Mission Realized
At Mission Realized, we believe schools thrive when their missions live in every classroom, conversation, and decision. Our work is rooted in a shared commitment to human development, social justice, and meaningful learning experiences. Together, we bring decades of experience in instructional design, leadership, and systems transformation—helping schools connect mission to action and learning to purpose.
Susannah Johnson, MEd
Grounded in the idea that we are in the business of human development, Susannah’s philosophy of education is: We are all capable of powerful thinking, and it is our human imperative to use learning as means to continually think. Connected, collaborative, and creative avocations that are in harmony with our world borne out of personal passions allow us to harness our strengths and overcome challenges for truly liberated learning.
In her many years of experience as an educator, Susannah has mastered the art of creating 100% individualized instruction, grounded in critical thinking, authenticity, and passion. Since 2019, she has been collaborating with schools worldwide to activate student centered, future minded learning to life, meeting educators and learners where they are and propelling their journeys forward. Susannah’s extensive work with school transformation keeps her optimistic about the world.
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Susannah earned her Master of Education degree in 2016 and has since become a sought-after speaker at conferences, a frequent podcast guest, and an author of articles on her unique educational thinking. Her dynamic presence and unwavering dedication to the business of human development continues to inspire and transform learning communities globally.
Kapono Ciotti, PhD
Kapono Ciotti attributes his educational philosophy to his own schooling experience in a progressive, social-constructivist school during his early years in Honolulu, Hawaii. He taught in Honolulu, Hawaii, and Dakar, Senegal, for over a decade before moving into school leadership. Kapono has led schools in the United States and Egypt, where he put into practice the philosophy of "students making the world a better place," shifting school culture to impact-based education practice. His strong belief in education being an act of social justice drives his work.
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Kapono has trained teachers in over 100 schools and school districts over four continents, impacting hundreds of thousands of students. In addition, Kapono spent 15 years as National Faculty for the National Association of Independent Schools in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice, facilitating national and international learning experiences.
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Kapono holds a Ph.D. in International Education Leadership from Northcentral University, a Masters degree in Social Change and Development from the University of Newcastle, and a Bachelors of Language and Culture from the Evergreen State College. He currently lives between Hawaii, Cairo, Egypt, and Dakar, Senegal.
Leigh Fitzgerald, MEd
Leigh Fitzgerald is the Head of School at American International School Chennai. Leigh began her career in education as a Middle and High School English and Social Studies teacher before moving into school administration. She has served as a school and district leader in the public, private and charter school sector in Hawaii, USA, served as a teacher and Head of School internationally and has worked as a school leadership coach and program manager at Stanford’s d.School. Leigh’s two decades of work in education have been focused on assessment for deeper learning; building community, parent education, cross-functional organizational management and designing dynamic learner centered experiences.
As progressive leader, Leigh leverages design and systems thinking, rooted in deeper learning competencies, to ensure that schools continually evolve through active, well-researched and data-informed risk-taking to positively impact and inspire students, teachers, school staff, parents and the global education community. Leigh holds a bachelor's degree in American Civilization and Education from Brown University and a master's degree in Administration, Planning and Social Policy from Harvard University. When not enjoying life on a school campus, Leigh loves to be in motion: hiking, running, doing yoga, surfing, swimming or traveling around her host country and surrounding region.