About
A leadership and organizational design firm.
We partner with schools, nonprofits, and mission-driven organizations navigating growth, tension, or transition.
Who We Are
Single Story Inc. is a leadership and organizational design firm.
We partner with schools, nonprofits, and mission-driven organizations navigating growth, tension, or transition—especially when leadership feels stretched, systems feel unclear, or culture is beginning to fracture.
Our work is not about diagnosis and departure. We stay. We build. We develop the people and systems that allow organizations to keep moving forward—on their own.
Leadership-first
We believe strong systems are only as powerful as the leaders who hold them. Both must develop together.
Equity-embedded
Equity isn't a separate initiative. It's built into how we design every system, structure, and process.
Partners, not observers
We don't hand off a report and leave. We stay in the work—until the work takes hold.
Our Leadership
The people behind the work.
Founder & CEO
Brian Corley
Brian Corley is an education leader, organizational strategist, and the Founder & CEO of Single Story, Inc., a consulting firm that partners with public, independent, and charter schools, as well as nonprofits, to build stronger leadership, healthier organizational cultures, and more effective systems. Through his work, Brian supports institutions in navigating complexity, whether through leadership development, strategic planning, governance support, conflict resolution, or executive-level coaching and interim leadership.
With over 17 years of experience in education, Brian brings a unique blend of systems thinking and relational leadership to his work. While equity remains a core value, his approach extends beyond traditional DEI frameworks to help organizations operate with greater clarity, accountability, and alignment. He works closely with executive teams, boards, and managers to strengthen decision-making practices, improve team dynamics, and build cultures where people and performance can thrive together.
Prior to founding Single Story, Inc., Brian held several senior leadership roles in independent schools. He served as Head of School at Near North Montessori in Chicago, where he led strategic direction and daily operations, and previously as Middle School Head at The Roeper School in Michigan, a nationally recognized leader in gifted education.
Brian is an alumnus of Cranbrook Kingswood Schools and holds a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from Michigan State University and a Master's degree in Business Administration from Northwestern University. Known for his ability to bring clarity to complex challenges and guide organizations through meaningful change, Brian is a trusted partner to leaders committed to building organizations that are both high-performing and deeply human.
Co-Owner & COO
Dr. Kellie Corley
Dr. Kellie Corley is the Co-Owner and Chief Operating Officer of Single Story, Inc., where she partners with schools, nonprofits, and leadership teams to build strong operational systems, develop high-functioning teams, and create environments where both adults and students can thrive. Her work spans leadership development, organizational design, and instructional improvement, with a particular focus on helping leaders translate vision into sustainable, day-to-day practice.
With a deep background in both classroom instruction and school leadership, Kellie brings a rare combination of instructional expertise and operational acumen. She began her career as an elementary school teacher before moving into leadership roles within Chicago Public Schools, serving as an assistant principal and later as a Head of School in the Bronzeville community. In these roles, she led school turnaround efforts, strengthened instructional systems, and worked closely with educators and families to rebuild trust and improve student outcomes.
Kellie earned her Doctorate in Education in Urban Leadership from the University of Illinois at Chicago, where her research focused on understanding demoralized and underperforming schools and identifying strategies to rebuild instructional capacity through strong pedagogy and social-emotional development.
At Single Story, Inc., Kellie plays a critical role in helping organizations move from ideas to execution. She works alongside executive leaders and teams to design practical systems, strengthen professional learning communities, and build cultures rooted in clarity, accountability, and care. Known for her grounded leadership, sharp insight, and ability to bring structure to complex challenges, she is a trusted partner to organizations working to improve outcomes for children and communities.
How We Work
Our role is not just advisory.
In some cases, we partner closely with leadership teams. In others, we step into interim executive roles to stabilize and rebuild.
Work alongside executive leaders and teams
Facilitate critical conversations and decisions
Build systems that create clarity and consistency
Support leadership development in real time
“The work doesn't end when the engagement does.
It ends when the organization can hold it on its own.”
Single Story Inc.
Who We Work With
We partner with mission-driven organizations ready to do the real work.
We partner with
Executive leadership teams
Boards and governance bodies
School districts and charter networks
Independent schools
Nonprofits and community-based organizations
Especially those
Navigating leadership transitions
Experiencing growth or internal strain
Ready to move from intention to execution
Sound like the right fit?
Let's talk about what your organization needs.