Educational Consultant

Empowering Educators to Bring Curriculum to Life.

As a seasoned Curriculum Implementation Specialist, Stephanie Lester brings decades of hands- on experience supporting schools and educators in successfully adopting and integrating high- quality instructional programs. With over 40 years in education and leadership roles—including Director of Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment—Stephanie understands the complexities of aligning curriculum with standards, supporting teacher buy-in, and ensuring instructional fidelity.

Stephanie partners with districts and schools to navigate every stage of curriculum implementation, from needs assessment and program selection to professional development and classroom support. Her approach is grounded in evidence-based practices and tailored to meet the unique needs of each learning community. Whether facilitating a new adoption or strengthening the use of an existing program, Stephanie works closely with educators to ensure instructional materials are used effectively to enhance student learning.

Her areas of expertise include literacy aligned with the Science of Reading, STEM, NGSS implementation, math curriculum, early childhood frameworks, and project-based learning models. Stephanie also specializes in coaching educators on instructional strategies, data- informed decision making, and supporting diverse learners to ensure equitable access to high- quality curriculum.

Stephanie’s commitment to practical, research-based guidance—combined with her engaging, supportive coaching style—has helped countless educators implement curriculum with confidence and success.

Interested in curriculum support or planning a new adoption? Let’s work together to build meaningful, lasting impact in your classrooms. Contact Stephanie Lester. 

Supporting Positive Behaviors through Executive Function and Developmentally Appropriate Guidance. 

Effective behavior and classroom management begins with understanding how to foster executive functioning in children. Skills such as adaptable thinking, planning, self-monitoring, self-control, working memory, time management, and organization are all foundational for student success—and they can be intentionally nurtured through daily routines and developmentally appropriate practices.
Stephanie Lester, founder of S.L. Lester Educational Consulting, LLC, brings over 40 years of experience in education, including roles as a classroom teacher, middle school principal, Early Childhood Special Education Director, and Director of Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment. As an educational consultant, she partners with schools to deliver evidence-based professional development and coaching cycles focused on behavior guidance, executive functioning, and classroom management that supports the whole child.
Stephanie’s approach emphasizes the intentional embedding of guidance strategies into daily instruction to promote positive behavior, build self-regulation, and increase student engagement. Her training explores how cognitive processes—working memory, cognitive flexibility, and inhibitory control—can be developed through classroom routines, transitions, and interactions.

Having served as a key member of a district leadership team that launched Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS), Stephanie has experience creating individualized behavior plans and designing districtwide guidance systems. Her work spans early childhood through secondary education and includes training educators on proactive strategies, relationship-building, and responsive classroom practices.
In addition to consulting, Stephanie teaches these principles weekly as a college professor, combining current research with real-world applications. Whether working one-on-one with educators or facilitating system-wide initiatives, she equips schools with tools and strategies to cultivate calm, respectful, and productive learning environments.

Stephanie Lester – Educational Consultant & Instructional Leader
Stephanie is a highly regarded consultant, speaker, author, and college instructor. She has written two books—Year-Round Project-Based Activities for STEM and Science Through the Year—and brings deep expertise in instructional leadership, the science of reading, classroom management, executive functions, early childhood education, and more.
Based in Montana, she supports programs locally and across the nation.

To learn more about behavior and classroom management training, or to schedule a customized professional development session, contact Stephanie Lester. 

Empowering Educators to Lead STEM-Driven Classrooms and Districtwide Innovation
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) are essential components of a 21st-century education—and at the heart of Stephanie Lester’s consulting work. With over 40 years of experience in education and leadership, Stephanie provides expert support for schools and districts seeking to strengthen math and science instruction from early childhood through secondary education.

Stephanie has led districtwide rollouts of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) at multiple levels. As a consultant for middle and high school districts in both California and Montana, she facilitated a comprehensive NGSS implementation across all secondary science classrooms. Prior to that, she led the successful NGSS rollout for pre-K through 8th grade in the Lancaster School District, California serving more than 15,000 students. Her leadership ensures that teachers are not only prepared to implement the standards, but also equipped to create hands-on, inquiry-based learning environments that ignite curiosity and deepen understanding.

