I am Mallory Lawler, a Professional Learning Specialist at West40 ISC#2, with 12 years of experience in education. I have taught second and third grade, served on the District Leadership team, and worked as an Instructional Coach in a K-5 setting. For the past 12 years, I have also owned and operated Inspire Educational Services, a tutoring business dedicated to individualized education for students in grades K-12. As a Teach Plus Policy Fellow alumna, I have worked on policy proposals regarding SEL practices and collaborated with educators across Illinois. I have led workshops at national conferences on Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) and Civic Engagement. Additionally, I am the Mentor Coordinator for (Sister)Hood of Hope, where I mentor girls of color in grades 9-12. I was honored as Bellwood School District 88’s Teacher of the Year in 2020 and received the Illinois State Board of Education Award of Excellence in 2024. Outside of work, I love exploring new places, having visited 40 states so far, and you can often find me enjoying yoga, sipping on coffee, or relaxing at the beach.