Kelly Lawler (M.Ed., she/her/hers) is a principal at Crestwood Elementary School in the Madison Metropolitan School District and a Ph.D. candidate in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. She is an equity-centered instructional leader committed to ensuring that all scholars—particularly those historically underserved—are seen, valued, and supported in achieving their full potential. She is passionate about exploring the ways in which school districts provide professional learning and support to their practicing and aspiring school leaders. The research of the CALL for Equity Centered Leadership (CALL ECL) project closely aligns with her passion and proposal for her own research.
Kelly has previously served as Assistant Principal and Principal at César Chávez Elementary School, in Madison, WI, where she partnered with families and staff to strengthen Dual Language Immersion, expand equity-focused professional learning, and develop parent affinity groups. She has also held roles as a literacy coach, interventionist, and elementary teacher in both Wisconsin and Colorado. Kelly earned her M.Ed. in Educational Administrative Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Colorado at Denver and her B.S. in Elementary Education with a minor in Spanish from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. She holds Wisconsin lifetime licenses as both principal and elementary educator and anticipates completing her Superintendent’s License in 2026.