Learning-Centered Leadership

Coaching for Leaders Who Drive Learning at Every Level.

“The most powerful form of professional development occurs when educators engage in coaching that challenges their thinking, strengthens their practice, and aligns their work to student needs.”
— Elena Aguilar, author of The Art of Coaching
A young girl in a classroom raising her hand with other students in the background

Leadership Coaching that Cultivates a Culture of Learning for All.

This coaching model follows intentional cycles—starting with the end in mind: your goals for student, staff, and self-directed learning.

We begin by clarifying your school’s vision and setting focused priorities, then co-plan the specific leadership moves and knowledge needed to support meaningful change. After implementation, we gather feedback from staff and engage in reflective, judgment-free debrief conversations to assess your impact, refine strategies, and determine next steps.

With data as our compass, each cycle strengthens your capacity to lead with clarity, purpose, and an instructional lens—ensuring that student success remains anchored in adult learning and your own growth as a leader.

The Quick Impact Cycle

Strategic prep for your next big move.

  • A focused, high-impact coaching cycle designed to help school and district leaders prepare for an upcoming meeting, message, or instructional move—and reflect afterward to assess its effectiveness. Through 2–3 one-hour conversations spaced over 2–4 weeks, this cycle provides clarity, momentum, and real-time leadership growth. Ideal for testing strategies, building confidence, and making thoughtful, data-informed moves when it matters most.

  • Session 1: Clarity & Planning
    Define the purpose of your upcoming leadership move—whether it’s a meeting, message, or instructional decision. Identify your goal, anticipate responses, and plan for impact.

    Session 2: Reflection & Feedback
    Debrief what happened. Examine outcomes, staff feedback, and early indicators. What worked? What surprised you? What will you carry forward?

    (Optional) Session 3: Strategic Next Steps
    Refine your approach and outline clear next steps. Use insights from the cycle to build confidence, improve alignment, and lead forward with intention.

  • The Quick Impact Cycle offers focused, high-leverage support to help you:

    • Gain clarity on your leadership goals and plan for an upcoming meeting, message, or instructional move

    • Co-design intentional actions that align with your vision and drive progress

    • Reflect on outcomes, staff feedback, and initial impact to guide next steps

    Even just 2–3 focused conversations can create meaningful momentum—helping you lead with clarity, respond with purpose, and accelerate change in real time.

  • Quick Impact Cycle

    Focused support for an upcoming leadership move, initiative, or key decision.

    • Includes: 2–3 one-hour coaching sessions over 3–4 weeks

    • Price: $500- $750

    When paired with additional services, discounts apply:

    • Add to an MTSS Implementation Review for integrated, data-driven coaching

    • Pair with the MTSS Leadership Academy for extended learning and aligned leadership development

    A powerful, time-efficient way to gain clarity, take action, and reflect on real-time leadership impact.

The Ongoing Impact Cycle

From Insight to Implementation—in Just 12 Weeks

  • The Ongoing Impact Cycle is a comprehensive coaching partnership designed for school and district leaders ready to implement meaningful, long-term initiatives. This cycle offers personalized support over 8–12 weeks, guiding leaders through an iterative process of goal setting, leadership action, reflection, and strategic adjustment—all grounded in real-time feedback and data. Ideal for launching and sustaining key MTSS initiatives like progress monitoring, curriculum adoption, or system-wide assessment strategies.

  • 4–6 Coaching Sessions (Over 8–12 Weeks)
    Each session builds upon the last to create a cohesive cycle of improvement:

    • Session 1: Strategic Goal Setting + Alignment
      Clarify a measurable, student-centered goal tied to your site or district priorities.

    • Session 2: Leadership Moves + Mindset Shift
      Identify behaviors and belief shifts needed to support culture and instructional improvement.

    • Session 3: Co-Planning for Implementation
      Design meetings, messaging, and leadership actions that align with your goals.

    • Session 4: Feedback + Real-Time Reflection
      Use staff input and early indicators to assess impact and refine strategies.

    • Session 5: System Check + Troubleshooting
      Examine fidelity, address barriers, and recalibrate support structures.

    • Session 6: Strategic Reflection + Sustainability Planning
      Reflect on progress, assess leadership growth, and plan for long-term success.

  • The Ongoing Impact Cycle provides sustained, personalized leadership coaching designed to support the successful launch and implementation of major school improvement efforts. Whether you're rolling out a new curriculum, revamping your data systems, or deepening MTSS practices, this cycle helps you lead with clarity, strategy, and confidence.

    You’ll have the opportunity to:

    • Launch and lead a major school improvement initiative with clarity and purpose

    • Refine your leadership practices to drive alignment between goals, actions, and outcomes

    • Build confidence in facilitating complex change and supporting adult learning

    • Use real-time data and staff feedback to guide responsive leadership moves

    • Strengthen fidelity, momentum, and sustainability of MTSS implementation

    By the end of the cycle, you'll have not only made progress on a meaningful initiative—you’ll have built the leadership habits and systems thinking needed for long-term success.

  • Price: $1200-$1500
    Includes:

    • Personalized leadership coaching (4–6 sessions)

    • Resource review and collaborative planning support

    • Session recaps and strategy documentation

    • Optional email check-ins and feedback between sessions

    When paired with additional services, discounts apply to deepen your learning:

    • Add to an MTSS Implementation Review for integrated, data-driven coaching

    • Pair with the MTSS Leadership Academy for extended learning and aligned leadership development

Year-long Improvement Cycle

Strategic Support for a Year of Meaningful Change

  • The Year-long Improvement Cycle is a leadership partnership designed for sustained growth, deep systems change, and student-centered transformation. Across 10–12 sessions over the course of the academic year, leaders engage in a full cycle of goal setting, implementation, reflection, and strategic recalibration—ensuring leadership moves align with the outcomes students deserve.

