“As a former principal and lifelong educator, I have experienced both the weight and the possibility of leading real change in schools.”

— Joan Schumann, PhD (CEO & Founder of Leading for Learning)

Meet Joan

Lifelong Educator | Leadership Consultant | MTSS & Equity Excellence

Dr. Joan Schumann is a passionate, purpose-driven leader with more than two decades of experience building systems that work—for students, families, and the educators who serve them. From classrooms in Salt Lake City to international schools in Singapore and Beijing, and then as a principal in California, Joan’s leadership journey has always centered on one thing: Equitable education for all.

She founded Leading for Learning out of one simple truth: Leading schools is incredibly hard—especially when you’re doing it right. Every offering; from leadership coaching to professional learning and MTSS systems support, is built from Joan’s firsthand experience of what it takes to lead meaningful, lasting change. Her work equips school and district leaders with the tools, guidance, and network they need to drive results that truly matter for students, staff, and communities.

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Trusted. Respected. Impactful.

Black and white photo of a woman with shoulder-length curly hair, wearing hoop earrings, a dark blazer, and white pants, smiling with her hands in her pockets, standing in front of a brick wall.
“Dr. Schumann’s leadership has profoundly enhanced each school community I have witnessed her engage with, leaving a lasting and positive impact on the lives of countless students.”
— Dr. Kelly Patrick, University of Utah Reading Clinic
“Joan is an outstanding professional and person. She is driven by a heart full of passion for education and has the expertise to support her gift of creating what is possible.”
— Mr. Kyle Story, School Counselor

    • PhD in Special Education with a focus on PBIS and equity in school discipline, University of Utah

    • MS in Special Education with focus on inclusive early intervention services, University of Utah

    • BA in Psychology (Honors) & Spanish, California State University, Chico

    • Multiple teaching and administrative credentials across WA, CA, UT, and OR

    • CA Superintendent Academy and multiple leadership development programs

    • Taught in general and special education classrooms across grades PreK–8, with a strong focus on multilingual learners and inclusive classroom practices

    • Delivered evidence-based interventions in literacy, math, and behavior; successfully exiting over 80% of students from support services

    • Mentored student teachers and early-career educators; one former mentee named America’s National Teacher of the Year

    • Served as Adjunct Faculty at the University of Utah and Westminster College, preparing K–12 educators in assessment, instructional design, and culturally-responsive practices

    • Principal at an Elementary School in CA, leading district-level MTSS framework development, securing $2.5M in grant funding, and improving student outcomes across all key indicators

    • Former Director of Student Support Services and Professional Learning & Instruction, delivering 150+ professional development sessions and system-level MTSS design

    • Led districtwide instructional alignment and leadership coaching initiatives, supporting coherence and collaboration across administrative teams

    • Founder of Leading for Learning, providing coaching, strategic consulting, and professional learning for school and district leaders building inclusive, sustainable systems

    • Currently serves as the Founding Executive Director for the International MTSS Association (IMA)

    • Founding Organizer: International MTSS Summit (IMS) and RtI for International Schools Summit (RISS)

    • Presenter at state, national, and international conferences (CA-PBIS, APBS, EduTech Asia, CEC, and more)

    • Published in journals and handbooks including The Practical Handbook of School Psychology and Handbook of Positive Behavior Support. and the Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders

    • Recognized for aligning MTSS implementation with areas like absenteeism, SLP services, and family engagement

    • Founding Director, International School Leaders of Educational Support (ISLES)

What Trusted Colleagues Say About Joan

  • “Joan is an incredible leader who understands MTSS from both the academic and behavior side. She also understands the critical role of getting the adult piece right and how to leverage implementation science to create the conditions for successful, sustained implementation. She is always a pure joy to work and interact with."

    Dr. Clay Cook, Implementation Scientist & Chief Development Officer at CharacterStrong

  • Portrait of a smiling woman with shoulder-length brown hair, wearing a pink floral blouse, resting her chin on her hand against a 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 woman with long brown hair smiling outdoors, wearing a sleeveless white top with small dark dots and a small gold necklace.

    “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 man with short brown hair, light skin, and blue eyes, wearing a dark shirt, 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 glasses and wavy hair smiling outdoors on a bright day, with a blue sky, scattered clouds, a tree, and a chain-link fence 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, Technical Assistance Provider & Former Principal

  • Close-up of a woman with long dark hair smiling at the camera, wearing an orange and white patterned top, with blue and white wall background.

    “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 portrait of a smiling man in 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

  • "It has been a pleasure to watch as [Joan] deliberately seeks out vastly different experiences to grow her expertise and view student learning from every angle. She is both knowledgeable and passionate about her work, while caring deeply for her people. I am confident you will thrive under her mentorship."

    Heather Newell, M.Ed. – Lecturer, Teacher Education and Leadership, Utah State University, and former principal

Let’s find a way to work together.

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