18 Years. 200+ Schools.
Proven Systems.
Real Experience.
Schools That Finally Move Forward.
With 18+ years of experience leading and supporting 200+ schools — classroom to district to state level — I partner with charter and non-traditional school leaders and teams to bring the systems, strategy, and real-world experience to build what sticks — not just what sounds good in a meeting.
Does This Sound Familiar?
Your school is working hard. But something keeps not sticking.
Charter and non-traditional schools are doing the most with the least — and the "support" that exists was never designed for how you actually operate. You're not starting over because you're failing. You're starting over because nobody's helped you build something that lasts.
You're overwhelmed with scattered initiatives and compliance tasks — trying to do too many things at the same time
Your leadership team isn't moving in the same direction — everyone is working but not together
You have data but no system for using it — it sits there and nothing changes because of it
You've written the plan, attended the PD, and had the meeting — and six months later you're back at the beginning
You're building your foundation but have gaps you can't quite see — and haven't figured out where to start
I don't show up with a checklist and tell you to call this person or read that book.
I slow down with you first. I listen to what you think is actually happening — and then together, we figure out where your school really is, what's really broken, and what to actually do about it. In a sequence that makes sense for YOUR school's reality. Not someone else's model.
About Ashley →"The goal is never 'we tried that.' The goal is 'this is how we operate now.'"— Ashley Springs, Founder · Defining My Way: School Leadership
5 Core Systems Areas
The same problems show up in schools everywhere. Here's where I work.
After 18 years in schools at every level, the patterns are clear. These are the five areas where charter and non-traditional schools struggle most — and where the right systems create the biggest breakthroughs.
Teaming & Leadership Alignment
No real meeting purpose, no shared goals, no agreements. Everyone working but not together.
Time & Scheduling Systems
The "never enough time" problem — really a master scheduling and structure problem.
Data & Decision-Making
Data that exists but never gets used to make real decisions for adults or students.
Instruction & Implementation
Inconsistent instruction across classrooms with no system to define, monitor, or improve it.
Accountability & Action Planning
Plans that get written and never executed. The skill vs. will problem showing up everywhere.
Ways to Work Together
Start where you are. Go as deep as you need.
Every school is at a different starting point. That's why there are multiple ways in — from a single Power Session to a full organizational partnership. You don't have to commit to anything big to get started.
Most school leaders naturally move through these in order — starting with a Power Session and building from there ↓
Live 90-minute virtual training on one specific systems challenge. Low barrier, high value. Come in, get something real, leave ready to move.
Monthly membership community — ongoing coaching, resources, and a room full of school leaders who get it. Your home base.
90-day group cohort — one focused systems track, real implementation, and peer accountability with schools facing the same challenge.
Intensive private virtual strategy day — complete systems roadmap built around your school's specific reality. Limited spots.
Monthly retainer for charter organizations with 2–5 schools — consistent systems across every site, every month.
Not Sure Where to Start?
Take the Free School Systems Reality Check.
10 minutes. Honest questions about where your school actually stands. A clear recommended starting point at the end. No pitch. No obligation. Just the clearest picture you've had of where your school's systems really are — and what to do next.
Free · 10 minutes · Immediate results
Results Already Created
18 years of this work. Here's what it's looked like.
In a single year, by building clear data systems and decision-making protocols across an entire statewide network.
By designing professional learning that meets school leaders where they actually are — not where a generic program assumes they are.
By making support accessible, relevant, and worth showing up for — not just another compliance requirement to check off.
Consistently — because the content is real, the facilitation is engaging, and school leaders leave with something they can actually use.
Led and supported 170+ charter and non-traditional school staff and teams
Directly — not just indirectly through materials or presentations, but in the room doing the work.
District-level work at CMS — 2nd largest district in NC
175+ schools, 145,000+ students. Direct coaching of 18 middle and high school leadership teams with 94.4% initial-stage MTSS implementation.
State-level leadership across NC — Pre-K through adult corrections
Led statewide initiatives, built engagement and monitoring systems, and presented at state, regional, and national conferences.
Who Is Ashley?
I've been in your building.
Not just talking about it.
Teacher. Dean. Principal Intern. District Leader. State-Level Consultant. Founder. For 18+ years I've worked inside schools and alongside the people running them — at every level, in every context.
I built Defining My Way: School Leadership because charter and non-traditional schools have always been the schools left to figure it out on their own. The support was never designed for them. This is.
The Real Talk Roundtable.
Also known as "The Table."
A 4–6 hour virtual community event for charter and non-traditional school leaders — where every leader brings something, gets something, and gives something. Structured, facilitated, and participant-driven. This isn't a conference. It's a table where everyone has a seat. Connected. Equipped. Seen.
Ready to get started?
Your school deserves
systems that actually last.
Start with the free check-in — 10 minutes, no pitch, just clarity on where your school stands and exactly where to begin. Or jump straight into the community and show up at the next live session.