Meet Our Founder
Former Principal Turned Education Consultant & Speaker
Cynthia Wattree is a transformative educator, speaker, and coach with more than 20 years of experience in classrooms, school leadership, and educator development. She founded Classroom Liberation Co. and The Brave Educator Project to challenge the status quo in education and support teachers who are ready to lead with purpose, truth, and radical care.
Her work is grounded in self-regulation, inclusive practices, and trauma-informed leadership—and shaped by her lived experience as a teacher, principal, consultant, and mother. Cynthia knows firsthand what it means to love students fiercely, lead through resistance, and still show up with grace. She has trained educators across the country, led the transformation of alternative education programs, and currently supports aspiring teachers as a University Supervisor at the University of Kansas.
Cynthia is a certified trainer in Restorative Justice, Nurturing Parenting, and Trauma-Informed Care, and has provided DEI and leadership coaching for clients including Google, YouTube, and nonprofit organizations nationwide. She holds a Master’s in Education Administration from Fort Hays State University and completed doctoral coursework in Educational Leadership at Kansas State University. Her research support contributed to a New York Times Best Seller, and her coaching continues to empower women, educators, and leaders to reclaim their purpose.
At the heart of her work is a simple belief: regulated teachers build revolutionary schools. Through The Brave Educator Project, Cynthia helps educators rediscover their voice, redefine discipline through values, and radically reimagine what’s possible in our schools—one brave conversation at a time.
I had the privilege of working with Cynthia at an Alternative School for at risk youth. To say it was a challenge is an understatement...She truly cared, plain and simple. People like Cynthia are hard to find and I'm grateful for the leadership and guidance she gave to me.
-Chad S.
“The professional development sessions provided by The Brave Educator Project have been invaluable in helping me support the social-emotional needs of my students.”
- Michael E.
“I highly recommend The Brave Educator Project to any educator looking to make a meaningful impact and create a positive learning experience for their students.”
-Sam W.