About Abby
Experience
I have extensive experience with founding schools (preschool through high school) and school leadership. I have coached more than three dozen school founders and educational organizations from across the country, and in charter schools, private schools, nonprofit and for-profit organizations, and traditional public schools. I am a former teacher, diversity coordinator, college professor, and founding school principal in PK-12 schools. In addition, I’m also Texas superintendent certified and a practicing marriage and family therapist. I have an extensive network across the country that is composed of funders, people in facility finance and charter school support, community engagement experts, former superintendents, talent management leaders, and other founders. I specialize in diversity, talent management and school culture, identity development, recruitment, and mission alignment. I also have experience working with educational nonprofit and for-profit organizations focused on social justice, access, and diversity. My core beliefs in education are based on the ideas of diversity, equity, access, and rigor. In addition, I am a practicing marriage and family therapist. This work shows up in my coaching in the development of work/life balance and in the overall development and well-being of the founders I work with.
Why I Coach
I want to provide founders the direction, support, and space to be vulnerable that I did not have when I was a founder. I meet my clients where they are. I believe in building on my clients’ strengths and supporting their growth areas by enhancing their confidence, knowledge base, and network. The hour I spend with my clients is their hour, and while they decide on the agenda, I provide resources, contacts, thought parenting, and strategic planning. I also emphasize the absolute necessity of a healthy work/life balance and organizational culture. My coaching is tailored to each client, allowing them to bring their authentic selves to the table.
How I Can Help
I am really good at deeply understanding my clients’ passions and listening to the things that are not said. I am able to hear the needs in them as leaders, founders, and individuals. I pride myself at being able to actively listen and then partner in strategizing a plan. I am also my clients’ biggest cheerleader and problem solver all at once. I am an introvert and thus naturally connect very deeply with my clients from the beginning. I specialize in work/life balance, planning for diversity and inclusion, focusing on instructional leadership, creating school culture, leader and faculty identity development, hiring strategically, and aligning mission to school policies and procedures. I can support you as a thought partner, strategist, connector, mentor, and more, and I look forward to working with you.
