Blog

As we prepare to open the doors of Sage Alliance NYC this fall, we’re proud to introduce the exceptional individuals who will lead our students with compassion, purpose, and vision. At the forefront is Lauren Bleggi, our Head of School, whose career has been shaped by a deep commitment to mental health, college and career readiness, and transformative education. In this Q&A, Lauren shares her journey from school counselor to changemaker, and how Sage Alliance has become the place where her passion and purpose align.

1. What inspired you to join Sage Alliance Schools?
Sage is a combination of my two passions – college and career readiness, and mental health support. I began my career as a teacher but quickly moved to school counseling as it allowed me to provide more targeted support to students in need. While I loved helping students navigate through the challenges of adolescence, there were many areas where I could see help was needed, but I was not able to provide that help. That drive is what led me to pursue my doctorate: to become a changemaker in an educational landscape that too often resists meaningful change. I wanted to find a place where I could make the most difference, but I didn’t feel the right connection between my passion and my professional goals until I found Sage Alliance. Sage Alliance NYC is a school where students with incredible potential are met with the therapeutic, academic, and emotional support they need to thrive. It’s a place where educators are empowered to mentor, advocate, and truly make a difference in the lives of students. Here, I’ve found a community where I can be the changemaker I’ve always aspired to be and help build a future where every student feels safe, seen, and capable of success. Sage Alliance is not just a therapeutic program; it’s a movement toward what education should be. It’s a place of hope, growth, and transformation for students, families, and for all of us who believe in the power of possibility.

2. Can you share a memorable experience from your career?
I am grateful to have many memorable experiences with my incredible students over the course of my career in education. One of the most memorable is when I worked with a student who struggled with severe anxiety and school refusal. She is an incredibly talented musician, and dreamed of attending a prestigious college music program, but the weight of her anxiety made even stepping into a classroom feel incredibly overwhelming. I met with this student regularly, and together we set small, intentional goals, starting with simply coming to my office each morning. Slowly, step by step, she began to reclaim her days. First, she stayed for part of a class, then an entire period, and eventually, she was attending full school days, something that she once felt was impossible. Through resilience, courage, and unwavering determination, she learned to manage her anxiety and move forward with confidence. I’m incredibly proud to share that she not only applied to that music program but was accepted. This student’s journey is a powerful reminder of what is possible when students are given the support, patience, and belief they need to access their academic capability. It’s moments like these that reaffirm why I do this work, and why I will never stop showing up for students.

3. What are your goals for the upcoming school year?
My goal is to make Sage Alliance NYC the leading therapeutic school in New York; a place where every student feels seen, supported, and empowered to thrive both academically and emotionally. To accomplish this, we are building more than just a school, we are cultivating a safe, nurturing, and therapeutically integrated environment where students can heal, grow, and discover their potential. Our approach centers on meaningful relationships, where teachers and therapists serve as mentors and role models, guiding students through both their academic journey and their personal development. We are also developing a robust skill-building program that equips students with the emotional, social, and executive functioning tools they need to succeed in school and in life. This work is about more than education, it's about transformation, and I am honored to be a part of it.

4. How do you build strong connections with your students?
The foundation of meaningful education lies in human connection. I build this connection through empathy, deep listening, and a sincere curiosity to understand each student as a whole person. Every student carries a vast and unique potential, waiting to be seen, nurtured, and realized. To me, they are not just students to be taught, they are individuals with voices, dreams, and stories that matter. I see their strengths, their struggles, and everything in between. I don’t approach them with assumptions or expectations of who they should be, but with an open heart to discover who they truly are. I strive to help students feel seen, valued, and empowered by creating space for them to share their experiences and perspectives on themselves, on learning, and on life.

5. What do you enjoy most about working in education?
What I enjoy most about working in education is witnessing growth; watching students evolve, adapt, and become more confident with every new concept they grasp. Education has the power to transform the improbable into the possible, and the unlikely into the undeniable. It’s a constant reminder that learning is not just a step in the journey, it is the journey. No matter the path we take in life, learning remains essential. Even in my current role as Head of School, I’m learning every day. I am learning about leadership, about community, and about how to make Sage Alliance NYC the strongest therapeutic program in New York City. That vision can only be realized through learning; learning from our students and families who we serve, learning from our sister schools and professional colleagues across the city, and learning from the advocates and attorneys who fight to give these students the voice they deserve. Education opens doors we never knew existed. It dispels fear by illuminating the unknown. It nurtures empathy by helping us understand lived experiences that are different from our own. Ultimately, education expands not only what we know, but who we are, and who we will become. As long as we stay genuinely curious and do our best to listen to understand, the learning will continue. 

Lauren’s story is a powerful reminder of what’s possible when education is rooted in empathy, connection, and belief in every student’s potential. Her leadership is helping to shape Sage Alliance NYC into more than just a school—it’s becoming a community of healing, growth, and transformation. We’re honored to have her guiding this journey and can’t wait to share more stories from the incredible team bringing Sage Alliance to life in New York City.

Interested in joining us for a tour? Complete the form here and someone from our team will be in touch soon!