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Faculty of the CASBO CBO BEL Program
Dr. Micah Studer’s career in education didn’t begin in a boardroom or on a budget spreadsheet. It started in a classroom.
Over the years, he’s held roles across nearly every layer of school operations: substitute teacher, classroom educator, site administrator, district administrator, county-level leader, and now, Chief Academic Officer for Visions In Education Charter School, which serves nearly 8,000 students across nine counties. His journey is proof that you don’t have to start in finance to reach the top.
“Career path-wise, I’ve worked as a substitute teacher, teacher, site administrator, district administrator, county office assistant superintendent, and currently, I’m Chief Academic Officer. My path is somewhat unique in that I came up fiscal adjacent.”
That winding, multi-disciplinary path gives him a rare perspective and one that he now passes on through his work as a faculty member with the California Association of School Business Officials (CASBO).
The Value of Teaching in Leadership
Studer didn’t plan to become a teacher of future leaders. He was originally called in as a last-minute presenter on educational technology. But the experience ignited something deeper.
“Being a faculty member allowed me multiple touch points throughout the year to really sit down and refine my thoughts and feelings, listen to what’s out there, and it actually ended up really enhancing my craft as a leader.”
Teaching, he found, didn’t just reinforce his knowledge. It gave his leadership clarity and structure. It pushed him to organize his philosophies, challenge his assumptions, and sharpen his communication—skills essential at every level of school leadership.
“Teaching these philosophies was really the mechanism by which I was able to refine and articulate the things that mattered. A lot of people have a lot of great technical knowledge, but can you communicate? Can you build a system? Can you build a structure around it?”
You Don’t Need to Start in Finance to Lead
A key message Studer emphasizes—especially to those from non-financial backgrounds—is that leadership isn’t reserved for a specific discipline. “It was a business official named Veronica Moreno who helped him understand the importance of financial literacy. I remember one particular conversation… I wanted to buy some new computers. And she said we couldn’t, or asked what line, and I said, what does it matter? I just need the money. She was very kind and took the time to teach me SACS and what the world looks like from a CBO’s lens.”
That experience not only expanded his understanding, but it reframed how he approached collaboration. “We had a philosophy that still guides me to this day: as a program leader, speak enough fiscal to have an intelligent conversation with your CBO. And your CBO needs to speak enough program to have an intelligent conversation with your program.”
The result was a shared language and mutual respect that allowed both program and finance to work toward student achievement together.
CASBO Courses and Cohorts: A Foundation for Leadership
While Studer’s teaching role gives him opportunities to reflect and grow, he also believes strongly in the power of learning through structured programs like CASBO’s BEL (Business Executive Leadership) cohort.
“It helps keep me sharp. It helps continue to enhance my craft. It helps keep me abreast of the topics of the day and it helps me be connected to the community.”
Enrolling in CASBO courses or leadership pathways doesn’t just build technical skills… It provides a network of peers, a shared vocabulary, and the confidence to step into larger leadership roles. For those who feel isolated in their current roles or unsure how to grow, it offers a clear path forward.
“I’ve seen so many students come into my sessions saying, ‘I’m just an analyst’ or ‘I’m just in accounts payable. And they walk out without the ‘just.’ They walk out saying, ‘I am a person of worth and value who can make a difference for students and families and the communities they serve.’ That is why I keep doing what I do.”
Integrity, Vision, and the Power of Belief
Studer closes many of his sessions with reflections on integrity and self-awareness. “Integrity is when there’s congruence between who you are and who you want to be,” he says. “Because the only person that can answer if you have integrity is yourself.”
His advice to those starting their journey? Don’t underestimate your value and don’t assume your role is too small to matter. Leadership comes from a mindset of service, growth, and curiosity.
Whether you’re in operations, HR, nutrition, technology, or transportation, your role touches students. And through CASBO’s faculty, cohorts, and programs, you can grow into the kind of leader who not only manages systems but also shapes futures.
From instruction to infrastructure, from classroom to cabinet, Dr. Micah Studer’s story is a powerful reminder that every role in education holds the potential for leadership. You just have to take the next step.
