William Lawrence: Transforming Education and Community at John Marshall 

Since joining John Marshall Elementary School in 2017, William Lawrence (2020 Neubauer Fellow, Cohort 6) has been a driving force in transforming the school’s culture and instructional practices. With over two decades of experience in education, Lawrence’s leadership has brought significant changes that have garnered recognition and admiration from the John Marshall students, staff, and community. Most recently, William Lawrence was one of four Neubauer Fellows awarded a 2025 Lindback Award for Distinguished Principals.

Cultural Transformation Post-Pandemic

“I’ve had two major wins at John Marshall,” Lawrence explained, “one cultural and one instructional.” In response to cultural needs following the immediate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Lawrence initiated a year-long series of sessions focused on racial equity, recognizing the importance of racial and gender identification. The culmination of this work led to tangible changes in school policies and procedures, particularly in student discipline and engaging families. For example, staff identified scheduling barriers that led to decreased parent participation. In response, Lawrence instituted expanded options for parent-teacher conferences, increasing parent engagement.

Lawrence, however, also has embraced creative solutions to cultural needs, including a school-wide superhero-themed rebranding. Over the last eight years, he has rebranded the K-5 elementary around heroes, starting each day chanting affirmations with the students, painting the halls with superheroes and motivational phrases, and working with teachers to incorporate superhero messaging into lessons. As one student said in an ABC 6 New profile, “It makes us feel powerful.”

Lawrence emphasized the importance of understanding and applying new learnings to interactions with students, staff, and parents and the approach has led to a more inclusive and responsive school environment. “Understanding that everyone comes from different backgrounds and perspectives is crucial,” he continued. “It’s not my job to change everyone’s mindset, but I must ensure that John Marshall’s engagement with families and students is consistent with our values. If there are issues, we address them openly.”

Instructional Wins and MTSS Implementation

To address instructional needs, Lawrence’s partnered with an old colleague and vendor from the district to stream John Marshall’s Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) process. The revamped procedures aimed to rapidly improve student outcomes by closely monitoring data and implementing targeted interventions.

Like his approach to shifting John Marshall’s culture, Lawrence’s approach to adopting new MTSS procedures was inclusive, involving all staff members to ensure that every child received tailored support. The process included clear goals, accountability measures, and regular tracking of student progress. “Our partnership revising our MTSS process was transformative. We realized that MTSS is everyone’s responsibility, and the experience clarified for me—really, my whole team—that MTSS isn’t a temporary step before special education but a comprehensive support system.”

The results have been impressive; Lawrence reports that there has been significant growth in student performance. The percentage of John Marshall’s 3rd – 5th grade students scoring proficient or advanced on the PSSA increased by 3.6 percentage points in English Language Arts (ELA) and by 5.3 percentage points in Math in the 2023-24 school year. In addition, the Winter STAR 2024-25 assessment showed that the percentage of K-5 students testing in need of intensive intervention reduced by 18 percentage point in ELA and 23 percentage points for Math.

Community Recognition and the Lindback Award

Winning the 2025 Lindback Award for Distinguished Principals represents not only Lawrence’s dedication to his community, but the community’s recognition of Lawrence’s work. This prestigious award, driven by community nominations, highlights the holistic impact of Lawrence’s leadership; to Lawrence, winning the Lindback acknowledges not only his efforts but also the impact of his staff.

“Being recognized by my staff and community for the Lindback Award is an incredible honor,” he said. “When I first attended the award ceremony years ago, I was in awe of the principals being recognized. To be here now is surreal. This recognition isn’t just for me but for my staff and the positive changes we’ve made at John Marshall. Changing the negative narrative about our school has been a mission, and this award validates our efforts.”

The Neubauer Fellowship and Empowering Change

Lawrence’s credits his ability to foster meaningful change and address cultural breaches within his school with confidence from his time as a Neubauer Fellow. “Neubauer prepared me to confidently address cultural breaches within the school,” Lawrence explained. “It’s one thing to have an equity vision and another to address issues when they arise. Neubauer’s sessions, including the Washington, D.C. trip and the ‘Story of Self’ assignment, equipped me to stand firm on our vision for equity and culture.” The Fellowship provided him with the toolkit to embody his practice and to have difficult conversations, when necessary, to improve student success.

William Lawrence’s journey at John Marshall is a story of transformation, resilience, and community engagement. His efforts have not only improved the school’s culture and instructional practices but uplifted the entire community. Lawrence’s leadership serves as an inspiring example of how school leaders—through dedication, hard work, and creativity—can make a profound impact on their schools and the lives of their students.