
LIZ BANKS
Founder of JOY Leadership & Development
I remember my own early years clearly, the pressure to perform, the struggle for identity, and the noise of constant comparison. Even with a supportive foundation, I lacked the specific tools to navigate those high-pressure environments. These experiences shaped my belief that confidence, leadership, and resilience are not just personality traits, they are skills that can be developed.
For over 30 years, I have explored this belief from the front lines of leadership. Serving as a teacher, coach, ahtletic director, school principal, and leadership consultant for professional organizations, I have had a front-row seat to the dynamics of high-performance environments. I’ve seen firsthand the pressures that can erode confidence in a classroom, a locker room, or a boardroom and the specific cultural shifts that allow talent to flourish.
Through mentoring, mental performance coaching, and strengths-based development, I help individuals better understand who they are and how they show up under pressure. This work isn’t about fixing what’s “wrong;” it’s about identifying your natural talents and turning them into intentional, high-performance strengths.
By combining my decades of leadership with my expertise as a Gallup Certified Strengths Coach, I provide a tactical framework for people to lead with clarity and self-trust. I help individuals and teams move past the "noise" and focus on what matters most: your growth, your journey, and your purpose.
EDUCATION & CERTIFICATIONS
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Certified Gallup Strengths Coach
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Certified IAP Wellness Coach
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Member, International Association of Professional Life Coaches​
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27 years in K-12 Education as a teacher, principal, assistant principal, athletic director, and coach
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Certified K-12 School Administrator
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​Masters of Education with a specialization in Principalship, Saginaw Valley State University
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Certified K-12 Teacher
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Bachelor of Arts with a double major in Science and Social Studies, University of Michigan
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Certified, Trauma Informed Care
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Certified, CPR, First Aid, Epi-pen
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Basketball Coach
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Basketball Trainer
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AWARDS & MEMBERSHIPS
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Recipient, Oakland County Teacher of the Year Award
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Recipient, Detroit Piston’s Game Changer Award
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Nominated, Michigan Department of Education Talent Pool
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Nominated, American Disney Teacher of the Year Award
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Nominated, Allen S. Whitney Memorial Award
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Elected, The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi
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Member, Golden Key National Honor Society
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Member, Kappa Delta Pi, an Educational Honors Society​

