Influential Woman · Education

Lenay Fleszar

Educator, Broward County Public Schools

Plantation, FL

Certifications · Degrees · Memberships

Degree Michigan State University (2 years Degree School of Business) Degree Center for Creative Studies (now College for Creative Studies) - Graphic Design Cert Teaching Certification Cert Language Arts Certification Cert Marketing Certification Cert Social Studies Certification Cert Project Management Certification (in progress) Cert Entrepreneurship Certification Member Events and Adventures

Her Story

About Lenay

I started my career in graphic design 25 years ago after my dad, who was a clay modeler for Ford Motor Company and modeled the very first Mustang, suggested I go to art school. I transitioned into teaching when I had my children, getting my teaching certificate and following them through their schools from elementary to middle to high school. Today I'm a language arts teacher for 9th grade, responsible for over 125 students, and I also teach journalism to 9th through 12th graders. I worked with the DECA program, which was a lot of fun because I got to work with highly intelligent, creative young individuals and help them market their ideas through competitions, going to states and international competitions, and helping them learn how to present and work through marketing and business strategies. I'm still doing graphic design on the side, and now I help promote my son who's breaking into the music business and puts on festivals. I'm his momager and marketing director. At the end of the day, I'm not just a teacher, I'm more like a life coach. I'm a safe haven for a lot of my students, they tell me everything, sometimes too much, but I'm real with them and they appreciate that. They come to me with any question possible and I try to give them any direction I can.

Her Interview

Ten minutes with Lenay

01What do you attribute your success to?

I'm just the type of person that I'm always ready for the next adventure, so I never look at failure as failure. I look at it as a new door opens, so when one door closes, another one opens, and that's just kind of how you have to look at life. It hands you what we call Godwinks - you have to recognize those Godwinks and the opportunities when they fall in your lap. I never think that where you are now is where you're gonna be, so I always just plan for change, accept change, and be able to handle change.

02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?

First and foremost, never think that where you are now is where you're gonna be. Always just plan for change, accept change, and be able to handle change. Put on different hats and be whoever you need to be at the right moment in your life. I think networking is a huge thing, especially nowadays with the internet. I think we all have to network in different ways.

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