Our Team

Our strength lies in our individuality.

Dr. Cynthia Clauson

Kevin Weir

Rob Hess

Erin Jones

Realzilence Culture Principles

Resilience

I live out daily the name of our business. I push through difficult times in order to fulfill our vision of “Transforming the global education process through transforming education leaders.” I know that changing the education system is difficult, but I am determined to stick with our plan and stay strong through all challenges.

Communication

I speak positively of my fellow team members, my clients, and Realzilence in both public and private. I speak with good purpose using empowering and positive conversation. I acknowledge what is being said as true for the speaker at that moment and I take responsibility for responses to my communication. I always apologize for any upsets that I may have created first and then look for a solution. I only ever discuss private concerns in private with the person involved.

Integrity

I always speak the truth. What I promise is what I deliver. I only ever make agreements with myself and others that I am willing and intend to keep. I communicate potential broken agreements at the first opportunity, and I clear up all broken agreements immediately.

Courage

At my core, I am not afraid to do the right thing, even if it is uncomfortable. I look for ways to get into “Good Trouble” and will speak truth to power in order to achieve the positive outcome that our clients want from us.

Innovation

I am always looking at different ways to provide value to my team, my school district clients, and to my community. I recognize that in order to deliver on our Vision and Mission I will need to constantly “Think Outside the Box.” I will be supportive of my fellow team members when they put forward innovative ideas and concepts.

Patience

I know that transformation takes time, and I am willing to do whatever it takes to help my team and my clients get the results they desire on the time frame that works for them. I will be positive in times of waiting, and I will display enthusiasm even when I believe things should happen faster.

Simplicity

I live by the mantra “Simple is Sophisticated.” I work at taking complex concepts and making them easy to understand and implement for our clients.

Ethical Choices

I employ the concept of “Have the courage of your conviction to do the right thing” in all decisions with clients, team members, and my community. I recognize that not everybody will agree with my arc of choices, but I take the best course of action I know is right, and then stay calm in the face of adversity.

Our Mission

The Mission of Realzilence is to ensure that every education leader in every school system in the world transforms their schools and educational programs in order to develop every single student to fulfill, to the best of their ability, their calling in the greater society. This will be done by incorporating the principles of Servant Leadership tailored for school administrators so that they can effectively lead and motivate all stakeholders within their school system (teachers, employees, parents, and community leaders) to take extraordinary action that lead to educational excellence.

By coaching these leaders in the principles of Servant Leadership, students will come out of schools with a higher level of education and success that they will apply to transform businesses and organizations to greater levels of success. This, in turn, will elevate local communities, and ultimately entire countries to prosperity levels never imagined before.

Our vision for education is grounded in the belief that every individual deserves access to quality learning experiences that foster curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking. We envision a dynamic, inclusive educational environment where diverse perspectives are embraced, and students are encouraged to explore their interests and strengths. In this vision, educators serve as mentors and facilitators, guiding students toward a lifelong love of learning.

We aim to integrate technology and innovative teaching methods to ensure that education remains relevant and adaptable to a rapidly changing world. By prioritizing collaboration and real-world problem-solving, we aspire to equip students with the skills needed to navigate the complexities of the future. Ultimately, we seek to empower learners to become informed, engaged citizens who contribute positively to society, creating a world where education is a catalyst for personal growth and collective progress.

Our Vision

Dr. Clauson shares powerful concepts and personal insights into the key elements needed to transform and build strong, sustainable, resilient schools. This is a great resource and guidebook for school leaders, their teams, and staff.

- Rich McBride, Ed.D.

John Smith

★★★★★

Meet the Team

Dr Cynthia Clauson

Dr. Cynthia Clauson is a results-oriented school district and regional leader with comprehensive management and tested leadership skills in all aspects of school improvement, family outreach, diverse community relations, and organizational operations. Dr. Clauson has experience in national and international schools with 33 states and Alaska opening online schools, and leading international schools in the Middle East. She has also been the CEO of Educational Coaching Plus and is the author of Revealing Resilient Leadership.

As a District level educational leader, Dr. Clauson has coordinated and supervised school personnel and fiscal resources. As a strategic leader with an excellent track record as a teacher, principal, turn-around specialist, central office administrator, and superintendent, she has served as a mentor to both teachers and administrators.

Dr. Clauson’s professional certifications include a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership (Dissertation focus: Critical thinking assessment as problem solving skills across a diverse population), Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA, 1997, Education Administration Certification, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, Continuing Certification 1995, Education MAT in Reading Curriculum/Gifted and Talented Education, Whitworth University, Spokane, WA, 1982, Bachelor of Arts with an emphasis in the performing and graphic arts to increase literacy. (Area of Co Bachelor concentration: Creative Language Arts for the Classroom Teacher), Whitworth University, Spokane, WA, 1980.

