Her Story
About Julie
Julie Coles is an accomplished education professional and author with 39 years of experience dedicated to improving the quality of education. She began her career as a special education teacher, where her experiences with students and fellow educators shaped her commitment to meaningful, student-centered learning. Over the course of her career, she advanced into classroom management consulting, school leadership, and alternative education, including serving as a vice principal and leading an alternative education program for 16 years.
Throughout her career, Julie developed innovative and humane approaches to education, with a particular focus on classroom management, conflict resolution, and student dignity. Her 9Rs conflict-resolution program contributed to 10 consecutive years without suspensions, reflecting her belief in dialogue, accountability, and compassionate discipline. She also emphasized creating safe environments where students could lower their defenses, learn from mistakes, and take greater ownership of their education. Her leadership philosophy was shaped by patience, active listening, and a commitment to helping educators and students succeed.
Today, Julie continues her educational mission as an author and founder of Because I Can LLC, exploring ideas that can strengthen professional performance and support the holistic needs of students. She has authored educational works including America’s Educational Crossroads, Cultivating Exceptional Classrooms, and Changing Misconceptions About the Principal’s Office, as well as creative works such as Wait...Who Got Goosed?® Mother Goose Rhymes Revisited. Through her writing and independent publishing work, Julie continues to advocate for stronger educational practices, resourceful teaching strategies, and a more compassionate approach to learning.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Julie
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my educational journey and the guidance of professional mentors. A formative experience as a fourth-grade teacher taught me to take responsibility for my students’ learning gaps rather than assuming they had failed. This shifted my approach to grading and student support, helping me focus on targeted instruction and creating better opportunities for students to succeed.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve received is to adapt my approach to meet my students’ needs. I learned to give challenging, social students leadership responsibilities, rotate those roles, and use clear classroom systems to maintain structure. These strategies helped me build stronger classroom management while creating a more positive learning environment.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering education is to learn from respected veteran teachers, ask questions about challenging classroom situations, and continually expand your knowledge through professional reading. I recommend humane, student-centered strategies that prioritize dignity, peer interaction, and positive classroom cultures rather than punitive measures. Focus on creating environments where students can learn, grow, and feel respected.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest opportunities in my field is creating more effective, restorative approaches to student discipline and conflict resolution, particularly in alternative education. I use a “95% approach” that recognizes a student’s positive behavior history before addressing an infraction, helping ensure one incident does not define them. I also developed a 9Rs conflict-resolution process that guides both offenders and those affected through respectful, step-by-step resolution.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me are responsibility, trust, compassion, and peaceful conflict resolution. I believe in teaching students accountability through respectful dialogue and meaningful consequences rather than relying on punitive measures. My work is grounded in humane educational practices that build trust, strengthen relationships, and create supportive environments where students can learn and grow.
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