About Me
Meet Dr. Michaela Parisi
Growth-focused leader and data-driven problem solver, Dr. Michaela C. Parisi is an educator, researcher, and advocate with a passion for equitable, community-centered education based in the Detroit metro area.
My Why
“These people and so many more are my reasons why.”
Where it Began
As an undergraduate student, I had the opportunity to serve as a K-8 multilingual support specialist working with newcomer emergent bilingual students. Although the students I served were brilliant and had a wealth of cultural and linguistic capital, they were often excluded (unintentionally) from classroom participation.
Witnessing the barriers to educational opportunities these students faced ignited my passion for educational equity. The memory of these students continues to motivate me today.
What Keeps Me Going
Since 2015, each student I have had the pleasure of getting to know has added their name to my list of reasons why.
In each interaction, I have learned more about the incredible complexity of humanity and our shared human condition. My thanks to each one for teaching me the importance of relationship-building and community development.
What I've Learned
Throughout my career, I have been fortunate to learn from, meet, and collaborate with diverse educators who have mentored me and informed my educational philosophy and instructional approach.
They have taught me that each of us has incredible power to influence change, but no one can do it all on their own.
When we combine our strengths and work together towards a shared vision, we can improve the success of all students.
My Character & Values
Both personally and professionally, I seek to demonstrate unconditional positive regard.
According to The VIA Institute on Character Strengths Survey, my top five strengths are love of learning, kindness, curiosity, honesty, and judgement. These strengths show up in my professional work and personal hobbies.
I enjoy spending my time mastering new skills, topics, and bodies of knowledge, intentionally learning and reflecting on my growth.
Reading Books
Listening to Podcasts
Taking Classes
Participating in the Community
Attending Conferences & Workshops
I believe it’s important to communicate in a genuine and sincere way, taking responsibility for my feelings and accountability for my actions. Honesty is the base of genuine relationships and strong teams. Transparency builds trust.
Both of these—honesty and transparency—are required for teams and
communities to thrive.
Love of Learning
Kindness
Curiosity
Honesty
Judgement
“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more, you are a leader.”
– John Adams –
This quote from John Adams is the inspiration for my servant leadership style. I believe impact is multiplied and sustained when leaders are facilitators who motivate and inspire others towards continual improvement.
My Leadership & Approach
The Leadership Challenge by Kouzes and Posner serves as my leadership model. I frequently reference The Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership: Model the Way, Inspire a Shared Vision, Challenge the Process, Enable Others to Act, and Encourage the Heart.
I believe that these behaviors can be used by anyone—from those in formal positions of authority to neighbors forming coalitions—to improve their leadership practice.
Peer Reflection
I strive to continually improve my leadership practice through self-reflection and elliciting feedback from those I work with. In January 2026, seven of my managers and coworkers provided me with feedback on my execution of the Five Practices via the Wiley Brand Leadership Practices Inventory. According to the their feedback, my top ten most frequent leadership behaviors are:
1. Treating people with dignity and respect (Enable Others to Act)
2. Following through on the promises I make (Model the Way)
3. Setting a personal example for what I expect of others (Model the Way)
4. Speaking with genuine conviction about the higher meaning and purpose of the work (Inspire a Shared Vision)
5. Taking initiative in anticipating and responding to change (Challenge the
Process)
6. Seeking out challenging opportunities that test my own skills and abilities (Challenge the Process)
7. Ensuring that others grow in their jobs by learning new skills and developing themselves (Enable Others to Act)
8. Actively listening to diverse points of view (Enable Others to Act)
9. Making certain that people adhere to the principles and standards that have been agreed
upon (Model the Way)
10. Identifying measurable milestones that keep projects moving forward
(Challenge the Process)
When asked about my strengths,
my evaluators wrote:
“As a gifted teacher, Michaela led down by empowering her students. She didn’t just deliver content; she helped students set individual goals, recognize their strengths, and intentionally develop leadership skills. By fostering independence, self-reflection, and confidence, she created future leaders rather than passive learners.”
“Michaela is enitrely reliable and anticipates challenges before they occur. The project she has helped us launch will require new rounds of data collection every year – she has learned from the challenges at launch and has developed processes and documentation to ensure that future years move smoothly. Her work will have a positive impact on future team members.”
“Michaela is excellent at making people feel recognized and valued for their accomplishments and contributions. She is also excellent at explaining a vision for the future and getting others engaged and excited about it.”
“Michaela’s strengths center on active engagement for the common good of the organization and seeing the big picture and vision for the future of possibilities. Her greatest strength is seeing the big picture for the vision and endless possibilities that can exist in the future regarding the potential of herself and others.”
“One of her greatest strengths is her strong desire to continuously learn and develop new skills. She proactively seeks out opportunities to work in areas where she may not yet be the strongest, viewing these experiences as intentional growth opportunities rather than limitations. This willingness to step outside of her comfort zone allows her to rapidly expand her knowledge, strengthen her skill set, and contribute more effectively over time. Her commitment to learning not only supports her own professional growth but also adds value to the team by increasing overall capacity and adaptability.”
“Michaela is great at anticipating change, planning and clearly communicating needs. She shares a vision for the future and voices how different moves/actions will impact that.”
Educational Philosophy
My educational philosophy is rooted in transformational pedagogy and humanitarian ideals.
I believe that all students have unique needs and deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.
I believe that teachers should be facilitators of learning by valuing students’ motivation, hopes, humanity, and the diverse experiences and identities they bring to the classroom.
I believe that students who feel efficacy, confidence, and belonging become successful contributors to an ever-changing global context.