Kevin Weir, Managing Partner

With over 27 years of experience in the consulting and coaching space, Kevin Weir brings a wealth of expertise in leading organizations. Kevin’s deep experience in working with a variety of businesses and teams has enabled him to partner up with Dr. Clauson to found Realzilence and launch an organization dedicated to improving the leadership skillsets of school administrators world-wide.

Kevin grew up in Spokane, WA, the son of a High School teacher and coach who aspired to become a school principal. Seeing his father’s aspirations helped Kevin understand his desire to help every school administrator be the kind of leader they want to become.

Kevin received his MBA from Washington State University and has led the Spokane Branch of ActionCOACH Business Coaching to help many organizations improve their leadership skills and achieve massive success.

As Managing Partner, Kevin leads the day-to-day operations of Realzilence helping every team member sharpen their coaching and consulting skills in order to deliver the results that Realzilence promises to all of their engagements.

Kevin is dedicated to advancing educational opportunity, optimizing institutional performance, and empowering education leaders with the tools they need to succeed. Realzilence’ innovative approach to education consulting and coaching is rooted in evidence-based practices and a deep understanding of Servant-Based leadership.

Erin Jones

Erin Jones is a biracial, transracial adoptee, who was born in Saint Paul, Minnesota, where she was adopted by parents who had been raised in Northern Minnesota. Her father took a teaching job at the American School of The Hague in the Netherlands, where Erin was raised and where her parents taught for over 30 years. By the time Erin was 17 years old, she could speak four languages and had played soccer, basketball and softball in 10 countries. Upon graduation from high school, Erin returned to the United States for college.

She attended Bryn Mawr College, in a suburb of Philadelphia, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Literatures of the African diaspora in English, French, and Spanish. She later earned her teaching certificate from Pacific Lutheran University and another certificate in Language Immersion instruction from Concordia College. Erin has worked as an athletic coach, a substitute teacher, a classroom teacher, an instructional coach, a state assistant superintendent, and a school district executive.

Erin has earned awards as The Most Innovative World Language Teacher, the Washington State Milken Educator of the Year, a White House Champion of Change, and the Inaugural Hanford Education Leader. Erin ran to lead the Office of State Superintendent of Public Instruction in 2016 and lost that race by 1%. Her loss propelled her into full-time consulting on issues related to equity and public speaking at conferences, in schools, and at churches.

Since 2017, Erin has spoken to over 500,000 students and provided trainings and keynotes to a similar number of adults. She has three TEDx Talks and recently published a book, “Bridges to Heal US: Stories and Strategies for Racial Healing.” She and her husband, James, have been married for almost 30 years. James is a high school teacher and head football coach. They have three adult children - one who is a para educator and coaches football, one who serves as the communications and project manager for an education foundation, and one who works for an independent video game design company.

Rob Hess

Rob’s primary area of expertise is building leadership capacity in others to achieve breakthrough results for students. He is an innovative visionary dedicated to taking actions that deliver results. Dr. Hess has a proven track record of improving graduation rates, attendance rates, student achievement, and equity outcomes for all students. Rob has deep experience with school & district improvement, educational reform, data analysis, process management, crisis management, facility improvement, foundation development, state reform, systems improvement, and community engagement. Dr. Hess has nine years of experience as a superintendent, ten years at the district office level, eight years as a principal, and ten years as a teacher.

As superintendent for Lebanon schools, he was responsible for the achievement and success of eight schools representing 4,100 students. He developed a community vision process to determine a vision, mission, and strategic plan for the school district and engaged the community through a variety of events and activities.

Dr. Hess consistently saw overall increases in reading and math achievement throughout the district and implemented AVID district-wide to support college and career readiness and has mentored, coached all principals in the district. He has developed and led data analysis workshops to support and increase data fluency throughout the district and has experience as a human resource administrator as well.

Dr. Hess founded Breakthrough Consulting, LCC in 2018–a grassroots network dedicated to helping schools and districts achieve breakthrough school improvement results. He designed and created the Priority Leadership G.R.O.W. coaching program to support superintendents and principals, which includes the Priority Leadership assessment tool. His company has also designed teacher and principal evaluation and support tools to help educators grow in their practice. His firm specializes in Executive Searches, Community Engagement, Strategic Planning, Evaluation Systems, and Community Engagement.

Dr. Hess has taught classes at the University of Oregon, Oregon State University, Willamette University, and Lewis & Clark College on the following subjects: teacher leadership, professional development for administrators, school improvement planning, data analysis for school improvement, priority leadership, research for education, teacher/principal evaluation, and many other topics..

He has authored (and co-authored) four books about educational reform, school improvement, and leadership and has contracted with various districts and educational organizations for presentations and professional development activities. Dr. Hess has developed one-day interactive workshops on the following topics: Advanced Data Toolkit, The 5 Talents and 5 Skills of Exceptional Teachers, Priority Leadership, and Goal Setting. His Mt. Everest Keynote walks leaders through what it takes to achieve extraordinary results in their work and life.