
Donna Vallese
Corporate - Business - Entrepreneur / Motivational
Dr. Donna is the founder and CEO of Inspiring Leaders LLC, an Instructional Leadership Coach with a broad range of experiences in the education field that encompass working a the state, district, school and university levels. She has worked in urban and rural communities as well as in charter schools. Her PhD is in Curriculum and Instruction and she also holds a Professional Coaching Certification. Creating equity for students has been a major focus of her work in the education field. Leading innovative practices that encompass personalized learning, year round schooling, flexible scheduling, blended learning, culturally responsive practices and school turnaround has been the highlights of her career.
Dr. Donna has spoken to international audiences about leadership and has published articles on leadership in Brainz Magazine. In the upcoming year she will also be a TEDx Speaker at the SUNY Geneseo TEDx Conference and published in a book called "The Art of Risk and Reward."
In addition to her passion for education, Dr. Donna is also a musician and plays the flute and piccolo. She co-founded the non-profit community activist street band in Syracuse, NY called UNiTY Street band which as become a non-profit 501c3. The band's mission is to "Put UNiTY back into commUNiTY through the joy of music." Collaboration plays a huge role in her professional life but also in her life as a musician as she co-founded the annual event, Salt City Honk!, to celebrate and promote street music and local artisans.