Dr. Shanna Peeples speaking at a podium to a classroom full of students, engaging them in an educational discussion.

Adaptive Educational Leadership: Bridging Vision and Practice

Shanna Peeples specializes in creating adaptive learning solutions that address challenges across the educational spectrum - from individual learners and educators to school leaders, districts, and policy makers. Drawing on her experience as a classroom teacher, national education advocate, and Harvard-trained leadership expert, Shanna designs flexible, evidence-based strategies that evolve with the collective needs of learning communities. Her approach integrates cutting-edge research with practical implementation, fostering collaborative environments where innovations can be effectively scaled and sustained across diverse educational landscapes.

Dr. Shanna Peeples smiling with a high school graduate in a cap and gown, celebrating their achievement.

MY EXPERIENCE

Dr. Shanna Peeples offers a unique blend of classroom expertise, academic research, and real-world consulting experience:

  • Dr. Peeples is a sought-after speaker and consultant, working with:

    • State Departments of Education

    • Nonprofit organizations, both national and international

    • Community colleges

    • School districts across the nation

    Her engagements focus on adaptive leadership, innovative teaching strategies, and fostering inclusive learning environments. As a facilitator for the Council of Chief State School Officers' Teacher of the Year program, she mentors and develops cohorts of outstanding educators nationwide.

  • As the Dr. John G. O'Brien Distinguished Chair at West Texas A&M University, Dr. Peeples leads research initiatives focused on developing solutions for rural schools and communities. She teaches doctoral-level courses and oversees the Rural Community Leaders Fellowship.

  • Selected to represent over 3 million U.S. public school teachers, Dr. Peeples conducted education diplomacy in multiple countries and collaborated with state Teachers of the Year on addressing major challenges in education.

  • Worked with TED-Ed's team to create and disseminate free educational resources globally, bridging classroom expertise with worldwide reach.

  • Extensive experience teaching diverse student populations, including gifted/talented, refugees, immigrants, and students transitioning out of incarceration.

Dr. Peeples is also the author of "Think Like Socrates: Using Questions to Invite Wonder & Empathy Into the Classroom" (Corwin, 2018), combining her practical experience with research-backed strategies for educators.

MY EDUCATION

Dr. Peeples combines rigorous academic credentials with extensive specialized training in leadership, coaching, and communications:

  • Harvard University, 2020

    Dissertation: "The Work Stories Do: How Stakeholder Storytelling Can Support Strategic Renewal"

    • Robert Kegan Fellow at Harvard Graduate School of Education

    • Trained in evidence-based executive coaching

  • University of Texas at Arlington, 2013

    Emphasis: Literacy

    • Intensive training from experts who prepare politicians and executives for high-stakes communications

    • Experience in media relations and public speaking

    • Facilitated training for cohorts of Ed.L.D. students at Harvard Graduate School of Education

    • Led professional development for teacher leaders through the Council of Chief State School Officers  (CCSSO)

    • Global Learning Fellow, National Education Association Foundation

Dr. Shanna Peeples laughing with a man during a discussion, both wearing microphones on stage.

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS

Dr. Peeples has been honored with several prestigious awards and recognitions throughout her career, highlighting her impact on education at local, national, and international levels:

  • Served as an expert panelist for all episodes of this nationwide celebration of reading and books

  • Harvard College

  • National Education Association Foundation

  • Texas School Public Relations Association

  • Texas State Teachers Association/National Education Association

Featured Book

Featured Book

Think Like Socrates: Using Questions to Invite Wonder and Empathy Into the Classroom, Grades 4-12 (Corwin Teaching Essentials)

Recognized as "one of the best professional development books of all time" by BookAuthority, this resource provides educators with practical tools to create an engaging atmosphere that encourages student questions and honors their experiences. It includes questions paired with sample texts, step-by-step lessons for generating and using students' questions, lesson extensions for diverse learners, writing suggestions, debate questions, multimedia texts, and professional development protocols.

Buy Book

Dr. Peeples’ work has appeared in various prestigious publications, including The Washington Post, New York Magazine, The Texas Observer, Chalkbeat, and various academic journals. She also contributes to multiple publications on Medium.

  • “Shanna Peeples speaks a voice that's not heard often enough in the places where critical decisions are made about education―the voice of the experienced, devoted, and passionate teacher. As a nation, we should never make educational policy without asking whether it will support pedagogical practices of the sort this book advocates. If students learned to 'think like Socrates,' it would benefit them, their workplaces and communities, and our democracy in countless ways. May this book find tens of thousands of readers who want to put Shanna's well-tested insights into practice!”

    Parker J. Palmer, Author of The Courage to Teach, Let Your Life Speak, and On the Brink of Everything

Contact

Interested in collaboration? Reach out to explore how Dr. Peeples can bring fresh perspectives to your organization through speaking events, executive coaching, and targeted consulting.