Cindy Sawyers M.ED.
Cindy Sawyers, M.Ed., is an award-winning educational leader and entrepreneur with 25 years of experience spanning early childhood education, elementary instruction, academic and behavioral interventions, and school administration. She currently serves as Assistant Principal, LEUSD, where she leads with a student-centered vision grounded in strong family and community partnerships. Her work has been recognized through honors including Teacher of the Year at Cottonwood Canyon Elementary, Rotary Teacher of the Month at Machado Elementary, and as a featured speaker at the No Excuses University National Conference in Anaheim, California. She is also the author of a published thesis, Tech vs. Teacher: Fourth Grade Reading Intervention.
Her leadership work includes designing and delivering professional learning, coaching educators, coordinating assessments, managing site operations, and implementing data-driven systems of support for diverse learners. Prior to school administration, Cindy built a strong instructional foundation as an elementary teacher and reading intervention specialist, developing a deep commitment to literacy, curriculum design, and social-emotional learning. Her experience also includes supporting district implementation of Lexia Core5, contributing to restorative and PBIS frameworks, supporting collaborative professional learning, and strengthening instruction through technology-enhanced learning.
In addition to her work in education, Cindy is the founder and CEO of Lemon Bloom LLC, a women’s multigenerational lifestyle and wellness brand rooted in empowerment, growth, and community connection, with its inaugural jewelry line, the Lemoncello Collection, planned for 2026. Her earlier corporate experience as an assistant buyer, where she worked in vendor relations, product selection, marketing, and fast-paced project management, brings a strategic business lens to her leadership and strengthens her approach to organizational development and long-term planning.
At the core of Cindy’s leadership is a belief in leading with love, the power of positivity, and the responsibility to carry light forward for others. Shaped by personal and professional challenges including navigating divorce and heartbreak, leading through crisis during both a wildfire that impacted her school community and a national pandemic, and raising children as a single parent while continuing to serve others, Cindy brings empathy, resilience, and purpose to every space she leads. Her work is grounded in the belief that compassion, consistency, and hope are powerful forces for lasting change.
• Admin Service & Multiple Subject Teaching
• CSU Fresno & CSU San Marcos
• Teacher of the Year Cottonwood Canyon Elementary
• Rotary Teacher of the Month, Machado Elementary
What do you attribute your success to?
Cindy credits the strong women, meaningful friendships, and devoted family in her life as the foundation that carried her through seasons of challenge and growth. This circle of love and resilience has sustained her through life’s storms and guided her as she navigated profound personal and professional challenges.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received came from my parents, whose journey as immigrants to our country, shaped every part of who I am, personally, professionally, and as a leader. They taught me that success is built through resilience, humility, and a willingness to serve others with your whole heart. Watching them build a life for our family while navigating a new country showed me that strength is not loud; it’s steady, consistent, and rooted in purpose. Their example continues to guide my decisions, my leadership, and the way I show up for the communities I serve. My parents also taught me to trust my instincts, invest in my growth, and never allow fear to dictate my path. I believe deeply in lifting others around you, grounded in a positivity philosophy. This is the foundation of my work in education, coaching, family & community support and my company. Whether leading teams, supporting students, or creating systems like Single Parent Support (SPS), I carry their belief that every challenge is an opportunity to lead with compassion and courage. I am proud to be part of their legacy, and I honor them by striving to embody the same love, resilience, and strength that defined their journeys and marriage. This mindset is also reflected in the mission of Lemon Bloom, my lifestyle brand dedicated to nurturing and empowering women at every stage and phase of life. Their influence is woven through every idea, message, and purpose behind the brand. The guidance they gave me, to grow, to bloom, and to help others do the same, and continues to shape the way I lead, create, and serve.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering the field of education or small business entrepreneurship is simple but powerful: be exactly who you are, and stay true to yourself. In a profession where hearts and minds shape the future, your authenticity is one of your greatest strengths. Lead with love, lead with light, and let your compassion guide your decisions. Our world needs leaders who are grounded, empathetic, and unafraid to shine in the ways that make them unique. Remember that your strength as a woman is extraordinary. You bring perspective, intuition, resilience, and creativity, qualities that elevate classrooms, teams, families, and entire school communities. Don’t shrink yourself to fit expectations or norms that don’t honor your worth. Instead, open your big, strong, beautiful, wings and soar. Trust that you belong in every room you enter and that your voice has the power to create meaningful change. Most importantly, surround yourself with mentors, cheerleaders, and fellow women who lift one another up. This work is too important and too beautiful to do alone. When you stay true to who you are and lead with both courage and heart, you won’t just build a career, you’ll build a legacy.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that guide both my work and my personal life begin with positivity. I believe in choosing optimism, especially in challenging moments, because the way we show up has a direct impact on the people around us. In education, leadership, and life, a positive mindset creates space for connection, trust, and growth, and it allows others to feel seen, supported, and safe. Kindness is equally important to me. I’ve always believed that wherever you go, you should leave someone feeling better than before, whether through a smile, a small compliment, or simply taking the time to listen. We rarely know what someone else is carrying, and the smallest gestures can be profoundly powerful. Kindness costs nothing, yet it has the ability to lift spirits, strengthen relationships, and change the tone of an entire environment. Ultimately, I value being a source of light in the lives of others. In my work as an educational leader and in my personal relationships, I strive to offer encouragement, empathy, and genuine care. These simple, human acts, positivity, kindness, and presence, are, to me, the greatest gifts we can give and the foundation for a meaningful and purposeful life.