Hope-Centered Educator

Heather Lageman is a certified life and engagement coach, administrator, and English teacher (grades 7–12) dedicated to fostering inspired and empowered students, educators, and leaders. A connector and community builder, she believes in nurturing all generations of educators and leaders and is committed to ensuring they have the support, professional learning, and resources they need to thrive. She finds joy in creating spaces for everyone to engage in coaching opportunities, core values exploration, cultivation of curiosity, and customized learning experiences. Heather brings to this work her whole self, her core values, and her focus to live with an open heart and brave spirit that uplifts all. She has co-authored School Seasons xSELeratED: A Year of Community and Collective Growth for Educators (xSELeratED Schools) and xSELeratED Schools Framework: Social-Emotional Learning at the Speed of Life and her articles can be found in Maryland Family Magazine, Spectrum Education’s Teachers Matter Magazine, and in the Learning Forward journal, The Learning Professional.Janice Bradley, Ph.D. is a professional educator and author who is currently serving as an educational and leadership consultant. Her expertise is in leadership development, instructional coaching, K-12 mathematics education, professional learning, systems and school change, facilitation, communication, co-designing cultures for continuous, ongoing, adult learning, and developing communities of practice where every adult is uplifted, supported, matters, and belongs. Her research can be found in two books: Designing Schools for Meaningful Professional Learning (2014) and Give Me Five: Five Coach Teacher Principal Collaborations that Promote Mathematics Success, and has written numerous articles in the Learning Forward Journal, The Learning Professional.

"The Hope-Centered Educator is a must-have guide enriching educators' lives with joy and meaning. Its interconnected yet stand-alone structure lets readers reflect, exploring how tomorrow can be better than today."Deborah S. Phelps, Author, Speaker, Collaborator, Global Ambassador“Now, more than ever, we need hope at the center of our educational landscape. The Hope-Centered Educator takes a working definition of hope and, with support from leaders in professional learning, puts it into relatable, measurable, actionable steps that will leave educators feeling understood with their spark reignited.”Liz Holloway, Peer Assistance & Review Consulting Teacher, Salt Lake City School District“This outstanding book proves that hope begins on the inside, providing real-life examples to teach educators to become their own change agents for living joyful lives.”Richard Finnegan, Author of Targeting Turnover"Heather and Janice are eminently qualified, caring, committed educators who understand what it takes to joyfully, meaningfully make a difference in the lives of those we serve and in our own lives, and their book is a reliable companion to keep with you to make the world a better place!”Walter McKenzie, Founder, The Worthy Educator“The Hope-Centered Educator offers what so many of us need right now: research-rooted, heart-forward practices for reclaiming purpose in our work. Lageman and Bradley offer a thoughtful roadmap for building hope-filled, accountable learning experiences and environments—starting with ourselves.”Leigh Reagan Alley, Ed.D., Author, School Seasons xSELeratED“The Hope-Centered Educator feels like two trusted educators, leaders, and coaches sitting across from you over coffee, sharing stories and insight while equipping you with practical, reflection-based strategies to harness hope, find deeper meaning, and transform challenges into opportunities for growth and fulfillment.”Jen Lara, Tig. H. Krekel Director, Center for Coaching and Mentoring, United States Naval Academy“The Hope-Centered Educator is a ray of light for teachers who give so much of themselves. It reminds us that renewal doesn’t come from fixing what’s broken but from remembering what’s possible. An honest and actionable guide to cultivating hope in our lives and in our work.”Sara Corckran, Author of Grit and Grace: How to Find Clarity and Optimism in Overwhelming Situations“The Hope-Centered Educator offers an abundance of powerful insights and practical tools to spark hope in all of us. The stories in the book demonstrate how hope may bring us increased joy as we navigate our journey through life.”Kris McCrea, PCC, Founder of McCrea Coaching, Inc.“This book is a powerful roadmap for reclaiming purpose in education. With compelling research and concrete strategies for application, The Hope-Centered Educator equips every teacher and leader to restore purpose, strengthen agency, and create thriving communities. It’s timely, practical, and deeply needed.”Heather Sauers, CEO, Edvance Collective"I have experienced the 7 Step Process to Create a Hope-Filled Learning Environment for Adults detailed in Chapter 6. Not only does it work, it is easily recreated and can transform your organization’s meetings from boring and vague to intentional and compelling."Dan Aragon, Principal, Ground Mound Elementary School, Rochester, WA“The Hope-Centered Educator goes beyond abstract ideas about hope—it offers a practical road map with concrete steps for building the skills and competencies that empower individuals. It also outlines processes leaders can use to design hope filled environments, essential for helping both individuals and organizations thrive. Truly "A Guide to Professional Renewal and Personal Empowerment", the book illustrates how to intentionally cultivate hope through accountability to ourselves and our vision.”Elissa Hozore, Director of Accessible Learning, Code in the Schools“The Hope-Centered Educator delivers a roadmap that reminds each educator that hope is not only possible, but it is essential to their role. The authors provide a theoretical and practical way forward that benefits both the educators and the students that they serve.”Janice Zimmerman, LCSW-C, Trainer, The Workplace Trauma Center“Lageman’s and Bradley’s watershed book empowers educators to move from powerlessness to purpose, offering practical tools for transformation. It reignites passion for teaching and equips readers to foster hope and resilience—an essential resource for anyone seeking renewal in education.”Cathy Davis, School Suicide Prevention Specialist, American Association of Suicidology“This book empowers educators to become change agents in their own lives through hope-filled mindsets and practical tools. The Hope-Centered Educator offers a refreshing path to professional renewal and personal meaning."Matt Musgrove, President & CEO, Padonia Park Club

• Introduction 1. The Power of the Positive Energy of Hope 2. Start with You: The Brighter Possibility for Your Own Life 3. Hope-Informed Competencies to Develop: Communication, Emotional Intelligence, Collaboration 4. Moving from Powerlessness to Empowerment 5. Leadership Actions that Shape a Hope-Based Environment 6. Designing a Hope-Filled Environment 7. Experiencing Hope with Accountability for Change Conclusion: The Way Forward