STATEWIDE LEADERSHIP | 30+ YEARS EXPERIENCE | LARGE SCALE SYSTEMS IMPLEMENTED

Onboard your staff on autopilot for free!

Download the 90-Day Onboarding System and learn how to set up a streamlined, repeatable process for supporting new staff from day one. Inside this free Kajabi course, you’ll find step-by-step guidance, practical tools, and a complete system you can reuse again and again—so onboarding feels consistent, clear, and manageable.

Build My Onboarding System

Sunny Hudson

Implementing Google automation has greatly improved our school district's communication between buildings. We aimed to eliminate redundancy, and with Cheryl-Marie's guidance, we were able to accomplish this effectively. Thank you Cheryl-Marie!

Kim Porco

What makes Cheryl-Marie truly stand out is her ability to come alongside educators, not just to empathize, but to co-create meaningful, practical solutions. Her resources are culturally responsive and inclusive of diverse perspectives. She doesn’t just speak to educators, she empowers them. I highly recommend Cheryl-Marie to any group seeking a speaker who brings both expertise and humanity to the field of education.

Jenny Ross-Klingel

She has helped our district distinguish between technical and adaptive change, equipping us with the knowledge needed to implement meaningful improvements. Every interaction I have had with Cherly-Marie has felt like a powerful collaborative partnership with lasting impact. She is truly a remarkable educator, coach, and facilitator.

From Overwhelm to Intentionality

This individualized program helps educational leaders and teams streamline their work, build sustainable systems, and lead with clarity—so they can stay in the work without burning out. Through a blend of practical tools, automation strategies, and leadership coaching, participants move from feeling overwhelmed and reactive to operating with intention and efficiency. Unlike traditional professional learning, this program integrates real workflow systems with leadership habits, so the work actually sticks and creates lasting change.

In this program, you will:

Gain a fully developed, repeatable system to streamline your workflows and reduce daily overwhelm
Develop the ability to automate routine tasks, freeing up time for high-impact leadership work
Build clear, sustainable structures for onboarding, communication, and team alignment
Strengthen your leadership clarity so you can make confident, aligned decisions without constant urgency
Create a more balanced, sustainable approach to your work—so you can lead effectively and maintain your well-being

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