Dr. Lorenza Pharrams

About Dr. Lorenza Pharrams

Dr. Lorenza Pharrams is an experienced motivational speaker, mentor, and educational leader with over 25 years of experience serving students and educators. Dr. Pharrams has a long history in education, where he has held roles such as teacher, assistant principal, and a principal. Lorenza has additional experience working with at-risk, attendance, and administrative programs.

Over the course of his time in schools, Lorenza Pharrams was able to witness first-hand the need for more educational support, parental engagement, and awareness of the relationship between academic achievement and environmental/societal factors. This inspired Dr. Pharrams to create a successful educational consulting firm where his team specializes in curriculum development, educational leadership, parental engagement, educational technology integration, discipline alternatives and more.

Lorenza Pharrams is the author of a book about at-risk students “Nobody Told Them They Were Somebody: A Guide to Helping At-Risk Students”, where he details how we can better uplift children within our communities and empower them to reach their full potential. Dr. Pharrams has built a reputation within his industry for his profound commitment to students and staff, championing of accessible resources and inclusivity for young people, and interest in contributing to conversations leading development in the education sector.

Education

• Bachelor of Science Degree (Business Administration)
• Master of Science Degree (Education with Certification in Educational Leadership)
• Educational Specialist Degree (Leadership)
• Doctorate (Education Leadership Policy and Law)

Skills and Areas of Expertise

• Education Leadership
• Curriculum Development
• Program Development
• Classroom Management
• Public Speaking
• Behavior Management
• Educational Research and Analysis
• Education Technology and Tech Integration
• Staff Development
• Student Counseling
• Student Engagement
• Training
• Student Affairs

Changing the Education Landscape Starts With Us

Meeting Students Where They Are

As a professional who has a calling to work with at-risk students, Dr. Lorenza Pharrams speaks to the importance of meeting students where they are, recognizing the challenges that they face, and finding innovative ways to uplift them on their path to success. In Dr. Pharrams’ book, he details how students fall through the cracks of disparity within our education system, impacting their ability to make a space for themselves long before they are able to fully make their own choices.

Lorenza Pharrams mentions that meeting students where they are is crucial as it helps us to shift our attention to the aspects of the system that divide rather than unify us. Prevailing issues such as absenteeism, low test scores, academic apathy, etc. can be challenged by showing our young people that they are capable and full of potential.

Changing the Disciplinary Process for the Better

Several studies suggest that our current framework for disciplinary actions is not effective at decreasing the prevalence of future infractions. The American Institutes for Research found that in-school and out of school suspensions were ultimately ineffective for handling misbehavior in middle and high school settings.

Researchers have found, in some cases, that there are long-lasting negative impacts for students who attend schools where suspensions and other punitive disciplinary actions are the norm, increasing drop out rates, lowering the odds of attending four-year universities, and causing a 15-20% higher chance of arrest as an adult.

Dr. Lorenza Pharrams is a proponent of non-punitive disciplinary actions in schools because he has seen first-hand that they can have a positive effect on student populations and their behavioral management. Through the implementation of “Disciplinary Actions as an Intervention That Supports Students”, Dr. Pharrams has seen an 80% reduction in disciplinary infractions and dispositions in a four year span at a large high school located in the inner city. Further exploring the benefits of changing disciplinary actions within educational settings can be a means to address the reasons why infractions occur and work towards fixing issues at the root.

Getting Parents More Involved in the Journey

Students with parents or guardians who remain involved in their education boast better attendance, less behavioral infractions, better grades, and even more far-reaching social skills that are vital to their success in school settings.

Lorenza Pharrams acknowledges that there are many societal and environmental factors in place that may make direct parent involvement in education difficult, but this does not override the point that this involvement is critical in their development as students and people. By not shying away from conversations that address parental involvement in education and shedding light on effective solutions that schools and families alike can leverage to reach certain goals, we can work together to make this involvement easier, more accessible, and more effective.

Empowering Staff to Remain Motivated and Better Able to Support Their Young People

In the current landscape, staff and administrators have a lot on their plate as they work to keep students on the right path. Coaching and mentorship are just a few examples of ways that Dr. Pharrams believes we can support educators, assistant principals, principals, and other education administrators as they seek to improve leadership quality, accountability, and more. From relationship-driven instruction to leadership development and mentorship programs, there are various tools at our disposal for changing the course of our education environment to better support staff while helping our students by proxy.

Your One-Stop-Shop for Education Resources and More

Throughout Lorenza Pharrams’ career in education leadership, he has realized that a large barrier to success for students and staff alike is accessing information that can help them foster growth and development.

Creating a more inclusive, accessible, and supportive education landscape has always been a passion of Dr. Pharrams’, which is why this website aims to serve as a one-stop-shop for helpful content exploring multiple topics within the field.

• Education Leadership and Mentorship
• Consulting
• Motivational Topics
• Professional Development Insights for Administrators and Staff
• Support for At-Risk Students

If you are interested in more education, leadership, and professional development insights inspired by Dr. Lorenza Pharrams’ experience within the field, check out the blog frequently for informative posts.