As a seasoned educational leader with over two decades of experience in K-12 education, curriculum development, and leadership coaching, Dr. Donna brings a wealth of knowledge, practical experience, and proven results to the table. Her expertise lies not only in driving transformative change but in guiding leaders and educators through the complexities of today’s educational landscape.
Reasons to work with Dr. Donna as a coach and/or consultant:
Proven Leadership and Results: She has successfully led district-wide initiatives that have significantly improved student outcomes, educator effectiveness, and curriculum development. Her work has been recognized with multiple awards, including the Education 2.0 Visionaries Award, and she has a track record of turning around underperforming systems.
Personalized Approach: Dr. Donna believes in tailoring her coaching and consulting to the unique needs of each individual or organization. Whether you're a school district leader, an aspiring administrator, or a teacher looking to grow, she provides customized guidance to meet your specific goals and challenges.
Innovative and Data-Driven Strategies: She specializes in implementing data-driven strategies that not only improve outcomes but are sustainable long-term solutions. From instructional coaching to strategic planning, Dr. Donna helps leaders develop the skills and tools they need to make impactful decisions while drawing from her expertise in research-based instructional models that improve outcomes.
Commitment to Equity and Inclusion: A key part of her coaching philosophy is fostering inclusive, equitable learning environments. Dr. Donna empowers leaders to create educational spaces where every student and educator can thrive, regardless of background or circumstances.
Thought Leadership and Expertise: As a TEDx speaker, best-selling author, and international thought leader, Dr. Donna has the ability to inspire and lead. She has supported leaders across the U.S. through initiatives such as coaching work on the Lakota Reservation, and influence that extends beyond borders.
By working with Dr. Donna, you’re gaining not only a trusted advisor but a passionate advocate for your success. Her goal is to empower you to achieve measurable progress and develop the leadership skills to drive lasting, meaningful change.
Educational Luminaries: Triumphing Over Systemic Hurdles
Ed. Matadores: Revolutionizing the Educational System
The Art of Risk & Reward
Why should learning in school look and feel much more like the process of learning how to ride a bicycle? Dr. Donna addresses this question in her TEDx Talk. Ultimately, we live in a global society that requires students to be able to think critically, problem solve, and be creative. This is best done through teaching and learning that focuses on conceptual understanding rather than knowledge acquisition. We have decades of research on how children learn that continue to be untapped in most classrooms. Due to having access to the internet in our pockets, there is no longer a need to be hyper-focused on memorizing exponential amounts of information.
April 2022
Have Faith, Everything Happens for a Reason
Dr. Donna talks about her chapter in the book "The Art of Risk and Reward" in front of an international audience from 12 different countries at Crom Castle in Northern Ireland.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKhV_uzaKmg
https://businessradiox.com/podcast/highvelocityradio/inspiring-leaders/
Written by Dr. Donna Vallese on May 21, 2021
Change is inevitable, but adults do not always like change. As a leader, getting all of your staff on board is not an automatic process that works by just announcing the change. It is common for some adults to resist.
Written by Dr. Donna Vallese on July 26, 2021
As a leader, providing ongoing feedback is one of the most important responsibilities you have as a supervisor. Sometimes providing feedback can be uncomfortable because it can lead to having some hard conversations. Many times we would rather not give the feedback and pray that the performance we are seeing will improve on its own until it is too late. Avoidance will only allow the problem to continue and will instill bad habits.