We recently connected with Jana Lee and have shared our conversation below.

Jana, appreciate you joining us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

I began my career in the education industry as a founding member of a high-needs school in the South Bronx, New York City. My early years were defined by long nights of meticulous lesson planning, managing a diverse range of learning needs, and navigating the complexities of special education with underprivileged students from low socio-economic backgrounds.

I knew my students deserved the world. They needed a teacher who believed in them and refused to let their circumstances define their potential. They deserved to be held accountable and responsible for their learning, to be challenged with high expectations, and to receive care, comfort, empathy, and a safe place.

It was non-negotiable—my classroom had to be a safe haven where students of all learning abilities and levels felt un-judged. This meant that building relationships had to be at the forefront of the learning experience.

Yet, I also had content and skills that I needed to teach them. Earlier in my career, I remember thinking, “How do I do this? How do I nurture their development, while also teaching them all of this curriculum in a way that it becomes accessible, despite their learning and thinking differences?”

Being a special education teacher means providing *individualized* support for every single student in the classroom and creating an inclusive environment where every single student feels safe (regardless of their abilities) and can achieve their full potential through tailored instruction, empathy, and unwavering dedication. In a 45-50 minute lesson, I had to, quite literally, get it all done.

As part of the schools’ leadership team, my responsibilities also included developing our special education department. This required me to design systems, structures, and protocols that would foster a collective and aligned dedication among all stakeholders to support all students. These were kids growing up in historically marginalized communities, facing challenges such as homelessness, living in shelters, and single-parent households. Many of them went to bed hungry at night. For these children, school was the only stabilizing place in their lives. To give them what they deserved and needed, we needed inclusive systems with a “all hands on deck” approach.

Who would have thought that data-driven instruction would be the key.

The continued push to use data from my school-leaders at the time, forced me to discover a powerful approach to using data in my classroom that profoundly impacted my students’ success. The more I embraced taking risks in collecting and utilizing data, the more confident and comfortable I became in providing my students with the individualized support they needed. Now coined The Check for Understanding formula, collecting, sorting and instantaneously using data in my classroom, changed my life and the lives of my students.

By collecting data, not just casual observations and notes for even bigger formative assessments, I systematically was able to gather, analyze, and understand concrete information about each student every single day. I could make informed decisions about their next steps on an individual level. The formula ended up giving me my time back. No longer was I spending hours grading at home. I didn’t have to constantly feel like I was a mouse on a hamster wheel, collecting data on students and then figuring out where I was going to “fix the issues and revise lesson plans.”

This meticulous approach ensured that I was genuinely addressing their unique needs and providing them with the opportunities they deserved on-the-spot. I wasn’t using any preconceived notions or bias to decide how to teach them. I wasn’t using “what I thought they could do” or “if the student has an IEP or not” to decide who needed help in my classroom and how. I had figured out how to collect data in the moment and then use it in the moment to support each student where they needed it.

The Check for Understanding framework had a profound impact on our school, with virtually all teachers adopting it in their classrooms. I expanded its application to enhance our progress monitoring systems, Intervention and Referral protocols, IEP meetings, and Data-Driven Inquiry during grade team and content meetings. This Check for Understanding formula ultimately influenced numerous other systems within our school, leading to the development of a comprehensive framework.

The success of data-driven instruction across the school-community inspired me to become the founder and executive director of Jana Lee Consulting. The use of data to drive school improvement has long been recognized (Murray, 2013). School leaders understand the importance of adopting a systemic, continuous improvement approach through data collection, analysis, and utilization (Townsley & Snyder, 2022). Educators must gather and analyze data to understand the underlying processes influencing current outcomes for students within their schools or districts (Murray, 2013).

However, the acknowledgment of data-based and data-driven decisions does not necessarily translate into their implementation. And as a result, teachers are struggling to implement data-driven instructional practices and student performance scores illustrate that they are falling behind. Goldman (2015) states, “The nation’s educational system is turning out readers who are ill-prepared for the literacy demands of the 21st century” (p. 90). According to the NAEP, which administers the test to all students in public and private schools in grades four, eight, and 12, approximately two-thirds of eighth graders are not proficient in reading. Math scores are worse, with largest declines at grades four and eight since initial assessments in 1990. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation found in 2015 that more than two-thirds of teachers express dissatisfaction with the effectiveness of available data and tools.

