Kimberly Kiser

I attribute my success to courage, resilience, and a strong commitment to continuous growth through mentorship. I believe effective leadership—especially in roles such as principal—requires trusted mentors who provide honest feedback, accountability, and a safe space for reflection. I continue to engage in regular coaching because it strengthens my leadership and helps me process challenges in a healthy way. My personal experiences, including my breast cancer journey, double mastectomy, and the loss of my father, have further shaped my resilience and commitment to leading with authenticity. These experiences have taught me to lead with courage rather than perfection and to show up with clarity, consistency, and conviction even when I do not have all the answers.

The best career advice I’ve ever received is the importance of having and maintaining strong mentorship throughout my professional journey. I have been supported by mentors at every stage of my career, particularly during my time as a principal, where their guidance, honest feedback, and encouragement have been invaluable. I continue to prioritize growth through ongoing mentorship and monthly coaching sessions, which help me reflect, improve, and lead more effectively.

I would advise young women to lead with courage rather than perfection. You don’t need to have all the answers to make an impact—what matters is showing up with clarity, consistency, and conviction. I would also encourage them to use their voice in decision-making spaces, because their frontline experiences and perspectives are valuable and needed in leadership conversations. Finally, I would emphasize the importance of self-care and boundaries, since sustainable leadership depends on rest, restoration, and taking care of yourself as you care for others.

One of the biggest challenges in my field is teacher burnout and the difficulty of recruiting and retaining strong educators, while balancing student achievement with staff well-being. The evolving charter and voucher landscape also adds complexity to the education system. At the same time, these challenges create opportunities to strengthen support systems, improve leadership practices, and build more sustainable environments for both educators and students.

The values most important to me are courage, authenticity, self-care, and service. I strive to lead with purpose while maintaining balance, shaped in part by my breast cancer journey and personal losses. Family is also central to my life, and I deeply value time with my children and mother.

I prioritize gratitude and reflection through daily walks, and I am passionate about supporting women leaders through volunteer work and speaking. I also value continuous growth and mentorship, which I sustain through ongoing coaching and professional development.