In this episode of Voices for Excellence, Dr. Michael Conner sits down with Dr. Lisa Schleer—founder and CEO of LMS Education Consulting—to explore what it really means to lead with authenticity, inclusivity, and purpose in today’s ever-changing educational landscape.
Together, they unpack the evolving role of leadership, the power of inclusive instructional design, and how technology—especially AI—can enhance outcomes for both students and educators.
Leading with Authenticity and Purpose
Modern leadership demands more than strategic plans and test score targets—it calls for courage, clarity, and the confidence to be unapologetically yourself.
Leaders who stand firm in their values and model vulnerability create cultures where authenticity thrives. This isn’t just good for morale—it’s essential for innovation. When leaders embrace transparency, they invite trust, collaboration, and creativity from their teams.
But authenticity alone isn’t enough. Great leaders align every action, system, and goal to a clear vision for student success. That means streamlining initiatives, eliminating unnecessary noise, and focusing on what truly drives outcomes. Strategic alignment—between district goals, school operations, and classroom practice—isn’t bureaucracy. It’s leadership discipline in action.
The Core of Inclusive Excellence
At the heart of equitable education lies strong Tier 1 instruction—the foundation upon which every student’s success depends. Too often, districts operate in silos: teachers working hard but disconnected from district goals or from one another. True inclusion begins when every layer of the system—leaders, teachers, families, and communities—shares a unified purpose and a clear roadmap.
This requires intentional vertical alignment. What happens in an elementary classroom must connect seamlessly to middle school, high school, and beyond.
It also demands professional learning that challenges leaders and teachers alike to reflect on their own growth. Many district leaders invest heavily in teacher development but neglect their own. Yet, without continual learning at the top, innovation stalls. Leadership learning should be just as systematic and supported as student learning.
AI as a Partner in Inclusion
Artificial intelligence is not replacing educators—it’s amplifying them. When used thoughtfully, AI can save time, provide new insights, and support differentiated instruction. For instance, AI tools can generate strategies for supporting nonverbal students, assist in drafting individualized education plan (IEP) components, or help leaders communicate more effectively with their communities.
The key lies in balance—pairing artificial intelligence with human intelligence. The goal isn’t to automate teaching; it’s to empower teachers. AI can handle the heavy lifting of information processing so educators can focus on what machines can’t do: connect, inspire, and care.
Streamline, Focus, and Celebrate Growth
Educational leaders today must navigate a complex web of expectations—board relations, community engagement, instructional improvement, and teacher well-being. The temptation is to take on everything. The smarter move is to focus on the right things. Streamline initiatives. Prioritize teacher capacity. Stay laser-focused on meaningful student outcomes rather than the noise of endless programs.
Equally important: celebrate progress. Standardized assessments may measure part of the picture, but real growth happens in classrooms every day—in small wins, improved engagement, and the steady rise of subgroups often overlooked in headline data. Recognizing and celebrating these wins keeps teams motivated and focused on what matters most.
The Future of Leadership in Education
The next generation of leaders must operate in a VUCA world—volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous. Success will depend on agility, empathy, and the ability to connect systems thinking with human understanding. Leadership is no longer a title—it’s a distributed practice that lives across classrooms, schools, and communities.
When every individual in a system—from superintendent to paraprofessional—sees themselves as a leader, schools become stronger, more resilient, and more innovative. The path forward isn’t easy, but as Dr. Schleer reminds us, the message is simple: Keep at it.
Stay true to your values. Build systems that empower. Use every tool—human and technological—to open doors for every learner. The work is hard, but it’s worth it. Because every step forward, every connection made, and every student reached brings us closer to the future education was always meant to serve.
