Causeways
Our Mission
The Mission of Causeways is to create a world where all children flourish.
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We offer strengths-based coaching and consulting that improve the performance of parenting teams and professional leadership teams.
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Executive Coaching for Mothers in Leadership
Supporting parents with child leadership, family leadership, self-leadership, and personal growth.
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Causeways offers high-impact, curated, expert-designed learning partnerships that equip parent professionals to develop and deliver their vision for themselves, their families and their communities.
Services include 1:1 executive coaching, as well as 10-week coaching groups.
Consultation & Coaching for School Leaders
Empowering heads of school, assistant heads, and board members with strategies for governance, leadership, community building, and organizational success.​
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Causeways offers curated, expert-led solutions that improve the performance of leadership teams.​​
Services include executive coaching, leadership development, strategic consultation, crisis response, faculty & staff professional development, and parent workshops.
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Our Values
We believe that children flourish when adults feel supported.
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Stay Curious
Curiosity helps us navigate the unknown with intention. It drives us to engage with the latest research, listen closely to parents and school leaders, and explore fresh ways to support meaningful change. We avoid one-size-fits-all solutions, instead creating thoughtful, tailored action plans that grow from genuine inquiry and understanding.
Knowledge is Power
Lasting change begins with clear, practical guidance that cuts through the noise and empowers thoughtful decisions. Grounded in research and proven strategies, we help clients deepen their understanding of child development and leadership. With this knowledge, parents and school leaders feel equipped to make confident, informed decisions that truly support their families and communities.
Embrace Ambiguity
Parenting and school leadership rarely go as planned, and that’s okay. Embracing uncertainty allows us to stay grounded, adapt to the unexpected, and find clarity even when much is out of our control. By reframing ambiguity, we help clients approach challenges with resilience and perspective.
Trust Your Intuition
The best decisions balance knowledge with intuition. While research and evidence are crucial, listening to your gut often reveals what’s right for your family or community. We help bridge the gap between data and instinct, empowering parents and school leaders to act in ways that align with both their minds and hearts.
Center Your Strengths
Our clients already have what it takes to succeed. By identifying and building on their unique strengths, we help parents and leaders align their actions with their values. This strength-based approach fosters confidence and empowers them to lead with authenticity and impact.
Create Systems and Structures
Parenting and leadership may not always be predictable, but they don’t have to feel chaotic. Thoughtful systems lighten the load, creating stability for children and communities while freeing up energy for what matters most. These structures aren’t about rigid rules—they’re about making life smoother, more intentional, and more sustainable.
Our Story
Sarah A McLean
Founder & Principal, Causeways, LLC
The work I am most proud of – and the work that has been the hardest! – is my work as a parent.
I had a great head start. I was raised by an elementary school teacher and was the oldest of three siblings. From the time I can remember, I was playing school with my sisters and their friends. When I was nine years old, I started a neighborhood summer camp in my backyard. We charged a dollar a day, but we would have done it for free. I babysat, taught swimming lessons, worked at sleepaway camps, and eventually got a Masters Degree in Education. By the time I started having kids, I had already been teaching for several years. Just in case, I read every baby book that came recommended, joined a mother and baby group, and hired a postpartum doula.
So you would think I would have been ready for parenting!
And yet. Even with everything I knew, and all the experience I had as a teacher and later as an elementary school principal, parenting has been really hard work. Our three children are dynamic, creative, smart, and funny. They are insightful writers and quick-witted conversationalists. They have also experienced ADHD, anxiety and depression. They are dyslexic, twice exceptional and struggle with executive functioning. We have changed schools multiple times to find classrooms and teachers that were a better fit for them. We have benefited from collaboration with therapists and psychiatrists, school counselors and many, many superb teachers. And I have drawn on every ounce of my education and professional experience.
Which eventually made me wonder: How do other parents do this?
From my experience as an elementary school pricipal, I know how hard parents are working to do well for their children. I know how hard children are trying to be good. And I also know that it is hard for everyone these days! Children are struggling, parents are struggling, and even though there is an endless supply of advice available, no one has time to make sense of it all–especially if you're not a professional educator.
My belief is that the greatest gift we can give the world is to raise children who grow into the best versions of themselves, encouraged to use their strengths, and their educations, to make the world a better place.
I look forward to supporting you and your family.