Sara Carlson Striegel (she/her) has spent nearly two decades in education, serving in various roles including becoming the founding principal of an elementary school in Northwest Denver. In 2021, Sara returned to the Southeast after over a decade in Colorado to join Valor Collegiate Academies' National Impact team as director of leadership development. In her role, Sara coaches and supports education leaders across various settings, including charter school networks and traditional districts nationwide. She now leads the Compass in Leadership Program, which blends leadership best practices with emotional and physical well-being, as well as identity development through a relationship-based approach. As a product of a bilingual, biracial household, she brings a deep appreciation for navigating diverse cultural systems while fostering authentic identity development.