About Blueprint Schools
Welcome to Blueprint Schools!
Our mission is to help ministries build thriving schools. We are passionate about our mission for a few big reasons:
Thriving schools are sustainable. If you are part of a faith-based school, your desire is for the ministry of that school to continue for years to come. Having a goal of thriving–not just surviving–is the first step toward sustainability.
Thriving schools are great places to learn and grow. Students love to learn at thriving schools, parents love to support thriving schools, families in our communities are attracted to thriving schools, and teachers want to teach at thriving schools. Let’s build schools where people want to learn and work.
We’re called to work “with all our hearts as working for the Lord.” God graciously calls us to faithfulness, not success. While God gets all the credit for the growth and flourishing of our schools, we are called to serve faithfully, put our talents to work, and work with all our hearts.
We’d love to help you build a thriving school. The first step is to schedule a consultation at this link. We will use the time to get to know your unique ministry and to answer your questions.
Serving Christ with You,
Dana M. Kirchoff
Founder, Blueprint Schools
Why We’re Passionate about Building Thriving Schools
Our Mission
Blueprint Schools exists to help faith-based schools build thriving organizations through resources, services, and consulting partnerships so school leaders can focus on serving students and their families.
Core Values
We listen actively to our clients, their communities, and to each other. Active listening is the sincerest form of respect, the foundation for building trust, and the key to understanding issues.
We dig for the root of the problem. Our goal is not to put out fires, but to take away the matches through creative, elegant solutions.
We pursue AND. Truth AND love. Striving AND resting. Support AND accountability. Outreach AND in-reach. The individual AND the team. Growth AND stability.
We partner to produce the tertium quid. When we work together in long-term relationships, we can produce something better and more beautiful than if we go at it alone.
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“Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen” (Ephesians 3:20-21).
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Lead Consultants
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Dana Kirchoff
FOUNDER & PRINCIPAL CONSULTANT
LEAD CONSULTANT - SCHOOL MARKETING & GROWTH
Dana has served schools, churches, and ministries across the country for nearly 20 years in the roles of strategic growth consultant, vice president of growth and marketing, and, at the beginning of her career, as a teacher. In addition to consulting and leading Blueprint Schools, she avidly presents, writes, and shares on social media on the subjects of organizational development, marketing, and growth.
Dana lives in Appleton, Wisconsin with her husband Ryan (Instructional Coordinator at Fox Valley Lutheran High School) and their two children.
CliftonStrengths: Achiever | Strategic | Intellection | Relator | Learner
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Shawn Herkstroeter
LEAD CONSULTANT - SCHOOL LEADERSHIP & PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT
Shawn Herkstroeter has 26 years of school leadership ministry experience and currently serves as principal at Faith Lutheran School in Fond du Lac, WI. He is the founder and owner of His Strength Coaching and Consulting which helps men and women build resiliency and refine their leadership skills. Shawn holds a Master of Science in Education.
He strives to love his wife and children like Jesus does and enjoys working out, coaching basketball, hunting, and spending time with his bird dog, Bella.
CliftonStrengths: Competition | Significance | Learner | Achiever | Focus
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Ryan Kirchoff
CONSULTANT: CURRICULUM & INSTRUCTION
Ryan serves as Instructional Coordinator at Fox Valley Lutheran High School. In the past he has served as Director of Curriculum and Instruction for the PreK-12th grade program at Divine Savior Academy in Doral, FL, and as Athletic Director at California Lutheran High School in Wildomar, CA. He is passionate about student learning and helping school ministries develop Professional Learning Communities (PLCs). Ryan holds a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction and a Bachelors in Education.
Ryan is married to Dana (yes, the Dana above) and enjoys golf, cooking on his Green Mountain smoker, and Wisconsin sports of all kinds.
CliftonStrengths: Adaptability | Input | Developer | Communication / Maximizer
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Pastor Elton Stroh
LEAD CONSULTANT - CHURCH MINISTRY & STRATEGIC PLANNING
Elton served as a WELS parish pastor for 24 years during which, under God, he launched a new congregation, served as senior pastor in a turnaround congregation (which opened a preschool and K-8 school), and was privileged to serve in several district and synodical positions, including Director of WELS Parish Assistance – a consulting ministry that became a blessing to about 500 congregations.
Elton and his wife Gail (a horticulturist) reside in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. Elton holds a Doctorate in Leadership and Ministry Management and leads Crossroads Consulting Ministry.
CliftonStrengths: Analytical | Learner | Discipline | Strategic | Belief
Supporting Consultants
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Todd Russ
CONSULTANT: TEAM DEVELOPMENT & STRATEGIC PLANNING
Todd has served as a school administrator for 31 years in various school settings. His most recent service was at St. Croix Lutheran Academy where he spent 15 years starting a middle school, serving as academic dean, and the last 7 years as president. He currently is the Director of Ministry Leadership for Grace in Action. Russ holds a MA in Leadership, an EdS in Curriculum Instruction and Professional Development, and a EdD In K-12 Administration.
Todd is married and lives with his wife Sara in the Twin Cities area. They have two adult children and a son-in-law. Todd enjoys golfing, fishing, and traveling.
CliftonStrengths : Ideation | Context | Strategic | Restorative | Belief
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Matthew Visaggio
WEBSITE DEVELOPMENT & ONLINE ADVERTISING SERVICES
Matt is an expert in web development, graphic design, web technology and advertising. He started Visaggio and Co. in 2010 with a mission to work on inspiring projects with inspiring people to make an impact. He enjoys helping schools build and market websites that enable them to reach families with the Gospel.
Matt has taught and designed courses in the field of public administration at Florida SouthWestern State College and Southern New Hampshire University. He is a graduate of Luther Preparatory School and Florida Gulf Coast University and holds a master’s degree in public administration.
When not working, Matt enjoys time with his family and reading.
Don’t know where to start?
Helping your school thrive is no easy task. We know because we’ve been there and done that - our team has worked in and led in schools across the country.
Take the first step today by scheduling a Zoom consultation with us. We’ll listen, ask questions, and help you find a way forward for your unique school.
When a group of people want to build a building, the first step is to draw up a set of blueprints. A set of blueprints includes several sections: title sheets, site plans, floor plans, schedules, structural drawings, and elevations.
All of these sections are necessary in order to build a functional, purposeful, and aesthetically-pleasing building on-schedule and on-budget. The blueprint is also crucial for coordinating the efforts of all the people constructing the building. Without a set of blueprints, the construction process would most certainly be a nightmare and probably a failure, as well.
In the same way, if we are to build thriving schools, our teams need a set of blueprints to follow. We need to understand the necessary pieces of sustainability, to coordinate the efforts of our teams, and to prioritize how and what we build in our organizations.
We chose the name “Blueprint” because we provide educational teams with everything they need to build a thriving school: plans, resources, services, and partnerships.
We’d love to help you build a thriving school, too.