Short bio: Lacey is an educator and professional learning consultant in the Office of Professional Learning for Richland County School District One in South Carolina where she partners with educators and school leaders to support professional learning that’s practical, evidence informed, and focused on improving student outcomes. Full bio: Cathy Lacey is an educator and professional learning consultant in the Office of Professional Learning for Richland County School District One in South Carolina where she partners with educators and school leaders to support professional learning that’s practical, evidence-informed, and focused on improving student outcomes. With experience as a middle school social studies and curriculum resource teacher, Lacey brings a classroom-grounded perspective to her work, focusing on scaffolding, formative assessment, retrieval practice, and instructional clarity. Her work emphasizes helping educators bridge the knowing-doing gap by translating research into strategies that are realistic, sustainable, and responsive to the learners in front of them. She’s also the founder of Blazers LLC, where she provides coaching, consulting, and professional learning experiences for educators and districts. In addition, Lacey serves as a micro-credential developer and assessment coordinator with CarolinaCrED at the University of South Carolina, supporting competency-based, job-embedded professional learning. A frequent presenter at local, state, and national conferences, Lacey is known for leading sessions that model the instructional practices she advocates for. She’s a Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert and Fellow, a certified coach, and was recognized as an ASCD Emerging Leader. Her work is grounded in a simple belief: Professional learning should respect teachers as learners, prioritize instructional substance, and lead to stronger teaching practices and improved student outcomes.