Kimberly S. Harris
Kimberly S. Harris is an accomplished education leader and professional development executive with nearly two decades of experience in instructional leadership, school improvement, and educator capacity-building. She currently serves in a senior leadership role at Instructional Empowerment, where she oversees large-scale coaching initiatives and professional services aimed at strengthening instructional quality across schools and districts. Her career began in the classroom as a substitute teacher and English educator, eventually expanding into school administration and principal leadership within the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, where she developed a strong foundation in alternative education and student-centered practices. Throughout her career, Kimberly has progressed through a series of impactful leadership roles, including curriculum administrator, assistant principal, principal, district coach, and executive leader. She is recognized for her expertise in leadership development, adult learning, and organizational transformation, particularly in supporting educators and school leaders to improve Tier 1 instruction and student outcomes. Her work has included leading multi-million-dollar district partnerships, coaching school systems through turnaround efforts, and helping schools transition from underperformance to model school status through structured instructional improvement frameworks. Today, Kimberly is widely regarded as a builder of leaders, focused on developing systems and people that sustain long-term impact. She holds advanced degrees in education and adult learning and continues to shape the field through coaching and development, conference leadership, and strategic initiatives that promote equity, rigor, and collaboration in education. Her professional philosophy emphasizes clarity, integrity, and intentional growth, with a strong commitment to strengthening communities by empowering professionals and cultivating the next generation of leaders.
• Certified Scrum Master
• Cleveland State University - M.Ed.
• Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Florida
• Halifax Urban Ministries
• Hope Fellowship Church
• Love Serve Give Foundation
What do you attribute your success to?
First and foremost, I attribute my success to prayer and my belief in Jesus Christ. Keeping my heart and mind anchored to what matters most has been the foundation of everything I do. When I lead from that place, I'm able to hold the big picture clearly — and make decisions not just because they're strategic, but because they're right, reminding myself to "Do the Right Thing because it's the Right Thing to Do".
That clarity allows me to balance competing responsibilities with intention — bringing diligence to the hard moments, and compassion, encouragement, and focused feedback to the ones that require a gentler hand. I lead with both my heart and my head, and I've found that when faith and focus work together, they consistently breed results.
I also have to credit the two people who shaped who I am before I ever stepped into a leadership role. My mother gave me courage and perseverance — she modeled what it looks like to keep going when it isn't easy, and I carry that with me into every difficult season. My father showed me the power of people — that who you know, how you show up, and how you invest in relationships is not secondary to your work, it is your work. He taught me to network with authenticity and humor, and that lesson has opened doors no credential alone ever could.
So when I reflect on my success, it isn't one thing — it's faith, it's family, and it's the commitment to take one aligned step at a time.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Two things.
1. Dress for the part you want, not the part you have.
And I don't just mean your outer appearance. Dress your mind, dress your heart, dress your spirit — not for where you are, but for where you want to go. I can't underscore the outer piece enough, because we're in a phase where everyone wants to show everything they have. But in the real world, people see you before they hear you. You can absolutely be who you are — just understand that first impression is visual, and it carries weight.
2. Always know what you want.
I always knew I'd be successful — I just didn't know how to define it. I didn't know what success looked like for me. Knowing what you want doesn't just keep you prepared; it opens doors because you are prepared. And it doesn't have to be permanent — it can change. I wanted to be a coroner until I couldn't pass biology. But in every season you find yourself in, know what you want and be able to communicate it.
The key to all of it is expanding your territory. You only know what you know, and you can only lead toward the vision you have. When you expand your territory — when you expose yourself to things you never thought were possible — everything shifts. You have to talk. You have to network. You have to connect with people from all walks of life, not just the ones already in your circle.
That exposure helps you make informed decisions. Then you couple it with your own values, your likes, your dislikes, your gifts — and suddenly you can say, that is possible for me. You don't have to go into a typical field. There is a plethora of things you can do with your gifts and talents. But you won't know that if you never explore.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Impact everywhere I go.
Whether I'm on vacation, in a meeting, or at a festival — I want to leave every place knowing my presence made some kind of difference. I have so much to give, and I'm not ashamed to say that I intend to leave a legacy wherever I go. That can show up in how I move, in the decisions I make, right down to the lipstick color I wear. I am intentional about influence and impact — at work and at home, with colleagues and with friends.
Family is everything.
In my personal life, family is incredibly important — and it is such a blessing to have my immediate family right here with me. My daughters, my husband, my granddaughters. Every chance we get to have a barbecue, a kickback, play games, get in the pool — every opportunity to do that and throw something on the grill — that is a fabulous day for me.
At the end of the day, it really comes down to three things: faith, family, and focus. Those are what matter most.