What We Do

Teaching is a skill. It's also a calling.

Teaching requires intentional, purposeful practice to grow — but it also starts with heart. We help educators cultivate, sustain, and rebuild their love for the work, alongside their craft.

for every stage of the journey

Coaching

We support three groups of educators: those strengthening existing instructional skills, newer teachers wanting practical, hands-on classroom exposure, and leaders developing their team's culture and support systems.

approved!
no one has all the answers — together, we find them

Mentoring

Grounded in our mission to enhance every student's experience by fostering their teachers' love of teaching. Do we have all the answers? No. But we're here to encourage, uplift, and develop each other through community.

with heart!
Leadership

Meet the founders

Three educators who turned their own classroom experience into a mission to support others.

Shawnette Bryant

Shawnette Bryant

CEO & Co-Founder

Assistant Principal at a large urban high school in Dallas, TX, with aspirations of becoming a principal to fully serve the community. Leads Teachers LEAD's projects, communications, and partnerships.

Nicole York

Nicole York

Co-Founder

HR professional with 20+ years of experience across HR, payroll, and benefits systems. PHR-certified since 2006 and SHRM-SCP certified in 2015; also serves as an adjunct professor.

Dr. Paula Stanton

Dr. Paula Stanton

Co-Founder

Supervisor of Equity & Cultural Proficiency and AAUW Woman of the Year. Served as Shawnette Bryant's instructional coach and mentor — one of the reasons Shawnette stayed in education.

Student Advisory Team

Because students deserve a voice in how we serve them

The Student Advisory Team (SAT) keeps our coaching and mentoring current, relevant, and genuinely useful. Serving on the SAT is real leadership and service-learning experience — students gain hands-on exposure to entrepreneurship and advocacy while guiding initiatives like LEAD with Heart.

Mrs. Thomas inspired me to want to inspire others — to see past poverty, disabilities, and trauma, and see the light within every single one of our students.