July 2020 Newsletter

1. How do you encourage creative thinking in your organization? 
I have a laser-beam focus on the vision and mission of scholar's preparedness for college enrollment, enlistment, and employment. I utilize this to demonstrate to team members the disparity between the vision/mission we desire and the current reality using data trends. It typically creates urgency and innovation for change by various stakeholder groups. I always tell my team, "Look around you; no one is stopping improvement. Bring on the ideas and action for change!" The door is open.

2. Name a person who has had a tremendous impact on you as an educational leader? 
My mother was my greatest role model of leadership. Raising five daughters, owning businesses, going back to get her undergraduate degree in her 30's, and completing her doctorate by 40. She became a school teacher and principal, all while maintaining her steadfast mission to get all of her children to be positive contributors in society, she is to be honored. She taught me perseverance during challenging times, no excuses in getting things accomplished, and defying the odds beyond what most believe is doable.

3. What are a few resources you would recommend to someone looking to gain insight into becoming a better leader in the educational sector? 
My greatest resource has been attending a university for graduate-level study in educational leadership and administration, maintaining relationships with former principals, and participating in trainings and networking circles such as ADE, Accelerator Program, UnBound Ed, etc.  

4. What advice would you give someone going into a leadership position for the first time or looking to pursue a leadership role?

• Maintain a mindset of hard work and no excuses. Excellence is a habit and must be defined, expected, inspected, and celebrated for all and by all, including you, as the leader.
•  Be First! First, to advocate for your faculty and students, first to inspire during an assembly, first to arrive on the campus, first to uplift after a tragedy, etc., etc. Be first, and then encourage your team to be with you.
•  Details Matter! Be seen looking urgent as if excellence matters. Details in a report card, conference protocol, how you open a meeting, notes from an instructional evaluation must be looked at as if it matters. You must show disgust for subpar outcomes and not passively allow it to exists on the campus by anyone.
•  Fail forward, and don't be hesitant to ask a network of seasoned leaders for advice. Taking risks means possible failures. However, fail forward, meaning, "I am not afraid to act. My action didn't necessarily produce the best outcome." Got it, "lesson learned" and reset to change course for improved outcomes quickly.
• Finally, be your authentic self. Let your intuition and moral compass guide good judgment, decision making, and holding others accountable to "students as a priority" without apology.

5. Why do you think it's important for Black educators to participate in leadership programs such as ADE? Social capital and financial capital are often limited to Black educators across this nation. The ability to acquire social networking groups and a robust financial portfolio allows for greater opportunity to access higher-level educational positions, competitive grants, and professional learning circles that propel the novice or veteran leader forward and /or elevate school they are leading.