Take back control and live the life you’ve always imagined.

Hi, I'm Khalia  

Founder of KSL Coaching & Consulting LLC

This is my Story

During my first year as an assistant principal, my dynamic principal was tasked with an additional role which would require her to be on our campus for a minimum of a few hours a week, leaving me, the novice assistant principal, to run a large K-8 elementary and close out the school year. Suffice it to say, I survived that baptism by fire and was appointed Interim Principal for the upcoming school year. 

Transitioning from AP to Principal at the same school brings its challenges but I was so excited to begin my journey. I had the pleasure of working with my staff the previous year, so I didn't have to establish new relationships and build trust, I was able to build on the foundation I started as an assistant Principal. The summer prior to the school start, I plunged headfirst into planning for the upcoming year. I created grandiose plans to transform our school into a leading 21st Century Learning Institution, where innovation and enterprise was out the forefront of our student outcomes. 

The year was off to a great start. On August 17, 2017, we opened our doors to 858 smiling students, 38 eager teachers, and 20 beaming support staff members. The school year was going fairly smoothly. I thought, "This is a breeze. I can do it all BY MYSELF."

By October, I realized this wasn't the case. My calendar was booked and busy, with almost every hour accounted for. Day by day, the parent complaints for any and every thing began to grow. I began to feel overwhelmed by District leader demands for data, off campus meetings, and new principal pressures. I had to learn budgeting for the first time and manage an almost million dollar budget. The issues kept arising. My teachers, who were once allies, now saw me as "the opposition" because of my new role. Students needed my time and attention.  Parents wanted my specialized care for their concerns. Support staff needed me for direction. And the teachers wanted me for instructional leadership. Not to mention, the self-imposed pressures I placed on myself to strive for excellence. All were legit reasons for my time. I just didn't have enough hours in the day to meet everyone's needs. 

The job was physically and mentally draining. There was no one to help me understand and navigate the pressures of leadership. 

I realized in order to transform my school, I had to first manage my school. I had to be very intentional with how I allocated my time, attention, and resources. I had to have a strong foundation for my principalship and that foundation had to be based on order, systems, and structures. And most importantly, I had to give myself grace to know that transformational leadership would not happen overnight. I began to pull on all of my strengths, from my days as a teacher, instructional coach, curriculum and assessment designer, professional development presenter and coordinator, and my skills in educational technology, to help me design my unique blend of transformational leadership. 

By my third year as a principal I was leading my school of over 900 students, into my vision for 21st Century Learning. I was appointed Principal on Assignment to help support new and aspiring principals improve their leadership skills so they can transform their school sites. 

And then…the COVID-19 pandemic. I was tasked to lead and support our students, teachers, and administrators in my new role as District Administrator into Distance Learning. I began to teach new and veteran school administrators how they could virtually manage and lead their schools by implementing a unique blend of structures, systems, instructional practices, data analysis, and intentional learning to manage their schools, evaluate and observe their teachers, and support students in a world that was totally new for all involved. With the success of our Distance Learning platform and instruction, I am now helping to establish our new Virtual Academy. 

In 2021, I started KSL Coaching & Consulting, LLC because I wanted to return to my love of supporting educational leaders through quality professional development and coaching. I want to help leaders navigate the challenges of educational leadership by uncovering their own leadership style by pulling in their unique blend of their strengths.