With over 30 years of experience in the field of education, I have had the honor of serving as a kindergarten, middle school and high school teacher.  In addition, I have used my talents to impact meaningful change in my roles as an instructional specialist, curriculum leader, reading intervention specialist, instructional coordinator, assistant principal, and principal.  My work has been accomplished in urban, suburban, and rural school districts, serving students in public, private, and charter schools. I have literally seen it all.

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My passion for student achievement runs deep. My education began at home.  Although my mom and dad never married, and we mostly lived in different cities,  between the two of them, seeds of greatness were planted that continue to sustain me to this day.  It was my mom who instilled in me the importance of having a genuine relationship with God, making sure I understood my heritage as a Black person, shared stories, documents, and pictures related to my family's legacy, and reminded me regularly of the importance of being excellent at whatever I do, and how love truly conquers all. It was my dad who taught me to speak my mind, to be confident, to remember where true beauty comes from, things like how to check the oil in a car and keep up on maintenance, and he always told me he was proud of me, and often made reference to how my mom was "raising y'all right," referring to me and my brother. By the time I went to school, I already knew who I was! So, even though racism, unfair treatment, and just the regular stuff that comes with navigating childhood often showed their ugly heads, it was what I learned "at home" that enabled me to not internalize other people's negative feelings about me, and so much more.

 

As an adult, I grew to learn that part of a parent's role in a child's life is to plant seeds of greatness.  And, that is exactly what my parents did. Through their success stories, flaws, missteps, mistakes, and even their flat out failures, my parents' individual responses to life taught me to keep moving forward. So, after high school, I "moved" 5 hours away, in the direction of purpose.

 

I began my college education at The Lincoln University(PA), America's first HBCU.  And, it was during my time at Lincoln where I learned about what it takes to unlock genius and untapped potential in the hearts and minds of students.  It was my engagement with seasoned professors and a life changing student teaching experience that solidified my understanding that my call to the field of education was deeper than I initially realized.

 

As a result, I eventually earned a master's degree in school leadership and a doctorate degree in management, focusing on organizational development and change.  My pursuit of higher education serves as the foundation for my understanding of how to create a school system that genuinely facilitates positive outcomes for each and every student.  But most importantly, it is the insight ensued from joining my colleagues in the daily, labor of love as a classroom teacher and school administrator.  It is on the front lines where it is clear to see that the current state of schools in America needs a drastic do over!

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With all of this in mind, it is my goal to create a school campus that will include a daycare as well as an elementary, middle, and high school.  The daycare and schools will serve as models for those who genuinely want to impact meaningful change in Black communities.  It starts with all of us taking accountability for how and what our children are learning--in our homes, in our culture and community, and in our schools.  Let's get back to being the village. It's not too late!

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