Mission and Purpose
Lesley is passionate about personal growth and spirituality. These passions were the catalyst for a two decade long quest for Self Realization and the empowerment that results from being fully authentic. Her quest lead to the discovery of her true purpose in life: to assist others in the same transformative process. She now does this as a life coach.
Coaching
Coaching with Lesley is about finding peace and joy; the ultimate result of letting go of the limiting thoughts and beliefs that keep us imprisoned by our mind. It begins with a truthful, non-judgmental self-assessment that makes it possible to eliminate the illusions that have kept you from being your authentic Self. Self awareness, self knowledge and self observation are the key components of this process. From these, awareness, presence and consciousness evolve. Limiting beliefs, fear, patterns and negative thoughts, which have been the cause of suffering and no longer serve the client, are released so the authentic Self is finally FREE. It is Truth that leads to freedom.
More about Lesley’s journey
I began educating and advocating for children in the fall of 1999 when I started out at a public elementary school for the Peel District School Board. I was excited and passionate about guiding children, and while working with them I felt alive, joyful and inspired.
Into my fourth year of teaching however, questions, doubts and uncertainty about the education system began to supersede the excitement and passion. I sensed that the demands and pressures to perform and conform, along with the rigidity of the curriculum, was having a serious effect on the free spirited nature of myself as well as the students. Although I loved the kids, I knew that this set-up was not the right fit for me.
After much thought and reflection, I decided that I would take the next year to teach and travel in Japan (a culture that had always appealed to me). This year would be about self-discovery and exploration, as well as an opportunity to address the struggles, questions and uncertainties that continued to persist within my own psyche.
This 16 month long journey proved to be exactly what was needed in order to gain the awareness and self-understanding that was necessary in taking the next step in my life. I realized that if I was going to teach, it had to be in an environment that was in direct alignment with my values and philosophies. I also discovered that it was of great importance for me to advocate and support children who were “tuning out” or becoming disengaged with a system that did not fit their needs.
After returning from Japan, I enrolled in a Life Coaching program with Coach U. It was here that I learned about the guiding and facilitating approach to one’s learning and self-discovery process. I immediately saw the value of this style and believed that people would respond positively to being guided, as opposed to directed or talked at. During this time I also began studying the works of educational philosophers such as Carl Rogers, John Dewey and Reggio Emilia.
I decided that I would take my newly acquired skills and bring them into the classroom setting. I spent the next five years, once again, working for the Peel district School Board, while simultaneously establishing my coaching business. The students and parents responded positively to this learner centered /guided facilitator approach. These were wonderful years, however I intuitively knew for many reasons that the public school system was just not right for me.
It was during the last year of my teaching career that I had the vision of creating my own homeschooling program. It will allow me to deliver a curriculum with the freedom and creativity necessary to keep children motivated, engaged, curious and eager to learn. The program is focused on meeting the needs of each student, considering that each child interprets the world from his or her own perceptions to construct his or her own realities. And since children will be changing the future of the world, it is crucial to provide them with the proper guidance, strategies, tools, and support when working through their fears, insecurities and pain.
I resigned in June of 2009, and am currently coaching children, youth and adults in their transformative processes while I refine and develop my pedagogy. If you could benefit from working with Lesley, please contact her to set up a complimentary coaching session.
Contact info
Lesley Sardo
4595 Woods Rd
East Aurora, NY
315-601-6111