From Leadership Academy to Leading the Way: Katherine Weller is Proof That Growth Mindset Changes Everything

Okay, let us talk about something absolutely AMAZING. Some might wonder why there is a life-sized cutout of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson in Katherine Weller's third-grade classroom. And honestly? I am here for it. 💪

It is certainly a topic of discussion amongst those at her school, considering each time someone walks past, they often get jump-scared by the towering piece of cardboard staring back at them.

Some might also be curious how this gifted education teacher spends her free time. Well, that depends on the time of year. In the fall, Weller is at the mercy of her alma mater, Penn State University, and its legendary yet recently underachieving football team. She describes herself as a passionate member of the "Penn State cult," who, along with hundreds of thousands of fellow alumni, lives and dies with each play during the season.

And when she is not watching college football, Weller can be found relaxing at home and playing several games of Mario Kart. 🎮

On the surface, Weller might seem like your typical Gen-Zer, but for those who have gotten to know her as "Miss Weller," she is both wise beyond her years and one in a million. That is because since 2018, Weller has undergone a journey of discovery, reinvention and ultimately, self-acceptance, one that can be traced back to one transformational experience: an LPGA Leadership Academy.

What Is the LPGA Leadership Academy? 🏌️‍♀️

Launched by the LPGA Foundation in 2015, the LPGA Leadership Academy is a two-day experience focused on keeping teenage girls engaged in golf while preparing them for future leadership opportunities. Golf is utilized as the medium, with participants addressing key life lessons through classroom sessions, journaling and outdoor drills. LPGA Leadership Academies are an extension of the LPGA*USGA Girls Golf program, offering teenage girls the tools to become better at making decisions and achieving their goals.

Weller admittedly went into her experience expecting the focus to be solely on golf, but she instead left Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club empowered by the Academy and its focus on developing a positive growth-mindset. Some key lessons Weller took away from the program included doing the "Wonder Woman" pose to generate confidence before major moments and learning to embrace her personality type, which is the social peacock. 🦚

She has continued to lean on every lesson learned to this day, even going so far as to implement some of the LPGA Leadership Academy messaging into her teaching. Weller is constantly encouraging her students to establish goals and reinforcing the belief that they can achieve anything as long as they try.

Weller has also turned her quirky personality into her greatest superpower, using it to not only connect with her students but to show them how important it is to embrace themselves and the strength that comes with doing so.

Looking back on that transformational two-day academy in 2018, Weller cannot help but attribute so much of what she has achieved to those few hours spent at Pine Needles.

"I actually still have my Leadership Academy notebook, and after reading some of the things I was writing back then, I was like, 'I am so glad I had this experience and my first exposure to be a good girl's girl and what that meant,'" Weller explained. "I do not think I realized back then just how important it was to be surrounded by these strong, successful women."

From Soccer to Golf: Katherine's Journey ⛳

Weller grew up playing soccer, but after suffering a concussion in a game during elementary school, her parents suggested picking up a non-contact sport instead. She opted for golf and signed up with her local First Tee chapter in Charlotte, N.C., before starting middle school, immediately falling in love with the game and the lessons it provided.

In fact, Weller loved golf so much that she not only played throughout high school, but she also remained active with the chapter as a coach. This decision ultimately paid off tenfold, as it led Weller to sign up for the life-changing LPGA Leadership Academy.

"Growing up, I found myself in very male-heavy environments in most of the areas I was interested in," Weller said. "In high school, I was on drum line, and I was the only girl. Then I went to several golf camps where I was the only girl, but it was definitely something that I did not consider as much until I went to that LPGA Leadership Academy.

"It was honestly eye-opening to realize, 'Oh, there are many women in golf. I do not have to be the only girl in this game.' Then the Leadership Academy experience taught me that I can use it as a superpower and show these stinky boys that I am a girl in a male-dominated sport and I am totally fine with it."

That was just the first lesson. Other key learnings that shaped Weller's future included: setting goals, building self-confidence and learning about personality types.

Goals, Dreams, and Making It Happen 🎯

When it came to goal setting, Weller knew exactly what to write down in her notebook. First, she wanted to qualify for the state golf tournament her senior year. Second, she wanted to attend Penn State, and then she wanted to become a teacher. Upon leaving Pine Needles, Weller hit the ground running, utilizing the golf drills she learned at the Academy to improve as a golfer. This effort soon paid off, as she made state for the first time in her final chance as a high school senior.

She also hit the books harder than ever, work that resulted in a Penn State acceptance letter in her mailbox. At this point, it seemed like nothing could stop Weller from achieving her dreams.

But for a brief moment, it looked like a global pandemic might.

Weller had only gotten seven months into her freshman year when the COVID-19 pandemic started, and much like the rest of the world, her future plans were placed on hold. Weller could have easily let this situation derail her dreams, but she instead leaned on a positive growth-mindset to reinvent herself and find a new path toward her career.

She focused on building self-confidence by doing the "Wonder Woman" pose and sharing daily affirmations. The "Wonder Woman" pose involves placing your hands on your hips, puffing out your chest and lifting your chin like Lynda Carter did as the titular character in the 1970s. LPGA Leadership Academy participants are encouraged to do the stance before any major moments in their life, like a test, game or job interview. 💥

In a time of great uncertainty, Weller used the pose almost daily and also replaced negative self-talk with things that she "can" and "will" do. This shift in mentality played a large part in her personal evolution.

"Luckily, at the time, I realized how much of that male-dominated toxic energy I surrounded myself with, and I made the decision to surround myself instead with so many amazing women that I am still best friends with to this day," Weller said. "It really was a full reinvention of myself. I am so proud that I got to a version of myself that I love now, and going through five years of college to get my master's proved that all my hard work was worth it."

Embracing the Peacock Persona 🦚

After college, Weller moved from Pennsylvania to Virginia, where she began teaching at a school for gifted children, something that provided Weller the chance to fully embrace her peacock persona, which is another lesson that comes from the LPGA Leadership Academy.

A major part of the curriculum analyzes the "bird types," which are personality-based descriptions instructors utilize to help girls better understand themselves and how to work with different types of people. Weller has always been a social peacock, someone who thrives in fast-paced environments and loves meeting people.

The exercise not only highlights the good qualities of each bird but also recommends what each bird type can improve on. After explaining each bird type and their traits, the coaches emphasize that every bird has its own power, and it only grows stronger by understanding where improvements can be made. Weller has fully embraced the idea, using it as her superpower to connect with her third-grade students.

"In my role, I have to be intuitive, lively, all of these things," Weller said. "It takes a lot of self-confidence to be a teacher, especially for younger students, and that is certainly something I have improved upon since high school. I have long accepted that I am a social peacock, and now, I fully embraced that crazy, goofy side of me in the classroom."

Weller's classroom is full of personal touches that showcase her authenticity. She has several pieces of Penn State signage throughout the room, but by far her most beloved item is the life-sized cutout of former WWE superstar and actor Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.

"People come into my classroom every day, and they are like, 'I think that is a real person every time I walk by,'" Weller shared with a big grin. "I have a lot of quirks in my classroom that I am very proud of. They make me the quirky young teacher that I am."

The Rockstar Points System 🌟

On top of the cutout, Weller created the "Rockstar" points system, where students earn tallies for good results or positive behavior. Each tally goes towards a collective goal for the class, and once that is reached, the students earn a "Rockstar Day," where they get to vote on activities like wearing pajamas to school and watching movies. In just two years of teaching, Weller has seen this rewards system pay dividends. I love this. Gamify everything. So much more fun!