Lori Ferguson’s professional journey has taken her from small business ownership to the classroom as a special education teacher, then into school leadership as an assistant principal and Career and Technical Education director, and ultimately back to her entrepreneurial roots as the owner of LF Consulting.

Through her leadership, she has helped students discover their passion and purpose. Facilitating the creation of innovative pathways she’s helped open the doors for young people to explore meaningful futures while meeting the workforce demands of high-growth industries.

Beyond her local impact, Lori’s been influential in shaping state policy and strengthening Rhode Island’s CTE community through years of service on committees and advisory boards. As State President of the Rhode Island Association of Career and Technical Education, she championed collaboration among educators, industry partners, and policymakers to expand opportunities for all learners.

Her commitment to excellence has been recognized with multiple honors, including Roger Williams University Instructor of the Year (2024), CTE Administrator of the Year (2022), and Rhode Island ACTE Administrator of the Year (2024). Lori shares her passion for education as a teacher coach and instructor in the CTE Teacher Certification Program at Roger Williams University.

She mentors industry professionals transitioning into Career and Technical education, helping them bridge their technical expertise and real-world experience with pedagogy. In this role, Lori continues to inspire and shape the next generation of educators.

Lori has been married to Tom for 36 years. Their sons, Drew and Cole, are alumni of the class of 2017