A history of our founding.

Sustainable Schooling is a women-led consulting agency rooted in a commitment to meaningful, sustainable change in K–12 education. Since our founding in 2020, we have worked side-by-side with districts, charter networks, and education-focused nonprofits to design and implement bold strategies that drive results. Our team brings decades of firsthand experience in classrooms, central offices, and nonprofits, allowing us to understand the realities of school systems and provide tailored support that bridges vision with execution.

At Sustainable Schooling, we specialize in turning strategy into action. We don’t simply deliver high-level recommendations and walk away, instead, we partner with our clients to roll up our sleeves and ensure that the work gets done. Whether we’re leading strategic planning processes or building internal capacity, our focus is always on developing practical, measurable, and lasting solutions that center student outcomes and educational excellence.

What sets us apart is our deeply collaborative, data-informed, and implementation-oriented approach. We prioritize partnership by working closely with leaders to co-create strategies that reflect their values and vision. We root our work in stakeholder voice, ensuring that families, staff, students, and community members are meaningfully engaged throughout the process. We pair this with rigorous research and analysis to develop solutions that are both evidence-based and tailored to local contexts. And above all, we focus on sustainability, our goal is to leave every organization stronger and more equipped to succeed well beyond the end of any engagement.

Our values guide everything we do. We believe in building trust through transparency, professionalism, and follow-through. We aim to solve real problems, not just name them. And we commit to helping our partners grow not just in the moment, but over time.

Sustainable Schooling has led successful projects across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, including strategic planning and implementation partnerships in Philadelphia, Camden, Washington, D.C., Maryland, and New Jersey. Our clients have included district systems, charter networks, and education nonprofits such as Mastery Charter Schools, Washington County Public Schools, Woodbury City Public Schools, KIPP Philadelphia, College Achieve Public Charter Schools, and the Go Green Initiative. Our work is as diverse as the communities we serve, but always united by a shared purpose: helping schools thrive.

We exist to empower districts, schools, and education nonprofits by providing the operational expertise and capacity needed to overcome challenges, seize opportunities, and build sustainable systems for long-term success. We offer hands-on support, ensuring our partners have the strategy, resources, and implementation power to create thriving learning environments where students and educators excel.

Meet the Team

  • L. Wayles Wilson

    Founder & Lead Consultant | Project Lead

    Wayles Wilson brings over 20 years of experience in education strategy, operations, and leadership to her role as Founder and Lead Consultant of Sustainable Schooling. She leads with a deep commitment to educational excellence, combining hands-on implementation support with strategic insight to drive sustainable outcomes. Her expertise includes strategic planning, project and operational management, school finance, and cross-sector collaboration with districts, charter networks, and education nonprofits.

    Prior to founding Sustainable Schooling, Wayles served as Chief of Staff and COO in Camden City School District, overseeing strategic planning and district-wide and school-wide operations. She also held consulting roles with TNTP, supporting talent and staffing strategies in multiple urban school systems. Wayles holds a Master’s in Government Administration from the University of Pennsylvania and is a certified School Business Administrator in New Jersey and a Green Classroom Professional.

  • Ayanna Williams

    Enrollment Researcher & Specialist

    Ayanna Williams is an enrollment strategist and operations leader with over 15 years of experience driving student recruitment and retention through data-informed, family-centered strategies. Her consulting work is focused on optimizing enrollment systems, building staff capacity, and aligning operations with organizational goals. Ayanna is known for her ability to deliver results while centering community trust and long-term sustainability.

    Her expertise spans financial oversight, leadership coaching, and process design, making her a valuable partner for education organizations navigating growth and change. She holds a Master’s in Elementary Education from Chestnut Hill College and a BBA from the University of Miami.

  • Nisha Patel

    Operational Specialist

    Nisha Patel is a data-driven operations consultant committed to practical, equity-centered change. Her expertise in performance analysis, systems design, and policy implementation helps school systems create structures that are sustainable and responsive to diverse student needs. Nisha excels in producing high-quality deliverables quickly and reliably, translating insights into effective action.

    She brings a deep focus on access and inclusion to all her projects, and is currently pursuing certification as a Child Life Specialist. Nisha holds a BA in Criminology and Psychological Studies from the University of California, Irvine.

  • Emma Holt

    Researcher & Data Architect

    Emma Holt is a data specialist with a scientific lens and a passion for education equity. With a background in neuroscience and extensive experience in hospitality management, Emma brings a unique, analytical perspective to education consulting. Her work at Sustainable Schooling focuses on building custom data architectures, conducting research, and creating user-friendly tools that support strategic decision-making.

    Emma’s commitment to integrity and transparency underpins her approach to data analysis, ensuring that solutions are reliable, actionable, and rooted in client needs. She holds a BS in Neuroscience from the University of Pittsburgh.