Darcy Kraus

Darcy Kraus

Darcy Kraus is an independent educational consultant with over 37 years of experience specializing in building- and district-level leadership. She serves as an adjunct professor for graduate leadership studies at Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas, and as an undergraduate lecturer at the University of Kansas.

Darcy retired in 2021 as the elementary director for Lawrence Public Schools in Lawrence, Kansas, where she led a team of 14 principals focused on becoming exceptional stewards of instructional and engaging leadership. Previously, she served as an elementary principal, working with a dynamic team of individuals to create a student-centered, staff-supported, and community-oriented learning environment. In both capacities, Darcy engaged in and provided professional development for topics related to building culture, curriculum coordination, instructional strategies, behavior management, tiered intervention, and leadership development. She served on the Kansas State Department of Education Task Force and as a STEAM consultant at Copernic Kindergarten in Shanghai, China. She has presented at the National PBIS Leadership Forum and Learning Forward Kansas.

Before joining Lawrence Public Schools in 2013, Darcy worked for 25 years in various roles and capacities in both Kansas and Illinois. As an elementary language arts consulting teacher, Title I reading liaison and instructional coach, she served in myriad educational settings ranging from inner-city urban communities to rural communities. Darcy began her career as a second-grade teacher in Olathe, Kansas, and served students in multiple grade levels throughout her tenure.

Darcy earned her bachelor’s degree in education from Kansas State University, her master’s degree in curriculum and instruction and building licensure from Emporia State University, and district licensure from Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas.