A.Leigh Solutions began by exclusively supporting educational entities but has since expanded to partner with leaders and teams across various sectors who are committed to building healthy, goal-oriented organizations.
We’ve collaborated with government entities, school districts, charter management organizations, nonprofits, foundations, and social impact enterprises to empower organizations and leaders to thrive and create a lasting impact on the communities they serve. As a certified women-owned business, we are proud to support vendors and partners who align with our mission and values. For the past two years, we have contributed over $20,000 annually to organizations that support youth, education, and community advancement.
Dr. Amanda Aiken
Our Founder
Dr. Amanda L. Aiken is a Gallup Certified Strengths Coach, Harvard-trained Immunity to Change Coach, and Six Working Geniuses facilitator. She is dedicated to helping leaders and organizations drive sustainable change and amplify their impact while cultivating environments where joy, care, and excellence are at the forefront.
Dr. Aiken’s journey in leadership began at a young age, inspired by a desire to make a meaningful difference. After earning her undergraduate degree from Spelman College and a master’s from Teachers College, Columbia University, she quickly advanced in education leadership, becoming a principal by age 27. Her experiences as a young leader demonstrated the transformative potential of strong, values-driven leadership in creating positive outcomes for students, staff, and communities.
With extensive experience as an educator, principal, and coach, Dr. Aiken is deeply committed to developing leaders who foster supportive, resilient cultures. She believes that impactful leadership thrives on the pillars of joy, care, and excellence, and that these qualities are essential to long-lasting, sustainable change. This belief led her to focus her career on empowering leaders to create environments where people feel valued, inspired, and equipped to succeed.
Today, Dr. Aiken leverages her coaching expertise and research-backed insights to guide individuals and teams across the country. She empowers leaders to harness their unique strengths and talents to meet today’s challenges while innovating for the future. Through her work, Dr. Aiken ensures that organizations are poised to make a lasting, positive impact driven by values that support both personal growth and collective success.
“I thought you led our team quickly and carefully to some larger discussions about root causes to our lack of productive disagreements. That set us up for a really strong second half of the day where we actually spoke more truth to and with each other.”
Retreat Attendee, District of Columbia Public Schools
Our Team
Our team comprises seasoned leaders with over 150 years of combined experience across educational leadership, nonprofit leadership, small business, and social impact enterprises. With deep expertise in areas including educational policy, law, operations, organizational structures, special education, trauma-informed practices, and governance, our core and adjunct team members bring diverse perspectives from various sectors, including a team member with military experience.
We leverage this extensive experience to support organizations and teams in leading from their strengths, fostering impactful change, and driving sustainable growth.
Leah Recasner
Leah is an enthusiastic and ambitious professional with experience working in schools and with districts. Leah currently serves as the project manager for A.Leigh Solutions. In addition to her role as project manager, Leah also serves as the Director of Facilitation for Center for Sustainable Leadership (CSL) where she tracks planning discussions, solidifies written plans, and supports facilitation. Leah previously served as an educational consultant for Civic Solutions Group (CSG) where she worked with school districts’ choice and enrollment departments, streamlining their processes while making them more accessible. Leah is currently pursuing an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Administration with a concentration in K-12 education from Saint Joseph’s University. She holds a Master of Education in Educational Leadership and Administration from Saint Joseph’s University and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with international honors (Psi Chi) from Goucher College.
Melanie Wilkes
Administrative Assistant
Melanie Wilkes is an accomplished project manager and administrative professional with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a minor in Business Management from the University of North Florida. With extensive experience in strategic planning and executive support, she excels in creating actionable plans that align with client goals. Her career includes roles in legislative services management and executive assistance, where she effectively managed complex calendars, coordinated logistics, and facilitated communication for high-level executives. Proficient in various project management tools and certified in Lean Six Sigma and Scrum methodologies, Melanie is known for her exceptional problem-solving skills, meticulous attention to detail, and ability to thrive in dynamic environments.
“I did not expect to learn about myself in a way that will make me a better leader! The strengths assessment and Dr. Aiken were inspiring. I liked being able to identify ways I can immediately start using my strengths to improve the learning experience for students.”
Session Attendee, Philadelphia Academy of School Leaders