A.Leigh Solutions began by exclusively supporting education entities but has grown to partner with any leader or team that wants to be healthy and contribute positively to their organization’s ability to hit their goals.
We’ve partnered with government entities, school districts, charter management organizations, nonprofits, foundations, and social impact enterprises with the goal of ensuring these organizations and leaders thrive and have a profound effect on the communities and people they seek to serve.
Through our work as a women and minority owned business, we are proud to support vendors and partners that are also women and/or people of color. For the past 2 years we have given over $15,000 annually to organizations that support youth, education, and the fight for justice.
Dr. Amanda Aiken
Our Founder
Dr. Amanda L. Aiken is a Gallup Certified Strengths Coach and a Harvard-trained Immunity to Change Coach and works with organizations and their teams to ensure that leaders are operating from their strengths to drive change, bolster impact, and maximize sustainability.
She knew she wanted to be principal at only 12 years old. The only black child in her school, taught by a single black teacher from K-12, she craved the influence of educators and classmates who shared her background and ended up going to Spellman for undergrad. After getting her masters at Teacher’s College, Columbia, she quickly stepped into education leadership and became a principal at only 27. A young woman of color with a significant leadership role, she experienced firsthand how leadership and environment can impact a person's ability to thrive.
When she had the opportunity to shape culture, she immediately began to enjoy improving school culture and developing the leaders she was entrusted to support. She saw through first hand experience that impact is almost entirely connected to the strength and health of the leaders in the organization so she pivoted her career to focus on outcomes for kids through the adults and systems that exist above and around them.
Now, with deep experience and researched knowledge about how systems of inequity silently undergird structures of leadership to this day, Dr. Aiken has provided coaching and training to individuals, small groups, and large groups of organizations across the country and empowers leaders and teams to leverage their unique gifts and talents to meet the needs of today and explore innovations for tomorrow.
“I loved Dr. Aiken's presentation, as well as her as a presenter and a presence! It was clear that the Fellows were deeply interested and invested in the information she shared regarding ITC and that folks seemed focused and intentional in their efforts to engage.
I could also tell that her real-talk, effervescent and polished persona along with her impressive achievements, inspired the group. In short, Dr. Aiken's contribution to the experience was a joy and a blessing and I am particularly grateful that ITC ended the weekend so that Fellows were able to leave a long (and, in some ways, physically and mentally taxing) weekend on an emotionally high and inspiring note!”
Session participant and ED of a leadership fellowship
Our Team
Our team is made up of experts in educational policy, educational law, operations, organizational structures, special education, trauma-informed practices, autonomous schools, and school leadership. We leverage our years of experience to support organizations and teams to lead from their strengths to drive change.
Leah Recasner
Leah is an enthusiastic and ambitious professional with experience working in schools and with districts. Leah currently serves as the project manager for A.Leigh Solutions. In addition to her role as project manager, Leah also serves as the Director of Facilitation for Center for Sustainable Leadership (CSL) where she tracks planning discussions, solidifies written plans, and supports facilitation. Leah previously served as an educational consultant for Civic Solutions Group (CSG) where she worked with school districts’ choice and enrollment departments, streamlining their processes while making them more accessible. Leah is currently pursuing an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Administration with a concentration in K-12 education from Saint Joseph’s University. She holds a Master of Education in Educational Leadership and Administration from Saint Joseph’s University and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with international honors (Psi Chi) from Goucher College.
My session with Dr. Aiken was my favorite! I loved learning new knowledge and skills from an experienced Black woman who was an educator as well. Her session was my absolute favorite! I’d love to see her present at future conferences.
Conference Attendee/School Board Member