Teresa Lawrence, PhD '09

Teresa Lawrence, PhD, has been in the educational arena in Western New York for 26 years, having held teaching and leadership positions with the Catholic Diocese, Erie 1 BOCES, Ken-Ton, Williamsville, Clarence and Grand Island school districts. She also served as an educational consultant for LEGO Dacta®, the educational division of LEGO Systems®. Lawrence has worked as an adjunct assistant professor in educational administration and leadership at the University at Buffalo, Stony Brook University and Canisius College.

Educated overseas, Lawrence was initially enrolled in the Department of Defense Dependents Schools system until grade four and, thereafter, in the German school system, learning in that country’s native language. Her college degrees were awarded from the University of Maryland–Munich Campus, Germany; Ruprecht-Karls Universität, Heidelberg, Germany; and the University at Buffalo. In addition to earning her PhD at the University at Buffalo Graduate School of Education, Lawrence completed her undergraduate degree, a master’s degree, administrative certificates and an advanced certificate in educational technology at UB.

Currently, Lawrence is a board trustee at Trocaire College and a board member for Teaching and Restoring Youth. She also serves on the Scholastic Administr@tor Editorial Advisory Board, the CoSN’s (Consortium for School Networking) Leadership for Mobile Learning Initiative Advisory Panel, and on the Opiate Epidemic Task Force Community Education and Prevention Committee.

Her leadership in education includes the successful completion of a $51 million capital project, the development of the Williamsville Information Tracking System, as well as the establishment of multiple educational programs, initiatives and collaboratives across school districts, agencies, businesses and institutions of higher education to increase opportunities for student success.

In 2015, Lawrence was identified by Business First as one of Western New York’s Women of Influence. Additionally, she was recognized by the Western New York Women in Educational Leadership as the 2010 Outstanding Educational Mentor and honored by the School Administrators Association of New York State as the 2004 Outstanding Educator of the Year.