A best-selling book begins with these words, “It’s not about you.” That line is representative of Karen Reynolds, the focus of our Trainer Spotlight. For Ms. Reynolds, it is never about herself…it is always about the children in our schools. She devotes herself to improving their education – their very lives – through work with Modern Red, with the Indiana Department of Education, and through organizations founded to work with neglected and delinquent students. She attended Indiana University, earning degrees in education and school administration. Her varied experiences as a classroom teacher and an administrator at the elementary, secondary, and central office levels contribute to her value as a Modern Red SchoolHouse consultant. “Having those different perspectives,” she says, “including very urban and very suburban settings, has been helpful to me in dealing with problems in schools of all sizes and grade levels.”

Ms. Reynolds is a veteran with MRSH, having begun her affiliation during the pilot phase of the design. In fact, she became excited listening to a speaker from the Hudson Institute talk about a school reform model called Modern Red SchoolHouse Institute and told the speaker, “This is it. This is what needs to happen in schools. It is systemic, and it will work. I would love to be involved in this.” Eventually, Sally Kilgore contacted Ms. Reynolds about joining the organization because of the need for “a strong leadership piece.” This led to collaboration between Ms. Reynolds and Ms. Suzette Brown, a colleague who also remains affiliated with MRSH, resulting in the development of the entire leadership portion of the MRSH design. After writing the modules for Principal Coaching and Leadership Team training, they added Change Process and developed that aspect. As Ms. Reynolds explained, “It is so important for teachers to have an understanding of the process they will be going through. Adding the MBTI and weaving it through Task Force trainings helps provide the understanding and skills necessary to work together to address diversity and resolve conflict while making systemic change in their buildings. Bringing people together – helping them be effective – maybe that’s my passion.”

The match between Ms. Reynolds and MRSH has clearly been a good one, as she continues to coach, train, mentor, and present at our many schools and conferences. “There is so much to admire about Modern Red,” claims Ms. Reynolds. Of primary importance is “seeing the tremendous, long-term impact on kids. We are fundamentally changing the way people think and view issues. I love being part of something that is really important.”

Ms. Reynold’s obvious specialty is in the area of leadership training. She works with school and district administrators and school leadership teams, guiding them through the different stages of the school improvement process. And, she is very good at what she does. In addition to experience and expertise, Ms. Reynolds also has heart. “Part of what I get excited about is giving teachers hope,” she says. “I think it’s hard to be an educator – it’s hard work. I have a lot of respect for those who do the job. It is more important than ever that they have someone to offer support.” Teachers and administrators invariably respond to this as they gain appreciation for her efforts to assist them in reaching their goals. As Genie DePolo, MRSH Site Manager, says, “Karen epitomizes leadership coaching for MRSH. She understands the design completely. She supports the teachers, she supports the model, and she supports building school capacity.” She also continues to improve her own toolkit. Karen has nearly 40 hours of post-graduate work in school leadership and administration from Butler University, and she took on Ruby Payne’s “A Framework for Understanding Poverty” training as an additional way to address the needs of her schools. “That’s another of my passions — I like to learn,” she says. “One of the positives about MRSH is the continual learning process.”

MRSH has worked with schools in New Jersey since 1998, and every year Ms. Reynolds goes in and brings them something new. Gloria Jean Tunstall, principal of one of Ms. Reynold’s NJ schools, has this to say: “Karen is a fantastic person and a born leader. She captures the attention of our staff, no matter if it’s 8:00 in the morning or 7:00 in the evening. She is a true professional in every sense of the word. When it comes to Karen and her qualities, we couldn’t ask for more.” This feeling is shared by others, as evidenced by the staff of Crozier Middle School in California, who surprised Ms. Reynolds on her final day of training with a standing ovation and an award engraved, “Karen Reynolds, #1 Consultant.”

She is a master at developing positive, professional relationships that sustain staff trainings as well as individual work with school leaders. As a consultant and educator, she is invaluable. Modern Red has long recognized two factors: Karen Reynolds is a great leader. And, a tough act to follow.

January 2005