Her Story
About Lisa
I've spent 25 years in education, and my journey has been very different and varied. I started in Florida, then moved to North Carolina where I worked as a teacher and did curriculum development and professional development for other teachers. I was always in elementary school during that time. When I moved back to Florida, I took on a high school role, which was a significant change for me. About three years ago, I came across an opportunity to apply for the University of Notre Dame's Educational Leadership master's program. I had already started my master's twice before in education but hadn't finished because of children and family commitments. This time, I went through the interview process and was accepted. I've spent a lot of time over the past 2 years away from my family to get my master's, and I'm graduating in 3 weeks, which is very exciting. During this time, I also moved into an administrative role as Dean of Academics at a private Catholic school with about 500 students in grades 9 through 12. My day-to-day responsibilities vary tremendously - I could be covering classes for teachers who are out, observing and coaching teachers, helping students with executive functioning skills, meeting with students about their grades, overseeing our Academic Exceptional Education program, checking grade books, running Flex programs, and working with our local county education agency to obtain grant funds for students who might have special needs or who might not be able to afford certain things. I also moderated the National Beta Club for 3 years, growing it from 20 students to about 130 students and taking them to a state convention. I've had to take on a classroom or two this year to support teachers on maternity leave. I work closely with my assistant principal of academics, and we meet weekly to make sure everything's aligned. In 2016, I was named Gifted Educator of the Year for Union County Public Schools in North Carolina, which was an amazing experience and something I was very proud of.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Lisa
01What do you attribute your success to?
I think always being motivated to learn and to grow has been key to my success. I love taking on different roles, and I've always wanted to be an administrator in education, so I think just having the motivation to want to do something different and then seeking out any opportunity, reaching out, networking, and wanting to do more has driven me forward. I think just being complacent and sitting in your role as a teacher and doing your day in and day out becomes boring, and even though you're making a small difference, if you can make a better difference in education, you need to keep going. They need educators, and they need people who are willing to learn and to take on these leadership roles. You have to keep doing that and keep taking part.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've ever received is to continue to always want to learn, and to know that you can never stop learning, no matter what age you are at. We have a motto that we say, we are always learning, and to really stick by that, because if you stop learning and you stop growing, then what's the point? You have to continue to learn, to grow, and to develop to become always striving for better.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say that, first of all, you are never too old to want to strive to be a better person, and to always remember who you are and stay grounded in your values when you are moving up the ladder in leadership roles. Stay true to yourself. Remain humble, but value and be kind to other people. I think that's most important, is to just remain humble in yourself.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I think still in education, there's always a balance of all the research that's out there, and what is right by children, what is doing the right thing. There's always that political aspect in education, too. I think that knowing the right people and making sure that you stay true to your values and true to yourself in everything that you do is important, because it's a challenge. Teachers give a lot of pushback in leadership roles. I feel like you always have to remember to keep the child first in mind in education, and with that in mind, you always do right by the child, no matter what anybody's views are.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Definitely my faith. My faith in God is definitely my number one value. Family is something I think that is extremely important. We value just valuing each person, each person's dignity. I would say that we strive for always wanting to grow in our family. Personally and professionally, I push motivation, perseverance, and grit with my own children and my students. Those are always something that we keep central, and then to remember that our purpose is to live like a child of God, and how God would want us to live.
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