Natasha Ward, EdD

Natasha Ward, EdD has worked in various roles in the education field since 2010. In 2010, they were a Smart Start Intern for the Education/Community Engagement Department at United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta. From 2011 to 2014, they worked as a Substitute Teacher for Gwinnett County Public Schools and a 4th & 5th Grade Teacher at Kanoheda Elementary. During this time, they increased their students' reading level on average by 1.5 years of growth and 76% of their students exceeded Math Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests (CRCT). In 2016, they started their own business, Natasha Inspires, LLC, as a Holistic Life Strategist and Consultant. From 2019 to 2020, Ward worked with World Leadership School as a Virtual Instructional Coach, Curriculum Designer, Curriculum Writer, and Presenter. During this time, they created and presented curriculum and professional development trainings and designed Virtual Immersion Experiences. Natasha also taught a curriculum founded in purpose with a focus of connecting "head, heart and hands." In 2019, they began working with LifeDojo as a Senior Behavioral Change Specialist Health Coach. In this role, they coached over 300 corporate clients on their well-being. Finally, in 2020, they began working with The National Math and Science Initiative as an NMSI Coach and with EdConnective as a Virtual Instructional Coach, Curriculum Writer, Content Developer, and Workshop Presenter. In this role, they created content and led workshops for over 1500 teachers and administrators and facilitated workshops on instructional coach coaching principles and practices in over 20 school districts across 16 states.

Natasha Ward, EdD has an extensive educational background. Natasha obtained their Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) from the University of West Georgia in 2018, with a field of study in School Improvement in Educational Leadership and School Counseling. Prior to that, they earned their MAT from Georgia State University College of Education in 2013, with a field of study in Elementary Education and Teaching. In 2011, they earned their BA from Spelman College in Philosophy, with a minor in Spanish. In 2009, they studied Spanish at Universidad de Málaga. In 2008, they studied Spanish at Middlebury College. In 2021, they obtained a Certificate in Women's Entrepreneurship from Cornell University. In addition, Natasha Ward, EdD has obtained numerous certifications, including Learning to Teach Online and Teaching Online: Synchronous Classes from LinkedIn in 2020, Mindfulness and Resilience to Stress at Work- UCBerkeleyX from edX in 2020, Certified Life Coach in 2015, Level 5 Clear Renewable Early Childhood Education (PK-5) Teacher Certification Georgia Professional Standards Commission from the Georgia Professional Standards Commission in 2013, and Trauma-Brain: Building Resiliency from the Georgia State University - Andrew Young School of Policy Studies.