Stephanie is also a recognized expert in STEM-based practices for early childhood and elementary educators, providing national and local professional development for nearly three decades. She helps teachers bring science and math to life through developmentally appropriate strategies, project-based learning, and integrated STEM activities that promote critical thinking and collaboration. Her published books—Year-Round Project-Based Activities for STEM and Science Through the Year—reflect her deep commitment to making STEM education accessible, practical, and engaging.

In math, Stephanie has designed and delivered professional development focused on number sense in early childhood, conceptual understanding in elementary math, math interventions for K-12th grade, and evidence-based strategies for upper grade levels. Her sessions support educators in building mathematical confidence and fluency while also addressing the needs of diverse learners through differentiation and data-informed instruction.

Whether guiding a district through standards adoption or working with individual teachers to strengthen classroom instruction, Stephanie brings unmatched experience, passion, and practicality to every partnership.

Stephanie Lester – Educational Consultant & Instructional Leader
Stephanie is a nationally respected consultant, speaker, author, and college instructor with deep expertise in STEM, NGSS implementation, math instruction, and instructional leadership.

To learn more about STEM and math consulting or to schedule a professional development session, contact Stephanie Lester. 

Empowering Educators with Science of Reading-Aligned Practices from Early Learning through Elementary

Literacy is the gateway to learning—and ensuring all students become confident, capable readers requires instruction that is grounded in the Science of Reading. Stephanie Lester, founder of S.L. Lester Educational Consulting, LLC, brings over 40 years of experience in education and instructional leadership, with a strong emphasis on designing and supporting literacy systems that reflect the most current research in reading science.
 
Stephanie provides targeted professional development and coaching that supports educators in implementing structured literacy practices aligned with the Science of Reading. She focuses on all four critical domains of literacy—speaking, listening, reading, and writing—and helps teachers intentionally integrate explicit, systematic instruction into their daily routines. Her consulting work centers on equipping teachers to meet the diverse needs of learners, including English Learners, developing readers, and students requiring intensive intervention. 

As a former Director of Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment, Stephanie led the design and implementation of the Reading RESULTS initiative—an evidence-based, K–8 districtwide literacy framework that aligned with the California Common Core State Standards (Foundational Skills K–5) and the principles of the Science of Reading. This initiative trained over 700 teachers and served more than 15,000 students, embedding explicit instruction in phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, and writing into every classroom.

Stephanie’s literacy approach is shaped by extensive professional learning with national leaders in reading science, including Dr. Louisa Cook Moats, Susana Dutro, and Dr. John Shefelbine. Her work with the California Reading and Literacy Project further deepened her ability to lead professional development that builds teachers’ knowledge of how the brain learns to read—and what it takes to teach reading effectively.

Whether supporting early childhood programs or elementary school teams, Stephanie helps educators develop literacy-rich environments that are anchored in cognitive science and structured, diagnostic instruction. Her coaching and PD sessions emphasize the why behind reading practices—connecting research to real-world classroom application.

Stephanie is passionate about empowering educators to use evidence-based tools that build foundational literacy skills and set students up for long-term academic success.

Stephanie Lester – Educational Consultant & Instructional Leader
Stephanie is a nationally respected consultant, speaker, author, and college instructor with deep expertise in Science of Reading-aligned literacy instruction, curriculum leadership, and instructional coaching.

To learn more or schedule a consultation, contact Stephanie Lester. 

Empowering Educators, Strengthening Schools, and Driving Student Success
Strong leadership and effective coaching are essential for building high-quality learning environments that support both educators and students. Stephanie Lester, founder of S.L. Lester Educational Consulting, LLC, brings over 40 years of experience in instructional leadership, coaching, and professional development. As a former assistant principal, Early Childhood Education Director, and Director of Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment, she has successfully led teams in improving instructional practices, implementing curriculum, and driving student achievement.
Stephanie partners with school and district leaders to develop and implement strategic instructional initiatives, ensuring that educators are equipped with the skills and tools needed to foster student success. She provides leadership coaching, professional learning community (PLC) facilitation, and customized professional development that strengthens instructional effectiveness across all grade levels.
Her coaching and leadership training include:

