About
I’ve spent more than forty years as a teacher, school leader, and teacher educator — work that taught me again and again how deeply people long to grow, and how transformative it can be when someone walks beside you with presence and clarity. Coaching became a natural extension of that calling. Today, I support leaders, educators, entrepreneurs, and individuals who want to live and work with more purpose, authenticity, and sustainability.
My approach weaves together the Satir Growth Model, Neuro-Linguistic Programming, and grounding, mindful practices. I’m interested in the whole of a person — what strengthens them, what gets in their way, and how they can create change that is both practical and life-giving. Clients often tell me they feel “seen” in ways that help them move forward with more confidence and ease. That is the heart of my work.
Before coaching, I served in a variety of roles across the educational landscape: classroom teacher (early childhood and middle grades), university professor, Lab School Director, Middle School Division Head, Assistant Head for Teaching & Learning, Interim Head of School, and Executive Director of a Family Resource Center. Each role offered a different vantage point on leadership, complexity, and human behavior — perspectives I now bring into every coaching relationship.
I hold a B.A. in Education from Furman University, an M.Ed. from the University of Louisville, and a Ph.D. in Curriculum & Instruction from UNC–Chapel Hill. I’m also a Master Practitioner in Neuro-Linguistic Programming and a certified Satir Coach and Trainer.
Outside of work, I’m a firm believer in the power of play. I’m an avid reader and a maker at heart — drawn to textile art, photography, and creative expression. Long walks in beautiful places (with opportunities for birdwatching) help keep me grounded. And traveling with my family remains one of my greatest joys and sources of renewal.
If you’re looking for support that’s steady, thoughtful, and attuned to who you are becoming, I’d be honored to work with you.
Renee Prillaman, Ph.D. brings more than four decades of experience as an educator, school leader, professor, and leadership coach. Her work integrates deep academic grounding with practical, relational approaches to leadership, teaching, and organizational change.
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Education: Ph.D. in Curriculum & Instruction, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; M.Ed., University of Louisville; B.A., Furman University
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Leadership & Teaching: Former Interim Head of School and Assistant Head for Teaching & Learning at Carolina Friends School; former Middle School Head and classroom teacher; Clinical and Adjunct Professor of the Practice at Duke University and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
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Coaching & Consulting: Leadership and personal transformation coach in independent practice since 2018; consultant to more than 50 schools across the U.S. and China
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Certifications & Training: Certified Satir Coach and Mentor (2023); Certified Satir Coaching Trainer (2024); Master Practitioner in Neuro-Linguistic Programming (1990); Institute for Engaging Leadership, Friends Council on Education (2011–2013)
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Publications & Presentations: Author of peer-reviewed articles and books on pedagogy, teacher evaluation, and adolescent development; frequent presenter at national education conferences
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Honors & Service: Recipient of multiple teaching, leadership, and research grants; current board member and advisor with organizations advancing peaceful, relational, and values-based education, including the Virginia M. Satir Center
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