Her Story
About Kate
I founded Leverage Education, LLC four years ago after spending 22 years in the field of education. My main area of expertise is educational training and coaching, and on any given day I'm either training educators and administrators or coaching educators in the classroom. There's definitely no typical day, but it's usually one of those two things. Before starting my own business, I worked for the Tennessee Department of Education as the Executive Director of Special Education for 5 years. Prior to that, I worked at the district level for Williamson County Schools, supporting special education, speech, language, and reading. I also spent time in New York at Seneca Falls Central School District as a reading specialist and professional developer. Earlier in my career, I served in the Army Reserve for 6 years as an engineer. What I'm most proud of professionally is helping kids with disabilities be more successful in educational environments. I was raised by a father who had been shot in Vietnam and was immediately a paraplegic at the age of 19, so I grew up around disability and was raised by someone who's a wheelchair user. I think if I were to attribute what I do to one thing, it would be that - growing up with a different lens and a very practical need for people to see all humans as valuable.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Kate
01What do you attribute your success to?
I think certainly having people see my strengths, and then elevate them, and support them. I would say grit is a big part of it. And, unfortunately, hypervigilance from a young age has also played a role in my success.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
If you're gonna start your own business, find out what you're the best at in the world, and then do that.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Never stop learning. Don't shrink yourself. And don't be afraid to take a new opportunity.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I have no intention of making this a large business. I've watched many of these small businesses in education who have such a clear, consistent message get too big to maintain the work and get too focused on profit. For me, it's about expanding clientele and expanding the reach, making sure that we're reaching rural districts, making sure that we're reaching states that don't have a lot of funding. So diversifying and getting to folks who need it, but no intention to become a large company. In terms of challenges I've faced throughout my career, the very first challenge was really learning how to work with adults in the field of education in a way that is safe for them, but also moves students forward. Adults are different than kids, so I've had to really learn how to work with adults in a productive way. Another challenge is having leaders in name who are not leaders in reality. And then I would say just overall, deep-seated biases about students with disabilities.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I would say number one is kindness. I don't think any kindness shown, even if it's unreturned, is wasted. I definitely value a strengths-based model - ability versus disability or deficit. And then I would say vulnerability and empathy are the true signs of courage.
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