Kenneth Willers

Leadership Coach

Maxwell Leadership · Self-employed
May 2026 - Present · 3 mos

Suwanee, Georgia, United States

President/CEO

Ken Willers CatholicEd Leadership Solutions · Self-employed
May 2025 - Present · 1 yr 3 mos

Suwanee, Georgia, United States · Remote
Building a Workplace Culture of Collaboration • Board Development and Governance • Mission-Based Messaging • Leadership Coaching and Mentoring

Leadership Development, Mentoring and +4 skills

Partner and Strategic Advisor, ACELA Solutions

ACELA Solutions - Advocates for Catholic Education, Leadership and Advancement
Oct 2025 - Present · 10 mos
ACELA Solutions is a national consulting and advisory firm serving Catholic schools, dioceses, religious communities, and social ministries. We help mission-driven institutions strengthen leadership, culture, and organizational vitality through retained search and talent acquisition, leadership development, organization assessments, and strategic solutions.

Serving in partnership with ACELA Solutions to accompany Catholic leaders and institutions in advancing mission, leadership, and culture.

Learn more or inquire at www.acelasolutions.com.

Follow and support ACELA Solutions on LinkedIn to help us grow our social media presence and expand our community of Catholic leaders nationwide.

President

Notre Dame Academy - Duluth, GA - A Marist and IB World School · Full-time
Jun 2020 - Jun 2025 · 5 yrs 1 mo

Duluth, Georgia, United States
After a nationwide search, I served as an inaugural President for a K12 international baccalaureate, independent catholic school, with a $multimillion operating budget. I interacted with a faculty of 70+ teaching professionals to cohesively deliver world-class education. I distributed departmental projects and delegate initiatives, covering business, admissions, advancement and communications, including allocation of principal and assistant principal activities, reporting directly to the Board of Trustees to drive school mission and safeguard operational vitality.
My key contributions included:
• Boosted community relationships as a member of Rotary Club International in Duluth.
• Aligned mission and student enrolment by restructuring faculty personnel and finances.
• Won 'Best in Gwinnett' award 2 years running by leading a brand building campaign.
• Constructed a new track and related facilities as lead on major capital improvements.
• Secured athletic field lighting fixtures via negotiations with Atlanta Fire United Soccer.
• Set-up a presidential advisory cabinet to exceed annual funding target by 85%.

Associate Superintendent of Leadership for Innovation & Growth

Diocese of Oakland · Full-time
Jun 2018 - Jun 2020 · 2 yrs 1 mo

Oakland, CA
With strategic oversight of 32 elementary and 9 high schools, housing 15k+ students and c.700 faculty professionals, inclusive of principals and school boards, I focused on accelerating growth and innovation projects to delivery. I mentored departmental leaders, teachers and senior board to embed a forward thinking and collaborative approach, while creating informative learning environments, delivering classroom instruction and inputting into operational excellence. I attended regional diocese events across the UK as guest public speaker, such as NCEA conventions and gatherings, on various topics.
My key contributions included:
• Built team of 15 new administrators as a mentor on leadership, education & operations.
• Positioned 35 candidates to thrive by devising two leadership training programs.
• Onboarded 120+ teachers as pioneer of six workshops on reflective practices & strategies.
• Unified understanding of catholic identity and board-level mission as seminar chair.
• Partnered with the NCEA and ISTE to devise a nationwide ISTE certification program.
• Introduced, launched and hosted the first group educational committee for 30 teachers.
• Strengthened the state accreditation process across 9 high schools as Commissioner.
• Boosted social media awareness via weekly publication of 2 newsletters and tweets.
• Contributed to succession planning as creator of 3 training and development programs.
• Authored and published an article in an industry publication on innovative leadership.

Board Development

National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA)

13 yrs 8 mos

Executive Educational Mentor/Coach

Contract

Aug 2017 - Jun 2019 · 1 yr 11 mos

I facilitated educational mentoring to a catholic educational leader by offering best practices and opportunities for reflective practice.

National Catholic Educational Association Advisory Council

Apr 2015 - Apr 2018 · 3 yrs 1 mo

Serve on the committee for Professional Development. Advises the Director of Professional Development on best practices and current trends impacting Catholic Education.

NCEA Department of Elementary Executive Committee Board Member for Technology

Nov 2005 - Apr 2015 · 9 yrs 6 mos

Washington DC-Baltimore Area

Regional Representative for the Western States of CA, HI, UT, NV. Served as Board Member to committee for 8 years and served as Technology Advisory to the committee for 2 years.

Principal

School Of The Madeleine · Full-time
Jun 2010 - Jun 2018 · 8 yrs 1 mo

Berkeley, CA
In an entrepreneurial leadership and direction role, I directed all aspects of a K-8 elementary school housing 315 students, 30 faculty and 5 wider personnel, collectively driving mission and objectives. I allocated $multimillion annual operating and capital budgets for various initiatives and projects. I built partnerships with visionary business leaders and achieved student success by liaising with parents to address needs and shape long-term development objectives. I identified third party vendors to outsource non-educational activities and executed well-defined strategies to transform and safeguard the mission of catholic education.
My key contributions included:
• Raised $multimillion funding to transform school into a 21st century, highly envied school.
• Increased funding by 200% and parent involvement 100% in advancement program.
• Received NCEA award by embedding board-level best practices in enterprise-wide.
• Created an admin team and collaborative model to improve operational performance.
• Garnered 100% faculty participation in STEAM program and introduced a 1-2-1 iPad app.
• Built strong educational partnerships with EdTech companies to create real-life results.
• Created an alternative, environmentally friendly outdoor garden and amphitheater.
• Drove operational excellence using emerging technology and model restructure.

Board Development

Member

NAESP
May 2017 - May 2018 · 1 yr 1 mo

San Francisco Bay Area

School of the Applied Theology Board Member

Graduate Theological Union
Oct 2012 - Jun 2015 · 2 yrs 9 mos

Berkeley
Advise Executive Director for program development and advancement strategies.

Board of Education Member

Archdiocese of San Francisco
2006 - 2011 · 5 yrs
Advised the Superintendent of Schools and the Department of Catholic schools on policies impacting Catholic education. Drafted a tool to measure the viability of schools based on a series of benchmarks.

Principal

St. John School · Full-time
Jul 2001 - Jun 2010 · 9 yrs

San Francisco Bay Area
As an innovative leader, my role involved the complex transformation of an underperforming school located in an inner-city area of San Francisco, which was facing critical challenges of achieving financial stability, increasing enrollment, updating facilities while maintaining tuition at affordable levels to attract a diverse population of parents. By focusing on the mission and establishing new partnerships, I oversaw the successful growth of enrollment, returning school to financial viability, reinvesting capital back into the operation and facilities as well as stewarding the school to national visibility through technology innovation and board leadership.
My key contributions included:
• Increased enrollment 35% in 9 years from 217 to 295 and achieved future sustainability.
• Awarded 2003 Innovation in Technology via an innovative ‘student-led’ tech program.
• Won 2009 NCEA Outstanding award for turning challenges into opportunities & success.
• Replaced structural assets which saved on utilities and enabled restroom refurbishment.
• Discharged and fully repaid a $100k loan advanced to keep the school open.
• Reinvested $800k+ back into the operational viability of the school over 9 years.

Board Development

Vice Principal & Director of Technology

School of the Madeleine, Berkeley · Full-time
1993 - 2001 · 8 yrs

Berkeley, California, United States
I led a school-wide technology integration project and assisted the principal with administrative leadership for accreditation, summer school execution and student leadership development.