Leaders need to use data effectively and continuously within all crevices of the school-community to close these gaps.

So what stands in their way of doing that now?

Plainly put, the research continuously suggests that leaders struggle to build effective data-driven systems that support student learning, leaving them feeling overwhelmed and unsure how to get started. While barriers to data-based decision-making persist (e.g., excessive raw data, inadequate technology, misalignment between building goals and classroom data, and challenges in prioritizing data), the full potential benefits of data usage in education have yet to be fully realized . As a result, leaders often make data-driven decisions based on default processes already established within the school community.

My work helps leaders make the shift to data decisions by design. My mission is to help leaders harness the power of data to make meaningful, individualized decisions that elevate student success, particularly for those who need it the most.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Frequently, I encounter dedicated leaders who recognize the potential for meaningful improvements in student achievement, but lack the time, energy, and resources to implement these changes effectively. Many of our most talented leaders and teachers are experiencing burnout, and students are falling through the cracks. While lofty goals are set for the school-community, achieving success is often hindered by inadequate tools and support systems.

Jana Lee Consulting, LLC collaborates with school districts across the country to design customized strategies, systems, and procedures aimed at enhancing academic performance. My methodology is grounded in research-based insights proven to yield improved student outcomes. Jana Lee helps schools and leaders who:
1. Want to improve student achievement.
2. May be angry that they have very little time, energy, and resources.
3. And professionals who want to use data to drive the instruction that meets the needs of all students.

Jana, in collaboration with school stakeholders, creates customized plans that are solution-oriented and result-driven. Just like educators are expected to differentiate for their students, Jana Lee Consulting, LLC takes great pride in differentiating amongst districts, schools, leaders and classrooms. My custom tailor approach to helping school-communities, reflects the nuances of each unique educational setting, ensuring that every program and strategy is precisely aligned with the specific needs, goals, and challenges of each district, school, leader, and classroom.

Recent in-demand workshops include topics such as,
-Co-teaching and Inclusion
-Strengthening Tier 1
-MTSS
-Intervention and Referral Systems
-Executive Functioning

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

The foundation of my work lies in the relationships I build with every person I work with, both in and out of the school. I believe deeply in connecting with my clients in a meaningful way that goes beyond the surface level.

Why?

Because, as I mentioned earlier, creating a safe and trusting environment is essential for fostering change. I work alongside adults, and I always tell my clients, “I am not here to change your mind or make you change.” I can’t change their mindset, and I don’t want to. People’s lived experiences and philosophies have shaped who they are today. What I can do, however, is build relationships and get to know them. I can ask about their niece’s wedding in Italy or share pictures of our children and talk about how cute they are. A teacher can tell me about their tough day. I call clients to check in, just to see how they’re doing.

There is a human component to this work, especially in this industry, that cannot be overlooked. When I build a relationship with any leader or teacher, they are far more likely to trust that I have their best interests at heart. They are more likely to take risks and try out new strategies. They are far more likely to collaborate and learn alongside me. Together, we are far more likely to make meaningful progress.

Any thoughts, advice, or strategies you can share for fostering brand loyalty?

Maintaining strong client relationships is a cornerstone of my business philosophy. I prioritize regular communication through personalized phone calls and face-to-face meetings because I believe in the enduring value of human connection. In a landscape increasingly shaped by AI and technology, I remain committed to the principle that every client is not just a transaction, but a long-term relationship. This approach fosters trust, strengthens loyalty, and ensures that each client feels valued and supported throughout their journey with my services.

Prioritize in-person meetings over virtual. Pick up the phone and make the call instead of email.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.janaleeconsulting.com
• Instagram: @jana.c.lee
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janaclee/
• Twitter: @Jana_C_Lee
• Youtube: @janaclee

Image Credits

Donna Fisk, CEO of Fisk Foto