Elementary Advancement Solutions

11/19/2025

Another great workshop is coming on December 11th! Register today!

https://luma.com/dwn32p89

07/04/2025

🇺🇸 Wishing you a Happy 4th of July!

Grateful today for the gift of freedom and the opportunity to serve Catholic schools across the country. Hope you're able to enjoy some time with family, fire up the grill, and maybe catch a few fireworks tonight.

Have a safe and relaxing holiday!

04/15/2025

Heading to the NCEA Conference in Orlando? In this episode, I’m sharing everything I wish I knew before attending my first NCEA last year. From session planning tips to networking strategies and how to use the Whova app like a pro—this episode will help you make the most of your time at the conference.

04/02/2025

🎙️ I recently had the opportunity to be a guest with Will Parker on the "Principal Matters Podcast" — and I have to say, this conversation is one I think every Catholic school leader should hear.

We dug deep into the heart of what makes schools successful — especially Catholic and faith-based schools navigating today’s challenges.

During our conversation, we covered:
🔑 How strong leadership directly impacts enrollment and culture
🔑 The essential link between mission, marketing, and momentum
🔑 Why advancement is everyone’s job — not just the development office
🔑 The power of storytelling in attracting and retaining families
🔑 How to build a culture where students, staff, and families all thrive

I also shared some of the real-life strategies I’ve used to:
✔️ Grow enrollment by over 20%
✔️ Secure millions in funding
✔️ Establish strong advancement systems from the ground up
✔️ Support principals and pastors in transforming their schools

If you're a Catholic school principal, diocesan leader, or someone passionate about sustainable growth in faith-based education, I hope this conversation offers value, insight, and encouragement.

🎧 Tune in here:
👉 https://williamdparker.com/2025/pmp442-keys-to-successful-schools-with-john-mihalyo/

I'd love to hear your thoughts — what resonated with you? How is your school leaning into its mission to grow?

Let’s keep the conversation going!

https://claritaspod.com/measure/traffic.libsyn.com/principalmatters/PMP442.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadA Quick Note to Listeners: —- The Question of the Week is supported by Summer Pops Math Workbooks. Principals, when students practice math over the summer, math scores go up. What’...

03/04/2025

Lent begins tomorrow with Ash Wednesday, and I’ve had the privilege of connecting with Catholic school leaders from around the world to hear about their go-to resources for a meaningful Lenten journey.

I took their recommendations, added a few of my own, and put together an article with everything in one place. Some of these resources I’ve used personally, while others come highly recommended—but all are valuable tools for growing closer to Christ this Lent.

If you have a favorite Lenten resource that isn’t on the list, let me know! I’d love to add it so others can benefit as well.

Please share this with your network to help others deepen their faith this Lent.

I pray this serves as a helpful guide for your Lenten journey!

https://elementaryadvancement.com/f/resources-for-lent

01/28/2025

Happy Catholic Schools Week! 🎉

This week, we celebrate the incredible gift of Catholic education—a foundation rooted in faith, values, and community. 💒📚 Catholic schools are more than places of learning; they’re communities where students grow academically, spiritually, and morally, guided by the principles of our faith.

Let’s take this time to honor the teachers, staff, families, and supporters who make our schools such special places. Together, we’re building a brighter future, one rooted in mission and love. 💙

How are you celebrating Catholic Schools Week? Share your stories below! 👇

11/28/2024

Wishing you and your family a Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving!

11/11/2024

Today, we honor the courage, dedication, and sacrifices of our veterans.

Thank you to all who have served and continue to serve our country. Your commitment to protecting our freedoms and securing our future is deeply appreciated and never forgotten.

Let us all take a moment to recognize and celebrate the extraordinary men and women who have worn the uniform with pride. Your service inspires us all.

10/15/2024

Catholic school leaders—if you're looking for actionable steps to strengthen your enrollment process, check out the latest episode of The Catholic School Leaders Podcast!

In this episode, I share 3 practical tips to improve how you connect with prospective families, refine your admissions process, and ensure your school is putting its best foot forward.

Whether you're aiming to boost enrollment or simply fine-tune your strategy, this episode has insights you can apply today. 🎙️

Listen here: 3 Tips to Strengthen Your Enrollment Process

In this episode, John Mihalyo offers valuable insights into enhancing the enrollment process at Catholic schools. This episode addresses the importance of evaluating current enrollment strategies, ...

10/09/2024

🍂 October is Here: Time for Parent-Teacher Conferences! 🍂

As we step into October, let’s seize the opportunity to deepen our parent partnerships through engaging parent-teacher conferences. It’s crucial that our teachers—especially those who are new—are fully equipped to make these meetings successful. Here’s how you can support them:

1. Set Clear Expectations: Provide guidance on how to navigate these conferences. What should parents expect? What goals should be set?
2. Structure the Meetings: Offer tips on how to organize discussions. This could include focusing on student progress and collaborating with parents on achievable goals for their children.
3. Encourage Open Communication: Help teachers foster an environment where parents feel comfortable sharing their thoughts. When families leave feeling informed and engaged, it strengthens the bond between home and school.

By supporting our teachers in this process, we set them—and our students—up for success. Let’s make these conferences a rewarding experience for everyone involved!

💬 What tips do you have for making parent-teacher conferences more impactful? Share your thoughts below!

10/04/2024

🌟 A Big Thank You to the Diocese of Richmond Catholic Schools! 🌟

Thank the Catholic Diocese of Richmond Catholic Schools for having me as their keynote speaker on Thursday. It was an honor to connect with such passionate leaders dedicated to improving the educational journey for our students.

During the presentation, we covered several crucial topics, including:

Student Retention: The vital role of keeping families engaged throughout the school year.

Enrollment Growth: Effective strategies to set ourselves apart from neighboring private and public schools and academies.

Small Budgets: Innovative ways to make a significant impact even with limited financial resources.

I truly value the chance to share insights and work together on initiatives that can bolster our schools. Together, we can create lasting change in our communities!

09/25/2024

🚀 Free Resource for Catholic School Leaders! 🚀

Looking to make your Catholic school more successful? I’ve got a FREE tool to help you do just that! 🎉

Introducing “The Keys to a Successful Catholic School”, a practical guide filled with insights to help you:

✨ Strengthen your school’s mission
📈 Boost enrollment and fundraising
💡 Create a strong, faith-filled community

This guide has already helped many schools thrive, and now it’s available to you—absolutely FREE!

🔑 Get your free copy here: https://elementaryadvancement.com/keys-to-a-successful

Let’s unlock the full potential of your school together!

Making advancement seem elementary!