Authenticity

I didn't want to become an assistant, to be honest with you. It's people that just see something in me…Keshia SmithAssistant PrincipalAnd so we as educators, it might not necessarily be by a book… but it is where we did what we had to do and we figured it out. And I think that's the beauty of us, is we're going to figure it out.In this episode, we sit down with Keshia Smith, an assistant principal from North Carolina whose journey into education was God-given, God-ordered and God-directed. As a preacher's kid, Keshia moved constantly and found herself in a system that was quick to label her before it understood her — diagnosed with ADHD long before anyone recognized she was academically gifted. It wasn't until her third grade teacher said "let's test her" that the full picture emerged. She blew it out. What carried her through wasn't just talent, but an incredible curiosity and a refusal to stop until she figured things out — a quality she brings to her work with students every single day.My joy is seeing kids that I've touched succeed, and I have seen many kids.Her road to the classroom was winding, but once she arrived, her impact was undeniable. Students who weren't even on her roster would linger in the hallways just to be near her space — and Keshia would pull them right in, email their teachers, and hold them to the same standard as everyone else. Her classroom was a place where kids felt seen, held accountable, and welcomed all at once. As she puts it, "I'm just Keshia" — no pedestals, no performance, just genuine care. That authenticity is ultimately what led her principal to spend four years convincing her to step into administration, and it remains the cornerstone of her legacy today.

“I think that there was a catalyst moment in my life, and so, life took me into education, but if I had been paying attention, I would have known that this is where I was supposed to be all along.”Ms. Shanelle SmithPrincipalhttps://www.hbcuwalkingbillboard.org/“My new message became y'all can accomplish a whole lot more together than apart.”In this powerful episode, we sit down with Principal Shanelle Smith of Lincoln College Preparatory Academy — her very own alma mater — to explore the profound impact Black educators have on their students and communities. Shanelle opens up about her unexpected path into education, from navigating personal loss after her mother's passing to discovering a deep passion for working with underserved youth. She reflects on what she calls the "learning behind the learning" — the cultural wisdom, code-switching skills, and sense of belonging that Black teachers uniquely provide, and why their presence in schools remains as vital as ever.“I think that in order to really break down the state of education in Black America, we got to look at it in America as a whole.”Shanelle also shares the inspiring story behind her nonprofit, HBCU Walking Billboard, which started with something as simple as wearing an HBCU shirt and grew into a full 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to bringing awareness of historically Black colleges and universities to Kansas City. From scholarships and college tours to annual send-off celebrations, the initiative reflects Shanelle's belief that students deserve to see every door that is open to them. As she puts it, her life's work is about liberation — giving students the tools, the pride, and the pathways to chart their own futures.

“And so for us right now, in urban spaces, in cities, we have a beautiful opportunity as a group of educators right now.”Terris King, IIFounder, Temple X Schools and Baltimore Forest School, former Kindergarten Teacherhttps://www.baltimoreforestschool.org/“I’m all about birth to eight years old. I believe it’s the most important time of a young person’s life.” In this week’s episode, Terris King II, founder of Temple X Schools and Baltimore Forest School, makes a bold case for reimagining early childhood education, especially for Black boys. A former kindergarten teacher shaped by faith, community, and mentorship, King has built a nature-based, trauma-informed model that moves children from screens to forests. Grounded in experiential learning and powered by public private partnerships, his work challenges the politics of traditional schooling and centers the sacred responsibility of getting the early years right.“So for us, it is our responsibility to guard the children from the chaos, create joy pathways for experience that mobilizes them to know that, like, I am empowered.” King shares how outdoor learning, participatory science, and community collaboration are transforming Baltimore by reducing crime, strengthening neighborhoods, and giving children real agency. From students speaking before lawmakers to partnerships with hospitals prescribing nature, his five-year-old movement is proof that innovation rooted in culture, faith, and joy can create systems change. For King, this moment is a beautiful opportunity for Black educators to lead boldly and build environments where children don’t just learn, but thrive.

“The future of education has got to be innovative.”Tannette Elie“I come from a family of educators and I never ever thought that I would be a teacher, never.” Tannette Elie’s path to the classroom began as a longtime journalist and business columnist before transitioning into higher education. Now an adjunct associate lecturer at a Wisconsin institution, she turned a part-time teaching opportunity into a full-time calling, earning her master’s degree and bringing decades of real-world media experience into her courses. Her unconventional route and determination to navigate academia as a Black woman without a PhD shaped the confident, career-focused educator she is today.“I don't treat them like they're just these students or kids; they're professionals to me.” With 20 years of print media experience followed by 16 years in the classroom, Tannette approaches her communications courses like an editor, requiring rewrites, interviews, elevator pitches and emphasizing industry standards that prepare students for real careers in the field of communication. She is especially passionate about mentoring Black students, helping them build confidence, sharpen their skills, and access opportunities they may not have imagined for themselves. She also speaks about the declining presence of Black male students in her classes and the broader implications for Black education. Her legacy is rooted in representation, rigor, and results—ensuring her students leave not just inspired, but equipped to do amazing things.

“There is a special level of comfort and communication that happens between educators of color and students of color, and I have been privileged to experience that in every single space of my career.” Ms. Tymia MorganELA / IB Teacher, Teacher Mentor“I'm proud of the way that I've been able to show up and be authentic and genuine in front of my students.”Tymia Morgan brings 20 years of lived experience to the classroom as an IB English teacher, department lead, and mentor in Kansas City, Missouri. Raised in a family of educators (#shoutout to her mom’s 42-year career in education), Tymia’s path was shaped by strong Black teachers and a deep belief in representation. She shares how Black educators create spaces of trust, cultural understanding, and guidance that extend far beyond academics, helping students feel seen, safe, and capable.“I really am excited for the community to really own education again, to make it more than just a school thing, to make it a home thing, to make it a church thing, to make it a community center thing.”During our conversation, Tymia reflects on the realities of burnout, protecting one’s peace, and navigating systems that don’t always value Black women’s labor. She offers powerful stories of student joy, honest insights on mentoring with respect and transparency, and a vision for education rooted in community. Grounded in love, authenticity, and care, Tymia’s legacy is a reminder that showing up fully, with heart and honesty, is transformative for students and educators alike.

