With nearly four decades of experience across every level of California’s public education system, guiding stakeholders through both crisis and transformation, Lisette Estrella-Henderson brings deep insight and broad strategic vision to her work as an executive leadership coach and advisor.

She partners with superintendents, governance teams, and executive leaders to strengthen superintendent-board relations, navigate leadership transitions, and balance innovation with stability. Her consulting services focus on helping leaders move educational systems from mere compliance to coherence, ultimately aligning purpose, strategy, and sustainability.

Beginning her career as a classroom teacher, Lisette went on to serve as a principal, district office administrator, college faculty member, and ultimately as County Superintendent of Schools. In that position, she provided leadership, collaboration, and professional development for school districts, often serving as a vital intermediary between the school districts and the California Department of Education. She also had a large amount of flexibility in directly responding to local community and local district needs, including expanding access to student mental health and wellness, strengthening the quality early learning system, creating programs for students in the juvenile court and community school system, and for students with extensive support needs, and co-curricular youth development opportunities with a focus on youth advocacy and leadership, STEM/STEAM, and outdoor learning.

Lisette believes that every student deserves a high-quality education, and that a strong public education system is critical to the fabric and economic vitality of society and our local communities.