Lisa Lilyerd

I am an educator and literacy leader with experience teaching Kindergarten and Grade 1 in South Korea. I am passionate about creating classrooms where young learners feel safe, connected, challenged, and empowered to take ownership of their learning.

My teaching philosophy combines relationship-centered classroom practices with evidence-based instruction. Through my work with Conscious Discipline, I have moved away from traditional reward-and-punishment systems and instead focus on explicitly teaching self-regulation, problem-solving, responsibility, and independence. I believe children are capable learners who deserve both meaningful academic challenges and a classroom community in which they feel they belong.

Beyond my classroom, I serve as a Literacy Coordinator for Grades 1–3, where I have advocated for stronger Tier 1 literacy instruction and helped lead a school-wide shift toward systematic, evidence-based reading practices. This work has deepened my passion for instructional leadership, teacher collaboration, and turning educational research into meaningful classroom practice.

At the heart of my work is a simple belief: when we strengthen both instruction and community, we create environments where every child has the opportunity to thrive.