Who We Are
We believe in transformational growth through reflection, authenticity, and flexibility. We walk alongside educational leaders to help them cultivate shared leadership using courage, vulnerability, and the empathy needed to spark meaningful change within education.
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Inspiring a Movement in Education
Education is at a turning point. The old compliance model no longer inspires motivation, lasting change, growth, or authentic engagement.
At Real Leaders, Real Impact, we help organizations shift from systems of compliance to cultures of motivated engagement, where leadership is shared, authentic, self-aware, and rooted in human understanding.
Our team of four educators, representing classroom, district, and state perspectives, guides teachers and administrators in leading with authenticity, courage, and self-awareness.
With decades of experience in systemic improvement and leadership development, we’ve seen how transformation takes hold when people feel seen, valued, and empowered.
Our mission is to develop humanistic leadership throughout educational organizations. We’re not just supporting educators; we’re inspiring a movement focused on real, authentic, sustainable change.
Meet the Team
Diverse strengths, one shared mission
Evan Daldegan
Leadership Development Specialist, Trainer and Coach
Leading Through Introspection and Authenticity
Evan is a passionate educator and dedicated leader with a strong commitment to humanism and student-centered learning. He holds a Master’s in Special Education and a degree in Secondary Education and Social Sciences from the University of Northern Colorado.
He began his career as an elementary and special education teacher, where he developed a deep understanding of diverse learning needs and the power of individualized support. Today, he serves as a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) Specialist at a State Department of Education, helping schools and districts implement evidence-based practices that foster success for staff, students, and families.
Evan’s human-first approach to education is rooted in the belief that leadership should empower both students and educators, creating environments where everyone feels valued and supported. Evan champions the idea that we can’t solve today’s problems without being brave enough to be authentic with one another as we work toward a common goal.
Rebecca Knighton, PhD
Leadership Development Specialist, Trainer and Coach
Guiding transformation with self-awareness and systems change
“We have to believe in people until they begin to believe in themselves.”
Rebecca is a lifelong learner with a passion for understanding humanity’s common needs, the barriers we face, and what motivates us. This drive led her to complete a PhD and study the teachers who are highly skilled at building relationships with, engaging disengaged secondary students, and changing the trajectories of students’ lives. Her findings led to the writing of her book, Flip the Script: Breaking Down Barriers, Building Relationships, and Engaging Secondary Students.
As a senior consultant with a State Department of Education, she helps district and school leaders build capacity for humanistic leadership and navigate complex, system-wide change.
Her career began in middle school classrooms as a behavioral interventionist, gifted and talented specialist, and member of school-level support teams. She later developed and taught social-emotional intervention courses that helped students re-engage in learning and change the trajectory of their lives.
Rebecca has also contributed to state and national initiatives, including a state-level Dropout Prevention Frameworks, Landscape of Wellbeing and Belonging (a guide for systemic improvement in social-emotional wellness) and Knowledge Works Lead for Learners development project. She has led professional development across schools, districts, and states, and presented at state, national, and international conferences.
Her work focuses on guiding educators to a deeper understanding of themselves and those they serve so their leadership has lasting impact.
Jacob Pingel
Leadership Development Specialist, Trainer and Coach
Modeling Personal Development and Community Connection
Jacob is a dedicated educational leader committed to building inclusive, student-centered environments that empower both learners and educators. As the Director of Curriculum and Instruction for Garfield Re2 School District, he has played a key role in enhancing instructional practices, increasing student engagement, and strengthening community partnerships.
His background includes roles as Assistant Principal, Spanish Teacher, and English Language Development facilitator. Bilingual in Spanish, Jacob has championed culturally responsive classrooms and amplified the voices of diverse student populations, including through his leadership in the Latinos in Re2 Community Engagement Group.
Jacob’s accomplishments include improving district-wide attendance rates, expanding Career and Technical Education opportunities, and leading professional development on strategies for multilingual learners. He is passionate about equity-driven education that prepares students not just academically, but holistically, for a rapidly changing world.
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Simone Richardson
Leadership Development Specialist, Trainer and Coach
Inspiring change through collaboration and integrity
“Humanistic leadership: less boss, more human. Surprisingly effective.”
Simone is a visionary educational leader with more than three decades of experience in curriculum development, instructional leadership, and district administration. Known for her collaborative and humanistic approach, she fosters trust and innovation to create learning environments where both educators and students thrive.
A three-time Teacher of the Year (2007, 2010, 2015), Simone now serves as Elementary Curriculum Director for Garfield Re2 School District. Her leadership has shaped initiatives such as an extensive preschool expansion, academic coaching, and the Counselor Corps Grant Program, and co-teaching while also securing significant grant funding to support student success.
Simone has designed and led professional development that strengthens teacher effectiveness, built strong community partnerships, and presented at major conferences including the Colorado Association of School Executives Conference, the CASE Principal Conference, and the Learning Forward National Conference.
Her career reflects a deep commitment to equity, collaboration, and the belief that lasting change begins with authentic relationships.