“I need to be able to share and give my students power and value, and for them to be empowered in their experiences.”Ms. Jewell Taylor, Program Coordinator and Counselor“I almost always had a Black educator in my space, and I didn't realize the privilege until later on in life.” This week, we are joined by Jewell Taylor, Umoja Program Counselor and Coordinator, to reflect on the power and responsibility of Black educators. Jewell reflects on her journey from Los Angeles to higher education, her experience being taught by Black educators from kindergarten through HBCUs, and how those early affirmations shaped her sense of identity and purpose. She unpacks the often-unspoken stigmas surrounding community colleges, sharing how her own assumptions shifted once she witnessed firsthand how these institutions can be life-changing, accessible pathways.“I aligned with the needs of our students. And again that was one of the A-HA moments for me of like, oh I'm needed in this space.” Jewell offers an honest assessment of the current state of Black education, naming generational shifts, pandemic impacts, and the growing need for wraparound support, mentorship, and motivation. Grounded in joy, self-care, and community, Jewell shares how she sustains herself as an educator and casts a vision for a future where Black students everywhere have access to mentors who see them, affirm them, and remind them that education is still a powerful tool for liberation.

“Education is political.”Juanita WaltersSpecial Education Coordinator, Math Coach, Assistant PrincipalAwaken Your Joy (Journal) - https://a.co/d/94yW3w7Tuesday’s At Seven: The Healing Circle - https://a.co/d/2MwmpKD“This system was never designed with Black children in mind.” This week, we are joined by special education coordinator and former correctional officer Juanita Walters, as she unpacks her journey through education, leadership, and advocacy in New York. Drawing from roles spanning the classroom, administration, and pupil services (and her time in the criminal justice system), Juanita exposes the parallels between schools and carceral systems and names the urgent need for Black educators to be disruptors. “Compliance is not engagement, and burning out is not a badge of honor.” Juanita challenges the manufactured literacy crisis, scripted curricula, and systems that ignore culture and context, while calling for collective action and independent, Black-led educational spaces rooted in student voice, autonomy, and joy. She also models sustainability, discussing her commitment to boundaries, harmony, healing, and authorship through her journal Awaken Your Joy. Grounded in purpose and community, this episode is a call for Black educators to reclaim power, remove their capes, and build liberated learning environments where both children and adults can thrive.

Dr. Charlynn Small & Taylor SmallBlack educators are advocates, protectors, and culture keepers. In this powerful intergenerational conversation, Dr. Charlynn Small and her daughter, Taylor Small, reflect on their journeys as HBCU graduates and Black educators, discussing the critical role representation, cultural understanding, and advocacy play in the lives of Black students and families. Drawing from Dr. Small’s 30 years and Taylor’s 3 years of experience, the duo unpack how Black educators counter biased assessments, hostile school environments, and systemic inequities with care, expertise, and humanity.Education should be child-centered, not profit-driven. The episode also takes a clear-eyed look at the state of Black education today, including the impact of school vouchers, school choice, and legislative rollbacks on public education—particularly for Black, brown, and immigrant students. Together, Dr. Small and Taylor emphasize the importance of boundaries, self-care, and community to sustain the work, while naming a shared legacy rooted in love, equity, and preparing students to be not only successful learners, but good people.

“Education is the foundation”Jamarquan Houstonhttps://www.allmylinks.com/Stairkeepers“Representation shows you what’s possible.” In this episode, educator and author Jamarquan Houston shares his journey from the classroom in Milwaukee to broader work advancing BIPOC representation and leadership. With experience teaching across K–12 and coordinating programs that expand opportunity, Jamarquan reflects on why Black educators matter, how seeing yourself reflected opens doors, and the realities of navigating the profession as a first-generation educator balancing purpose, pressure, and persistence.“Don’t limit yourself—pack light and reach for the stars.” Jamarquan discusses the state of Black education, the importance of intergenerational leadership, and staying ahead in a rapidly changing world shaped by technology and innovation. He also shares how continuous learning, authorship, and storytelling sustain his joy, including his books Entitlements: The Right To Be Happy, Vol. 1. Grounded in legacy, self-discovery, and service, this episode highlights Black educators as guides helping students (and communities) turn struggle into possibility.

“It is the heartbeat, the drumbeat. It's the heart line, it's the pipeline, it's just so many wonderful things that Black educators do.”Dr. Mazella Fullerhttps://antiracismandequity.com/antiracism-book-promo/“Black history is American history, and equity is not optional—it’s essential.” Dr. Mazella Fuller shares her journey from K–12 classrooms to higher education, clinical social work, and national anti-racism leadership. She reflects on the power of Black educators to provide representation, cultural understanding, and pathways to student success—especially in spaces where Black voices are often marginalized.“We have to move from optics to outcomes.” Dr. Fuller is a licensed clinical social worker and educator who’s spent nearly three decades transforming student support and developing outreach programs at Duke University’s Counseling and Psychological Services. She co-authored the recently released "Antiblackness and the Stories of Authentic Allies: Lived Experiences in the Fight Against Institutionalized Racism" and also co-edited "Treating Black Women with Eating Disorders: A Clinician’s Guide." Her advocacy centers on real allyship, mentorship as reparations, and integrating mental health with culturally responsive education.