About R. Folice Bailey

R. Folice Bailey is an educational leader, leadership development strategist, and the founder of Focus& Finish, a school-centered leadership development and coaching firm supporting educators, administrators, and leadership teams.

With over twenty-five years of experience in education, Folice brings deep, practical insight into the realities of school leadership. Her career began as an elementary school teacher and progressed through roles including Curriculum Facilitator, Assistant Principal at four high schools, and Principal at two schools. She has also served as a supervisor and administrator for Exceptional Children (EC) programs across multiple schools, developing a strong understanding of instructional leadership, compliance, systems, and implementation at scale.

This breadth of experience shapes her belief that effective leadership is not rooted in effort alone, but in clarity, structure, and intentional systems. Leaders are most successful when expectations are clear, systems are aligned, and support is grounded in real-world practice.

Focus & Finish was founded out of a desire to support leaders and organizations in achieving goal-driven, mission-aligned outcomes without overwhelm. Through structured leadership development, coaching, and facilitation, Focus & Finish helps leaders strengthen decision-making, build sustainable systems, and lead with confidence and purpose—particularly at the school level, where leadership decisions have immediate and lasting impact.

Folice holds a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Lenoir-Rhyne College (1997) and a Master’s degree in School Administration from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (2005). She is also a certified professional coach, blending formal leadership training with reflective, practical development.

Beyond her professional work, Folice values family, meaningful relationships, and creative expression. She is an accomplished singer, often invited to perform the National Anthem, and enjoys traveling, healthy living, photography, and collecting butterfly-themed items as symbols of growth and transformation. These personal values inform her relational, people-centered approach to leadership development.