Strengths-based Coaching and 360° Feedback
For Educational Leaders
Coaching has never been more critical. Our team of experienced, transformational, equity-minded educational leaders elevates the performance and efficacy of school and system administrators in public, charter, and independent models, helping them navigate challenging political contexts and accelerating desired outcomes.
Regardless of career stage, Solutionary coaches are skilled at supporting educational leaders in a variety of contexts. We provide services for:
New-to-administration leaders
Advancing administrators in new roles or contexts
Veteran administrators looking for professional development
Resilient administrators facing challenging circumstances or those wishing to or needing to improve performance
Solutionary coaches provide much more than periodic “check-in” phone calls. Our comprehensive approach to coaching involves four critical components that, together, accelerate growth, efficacy, and outcomes.
PERSONALITY INVENTORY
Our coaching begins with a personality inventory and reflection to assist our clients in optimizing their communication, helping them to navigate multiple contexts and perspectives.
EXPERT COACHING SESSIONS
Our hour-long bi-weekly coaching sessions filled with impactful questions and wise counsel are a highlight of our clients’ week as we create safe, productive spaces for them to vent, learn, and grow.
360° FEEDBACK
Midyear or end-of-year 360° feedback tools build the foundation for professional reflection and growth while creating a feedback-rich culture.
DATA-DRIVEN GOAL SETTING
Qualitative and quantitative data inform professional and system-wide goal-setting, accelerating outcomes and job satisfaction within the unique contexts our leaders serve.
Expanded 360° Services
Solutionary Advisors coaching includes an embedded 360°-inspired feedback experience with staff and colleagues as the audience. Solutionary Advisors also offers expanded 360° services as part of or separate from coaching. Audiences in expanded 360° services can include:
Supervisors/Board
Supervised staff
Colleagues
Parents/Community
Students
To inquire about expanded 360° services, email tricia@solutionaryadvisors.com
Our Coaches
Cheryl Agrawal
Experienced Principal
With 20 years of experience in educational administration, Cheryl has led school teams in Oakland, San Francisco, and the Bay Area as a site leader and Executive Director at the San Mateo County Office of Education. Cheryl builds interdependent teams that thrive and supports administrators in leveraging systems effectively. She attended UC Berkeley’s Graduate School of Education Principal Leadership Institute and lectured there before co-creating the SMCOE administrative program. Cheryl founded Pulsehive, which is focused on executive leadership in education with actionable strategies, real-time support, and a community of changemakers.
Erik Burmeister
Experienced Superintendent
With 25 years of experience as a teacher, principal, and superintendent, Erik is a nationally recognized expert in using human-centered design to lead systemic change. Supporting leaders in emotionally intelligent leadership, systems thinking, and strategic storytelling, Erik shares his experience navigating difficult contexts and planning for the long game. Erik graduated from Ohio University with bachelor's degrees in education and communication and received his master’s degrees from Stanford University and San Jose State. A former finalist for National Principal of the Year and Founder of Solutioanry Advisors, Erik enjoys connecting with people, traveling near and far, cheering his sons on in their many sports, and starting (and hopefully finishing) home improvement projects.
Katherine Carter
Experienced Principal and School Designer
Katherine is an accomplished educational reformer and school designer with over 25 years of experience as a teacher, principal, and central office leader from Preschool to 12th grade. She helps school leaders and teams develop innovative programs that accelerate student learning and close opportunity gaps. Katherine holds a bachelor's degree in Language Studies from UC Santa Cruz, a master's degree in Educational Leadership from CSU East Bay, and a doctorate from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Fluent in Spanish, she enjoys traveling, gardening, salsa dancing, and hiking with her dog Louie.
Lisa Cesario
Experienced Superintendent
With over 35 years of dedicated experience in education, Lisa has served in roles ranging from teacher to executive coach across both small K-8 and larger unified school districts. Her experience includes invaluable tenure as an elementary school district administrator, assistant superintendent, and superintendent. Lisa is a strategic thinker and planner, adept at navigating and improving educational systems at all levels. As a committed educational leader, she deeply understands educational systems and their complexities, continuously striving to enhance them for the benefit of students, educators, and communities.
Amanda Goll
Elementary Principal
Amanda is an inclusive learning expert with over 10 years of experience in education. She has served as a Spanish teacher, soccer coach, assistant principal, and current principal, specializing in improving school systems to support all students, especially those in special education. Amanda is the founder of Inclusion+, an educational technology company dedicated to enhancing educational structures. She received her Doctorate in Education from University of Pennsylvania, where her research focused on emotional intelligence, special education, and principal leaders. Amanda enjoys spending time with her puppy, watching Netflix, and frequenting Costco!
Marissa McGee
Director of DEI
Marissa is an antibias educator with over 15 years of experience as a teacher, consultant, and DEI Coordinator in communities historically underserved due to inequities. Her empathy-centered approach supports leaders in perspective-taking and engaging in conversations that center equity. She began her career in Washington, D.C, where she was honored in an NPR series highlighting 50 great teachers. Marissa holds an MA in Elementary Education from Stanford University, where she also served as a lecturer. Marissa enjoys traveling, cheering on the Golden State Warriors, and inspiring changemakers with her children's book, Free the Curls.
Melissa Moore
Experienced Superintendent
With 42 years of experience as a teacher, principal, assistant superintendent and superintendent, Melissa is a nationally recognized innovative leader who inspires, mentors, and empowers others. Her strengths lie in collecting input to individualize a strategic path forward to ensure a significant impact. She is a featured speaker and is recognized at the state and national level for her contributions to AI Policy, supporting female leaders, community engagement, Superintendent/Board relationship, and human resources. Melissa received her doctorate in Educational Leadership from USC and resides in Southern California. Melissa loves family gatherings, including being grandma, travel, and exploring creative outlets. She resides in Southern California.
Bernie Vidales
Experienced Superintendent
With more than three decades of experience in public education, Bernie is a proven educational leader leveraging his experience and knowledge to support District and School Site Administrators to tackle local challenges, embrace their opportunities, advance student learning, and realize professional and personal success. With 12 years as a superintendent of a multilingual and diverse school district, Bernie encourages leaders to be responsive to local contexts drawing on his expertise in Executive Leadership, Board Relations, Change Management, Adult Learning, Systems Thinking, and Labor-Management Collaboratives. He remains active in San Francisco Bay Area civic, service, and community organizations.
“I cannot imagine navigating the challenges of being a new principal without my Solutionary coach. Over the year, I grew tremendously and felt secure sharing the realities I faced. The experience was so impactful that I asked my Superintendent for a second year of coaching!”
SUSANA, K-8 PRINCIPAL