In honor of Women’s History Month, we spoke to the all female leadership team at ReGeneration Schools about what inspired them to become leaders in education.
“If there’s anyone out there that showed me what hard work really means and what the consequences of giving up are, it’s my mother,” Lindsey Robinson, Superintendent shared. “I know that can be kind of cliché, but she took us from the bottom to the top. I will not let her down.”
Lori Flood, Chief Operations Officer added, “I have found inspiration from my co-leaders. Being able to see their relentless focus…is amazing and inspiring on a daily basis.”
Elissa Klein, Chief of Staff added, “All of the seminal charter organizations were originally founded by men. We’re in a very special time now where we see a lot of female CEOs stepping up…It’s a new era, especially for women of color, stepping into those roles.”
The ReGen leadership team offered advice they would give to their younger selves
“Don’t feel like you have to have it all figured out,” Elissa stated. “Stay open to change. The best things to happen to me career-wise, like coming here, were never the plan…Everything I have is because I was open to change and not wed to the idea of what a successful career is.”
“If we get to a place where we think, I’ve learned everything I need to know, we’re kidding ourselves. You can always learn. You can always grow. You can always improve,” Emily Moree, Director of Specialized Services, advised.
Lindsey shared her view on what it takes to lead. “You have to have the grit. You have to have the perseverance. You have to have the tenacity, organizational skills, and the willingness to work hard. No matter where you are now, if you don’t operate by that mentality then you’re not going to make it.”
Elissa added that pushing yourself to try new things is important. “Go for things you don’t already know how to do, because that helps you gain technical skills but also helps you cope effectively with ambiguity and change and complexity, which is the work of leadership.”
Stacey Shells, ReGeneration CEO, finished by sharing some of her keys to success. “You already have it in you. Keep working hard. A lot of times I see young women who want things, but they haven’t done the work. Know your worth, but also know when you are still struggling. Create a network of people who are stronger than you, so that when you’re in a tough position, you can call upon a variety of resources to figure things out. And provide opportunities for others. If an opportunity is provided for you, make sure you open a door and provide opportunities for other people.”