Campus Directory
Kelly Lenarz
| Title: | Lecturer |
| Email: | lenarz@sxu.edu |
| Department: | Education |
Biography
Kelly Lenarz, Ed.D., is a lecturer in elementary education and program coordinator for early childhood education at Saint Xavier University. Prior to joining SXU, she spent 22 years at Trinity Christian College, where she served as dean of education, professor of education, and director of assessment. Her research interests include teacher leadership, followership and family engagement.
Education
Ed.D. in Ethical Leadership
Olivet Nazarene University
M.Ed. in Instructional Leadership: Curriculum, Instruction, and Evaluation
University of Illinois-Chicago
B.A. in Elementary Education
Trinity Christian College
Areas of Specialization
- Teacher leadership
- Teacher recruitment, preparation, and retention
- Educational leadership development and career pathways
- Followership
- Curriculum and program improvement
- Family engagement
Certification/Licensure
- Professional Educator License (PEL) Elementary Education K-9
- ISBE Middle School Endorsements: Mathematics and Language Arts
Courses Taught
- EDU 339: Managing Elementary Classrooms
- EDU 345: Seminar in Teaching and Learning
- EDU 336: Elementary Math Methods
- EDGEL: Methods of Teaching Mathematics in the Elementary School
Selected Honors/Awards
- Professor Emerita of Education, Trinity Christian College, 2026
- Dissertation of Distinction, Olivet Nazarene University, 2020
Presentations/Publications/Productions
Selected Publications
Lenarz, K. A. (2026). Teacher leadership begins with followership. Voices for Educational Equity, 22(1), 57–62.
Lenarz, K. A., Meyer, D., Fitzsimmons, J., & Nelson, C. (2026). Teacher leadership pathways: How preservice and inservice experiences shape leadership development. Voices for Educational Equity, 22(1), 23–42.
Fitzsimmons, J., & Lenarz, K. A. (2026). The path to teacher leadership: Developing voice, agency, and early career leadership. In A. M. Quinzio-Zafran & E. A. Wilkins (Eds.), "The new teacher’s guide to overcoming common challenges: Curated advice from award-winning teachers" (2nd ed.). Routledge.
Lenarz, K., Nelson, C., & Fitzsimmons, J. (2024). Teacher candidates’ perceptions of practice in teacher leadership: What it means for teacher and leader preparation programs. Association of Independent Liberal Arts Colleges for Teacher Education Journal, 21(1).
Lenarz, K. A. (2023). Ready or not: The leadership preparation of preservice teachers at Christian liberal arts institutions. International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal, 18(2).
Selected Presentations
"Transformative Pathways: Tackling Affordability and Teacher Shortages Through Innovative Partnerships," Association of Independent Liberal Arts Colleges for Teacher Education, 2026.
"Teacher Leadership: Looking Back, Looking Ahead," Association for Teacher Leadership and Scholarship, 2025.
"Following Well: Understanding the Role of Followership in Teaching and Teacher Education," Chicago Southland Educator Consortium International Conference, 2025.
"Faithful Followership: A Reformed Perspective on Teacher Preparation," Trinity Christian College Tenure Lecture, 2025.
"Teacher Candidates' Perceptions of Teacher Leadership: What It Means for Teacher and Leader Preparation Programs," American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, 2024.