Real experiences. Real growth. Real impact.
See how students, educators, and partners are growing through their experiences with LEI.
Leadership is best understood through experience — and the people who live it. These stories come from students, educators, and community members who have been part of LEI. Each one reflects real growth, real connection, and real impact. This is what leadership looks like in action.
Marcus Broadnax
“Attending the gcLi Leadership Lab was transformative for me.”
My fellow attendees embraced me for who I am and taught me the power of being vulnerable. Even though we came from different backgrounds, we learned to listen to one another and value our varied experiences, adapting to work together towards a common goal. Through lots of laughter, tears and jubilation, I learned so much. This was a life changing experience for me, and I can’t wait to apply what I learned to help transform the lives of children in our community.
Michelle Heck
“I was challenged in my thinking every single day, but in all the best ways.”
Attending gcLi was a truly transformative experience for me, both personally and professionally. While I gained valuable leadership strategies, the most meaningful impact came from being pushed outside of my comfort zone and challenged to reflect deeply on how I lead. It shifted my perspective from leading through control to leading through connection, with a stronger focus on creating a genuine sense of belonging for both students and staff. I also walked away with a deeper understanding of how trust-based feedback can drive real growth. Returning to my school, I felt re-energized and more intentional in supporting my team and developing leadership in my students.
Jason McClelland
“Being part of the gcLi leadership lab changed the way I think about learning and growth.”
The chance to work with other schools and see new ideas in action was huge. Even though they weren’t public schools, we were still able to take a lot of what they were doing and bring those ideas back with us. The people leading the lab were incredibly knowledgeable, especially when it came to things like giving meaningful feedback and helping students step up and take ownership.
What really stood out was that we didn’t just talk about ideas—we practiced them. The activities gave us something real to build on when we returned to our schools, and that made all the difference. I learned more in this lab than I ever have at a conference, and I left feeling refreshed, motivated, and ready to put it all into action.
Heather William-Graham
“When you truly believe every student can succeed and hold them to that standard, they rise to meet it.”
Being in a Title I school, many of our students face challenges outside the classroom, but that doesn’t define what they’re capable of. One of the biggest takeaways from the gcLi experience was understanding how our intent as leaders and educators must match how our message is received. That shift has changed how we communicate, how we support, and how we lead.
Most importantly, it reinforced the power of belief. When we truly believe our students can achieve, regardless of their background, we start to see different results. A family’s financial situation is not a measure of a child’s ability. Holding high expectations, and helping our teachers do the same, has been a key part of our success. When you believe in kids and continue to push them, they rise to meet the challenge.
Lindsey Smith
“Leadership is about being intentional in how you show up, and that changes everything.”
The gcLi leadership lab pushed me to be more thoughtful about how I lead and how others experience my leadership. It wasn’t just about hearing new ideas, it was about trying them out, seeing what works, and bringing those ideas back into my school in a real way.
I came back with a clearer focus on building relationships, supporting my staff, and creating an environment where both students and teachers feel valued and pushed to grow. That level of intentionality has made a real difference in how we approach our work every day.