In this episode, Dr. Sarah Ranney shares her journey from instructional coach to executive director of Lafayette Preparatory Academy. She and Jethro dive into the powerful—and sometimes delicate—dynamics of instructional coaches evaluating teachers. Dr. Ranney discusses how LPA has built a culture of continuous improvement, the role of academic rigor, and how leadership vision shapes school success.

• Lafayette Preparatory Academy, started k-2 and added a grade each year, K-8
• The reason schools exist is to educate kids. 
• Strong academic program 
• Inner core of St. Louis City
• Diverse by design - socio-economic status and race and religious diversity
• What three words would you use to define our school? 
• It really does take a village to raise a child
• Parent experience
• Intake conference - teachers asking parents to build relationships
• Families are our students’ first teachers. Teachers are spending many hours with our kids. 
• Students grew academically over the pandemic because of the relationships with parents. 
• Designing school. 
• Data personalizes and depersonalizes all at the same time
• Teaching is a very personal project. 
• If you think you don’t have anywhere to grow, you probably should get out of the field you’re in. 
• Why their coaches do evaluations instead of the principal.
• How to be a transformative principal? Ask for feedback and be willing to be vulnerable to respond to that feedback.

About Dr. Sarah Ranney  

Dr. Sarah Ranney has been with Lafayette Preparatory Academy (LPA) since 2014 and is a proud parent to an LPA 8th grader. She believes that every child has an inalienable right to attain an excellent education no matter their economic status, residential location, or background. Sarah joined LPA after four years working as an instructional coach with Teach For America where she focused on developing Early Childhood and Elementary teachers across the metropolitan area. She supported more than 300 teachers in more than 40 schools during her tenure there. Prior to Teach For America, Sarah spent several years in the classroom in the St. Louis Public Schools and an Independent, Private School. Sarah has an Ed.D in School Administration as well as an Education Specialist and Masters in School Administration from the University of Missouri- St. Louis, a Master of Arts in Teaching from Webster University, a Bachelor of Arts in Media Relations and a Bachelor of Arts in Women's and Gender Studies from the University of Missouri-Columbia. She is a certified Teacher, Principal, and Superintendent. Sarah is also a Doula and Certified Lactation Counselor. She is also an Assistant Scoutmaster with Troop 362 and loves helping youth develop leadership skills in the great outdoors. When not at school, you might find her playing strategic games like War Chest or Settlers of Catan or hanging out in Tower Grove park with her family.

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