Dr. Lei Ferguson-Washington

• Recruited and onboarded 8–12 operational leaders annually into professional learning cohorts, leveraging district-wide communications and partnerships to achieve ≥90% retention.
• Designed and delivered monthly, research-based workshops on adult-learning best practices, training 100% of central-office leaders and 82.5% of 4,000+ employees in safety and managerial competencies.
• Managed end-to-end logistics for 150+ sessions/year—coordinating venues, technology, and community partners—to ensure seamless program delivery.
• Conducted needs assessments and data-driven evaluations, refining workshop content to boost average evaluation scores from 4.3 to 4.6/5.0 and sustain ratings ≥4.6 across three years.
• Developed and launched a regulatory tracking system in the LMS, monitoring progress and issuing credentials to 1,500+ participants annually.
• Chaired a cross-departmental steering committee to align offerings, report outcomes to senior leadership, and maintain compliance with state/federal regulations.
• Cultivated a high-performance operational team—reducing punitive leave by 15% and increasing employee retention by 62.5%—and elevated the center’s profile through a comprehensive rebrand and expanded community/facility partnerships.

• Led the strategic turnaround of a low-performing Title I PK–5 school, applying data-driven leadership and best practices to elevate academic outcomes from 58.6 percent of students not meeting growth targets to 90.1 percent exceeding them within three years..
• Analyzed complex assessment and climate data to align improvement plans with the school’s vision and goals.
• Designed and facilitated research-based professional development on service-learning, experiential methods, and restorative practices to build faculty capacity7 resulting in 30% of the faculty being promoted to district level positions from 2015 to 2021.
• Cultivated and managed community partnerships to co-create service-learning projects and drive schoolwide improvement creating the Volvo Victors volunteers, the Parent University in collab with GTCC, the Dudley Instructional Assistants program for Juniors and Seniors desiring a career in early childhood.
• Evaluated instructional and psychosocial support programs, using feedback loops to optimize student comprehension and retention resulting in a 10%+ decrease in chronic absenteeism.
• Developed innovative faculty recruitment and engagement strategies, fostering a collaborative, high-performance culture resulting in 98% of Teach for America teacher licensure candidates being awarded state bonuses for high student academic growth.
• Introduced experiential learning models (e.g., Focus Boards, B.F. Skinner’s Box) to enhance student engagement and holistic development resulting in the school being one of only few that did not experience double-digit proficiency regression during the Covid-19 pandemic (8% total loss).

• Implemented the comprehensive administration of a Title I PK–4 school, increasing enrollment by 23% (489 to 600+ students).
• Led academic turnaround: ELA proficiency climbed from 24% to 87.5% and Math from 17% to 57.4% (2008–2015).
• Spearheaded the SACS accreditation renewal (2009) and earned Lee County's 4-A Continuous Improvement along with the Save the Children Literacy Initiative Platinum awards.
• Developed and scaled academic consulting for 80+ educators, integrating Paideia Student Inquiry, Everyday Math, and developmentally appropriate Pre-K curricula resulting in a 2014 State Finalist for Teacher of the Year.
• Championed a full-inclusion pilot, boosting ELA scores to 89% (males) and 86% (females) and Math to 86% and 82%, respectively.
• Designed and delivered 20+ research-based professional development sessions (e.g., MAP testing, inclusive pedagogy, crisis prevention), training 100% of faculty annually.
• Cultivated partnerships with parents and community organizations through Parent University and Family Fun Day events, enhancing stakeholder engagement and support in service learning initiatives.

(Relocated to NC in 2015 to care for mother diagnosed with renal failure, transitioned in 2021).

• Supported the principal in executing the K–6 instructional agenda for a 500-student elementary school.
• Analyzed and interpreted Alabama Course of Study curriculum data to optimize methodology integration and ensure mastery across all assessed subjects.
• Enforced the district student code of conduct, implementing proactive behavior-modification strategies to maintain a positive learning environment.
• Coordinated ELL, Special Education, Guidance, and BBSST teams to deliver targeted interventions for students with diverse academic needs.
• Streamlined oversight of the School Improvement Plan, achieving 100 % on-time execution and alignment of programs with strategic objectives.
• Directed staff development—designing and delivering 15+ research-based workshops—and managed grant writing/administration to attract, nurture, and retain top-tier educators.
• Led production of three schoolwide theatrical events, coordinating all technical, creative, and instructional elements to enrich student and community engagement.

(Relocated back to SC to be closer to family due to a life status change.)

As Principal:

• Spearheaded the systematic overhaul of school operations, instilling a student-centric approach and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
• Instituted standardized schedules, performance metrics, and academic programs, driving the conceptualization and execution of strategic enhancement plans.
• Fostered collaboration among a diverse team of 40 faculty members to cultivate an optimal learning environment and refine curriculum practices.
• Innovated interactive learning programs, propelling academic achievement for over 320 students in grades PK-5, with specialized support plans for students impacted by active-duty deployment of parents in the Army or Air Force.
• Championed students' educational advancement through the development and implementation of learner-centric policies, programs, activities, and budgets.
• Conducted comprehensive analysis of performance indicators to identify and capitalize on best practices, implementing targeted remediation initiatives to address learning gaps.
• Deployed research-based professional development methodologies for teachers and support staff, optimizing organizational objectives and operational efficiency.
• Delivered impactful professional development sessions on pertinent topics including Classroom Environment Optimization, Maximizing Parent Engagement for Enhanced Student Participation, Embracing Student Frustration as Part of the Learning Journey, Empowering Math Mastery through Inquiry-Based Instruction, and Leveraging Wrong Answers as Learning Opportunities.

Assistant Principal, serving at Benjamin Martin Elementary from 2003-2005.

Full-Time Principal Fellow Intern, serving Mac Williams Middle School and Cape Fear High School from 2002-2003.

Part-Time Gear-Up Instructional Tutor, serving struggling learners in middle grades from 2001-2002 while in graduate school full-time with the NC Principal Fellows program.

Teacher of Theatre Arts, serving Mary McArthur A+ Magnet School from 1999-2001.