Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Amber Block.
Hi Dr. Amber, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My journey into leadership was shaped just as much by what I didn’t want to become as by what I hoped to be. I began my career in early childhood education working directly with children and families, and very early on I saw how profoundly adult behavior, systems, and leadership decisions impact the daily experiences of both students and staff. Over the years, I worked under a range of leaders—some inspiring, but many who lacked clarity, emotional intelligence, or a people-first mindset. I watched how poor leadership created toxic climates, eroded trust, and ultimately harmed students by driving good educators away or leaving them unsupported and burned out.
Those experiences became formative for me. I realized that even the strongest curriculum or best intentions cannot thrive in unhealthy climates. When adults feel unsafe, unseen, or unsupported, children feel it too. That understanding pushed me to pursue leadership—not because I aspired to a title, but because I felt called to interrupt cycles of dysfunction and build schools where people are valued, supported, and empowered.
My leadership and life philosophy can be summed up in a phrase I often return to: “Less Pharisee, more Jesus.” My faith deeply drives how I lead, how I make decisions, and how I treat people. I believe leadership is not about control, perfection, or power—but about humility, service, and love. I’ll also be the first to admit that I haven’t always gotten it right. There have been moments in my leadership (and life) where I leaned toward rules over relationships, authority over empathy, and certainty over curiosity. In those moments, I’ve had to pause, humble myself, acknowledge my missteps, seek forgiveness, and realign my leadership with the example of Jesus—leading with compassion, truth, grace, and accountability.
That process of reflection and growth has shaped me deeply. I spent many years developing my practice as an educator and school leader, grounding my work in child development, trauma-informed practices, and Conscious Discipline. Along the way, I earned my doctorate and strengthened my commitment to becoming not just a skilled leader, but an emotionally healthy one.
Today, as the principal of Bethel Early Childhood Center, my leadership is rooted in one core belief: schools succeed when people are well. My focus is on building emotionally healthy adults, strong relationships, and systems that prioritize safety, belonging, and purpose. When leaders model humility, accountability, and love, it creates a culture where staff feel safe to grow—and where children are able to truly flourish.
Everything I do as a leader is driven by the legacy I hope to leave behind: a school where people are seen, valued, and loved; where children feel safe and celebrated; and where leadership reflects service rather than status.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Smooth?! HAHA!! Not even a little.
The road has been full of challenges—navigating unhealthy systems, repairing broken cultures, leading through resistance, staffing shortages, limited resources, and the emotional weight that comes with advocating for children while supporting exhausted adults. There have been seasons where I questioned my capacity, my confidence, and sometimes my sanity. Leadership has a way of humbling you quickly and often.
One of the hardest struggles has been unlearning leadership models rooted in control, perfection, and fear and replacing them with ones grounded in connection, courage, and accountability. Leading people means leading through conflict, disappointment, and change, all while regulating yourself enough to show up steady for others. That work is heavy, and it’s rarely glamorous.
I’ve also learned that doing the right thing doesn’t always make you popular. Pushing for healthy culture, holding high expectations with compassion, and advocating for what’s best for children can be uncomfortable–and sometimes lonely. Growth creates friction, and not everyone signs up for that willingly.
But every challenge has refined me and will continue to push me. The setbacks strengthened my resolve, the mistakes deepened my humility, and the hard seasons clarified my purpose. While the road hasn’t been smooth, it has been meaningful and I wouldn’t trade the lessons for a learn-easy path. The bumps, bruises, and detours are exactly what shaped the leader I am today.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m an educational leader and school principal who specializes in early childhood education, systems building, and people-centered leadership. At my core, I’m a builder—of programs, teams, and cultures rooted in clarity, equity, and care. My work focuses on creating environments where children feel safe and seen, educators feel supported and empowered, and systems exist to serve the people within them rather than the other way around.
Beyond my role as a principal, I’m deeply involved in leadership, curriculum design, and serving through my church and community work. My hope is that I am known for blending structure with heart—bringing order, accountability, and excellence while honoring humanity, emotion, and grace. Earlier in my career, I led from performance and pressure, but through failure, refinement, and a deep personal faith journey, I’ve learned to lead with humility, discernment, and service.
One of the things I’m most proud of is writing and publishing my Bible study, Transforming Generations Through Faith and Discipline, which reflects my passion for connecting faith with leadership, discipline, and emotional health. My work is deeply rooted in my desire to live out my faith authentically—spreading the light of the Lord while equipping parents, educators, and anyone who works with children to raise emotionally healthy, disciplined, and resilient kids.
What sets me apart is my willingness to be honest about growth, mistakes, and the tension between excellence and grace. I don’t lead from a pedestal; I lead from the middle, listening, refining, and growing alongside the people I serve. I bring a combination of systems thinking and emotional intelligence, and I care deeply about stewardship—of people, resources, and purpose—taking seriously the responsibility of influence. At the end of the day, I want my leadership to leave people healthier, not just more productive—that’s the standard I hold myself to and the legacy I’m committed to building.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
I work best in relationships built on trust, clarity, and shared purpose. I value collaboration that is honest, thoughtful, and rooted in mutual respect, where ideas can be challenged without ego and growth is prioritized over perfection. I’m deeply committed to excellence, so I appreciate people who communicate clearly, follow through, and are willing to do the work alongside me rather than around me.
At the same time, I’m actively learning how to receive support. For much of my life, I believed I had to carry everything on my own, often feeling guilty accepting help if I couldn’t immediately return the favor. This is an area I’m intentionally surrendering. The best way to support me is through patience, consistency, and offering help without expectation—understanding that receiving is part of healthy leadership, not a weakness. I’m at my best when collaboration feels reciprocal over time rather than transactional in the moment.
Ultimately, people work well with me when we share a heart for people, a commitment to growth, and a willingness to lead with both conviction and grace. I’m deeply grateful for partnerships that allow space for both strength and humanity and always welcome more for those who are interested!
Pricing:
- 17.99
Contact Info:
- Website: https://bethel.kckschools.org
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-amber-block-ed-d-12851368/
- Other: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FWH3C9PH/
