What Our Partners Are Saying

I’ve worked with many district leaders across the country, and I can confidently say that Hanan Thornton is in a league of her own. Her ability to build true consensus, especially among teachers, is unlike anything I’ve seen. She brings people in, makes them feel seen and heard, and creates authentic buy-in that lasts well beyond the launch of any initiative. Hanan combines deep instructional expertise with a rare gift for collaborative leadership. She doesn’t just implement change; she sustains it, because everyone believes in the work and their role in it. You simply do not see that level of skill and dedication in many administrators. It has been a privilege to work alongside her.

Now, as a coach and consultant, she brings that same integrity, insight, and impact to the districts and organizations she partners with. Simply put, Hanan is the kind of leader every district hopes for and few are lucky enough to have.

-Sarah McNeil
Vice President of Professional Development, Thinking Maps, Inc

The team at PROactive Education Partners is outstanding! Hanan has provided impactful customized training to our school principals, central office administrators, and instructional coaches. She has also facilitated vision development and consensus building processes with department teams and central office leaders, conducted classroom walkthroughs, and provided individualized support to principals in working with their school teams. Lauren has provided excellent job-embedded coaching to teacher leaders. These services have provided a high level of professional development for team members across our organization.

-Lori Hernandez
Ed.D., Director of Teaching and Learning, Newport-Mesa School District

I have worked with Hanan for two years and look forward to a third! Hanan has acted as a realistic sounding board for many leadership-related issues and concerns. It has been wonderful to have someone to co-interpret situations with, as well as to be provided with situational feedback and suggestions. There have been many times Hanan has assisted with providing possible scenarios from which to gather information and then given appropriate and realistic feedback. She has helped me to prevent some situations from "going south" and has assisted with picking up the pieces when they actually did. I am thankful from the bottom of my heart.

-Christine Shea
SBCSS Principal

Working with Hanan Thornton for leadership training and coaching has been an absolute pleasure and incredibly impactful. Each session was thoughtfully crafted, providing me and my colleagues with profound insights into ourselves, our team dynamics, and helped us sharpen our goals, needs, and vision. Hanan has a remarkable way of posing thought-provoking questions, skillfully synthesizing our input, and revealing patterns in our responses, which truly refined our collective thinking. Her wealth of educational leadership experience shines through as she expertly weaves in relevant stories, illustrating key insights and wisdom from the field. Hanan's guidance has greatly transformed my approach to leadership and coaching.
-Juliet Hilde
Teaching and Learning TOSA, Newport-Mesa Unified School District

Having a personal coach as a new administrator was a game changer. Hanan Thornton was dedicated to my growth and success- this made all the difference.
My coach helped me approach challenges with clarity and build the confidence I needed to lead effectively. I remember one time needing guidance before I started the work week. She went that extra mile to meet with me on a Sunday afternoon. That meeting helped me understand the scope of my duties and enabled me to navigate through a complicated situation. It is fair to say, the outcome far exceeded my expectations because of her counsel.
Professional coaching empowered me to lead with confidence, purpose and resilience. It not only enhanced my growth, but it positively impacted the entire school community I serve. Hanan was someone I could trust, confide in and rely on to help me navigate the complexities of school leadership. I highly recommend her services to any school administrator.

-Romina Meza
Principal

As an SBCSS new administrator, I have had the privilege of working closely with Hanan Thornton this year, and her impact has been both immediate and transformative. Hanan has served not only as a consultant at our Leadership PLC meetings, but she is also my administrative coach. I have been blessed to have Hanan as a true thought partner in my leadership journey this first year as Area Director. Her guidance has been instrumental in shaping the day-to-day operations of our team, while also challenging me to think more deeply about leadership, delegation, and the cultivation of a shared vision.

Through our work together, I’ve learned to move beyond task management and toward empowering my administrative team—assigning meaningful roles and fostering a culture of ownership and accountability. Hanan’s insight has helped me reframe delegation as a leadership strategy, not just a logistical necessity. In addition to her leadership coaching, Hanan brings a wealth of knowledge in curriculum implementation and professional development. Her support has been critical in navigating large-scale instructional shifts, ensuring that our strategies are both effective and sustainable. Hanan Thornton’s partnership has been a cornerstone of my personal and professional progress this year, and her contributions continue to resonate throughout our organization.
-Stephanie Hedberg
Area Director, San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools

Working with Hanan Thornton and PROactive Educational Partners has been an incredibly impactful experience for our principals and leadership team. Hanan’s principal coaching and the professional learning community support she provides have strengthened our leaders’ confidence, sharpened their instructional leadership, and fostered meaningful collaboration across our schools. Her thoughtful guidance, deep expertise, and genuine commitment to growth have truly helped us elevate our practices and drive positive outcomes for both staff and students.

-Myrlene Pierre
Assistant Superintendent, San Bernardino County

Meeting with Hanan each month gave me the space to work through everything from complex leadership decisions to everyday organizational challenges. Her practical experience and strategic insight have been invaluable. I always look forward to our sessions as I continue growing as an educational leader

-Sergio Flores
Program Manager, College and Career Services, San Bernardino County

Working with Hanan Thornton as my leadership coach during the process of clearing my administrative credential has been an exceptional and transformative experience. From our first session, Hanan has brought a unique blend of professionalism, insight, and genuine care and has made a lasting impact on my development as an educational leader.

Hanan is incredibly resourceful and approaches every challenge with clarity, empathy, and strategic thinking.  She has helped me navigate complex situations by guiding me to view them through multiple perspectives, always encouraging reflection and growth.  Her ability to support me in reframing experiences has been particularly powerful - turning moments of uncertainty into opportunities for learning and empowerment.  

What sets Hanan apart is not just her skill as a coach, but her relational approach.  She creates a space where I feel truly heard, valued, and supported.  I leave every session feeling more centered, focused, and prepared to face the demands of leadership with confidence and authenticity.  Her encouragement has fueled both my professional progress and personal resilience.  

Hanan has been more than a coach - she has been a trusted ally and confidant throughout this journey.  Her commitment to my success and well-being is evident in every interaction.  I am sincerely grateful for her guidance and consider her an integral part of my leadership path.

- Mrs. Christa Jackson