Rachelle M. Harris

Leadership Strategist | Parent Leadership Expert | Author | Speaker | Consultant

A woman with short blonde hair and glasses standing on a sidewalk in front of a historic government building with a large dome, surrounded by autumn trees and green grass.

Rachelle M. Harris is a faith-filled speaker, educator, leadership strategist, and advocate who is passionate about helping people, organizations, and communities move from inspiration to meaningful action.

Known for her authentic storytelling, practical wisdom, and engaging presence, Rachelle creates spaces where audiences feel seen, challenged, encouraged, and empowered.

As an ordained elder, wife, mother, and lifelong educator, Rachelle brings a unique perspective that bridges faith, leadership, education, family engagement, and personal growth. Her work is rooted in the belief that every person has value, every voice matters, and every challenge presents an opportunity for transformation.

With more than two decades of experience supporting children, families, educators, and community leaders, Rachelle has led initiatives focused on leadership development, parent engagement, workforce development, early childhood education, community collaboration, and organizational growth. She is the Founder and CEO of Education Beyond the Classroom, LLC, where she helps organizations build stronger leaders, healthier cultures, and more meaningful partnerships.

Whether speaking to educators, nonprofit leaders, faith communities, parents, or corporate audiences, Rachelle combines research-based strategies with heartfelt experiences that inspire both reflection and action. Her presentations are known for being relatable, engaging, and deeply impactful—equipping participants with practical tools they can immediately apply in their personal and professional lives. Whether on stage, in the boardroom, in the classroom, or through the pages of her books, Rachelle's mission remains the same: to help people lead with purpose, live with courage, and create lasting change in the lives of those they serve. 

Rachelle is also the author of Finding Faith After Loss, a heartfelt work that shares her personal journey through miscarriage, healing, and hope. Through her writing and speaking, she encourages others to embrace resilience, discover purpose in difficult seasons, and trust God's faithfulness through every chapter of life.

A Voice for Leadership, Belonging & Systems Change

Rachelle is recognized for her ability to bridge the gap between systems and people — helping organizations move beyond performative engagement into meaningful shared leadership and long-term transformation.

Speaking Topics Include:

  • Faith, Resilience, and Personal Growth

  • Leadership Development and Emotional Intelligence

  • Parent and Family Leadership

  • Building Trust and Authentic Relationships

  • Early Childhood Education and Workforce Development

  • Diversity, Belonging, and Inclusive Leadership

  • Women's Leadership and Empowerment

  • Community Engagement and Collective Impact

  • Navigating Change with Courage and Purpose

She has facilitated trainings, leadership cohorts, conferences, statewide initiatives, and strategic planning sessions for educators, nonprofit leaders, parent leaders, family advocates, coalitions, and systems partners across Michigan and beyond.

What People Are Saying

  • Kelly Walden, MSW

    “

    Rachelle is a strong and well-spoken leader both in large and small settings. She radiates confidence, understanding, and is consistently willing to learn and grow her skillset. It is a pleasure to know and work with her.

    ”

  • Kurt Reppart

    “

    Rachelle's knowledge of the many licensing requirements helped us open in a strong position, and she assembled a dynamic and diverse staff…her biggest strength was the relationships and communication she developed with parents. She created a welcoming, affirming, and safe environment to set the children up for success and put parents’ minds at ease…I would highly recommend her leadership for any roles in early childhood or management of programs working with children.

    ”

  • Janet Piccolo

    “

    Rachelle is an amazing people person and incredible organizer! Her strengths in relationship building with parents, staff, and students are valuable and she naturally handles difficult situations with finesse. Rachelle excels at leadership and managing projects with limited resources.

    ”

  • Christine Enetak, CAP®, CFRE, MPharm

    “

    Rachelle has…a skillset that often takes years to develop among young professionals, but it seemed to come perfectly naturally to her. Rachelle’s ability to juggle multiple projects and maintain the flexibility to accommodate her team's needs was unlike any I’ve seen before and made a dramatic difference in the Childcare Team’s ability to make critical operational pivots. No matter how difficult the meeting was, Rachelle made sure everyone left with a smile. Rachelle would be an asset to any team, and for this reason, she earns my highest recommendation.

    ”

Awards I’ve Won

2026 Betty Tableman Award to the Zero To Three (ZTT) Financing Policy Project (FPP) team
Woman Up and Pitch 2026 Established Business