Susan Banke, Ph.D.

About:

Susan has been involved in education for her entire career, recently joining the Gordon Leadership Program as its Director of Graduate Leadership. Prior to accepting this position, she taught and continues to teach in the Graduate Leadership Program in courses such as Personnel and Strategic Planning and Liberal Arts Approach in Leadership. 
Serving in Christian schools for over 35 years in Florida, North Carolina, and Georgia, Susan has been a teacher, dean of students, assistant principal, and upper school principal.  In 2013 she became a certified executive leadership coach and founded CoachED, a consulting firm that supports independent schools and school leaders. During that same year, she stepped down as Upper School Principal at Whitefield Academy in Georgia to begin teaching Educational Leadership at Kennesaw State University. Her role included overseeing the coaching endorsement program and professional learning, with a focused effort dealing with independent and charter school educators.  

Susan received her Bachelor of Arts in Christian Education from Baptist Bible College and earned her Master of Science and Ph.D in Educational Leadership from Barry University.  She serves as an accreditation chairperson with SAIS (Southern Association of Independent Schools) and as a CESA (Council on Educational Standards and Accountability) school audit team member. Susan also serves on the board at Mount Paran Christian School, and an advisory board member Cheer Division for Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA). She is a past board member for Academic Opportunities in America and World Children’s Center.  

Susan and her husband Fred (also a Gordon College instructor) have two adult children and five grandchildren.