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Lori Cohen
Lori Cohen is an educator-turned-consultant with more than 25 years of experience in K-12 schooling, instructional coaching, and school leadership. Her career journey led her to found Lori Cohen Consulting, through which she partners with individuals and teams to design learner-centered experiences that are grounded in equity, belonging, and sustainable transformation.
Drawing on research from neuroscience and Intentional Change Theory, Lori crafts professional development, coaching engagements, and workshops that blend creativity with rigorous design.
Lori is also a published author, including co-authoring The PD Book: 7 Habits that Transform Professional Development and Integrating Educator Well‑Being, Growth, and Evaluation.
Rooted in her belief in the power of imagination and the value of human dignity, Lori supports educational professionals in not just adapting to change—but leading it, with confidence and clarity.
She’s based in Portland, Oregon, and brings with her a passion for helping learners and leaders alike access those “superpowers” of creativity, expression, and belonging that she so vividly remembers from her own childhood.
Wednesday Session
Wednesday Session
On Wednesday, July 15th we’ll begin with a mini design sprint to narrow down our problem of practice. We’ll begin with an activity called “Impact Mapping,” which invites participants to determine a problem they are hoping to address and envision the impact they hope their work will have if this problem were addressed—not just on their most immediate constituents, but on students and on the school community. From there, participants will assess the current reality in their communities and reflect further on their problem of practice—and why this is the problem they hope to address.
Participants will then gain an understanding of the Theory of Transformation that will guide our two days together so they can “design for what they want to see.” We will explore opportunities and barriers in making change: what to stop, start, and continue doing, who to bring along in the process of making change (and how), and how to develop a plan of action. By approaching this work with a “design-you-want-to-see” mindset, participants will be encouraged to maintain hope and optimism to transform conditions in their classrooms, teams, and schools.
Thursday Reflection
Thursday Reflection
Participants will engage in a sharing showcase where they discuss how their problems of practice have evolved over the two days. Participants will share action plans, talk about their next steps, and establish accountability among their cohorts so they can celebrate, reflect, and—most importantly—stay connected to a community of practitioners who are supporting one another in our collective work of transforming education.
Lori is the author of three books with another one coming out Spring 2026!
Lori’s books reflect her deep commitment to transforming how educators grow, connect, and thrive. In The PD Book: 7 Habits That Transform Professional Development, she empowers leaders to design learning experiences that are engaging, equitable, and truly transformative. The Art of Coaching Workbook builds on this work by offering practical tools and reflections that help coaches cultivate trust, clarity, and purpose in every conversation. In Integrating Educator Well-Being, Growth, and Evaluation, Lori expands the lens further, guiding leaders to create systems where well-being, equity, and professional growth work hand in hand to sustain thriving schools and communities. Her forthcoming fourth book, focused on lesson planning, will be released this spring and continues her mission to support meaningful, sustainable teaching and learning.
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