Elisa MacDonald
Skillful & Intentional Team Leadership
TESTIMONIALS
Elisa... allowed our team to understand the complexities of leadership within an organization. She also presented alternate viewpoints on leadership and challenged our team to think about how our own team functions. Elisa took the time to outline exercises and resources for our continued growth as a team. This was a truly valuable exercise to start our journey to being a better functioning leadership team. Carrie M. Manager Clinical Research Operations Ambry Genetics, CA
Karli Lomax, Director of Teaching and Learning
"Working with Elisa during my first year in a new leadership role at an International School was incredibly impactful. At a time when the work often felt overwhelming and the list of priorities never seemed to end, she helped me slow down, focus, and sort through what mattered most. What made her such an effective coach was her ability to truly listen. Through our conversations, I was able to process my own thinking more clearly, and her thoughtful questions consistently prompted meaningful reflection and growth. She brought an authenticity and humility to every interaction that immediately built trust. Beyond her deep knowledge and experience, what I appreciated most was that she never positioned herself as simply giving answers. Instead, she supported me in ways that strengthened my own capacity, confidence, and sense of efficacy as a leader. I left each conversation feeling both supported and more capable. I’m deeply grateful for her guidance and would highly recommend her to anyone navigating leadership growth or transition.
Bonnie H., Elementary Principal
"Elisa took on an impossible job with our district leadership team and handled it with incredible professionalism and humor."
"Elisa is tough and kind at the same time. There's no doubt she's going to push the work when the work needs a good shove, but she manages to do so with grace, twinkly humor and above all, an unwavering belief that we have the potential to get it right."
Lisa Lineweaver, Principal (and former Director of Accelerated Improvement)
Joelle Pederson, ELA/Literacy District Middle School Coordinator
"As a new district leader, I have benefited greatly from Elisa's support. With her guidance, I am now better equipped to mentor the teacher leaders in my department... She also worked with me to develop strategic goals and priorities for my department that are high-leverage and actionable. She has supported me in thinking through challenging leadership decisions around staff changes and implementing a practice of analyzing data and student work in my district citywide meetings. I appreciate her ability to think strategically while also addressing the day-to-day minutiae of school life and interpersonal dynamics that shape implementation.
"Elisa's work IS the foundation of the support and training we provide to our Teacher Leaders. She first joined us to work with our first six schools in Boston and almost immediately started thinking about what systems we needed to build to support teacher leaders and began creating those systems and resources. That foundation grew to include support for coaches and principals. At every step, she kept us focused on what would change teacher practice and improve student outcomes. Her impact is evident in the language we use every day, the framework of support we provide, and in the success of our partner schools. We are incredibly grateful for the legacy she has left and look forward to continuing to use her lens of ongoing innovation and evolution as we move ahead."
-Meghan O., Vice President of Programs
Mary B. Middle School Science Teacher Leader with 28 years of teaching experience
"This leadership experience was so rewarding on so many levels. It was the first time that department meetings had value and I looked forward to each meeting. Elisa's coaching was superb and sorely missed when it was over. Every school system should have an Elisa MacDonald!
"Elisa played a pivotal role in our school being awarded a $900,000 School Redesign grant. She was incredible at leading our Turnaround Team of teacher leaders and administrators in a meaningful, engaging process that resulted in writing a sustainable improvement plan that was a true representation of what our staff, families and community envisioned for our school. Several years later, we are making gains as we implement the plan."
Brian Turner, Chief Academic Officer
"Elisa is the most skilled professional developer that I have worked with in my 20+ year educational career. She is a terrifically talented and knowledgeable leader of professional development for teachers, teacher leaders, and school administrators. She is detail-oriented and highly skilled in structuring adult learning to engage educators and help them reflect upon and change their practice."
Toby Romer, Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Ed & Special Programs
"Our network of instructional coaches found Elisa's insights to be right on target and they wanted more. Elisa tailored each professional learning experience to our specific needs and afterwards, our instructional partners, principals and lead teachers shared that it was exactly what they needed to move forward..."
Cathy Gassenheimer, Executive VP for Instructional Partners
"High quality! I have seen tremendous growth among principals and department leaders."
Sue Cullen, Assistant Superintendent
"Elisa took on an impossible job with our leadership team and handled it with incredible professionalism and humor."
Bonnie H., Elementary Principal
"Elisa did a phenomenal job with our leadership retreat! She purposefully and skillfully brought in a diverse group of stakeholders from our team to develop a day of intentionally crafted activities that led our group of department chairs to a productive and realistic outcome. I feel more hopeful now about our team than I have in a long while."
Suzanne M.F., World Language Department Chair
"What made Elisa such an effective leadership coach was her ability to truly listen... her thoughtful questions consistently prompted meaningful reflection and growth. She brought an authenticity and humility to every interaction that immediately built trust. Beyond her deep knowledge and experience, what I appreciated most was that she never positioned herself as simply giving answers. Instead, she supported me in ways that strengthened my own capacity, confidence, and sense of efficacy as a leader. I left each conversation feeling both supported and more capable."
Karli Lomax, Director of Teaching and Learning
"I've been here 19 years, and I can honestly say that I've learned more from Elisa this past year about leadership then I have in all my time prior. Elisa is a wonderful instructor. This was the BEST PD I have ever been a part of. She wasted no time and I feel like I am a better, more efficient leader...Every one of Elisa's sessions was beneficial. Her message is genuine and useful in both the short term and long term."
Roy Pavao., High School Science Department Head
"Elisa's training has been the single most impactful professional development opportunity I've ever participated in. I have found ways to revise my interactions with students and colleagues alike thanks to her thoughtful leadership sessions and book, which I consult a lot!
Lauren Ells, High School ELA Department Head
"Honestly, one of the BEST presenters I've ever had."
Melissa Batulevitz, Literacy Coach
"Elisa's training has transformed how I think about problem solving in schools, whether it's math, team meetings or social and emotional learning. I am less intimidated when dealing with challenging issues and have a whole new perspective about how to operate in schools."
Georgia N., Math Teacher Leader
"I think I learned the most by just observing Elisa lead us. She is so clearly masterful at this craft! While I was asked to fill this (teacher leadership) role, as opposed to volunteering for it, I think Elisa provided the supports I need to be successful."
Jessie C., Science Teacher Leader
"Elisa, I’ve been carrying our conversation with me all week. It was truly transformative. Thank you for the depth of thought, the intentionality, and the care you put into our sessions. Thank you also for the detailed notes and reflections in our shared doc. I’ve read through them several times already. The way you captured the nuances of our conversation and translated them into actionable next steps is such a gift. It’s giving me a new lens through which to think about leadership."
Connie Hur, Grade 4 Teacher Leader
"This experience was so rewarding on so many levels. It was the first time that department meetings had value and I looked forward to each meeting. Elisa's coaching was superb and sorely missed when it was over...
Every school system should have an Elisa MacDonald!"
Mary Buttileigri, Middle School Science Teacher Leader