Allyson Apsey
Create school environments where staff and students thrive. Best-selling author of Leading the Whole Teacher.


Allyson Apsey Bio
Allyson Apsey has been an educator for over twenty years; a school leader for fifteen of those years. She is passionate about students and staff, and leads others through their strengths. She tries to be transparent, vulnerable, and supportive, and she doesn't ask questions unless she wants the answers. Despite the fact that she never wanted to set foot in a school again after high school graduation, there is nowhere else she'd rather spend her days than in classrooms. In fact, she doesn't even have a chair at her desk because she is moving around the school all day long. The challenges and delights of being a principal fill her days with joy. Allyson enjoys nothing more than helping others be the very best they can be. Allyson is so proud of her school district and the Zeeland, Michigan community, and she loves being the principal of Quincy Elementary. She cannot image a more dedicated, passionate and skilled group of teachers. They illicit wonder, excitement, and a love for learning in their students. Recognizing the significant impact trauma has had on many of our students, staff, and families, Allyson completed a program to become a certified trauma practitioner in education. The supports students affected by trauma need are beneficial to all students because they are grounded in a foundational core of strong, positive relationships based on trust. Allyson is also certified in William Glasser's choice theory and reality therapy. Allyson is honored to serve on the executive board of directors for MEMSPA (Michigan Elementary and Middle School Principals Association) as the State and Federal Relations Co-Coordinator. Additionally, she is on the steering committee for MACUL (Michigan Association for Computer Users in Learning) SIG-ADMIN. Allyson enjoys working with and learning from amazing educational leaders in both of these organizations. Allyson writes on a blog called Serendipity in Education, and this is her third book. She is also the author of The Path to Serendipity and the picture book The Princes of Serendip, both published by Dave Burgess Consulting, Inc. Allyson also loves speaking to passionate groups of educators as we work to be happy and effective people for the benefit of everyone around us. Allyson is married to Jim and she has two amazing sons with him, Laine and Tyson. She is blessed.