ABOUT
Visionary Thought Leader
Dr. Lori Schwartz Reichl is the visionary thought leader of Making Key Changes. Her career began in music education where she learned the importance of a key change — a shift in the tonal center of a piece of music, often used to inject energy or produce significance. She eventually realized the impact of making key changes in many areas of her life and the desire to help others do the same.
Since transitioning out of one classroom as a public school teacher, Lori has uniquely created a global classroom for her work. She motivates organizations, teams, and individuals to reflect on their daily practices and offers actionable key changes to grow. She guides all contributors to create and maintain a shared vision in their communities, companies, classrooms, and careers. Together, they unlock their greatest potential in collaboration with those they love, serve, and lead.
Visionary Thought Leader
Dr. Lori Schwartz Reichl is the visionary thought leader of Making Key Changes. Her career began in music education where she learned the importance of a key change — a shift in the tonal center of a piece of music, often used to inject energy or produce significance. She eventually realized the impact of making key changes in many areas of her life and the desire to help others do the same.
Since transitioning out of one classroom as a public school teacher, Lori has uniquely created a global classroom for her work. She motivates organizations, teams, and individuals to reflect on their daily practices and offers actionable key changes to grow. She guides all contributors to create and maintain a shared vision in their communities, companies, classrooms, and careers. Together, they unlock their greatest potential in collaboration with those they love, serve, and lead.
Proud Public School Teacher
Lori served as a proud public school teacher from 2001 through 2015, when her work transformed into collaborating with learners and leaders everywhere! Prior to 2016, she lovingly taught students and successfully led secondary music programs in Pennsylvania and Maryland for schools in rural and suburban areas, schools labeled Title I, and a school assigned to “corrective action.” She opened two brand new buildings and created many new school and county-wide initiatives to enhance music education. In Pennsylvania, Lori received the Superintendent’s “Excellence in Teaching Award” from the Daniel Boone Area School District. In Maryland, she and her students received an Honorary Resolution from the Howard County Council, and Lori was a finalist for both the Howard County Parents for School Music “Educator of the Year Award” and the Howard County Public School System’s “Teacher of the Year Award.”
Changemaker
As a sought-after motivational speaker and consultant, Lori has been invited to collaborate with companies and school districts all over the map. She has given numerous keynote speeches, designed and presented hundreds of professional learning sessions, and guest conducted more than 50 honor bands. She is the host of her weekly podcast, Making Key Changes, and she creates inspirational content for a weekly newsletter with thousands of subscribers. Lori is the author of nearly 100 articles that have been reprinted with permission by 15 organizations worldwide, and she instructs two graduate courses that she designed based on her writings. In both 2023 and 2022, Lori’s writings were the #1 most accessed articles for the National Association for Music Education (NAfME).
Changemaker
As a sought-after motivational speaker and consultant, Lori has been invited to collaborate with companies and school districts all over the map. She has given numerous keynote speeches, designed and presented hundreds of professional learning sessions, and guest conducted more than 50 honor bands. She is the host of her weekly podcast, Making Key Changes, and she creates inspirational content for a weekly newsletter with thousands of subscribers. Lori is the author of nearly 100 articles that have been reprinted with permission by 15 organizations worldwide, and she instructs two graduate courses that she designed based on her writings. In both 2023 and 2022, Lori’s writings were the #1 most accessed articles for the National Association for Music Education (NAfME).
Champion of Mentorship & Motivation
As a champion of mentorship and motivation, Lori values these frameworks in her own life. She expands her circle to allow opportunities for creativity, collaboration, and connection. From educator to entrepreneur (with caregiver sprinkled in there!), Lori acknowledges that her unique path has also brought anxiety, self-doubt, and uncertainty, along with rejection. After being held back in first grade, transferring universities, switching majors, retaking the educator certification test due to a non-passing score, and being passed over for professional positions, Lori has experienced setbacks in learning and leading. These struggles have empowered Lori to make key changes to envision her life, refine her habits, focus her passion, and serve her purpose. As a life-long learner, Lori recognizes that each opportunity provides a lesson for growth, and she demonstrates this belief through her ongoing work.
Coaches & Cheerleaders
As a child, Lori grew up in York County, Pennsylvania where her parents were both outstanding K-12 career-long educators. Lori and her brother were fortunate to have their father as their elementary and high school band director and musical mentor. Lori frequently visited her mother’s English Language Arts classroom on “Take Your Child to Work Days” to observe her in teaching action, too! Her mother has served as her creative cheerleader and editor. Lori credits her large extended family, and especially her parents, for her love of creativity, learning, and teaching.
Coaches & Cheerleaders
As a child, Lori grew up in York County, Pennsylvania where her parents were both outstanding K-12 career-long educators. Lori and her brother were fortunate to have their father as their elementary and high school band director and musical mentor. Lori frequently visited her mother’s English Language Arts classroom on “Take Your Child to Work Days” to observe her in teaching action, too! Her mother has served as her creative cheerleader and editor. Lori credits her large extended family, and especially her parents, for her love of creativity, learning, and teaching.
Family of Changemakers
Lori resides in Maryland with her husband, John (the other Dr. Reichl — engineer and professor), who reminds her to analyze situations from all angles. Together, Lori and John support each other in their professional ambitions while raising their active children. As partners in parenting, they are attempting to raise their children with a sense of inclusion, creativity, and critical thinking skills while making space for an occasional date night together!
Lori and John have had many parenting failures yet they acknowledge that their children are teaching them more about life than any class they ever took or taught.
Scholarly Synopsis
Education
- Doctorate in Music Education from Liberty University, Virginia
- Certification for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in the Workplace from the University of South Florida
- Administrator I Certification from McDaniel College, Maryland
- Leadership & Supervision Coursework (additional 30 credits beyond Masters) from Walden University, Minnesota
- Master of Music Education from Lebanon Valley College, Pennsylvania
- Bachelor of Science in Music Education from West Chester University, Pennsylvania
- K-12 Education from Northeastern School District, Pennsylvania
Research Interests
- Mentorship and Motivation
- Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Access, and Belonging
- Dissertation: “The Student Voice: Perception of Students’ Representation of Themselves in the Secondary Band Curriculum”
Significant Achievements
- Successfully assisted in leading two Title I schools to improve culture, involve families and the community, and increase student achievement across subgroups
- Consistently forges productive and healthy relationships based on trust and respect with staff and leadership groups in companies and school systems nationwide
- Plans, designs, and implements high-quality professional learning programs that execute effective succession planning and reflect current research-based practices for staff and leadership groups to support their professional growth, foster environments that value all contributors, and empower these professionals, families, and students to achieve success
- Collaborates with company and school leaders to transform personal beliefs, behaviors, and practices to support and advance an organizational vision and mission for diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging
- Supports professionals through coaching and mentoring to reach milestones for success
- Demonstrates life-long learning
