About the author
A life shaped by many stories
Carmen is a seasoned teacher and educational leader whose multicultural upbringing informs how she thinks about community, identity, and personal history. Moving between cultures taught her how deeply students and individuals are shaped by their histories and traumas.
Liberia, West Africa
Born and raised in Liberia, West Africa, Carmen Gwenigale-Ogoli spent her formative years in a community deeply rooted in faith, education, service, and cultural connection. She attended school in Liberia through the ninth grade and grew up on an Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) missionary compound, where she was surrounded by educators, missionaries, healthcare professionals, and families from diverse cultural backgrounds.
This unique upbringing fostered an early appreciation for cultural diversity, global perspectives, and the importance of community. Through meaningful relationships with families from around the world, she developed a deep understanding of the values of compassion, service, and human connection. These experiences laid the foundation for her lifelong commitment to education, leadership, and creating opportunities for others.
Puerto Rico
When Liberia's civil war began in 1989, Carmen's family faced the difficult reality of separation and displacement. Her mother and siblings relocated to Puerto Rico, Minnesota, and Iowa in search of safety and educational opportunities. While her brothers moved to the United States to live with godparents and family friends, Carmen remained with her mother in Puerto Rico.
Her father, Dr. Walter T. Gwenigale, chose to remain in Liberia, serving as a general surgeon throughout the country's 14-year civil conflict (1989–2003). His unwavering commitment to the health and well-being of the Liberian people eventually led him to serve as Liberia's Minister of Health.
In Puerto Rico, Carmen completed high school and her undergraduate education and began her professional journey as an educator. Her early teaching experiences strengthened her passion for language learning, cultural understanding, and helping students recognize their potential.
Iowa
In 2001, Carmen moved to Iowa to pursue graduate studies and expand her professional opportunities. In 2002, she began teaching high school Spanish, bringing her multilingual and multicultural experiences into the classroom. Throughout her teaching career, she embraced opportunities to serve beyond the classroom, assuming various teacher leadership roles and contributing to curriculum development, instructional improvement, and professional learning.
Her commitment to educational leadership led her to earn a Master of Arts in Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment, with an emphasis on Effective Teacher Leadership, from Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa.
Continuing her pursuit of professional and personal growth, Carmen is now in the final stages of completing her Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Interdisciplinary Leadership at Creighton University in Nebraska. Her doctoral journey reflects her ongoing interest in leadership, educational equity, and the experiences of women navigating complex educational systems.
Over more than two decades in public education, Iowa has become more than a place of professional opportunity. It is where she has continued to grow as an educator, leader, and advocate for students and families.
District Leadership
Following the COVID-19 pandemic, Carmen was selected to serve as a Leadership Fellow, an opportunity that further strengthened her understanding of educational systems, organizational leadership, and districtwide improvement. Shortly thereafter, she transitioned into her current role as Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment.
In this role, she provides leadership for districtwide initiatives focused on strengthening curriculum alignment, improving instructional practices, expanding assessment systems, and creating more equitable and meaningful educational opportunities for students.
Her work spans multiple areas, including curriculum development, multilingual learner education, migratory student supports, college and career readiness, postsecondary planning, and the development of innovative learning experiences that connect classroom instruction to real-world opportunities.
Drawing from her experiences across Liberia, Puerto Rico, and Iowa, Carmen approaches leadership through a lens of cultural understanding, collaboration, service, and continuous improvement. She believes that effective educational leadership requires building relationships, strengthening systems, and ensuring that every student has access to opportunities that support their growth and future success.
Her commitment to non-profit service stems from her belief that education has the power to transform lives, connect communities, and create possibilities across generations.
Read the story behind the story
The Strength That Raised Me, now on Amazon.