Testimonials

I have had the privilege of collaborating with Dr. Donna Vallese, Founder of Inspiring Leaders LLC, for several years, and I wholeheartedly recommend her as a leadership coach. Donna's proactive approach, sensitivity to individuals' needs, and keen ability to envision how individuals can better serve the whole make her an exceptional coach.

Donna's coaching sessions are not only tailored to individuals' roles and goals but also deeply personalized to their unique leadership styles and energy levels. She utilizes the Energy Leadership Index Assessment to provide valuable insights into how leaders show up in both their professional and personal lives. Through this attitudinal assessment, Donna helps individuals gain a deeper understanding of their strengths and areas for growth, empowering them to lead with authenticity and purpose.

What sets Donna apart as a coach is her remarkable ability to build trusting and transparent relationships with her clients. She creates a safe space where individuals feel comfortable exploring their leadership challenges and aspirations. I have witnessed firsthand the growing confidence and resilience of team members who have had the privilege of working with Donna. Her dedication to helping individuals reach their full potential is truly inspiring.

Donna's impact on our team at The Liber Institute has been immeasurable, and I am confident that she will continue to positively influence leaders and organizations in their journey towards excellence. If you're seeking a compassionate and results-driven coach who will support you in becoming your best self, I highly recommend Dr. Donna Vallese.

Jonathan Santos Silva, Founder

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Donna is so supportive and knowledgeable! She has so much experience and insight to share when coaching leaders!

Kelly Hutson, Instructional Coach

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Donna is a wonderful leader who offers support for leaders in many capacities. She is a special person and cares about all stakeholders. Her knowledge for implementing the observation and evaluation process as a means of support which drives Professional Development is refreshing!

Maggie McRobbie, Principal

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In my work with Dr. Donna, I have been focusing on (1) meaning making in my specific design role by unraveling emerging insights, (2) testing and retesting emergent design ideas, and (3) more broadly, grounding all of my work in my vision and values – and, therefore, teasing out those pieces a bit more concretely.  Working with Dr. Donna has been open and reflective, free and responsive, affirming and creative.You truly have the opportunity to bring any work or challenge, idea or dream to a safe space to dig in and navigate and make meaning. The results will be additional clarity and intentional action!

Tara Seibel, Program Design Lead

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Donna Vallese is a skillful leader who gladly shares her strengths, knowledge, and experiences with others. She was my supervisor for my district level administrative internship this past summer and I learned a great deal each week. She leads without an ego and uplifts others by offering authentic feedback and planting seeds regarding leadership. I was able to participate in several substantial initiatives and work with a plethora of people I normally would not have had access to. She's truly a taskmaster who brings people together and gives them a chance to take the lead on projects or offers to be a thought partner. She is also the first administrator who has openly discussed pursuing a Ph.D. with not only me, but her other interns.  This is my 19th year working for SCSD and she is the first supervisor to ever make it seem like a reality.  Now that I'm off to my second internship, it seems slow to start because I had such a rich and challenging experience with Donna all summer. 

Jenniffer Benedetto, Vice Principal

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Donna is an exceptional leadership coach. Working with her has helped me to focus on the areas where I was lacking in my role as a founder including team management and team building, personal development and time management.

Jen Begeal, CEO 

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Only superlatives immediately leap to mind at the mention of Donna's name: she is an incisive problem-solver and planner with a well-developed social conscience, a warm and dedicated professional, highly articulate, well-organized, industrious, helpful, confident, an idealist without illusions, a team-player, and the list could go on ad infinitum. It's been a personal pleasure and privilege to work with her.

Mo Guernon, Educator

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Donna by far is one of the best supervisors I have ever worked for. She is fair, open to new ideas, provides valuable feedback, and is well- respected in her field.

Nicole L'Etoile, CEO

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Dr. Donna Vallese is a gifted leader and coach with a rare combination of empathy, integrity, and learning agility. I first met Donna at the Academy for Transformational Leadership and later recruited her to help me launch a new high school. As Founding Dean of Academics, she articulated an inspiring vision for teaching and learning and then provided the coaching and support our teachers needed in order to live up to that standard.

Years after our time at that school ended, I contracted Donna to coach a pair of educators leading their schools through change initiatives. Even though this engagement was 100% virtual, the leaders reported that they trusted Donna and found her approach very engaging.

Donna has proven herself and her methods effective time and time again, even when working across lines of difference. I am confident she will be an asset to future coaching clients and the next organization she joins.

Jonathan Santos Silva, Founder

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I first had the pleasure of working with Dr. Donna while I was working as the Director of Instruction and Administration in a mid-sized urban school district. Donna and a colleague of hers were both excited to be proposing a new teacher induction model for Rhode Island for which they would be coordinating with the New Teacher Center and recruiting master teachers from throughout the state to serve as mentors. I was sold and was thrilled to witness the very successful creation of a network of highly trained master teachers who continue to provide valuable capacity building support to our newest educators. This initiative has been extremely well received by districts, principals our higher ed partners statewide.

Subsequently, I joined the team at the Rhode Island Department of Education and enjoyed the opportunity to work closely with Donna as we developed training materials and provided support to educators as they implemented a new educator evaluation and support model.

In all of my dealings with Dr. Donna I have consistently been impressed with the depth of her knowledge, the thoughtfulness with which she approaches all tasks and her commitment to supporting educators and their students. Donna is also just a pleasure to be around. She has a great sense of humor, loves to work hard and enjoys a good laugh. 

Marc Garceau, Superintendent

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Donna is a wonderful and caring teacher that makes learning exciting and fun, providing a safe nurturing environment. I know Donna as a teacher to my child, and as a community partner while I was a library director and she a teacher bringing her class to the library. The two years my son was in her class were outstanding. I highly recommend Donna.

Deborah Fleet, Parent

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