  • Initial Planning + Needs Assessment
    Begin with a 90-minute strategy session to clarify site priorities through a review of student outcome data, stakeholder feedback, and a collaborative community needs assessment. Align on vision, values, and shared goals.

    Monthly 1:1 Coaching Sessions (10–12 total)
    Engage in focused coaching to refine leadership behaviors, align implementation plans with identified needs, and respond to real-time challenges with strategic problem-solving.

    Co-Planning + Document Review
    Partner on the development of key communications, meeting structures, and messaging—ensuring alignment with improvement goals and responsiveness to both staff and community input.

    Fidelity Checks + Progress Monitoring
    Conduct mid-year and end-of-year reviews of implementation strength, using outcome data and fidelity tools to assess impact and inform next steps.

    Embedded Reflection Cycles
    Use structured reflection on staff feedback, community engagement, and student outcomes to adapt leadership practices and refine strategy throughout the year.

    Annual Strategic Planning Session
    Synthesize lessons learned and input from all stakeholder groups to assess progress, celebrate growth, and plan forward with sustainability, equity, and impact in mind.

  • The Year-long Improvement Cycle is designed for leaders seeking continuous, high-impact support throughout the school year. With monthly sessions, real-time feedback, and sustained strategic planning, this cycle builds the capacity to lead adaptive change, improve implementation, and accelerate results across your school or system.

    You will:

    • Establish long-term priorities and align leadership actions to an annual improvement roadmap

    • Monitor progress with ongoing data analysis and fidelity checks

    • Engage in structured reflection and responsive leadership conversations

    • Strengthen team collaboration and stakeholder communication through purposeful planning

    • Build sustainable systems and practices that outlast leadership transitions

    This cycle is ideal for leaders who want consistent thought partnership, targeted accountability, and expert support to drive measurable, lasting improvement—month after month.

  • The Year-long Improvement Cycle provides ongoing, strategic leadership support across the school year—ideal for leaders committed to long-term systems change and continuous improvement.
    Includes: 10–12 sessions over the academic year
    Price: $3250

    When paired with additional services, discounts apply to deepen your learning:

    • Add to an MTSS Implementation Review to ensure yearlong coaching aligns with systemwide findings

    • Pair with the MTSS Leadership Academy for layered learning and leadership development

    A powerful year-long partnership for leaders ready to embed change, monitor impact, and build lasting coherence across their systems.

A smiling woman with shoulder-length brown hair and gold hoop earrings, wearing a black top, outdoors in front of a building with a glass door and greenery reflected in the background.

Dr. Joan Schumann is a nationally recognized educator, researcher, and systems-level leader with over 20 years of experience in both public and private education. As a former principal, district administrator, and MTSS systems-change leader, Joan brings a rare blend of educational research to her experience as a school and district leader.

She has successfully led MTSS implementation across elementary and secondary settings, redesigned intervention systems, and transformed outcomes in areas such as attendance, special education, and family engagement. Passionate about equity, clarity, and sustainability, Joan empowers leaders to build systems that not only work—but last.

Meet Your Coach

Joan Schumann, PhD

What Trusted Colleagues Say About Joan

  • Smiling woman with brown hair, wearing a pink and floral patterned shirt, resting her chin on her hand, posing against a plain white background.

    "Joan is one of the most upbeat, intelligent school leaders with whom I've had the privilege to work. A true values-driven leader, unafraid to make hard decisions, she is also incredibly productive and results-oriented without sacrificing a strong focus on relationships, which has made her a beloved and respected leader. "

    Bridget McNamer, Leadership Coach

  • A smiling woman with long brown hair wearing a white sleeveless top with blue polka dots, standing outdoors against a white wall.

    “Joan's warmth, energy, enthusiasm, and passion is contagious. She is one of those rare leaders who has the technical skill to lead K-12 systems efficiently but also the adaptive leadership to deliver results.”

    Dr. Amanda VanDerHeyden, Founder of SpringMath and Educational Researcher

  • Close-up of a smiling middle-aged man with short, light brown hair, wearing a dark top, against a plain white background.

    "At the heart of her mission was always a fundamental duty of care for our students...I miss her, but am grateful for the lasting contributions she has made."

    Paul Swanson, Director of Innovation and Technology

  • A woman with curly brown hair and glasses smiling outdoors, with a chain-link fence, trees, and blue sky with clouds in the background.

    “Joan is a transformational, innovative leader. Her instructional leadership leads to improved student outcomes and her boundless energy is contagious."

    Mele Benz, Former Principal and Technical Assistance Provider

  • A smiling woman with long dark hair, wearing a white and orange patterned top, standing in front of a blue wall.

    “I am but one of many who have grown in their skillset by working with [Joan]. I am forever grateful for what she has done for the children in our school as well for myself professionally.”

    Ms. Shawna Diamond, Special Education Teacher, Instructional Coach and Administrator

  • Black and white headshot of a smiling man with dark hair, wearing a suit and tie.

    “Joan has the ability to quickly identify challenges, develop solutions and build teams and systems to get things done. She possesses a high degree of integrity, a notable work ethic, and a great sense of humor.”

    Steven Dexter, School Principal

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