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 all areas of her life.
Since transitioning out of one classroom as a public school educator, Lori has uniquely created a global classroom for her essential work. She guides organizations, teams, and individuals to create and maintain a shared vision by making key changes in their communities, companies, classrooms, and careers to 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 all areas of her life.
Since transitioning out of one classroom as a public school educator, Lori has uniquely created a global classroom for her essential work. She guides organizations, teams, and individuals to create and maintain a shared vision by making key changes in their communities, companies, classrooms, and careers to 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.” 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 she 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 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 newsletter with thousands of subscribers (beyond educators!). Lori is the author of nearly 100 articles that have been reprinted with permission by 14 organizations worldwide, and she instructs two graduate courses that she designed based on her writings.
Changemaker
As a sought-after motivational speaker and consultant, Lori 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 newsletter with thousands of subscribers (beyond educators!). Lori is the author of nearly 100 articles that have been reprinted with permission by more than 10 organizations, and she instructs two graduate courses that she designed based on her writings.
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 to repeat first grade in a different elementary school, transferring universities, switching majors, retaking the PRAXIS test due to a non-passing score (exam which measures the knowledge and skills needed to receive educator certification), and being passed over for numerous professional positions, Lori has experienced setbacks at many levels of learning and leading. These struggles have empowered Lori to make key changes to 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 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 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