  • Instructional Coaching & Mentorship – Supporting teachers and administrators in applying evidence-based practices to enhance student learning.
  • Data-Driven Decision Making – Using formative and summative assessment data to inform instruction and improve outcomes.
  • Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) & Differentiation – Helping schools develop systems that provide targeted interventions and enrichment opportunities.
  • Leading Curriculum Implementation – Aligning curriculum with research-based instructional strategies to maximize student engagement and achievement.
  • Developing Strong Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) – Creating collaborative teacher teams that drive continuous instructional improvement.
    Coaching in Literacy, Math, and STEM – Providing specialized coaching in foundational content areas to enhance teaching effectiveness.
Stephanie’s leadership and coaching model is rooted in collaboration, research-based best practices, and practical application. Whether she is working with administrators to refine instructional leadership strategies or coaching educators on implementing new approaches in the classroom, her focus is on sustainable, impactful growth.

Partner with Stephanie to Strengthen Leadership & Coaching in Your School or District. Stephanie provides customized coaching and leadership development for schools, districts, and educational organizations.

Partner with Stephanie to Strengthen Leadership & Coaching in Your School or District

Stephanie provides customized coaching and leadership development for schools, districts, and educational organizations.

To schedule a consultation or book Stephanie as a speaker, contact Stephanie Lester. 

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Testimonials

Rose A. Kellegher

Counselor, Lincoln Primary School: Anaconda School District

"Stephanie is more than a consultant, she always goes above and beyond and has most assuredly became a part of our school family. She is a breath of fresh air with charisma and a genuine heart. She encourages all staff to identify their strengths and grow their capabilities while keeping the student's learning at the center of instruction. Her wealth of knowledge in research and theory and multitude of past experiences has helped our school to grow and achieve goals we never dreamed possible. What she has brought to our school will live on for many years to come."

BJ Robertson

“I want to thank Stephanie for her time and mentorship in my first year of teaching. The guidance I received through her classroom visits and follow up meetings were extremely helpful. Her instruction, goal setting, and feedback helped me implement bell ringers, the use of timers, improving student responses, group discussion, and exit tickets over the course of the year. She is a tremendous resource with classroom experience and knowledge.”

Hannah Gullickson

Running Start Kindergarten Lead Teacher, Whittier Elementary School

Stephanie Lester is an instructional consultant I wish every program could have. With her knowledge and experience in evidence-based practices for ECE, the teachers she worked with gained valuable instructional methods to improve the quality of their programs. Stephanie also collaborated with the administrators who were able to learn how to carry out her on-site coaching into other grades. Collaborating with Stephanie was instrumental in improving our district's preschool programs with short and long-term goals. The programs would not be to the high standard they are without her guidance.”

Sandy Cade

DPHHS/OPI Regional Specialist

“Teaming with Stephanie to support Montana Preschool Development programs was tremendously successful; her genuine ability to develop relationship based coaching support increased quality of practice and outcomes. Stephanie’s knowledge of content and training & technical skills created effective and successful professional development for leadership and staff.”

D. Swatman-Stewart

Teacher participating in coaching cycles

“I love kids, and I definitely don't want to lose the incredible joy that this profession can bring. I just really appreciated having someone who simultaneously validated how I was feeling, highlighted the strengths seen, and gave actual constructive feedback!  In all honesty I think I'll remember our talk for a very long time. Thank you.”

ECE program testimonial

Brenda Smith

Retired, Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services

"Stephanie Lester is a true visionary in Early Childhood Education (ECE)!  Her leadership and expertise for ECE programs is outstanding.  She brings quality and expertise  to  program development which consistently leads to success for young learners. Her support to ECE programs  increases the quality of the environment and instruction, which in turn is reflected  in increased student achievement!

Testimonial for Education consulting

Susan Hyder

Educational Specialist

"Stephanie Lester is passionate about science, early childhood education,  and empowering educators. While our director, she built quality and consistency into our early childhood education program by focusing on developmentally appropriate practice and research-based strategies.  Her leadership skills and experience in teaching and mentoring both children and adults enable her to provide highly motivating training that gives participants research based, hands-on activities that motivate our youngest learners.  She never disappoints to entertain, engage, and enlighten early childhood educators!"

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