Teresa A. Winters-Strong

I attribute my success to starting out “in the trenches,” where I gained hands-on experience and a deep understanding of the work. My sustained passion for serving young people has kept me focused and motivated throughout my career. Over time, I’ve built on that foundation through experience across multiple roles, each adding to my leadership growth. I am especially grateful for key mentors, particularly Dr. Barbara Bonner, Superintendent Suzanne Johnson, and Dr. Ushma Shah, who helped open doors for me and supported the development of my leadership capacity.

The best career advice I’ve received is that I can inspire others and give back by investing in future leaders. My journey has been shaped by mentors like Dr. Barbara Bonner and Dr. Ushma Shaw, who have supported me since the start of my leadership path in education. I began in surgical nursing at the University of Illinois at Chicago before transitioning to early childhood education at Loyola University, a shift that strengthened my resilience and purpose. Along the way, I’ve served diverse communities, including learning Spanish in Albuquerque to better support a predominantly Hispanic/Latino district, and I remain committed to service through organizations such as the Obama Foundation, the Boys & Girls Club North Central Board, the United Negro Scholarship Fund, and World Vision.

My advice to young women entering this field is to know that your voice matters and that you can make a real difference in shaping future leaders. Stay confident in your purpose, even when the path is challenging, and use every opportunity to serve and uplift others. My own journey has been strengthened through involvement in charitable organizations such as World Vision, St. Jude, and Feeding Starving Children, where I’ve helped lead district efforts to prepare and send food to communities around the world. These experiences have shown me the real impact of service and leadership. I’ve also been honored to receive recognition such as the YWCA Leadership in Education Award in 2022, recognition as Top Principal in Plainfield in 2020, and to serve as a keynote speaker in Atlanta for the third time—each reminding me that leadership is about impact, not position.

The biggest challenges and opportunities in my field right now center on how rapidly education is evolving and the need to ensure every voice is heard and valued in that process. I remain committed to showing up ready to help in any way I can, because I understand how powerful a strong voice can be in driving meaningful change for students, families, and communities. At the same time, this moment presents a significant opportunity to lead with empathy, advocate for equity, and use collaboration and innovation to better support the next generation of learners and leaders.

The values most important to me in my work and personal life are relationships, integrity, service, and impact. With over 28 years in education, I currently serve as Executive Director of Elementary Schools in District U-46, where I oversee 10 schools and support principals through coaching, school visits, and instructional leadership. My career has grown from the ground level across multiple roles in education, and each step has reinforced my belief that “No Relationship, No Impact.” I am deeply committed to serving students and communities through both my professional work and involvement with organizations such as the Obama Foundation, Boys & Girls Club, and United Negro Scholarship Fund, and I remain excited about my upcoming book of the same name.