MEET Tracey "TC" Crenshaw

From a very young age, I was termed “bossy”. It was not until I was an adult well into my career that I denounced the negative term and came to the awakening conclusion, “I am not bossy, I just have strong leadership skills!" Leadership was not something I was trained to do, but rather, it was something I was born to do. Not only was I born to do it, I was gifted to do it. The transformation of shifting ideas from theory to practice to improve schools by breaking down barriers and creating pathways to opportunity is my true passion! It is my belief that the best ways to improve schools is to improve the people in them---starting with the leader. As the saying goes, “However the head goes, the body goes.”

I have been in the wonderful world of education for 30 plus years, and the most powerful lessons I’ve learned, I learned from my personal children and my students. My experience raising two precocious boys, each with their own learning styles and attention needs, in addition to teaching thousands of students from all over the globe with challenges academically, socially, and behaviorally, has taught me that each student can achieve. This notion has led me to connecting the dots of teaching, learning, and leadership.

Throughout my storied career, witnessing students achieve their goals has ignited my passion to continue researching and designing programs and strategies that empower students to achieve their limitless potential.  I challenge the fixed mindsets of teachers and leaders and create growth mindsets through meaningful and purposeful professional learning, best practices, innovation, and creative design thinking, balancing equity and access in my overall approach to change. Through purpose, passion, and powerful performance, I have masterfully redesigned curriculum and provided training in the areas of Professional Learning Communities, STEM Education, Project-Based Learning, Outdoor Learning, and Literacy to meet the diverse needs of all learners, including students with disabilities, ESOL, and gifted learners. An ambassador for effective teaching, learning and leadership development, my career has been deeply rooted through my experiences as a public school principal, assistant principal, leadership mentor, gifted teacher, gifted certification program facilitator, professional presenter, STEM leader, and classroom teacher.