Kara Holden, Ph.D
Founding Head of School
Kara Holden is the founder of Westlawn School and a longtime advocate for twice-exceptional learners. Her background includes work as an ABA therapist, K–12 special education teacher, and professor at UNCG and Elon University. In 2019, she launched Camp Kooka-Racha, an inclusive STEAM camp that inspired the creation of Westlawn in 2020.
As Westlawn’s leader, Kara guides a team focused on personalized academics, social-emotional growth, and celebrating each student’s unique strengths. Outside of school, she is an avid Buffalo Bills fan who enjoys skiing and spending time with her husband and two boys. She was honored with the 2022 Winston-Salem Under 40 Leadership Award for her innovative work in education.





