Conversations with Tracy Stegall

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tracy Stegall.

Hi Tracy, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I spent 32 years in public education as a teacher, principal, and district leader, supporting students, educators, and communities through complex change—including leading a district-wide shift to online learning during the pandemic. That work shaped how I lead, but by 2023, I felt ready to do it differently.

I stepped away from traditional leadership roles and launched All-Inclusive Design, my coaching and consulting practice, where I now support school and nonprofit leaders across Colorado in building inclusive, values-driven organizations. Around the same time, I co-founded Flipside Theatre in Superior, Colorado—a community-centered improv and comedy theater rooted in collaboration, creativity, and belonging.

Though education leadership and improv may seem unrelated, they share the same foundation: listening, adaptability, and trust. Today, my work lives at the intersection of leadership, creativity, and community—whether I’m coaching leaders, performing onstage, teaching future administrators, or creating visual art. At the heart of it all is a commitment to building spaces where people feel seen, empowered, and alive.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. I’ve spent much of my career stepping into leadership spaces where I was underestimated—often as a woman and as an openly queer leader—and learning how to stay grounded in my values while navigating resistance and change.

More recently, building something new outside of traditional systems has come with its own challenges. Launching a consulting practice and co-founding a community theater from the ground up required risk, uncertainty, and a willingness to learn as we went. There were moments of doubt, financial pressure, and fatigue—but also deep connection and growth.

What I’ve learned is that authenticity and community are powerful stabilizers. When you lead with heart, surround yourself with people you trust, and stay connected to your purpose, the hard parts become meaningful rather than defeating.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
At my core, I’m a creator of spaces—spaces where people can take risks, connect deeply, and rediscover their voices. I co-founded Flipside Theatre in Superior, Colorado, a community-centered improv and comedy theater built on collaboration, inclusion, and creative courage. I perform, teach, direct, and help shape a theater that belongs to the people who walk through its doors.

Alongside my creative work, I lead All-Inclusive Design, where I coach and facilitate school and nonprofit leaders across Colorado. I specialize in helping individuals and teams navigate complexity with clarity—whether that’s organizational change, leadership identity, or building cultures rooted in trust and belonging. I’ve also been fortunate to manage complex projects for educational institutions and non-profits including CDE Reauthorizations and state-wide change efforts around career connected learning.

What sets me apart is that I don’t separate creative work from leadership work. Improv teaches listening, adaptability, and presence—skills that are just as essential in a boardroom as they are onstage. I’m known for creating environments where people feel safe to experiment, speak honestly, and grow into more authentic versions of themselves.

What I’m most proud of is building communities—whether that’s a theater where strangers become collaborators, organizations coming together for the good of their students, or leadership spaces where people remember why they chose to lead in the first place.

Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Presence. The ability to truly listen, stay curious, and respond to what’s actually happening—not just what I expected or planned for. Whether I’m coaching a leader, performing improv, or building community, being fully present allows me to adapt, connect, and make space for others to do the same.

I’ve also learned to recognize when I haven’t been present—when I was rushing, operating on assumptions, or leading from habit rather than awareness. Those moments often led to misalignment, missed signals, or unnecessary friction. Paying attention to that feedback has helped me slow down, recalibrate, and lead more intentionally.

Presence has become both my compass and my corrective. It’s what helps me build trust, navigate uncertainty, and create environments where people feel seen, supported, and willing to take meaningful risks.

Pricing:

• Coaching begins with a complimentary empathy interview
• individual leadership coaching, thought partnership, and consensus facilitation is $150-$250 an hour
• Improv classes at Flipside Theatre are $125-$225 for a 6-8 week class
• Tickets for shows at Flipside Theatre are $15-$20

Contact Info:

• Website: https://sites.google.com/view/tracy-j-stegall-digital-portfo/home.
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Flipside-Theatre-61565578986922/