If school leaders are to learning communities as gardeners are to plant communities, then it’s no surprise that Lisa is equally engaged with her hands in the dirt or facilitating strategic planning sessions. She simply likes to make things grow!

Lisa’s educational journey highlights the impact of mentoring and finding the right place to grow. Her path began in 12th grade when Mr. Johnson, her science teacher at a small high school in East Texas, inquired about her college plans. His dismay at her lack of plans made her reconsider, leading her to the University of Texas.

When Lisa joined the Lawrenceville School back in 1989 as a part-time teacher, her intention was to teach a couple of classes and finish up her doctorate in French Literature at Penn. Growing up in a family where no one had ever gone to college, she had no idea that schools like Lawrenceville even existed, and she was amazed to see how students flourished under the compassionate and challenging guidance of the faculty. She quickly realized that she’d come home to a learning community she never knew existed, and she accepted their invitation to join the faculty.

While at Lawrenceville, another mentor encouraged Lisa to consider applying for a Klingenstein Fellowship. There she earned a second Master’s, this time in Private School Leadership from Columbia Teachers College, and in this way was able to complement the practical experience of being in a great school with a deeper understanding of best practices, organizational theory, and data-informed decision-making. But it was the experience of seeing what can happen for students when the adults in a school strive collectively to ensure that each and every child is both challenged and supported that led her to pursue school leadership.

Lisa’s career trajectory took her to wonderful institutions, first as Assistant Head at Blake School in Minneapolis, and then as Head of Mary Institute and St. Louis Country Day School in St. Louis for 12 years, followed by Director General of Zurich International School for 5 years. She has also led numerous accreditation teams and served on the boards of several non-profits. At each organization, Lisa focused on identifying unique strengths and opportunities, working with others to craft a roadmap to a desired future, cementing her belief in the power of shared vision and strategic planning.

Now, as a partner for Educators Collaborative, Lisa’s passion for mentoring schools and leaders in providing transformative educational experiences remains constant. As a search consultant and an executive coach, she thrives on connecting schools with great candidates and helping ambitious leaders and institutions develop and implement strategies that unlock their full potential. And she still makes time to garden in Upstate New York, where she and her spouse of 40-plus years are developing a nourishing sanctuary for native plants, fruits, and vegetables, as well as fauna, family, and friends, the closest of whom date back to those early days at Lawrenceville.