Consultant, EXECUTIVE COACH
With a background spanning 46 years in education, the last 28 in independent schools, Susan brings a wealth of experience in education and knowledge of independent school management. Dr. Lair earned her stripes as a middle and high school mathematics teacher, math specialist and district administrator in the Fort Worth and Bryan Independent School Districts and later as Upper School dean of students and curriculum coordinator at Fort Worth Country Day School. She served as Head of Upper School at Saint Mary’s Hall in San Antonio (Boarding 9-12) before serving St. Francis Episcopal in Houston as the Head of School for 17 years. While working at St. Francis, she improved faculty and student retention; resided over record annual giving; spearheaded the addition of a much-needed 24-acre second campus; built a state-of-the-art primary school campus and led a capital campaign that allowed St. Francis to realize its longstanding dream of a high school.
Susan holds a doctorate in education administration and finance from the University of Texas and a master’s degree in education administration and mathematics education from Texas Christian University. Susan has served in various educational organizations including: President of the Southwestern Association of Episcopal Schools (SAES), board member of the Independent Schools Association of the Southwest (ISAS), board member of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas Education Commission, and a member of the Association of Secondary School Principals. She has chaired and served on various committees including; SAES and ISAS nominating and standards committees. She was a mathematics author consultant for McGraw Hill Textbook Publishers, taught the New Heads workshop for Independent School Management, Inc., was elected Teacher of the Year and was one of the first recipients of the Tandy Teacher Scholar Award.
