We are pleased to welcome Dr. Stephen Peters, Dr. Angela W. Peters, and Dr. Lee Pritzl to the InitiativeOne team as we expand our Educational Leadership focus. Our partnership with these remarkable leaders will increase our impact on educational leaders and students.
Meet Dr. Stephen Peters
Dr. Stephen Peters has been a classroom teacher, assistant principal, principal, director of secondary education, and superintendent of schools. He has served on panels as an education expert with former U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. Rod Paige in Washington, D.C. He is also the author of several award-winning and best-selling books, including Do You Know Enough About Me to Teach Me and Teaching to Capture and Inspire all Learners.
Dr. Stephen Peters is the former Superintendent of Laurens County School District 55, Laurens, SC. During his four-year tenure as Superintendent, college scholarship funds received by graduating seniors increased by more than $14 million. LCSD 55 was named a 2018 National School District of Distinction under the leadership of Peters, an honor awarded to school districts that are exemplary models of how schools and school systems work. In 2019 the high school was named the “National Tomorrow’s Tech School of the Year” by Tomorrow’s Tech Magazine.
As CEO and president of the Peters Group, Dr. Peters has continued to devote his energy toward creating and sustaining success in schools and districts by supporting educators.
Dr. Peters has been featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show as well as America, America for creating The Gentleman’s and Ladies Clubs, which cultivate success in at-risk students through mentoring and self-empowerment. While serving as Principal, Peters was featured in the BBC documentary “An American High School” in 2016. “An American High School” was named “Best Documentary of 2016” in London and began airing on the National Geographic channel in the U.S. in October 2017. Dr. Peters is an advocate for literacy and also served as President of the Board of Directors for the International Literacy Association (2020-2021). He is co-author of One., A process for Every One and Everyone.
Meet Dr. Angela W. Peters
Dr. Angela W. Peters is Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs and Professor of Chemistry at Albany State University. Peters is recognized for increasing experiential learning opportunities and expanding diversity and inclusion efforts. She has responded to community and regional workforce needs by developing high-demand academic programs, including collaborating with the local hospital system to retain nurses in the southwest Georgia region. She has led successful middle school youth empowerment programs (GEMSS and AstroCHEM) that resulted in hundreds of students attending college.
Peters serves on several committees and boards at national and state levels and holds membership in several professional organizations that promote education, literacy, and STEM. She has received numerous awards and accolades, including the South Carolina Governors Professor Award, the White House Millennium Teaching Award, the E. Ann Nalley Southeastern Regional American Chemical Society Award for Volunteer Services, and the Stanley C. Israel Southeastern Regional American Chemical Society Award for Diversity. Peters has been published in numerous journals, books, and reports promoting leadership, STEM, and education.
Meet Dr. Lee Pritzl
Dr. Lee Pritzl joins InitiativeOne as one of the nation’s most sought-after school board facilitators. His overall success goes well beyond basic school board training. Dr. Pritzl helps individuals unlock their potential to use their talents to build and sustain positive change.
Dr. Pritzl relies on his many years “in the trenches” as a teacher, coach, athletic director, vice principal, elementary, middle, and high school principal, and superintendent. His extensive work with school board development and strategic or visionary planning provides a unique value when working with our client partners. He has effectively navigated pivotal issues and challenges during his career. He helps to bring a vision to fruition. Dr. Pritzl also has experience working with corporate leadership and boards of directors. He understands the value of high functionality within teams that leads to more significant results.
Dr. Pritzl is the author of The School Board Playbook, Winning Strategies to Champion Functionality. This book guides school boards and superintendents to measure their level of functionality and the strategies and methods to achieve higher overall functionality. Beyond his experience as an educator, Lee Pritzl previously served for several years with the United States Navy as a meteorologist and oceanographer.