About us
At Lichte Partners, we believe meaningful progress starts with people. We work alongside leaders and organizations to navigate growth, strengthen leadership, build authentic partnerships, and turn strategy into action. We bring real-world experience, candid perspective, and the right people to the table to help our partners see what's possible and build a path to get there.
Our Expertise
We bring expertise across education, organizational leadership, market strategy, growth, partnerships, operations, and culture. Rather than applying the same playbook to every challenge, we bring together the right experience and perspective for the work at hand.
Our Philosophy
People first. Relationships always. We believe the strongest organizations are built by people who listen well, lead authentically, and see possibility where others may see limitations. Strategy matters, but meaningful progress happens when the right people believe in what's possible and work together to make it happen.
Our Commitment To Results
Possibility without action is just an idea. We work alongside our partners to turn strategy into measurable progress, with clear goals, practical next steps, and accountability along the way. Our goal isn't to leave you with another plan. It's to help you create meaningful, sustainable results.
Our Experience
Our experience spans K-12 education, education technology, organizational leadership, market growth, partnerships, operations, and executive leadership. We've worked alongside superintendents, district leaders, executives, growing companies, and teams across the country, giving us perspective from both sides of the table.
Nate LichteÂ
Founder & CEOÂ
Nate Lichte is an education and organizational leader who believes the best strategies start with people. With experience spanning K-12 education, education technology, executive leadership, operations, partnerships, and growth, Nate has spent his career helping leaders and organizations turn ideas into action and relationships into meaningful results.
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Known for bringing people together and seeing possibility in complex challenges, Nate founded Lichte Partners to create a different kind of advisory experience, one built on listening first, authentic relationships, practical strategy, and the belief that the right people around the table can change what's possible.
Mail: nate@lichtepartners.com
Dr. Clayton Wilcox
Superintendent Emeritus & Lead Strategic Advisor
Dr. Clayton Wilcox is a nationally experienced education leader who has spent his career helping school systems, leaders, and communities navigate change, strengthen organizations, and improve outcomes for students. Having served as superintendent in multiple school districts, Clayton brings a unique understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing today’s education leaders.
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At Lichte Partners, Clayton brings the perspective of someone who has sat in the superintendent’s chair, led complex organizations, and worked alongside boards, educators, communities, and solution providers. His practical insight helps leaders and organizations move beyond assumptions, better understand the realities of K-12 education, and develop strategies grounded in what schools and districts actually need.
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Throughout his work, Clayton brings a commitment to thoughtful leadership, candid counsel, strong relationships, and helping others see what’s possible.
Kelly Carpenter
Senior Advisor | Education Strategy & Innovation
Kelly Carpenter brings more than three decades of experience in public education, including 26 years in school and district leadership. Most recently serving as Chief Academic Officer and High School Principal for Gananda Central School District, Kelly has led transformative work in strategic planning, personalized learning, curriculum and instruction, and organizational innovation. Her leadership helped increase her district’s graduation rate from 78% to 95% in four years.
Kelly brings a practitioner’s perspective to Lichte Partners, with deep experience helping schools and organizations turn innovative ideas into meaningful, sustainable change. Her work spans strategic planning, instructional leadership, professional development, program and curriculum evaluation, and the implementation of student-centered learning models. She also brings experience advising and coaching education technology organizations and emerging leaders.
At Lichte Partners, Kelly helps leaders and organizations challenge traditional thinking, understand what educators and students truly need, and translate possibility into practical strategies that create lasting impact.
Dr. Keith A. Hartbauer
Senior Advisor | Leadership & Executive Coaching
Dr. Keith A. Hartbauer brings more than three decades of experience in public education, serving as a teacher, coach, principal, and superintendent. Since 2017, he has served as Superintendent of the Brownsville Area School District, where his leadership has focused on building strong teams, developing people, strengthening culture, and creating opportunities for students and staff.
Keith brings a practitioner’s perspective to Lichte Partners, with deep experience in leadership development, executive coaching, organizational culture, and navigating the complex challenges leaders face. He is passionate about helping current and emerging leaders recognize their strengths, grow their capacity, and lead with greater confidence and purpose.
Keith holds a Doctorate in Advanced Leadership Studies from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, along with multiple graduate degrees and leadership credentials.
Heather WatsonÂ
Senior Advisor | Growth & Revenue Strategy
Heather Watson brings more than 24 years of experience in education technology, including 15 years in senior sales leadership roles. Throughout her career, she has built and led high-performing teams, grown new business, strengthened customer retention, and consistently delivered results in highly competitive education markets.
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Heather brings deep expertise in revenue growth, customer relationship management, strategic territory planning, forecasting, and market analysis. She understands how to translate strategy into execution, build authentic partnerships with education leaders, and create sales approaches centered on delivering meaningful value rather than simply selling a product.
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At Lichte Partners, Heather helps organizations strengthen their go-to-market and revenue strategies, develop effective sales teams and processes, and build the relationships necessary for sustainable growth in the education market.
Why We Do This Work
Everything changes when we see what’s possible.
Sometimes the difference between limitation and possibility is the person sitting across the table.
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When our founder, Nate Lichte, was graduating from high school, a counselor told his mother it would be a waste of her money to send him to college. His mother immediately turned to him and told him something very different: he could be and do anything he wanted to be.
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Two people looked at the same kid.
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One saw limitations. The other saw what was possible.
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That experience shaped a belief Nate has carried throughout his career: great leaders don't simply see people and organizations for where they are today. They help them see what they can become.
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That belief is woven into how we work at Lichte Partners. We listen before prescribing. We see people before problems. We bring together different perspectives and experiences. And we work alongside our partners to turn possibility into meaningful progress.
