The Blog

Breaking Free: Najmah Ahmad on Achievement Addiction, Nonprofit Burnout, and the Journey to Wellness In the latest episode of The Exit Interview: A Podcast for Black Educators, host Dr. Asia Lyons sits down with Najmah Ahmad, an educator, consultan…

In the face of persistent racial injustice and systemic oppression within school systems, the mental health of Black educators can be significantly impacted. Racial battle fatigue, characterized by chronic stress, anxiety, and emotional exhaustion, …

  <h2>Introduction</h2> <p> In today's fast-paced educational landscape, educators and educational leaders are facing unprecedented levels of stress, burnout, and mental health challenges. Amidst the constant pressure t…

Introduction Toxic work cultures have become all too common in today's society, leaving devastating effects on the mental health and well-being of employees. In the realm of education, Black educators are particularly vulnerable to these harmful en…

  Episode 29: Mind-Body Wellness Practices with Dr. Siobhan Flowers, so poignantly illustrated, the wellness of educators, particularly Black educators, is paramount to the health of our educational system and the well-being of our students. T…

Early childhood education plays a fundamental role in shaping young minds and fostering their lifelong success. However, within this field, Black educators face unique barriers and challenges that hinder their representation and professional growth.…

Prioritizing Black Educator Well-being The well-being of Black educators is essential for fostering a just and equitable education system. Black educators play a crucial role in shaping the minds and futures of students from diverse backgro…

In the latest episode of The Exit Interview Podcast, I sat down with Vanity Jenkins, an inspiring educator who passionately advocates for culturally relevant pedagogy. This insightful conversation ignited my desire to delve deeper into the significa…

Welcome to the Exit Interview: A podcast for Black Educators blog post, where we delve into the profound impact of mentorship on career transitions. Inspired by the captivating story of Elia Martin, our exploration will highlight the benefits, quali…

In the demanding world of education, it is imperative that educators prioritize their own well-being to create a thriving and fulfilling work environment. This blog post explores the transformative power of rest and healing for educators, drawing in…

The Power of Imagination in Education Imagination plays a vital role in human development, enabling us to envision new possibilities, solve problems, and create innovative solutions. In education, imagination is particularly crucial as it stimulate…

The Importance of Black Educators Black educators play a vital role in fostering inclusive and equitable learning environments for students. They bring unique perspectives, cultural knowledge, and a deep understanding of the challenges faced by mar…

Creating Black teacher affinity groups needs to go beyond DEI checklists.  Maybe it’s time to rethink school district-sponsored affinity spaces.  A few weeks ago, I met with  Jalisa Evan, executive director of the Black Educato…

What happens when a group of women and non-binary folks get together with the intention to heal in community?  That was the question Dr. Ellie Cahill and I asked when we started thinking about a healing space for Black educators.  Our work…

“We lived weekly in the intersection of niceness and silence.” - Stephen A. A few months ago, I had the opportunity to talk with two other speakers with a group of doctoral students in a program at a university here in Denver.  The…

Welcome to our first Exit Interview Newsletter!  We are so excited to get the 2024 year started by sharing behind-the-scenes content, upcoming episodes, and other dope things coming down the pipe.  Come along with us as we start our 4th se…

“The first thing he starts with me is about racism and how he believes in the bootstrap kind of idea of everything. And that's what he teaches the students here at the school, and he starts asking me all these questions. And I told him, I said…

Hey Exit Interview Community! As a consulting firm focused on supporting youth-serving organizations, we feel it important to focus on some of the most minoritized folks in the youth-serving spaces; Black educators. Amid ongoing conversations surro…

  As a part of the Black Educator Wellness Cohort, a program Dr. Ellie Cahill and I co-facilitate monthly for educators in the Denver Metro Area, we are reading, My Grandmother's Hands. The author talks about clean and dirty pain in one of the…

In May 2022 I graduated with my doctorate in Leadership for Educational Equity.  Of all of the things that happened during the commencement (besides me crying like a newborn as dr. jefferson hooded me), the commencement speaker’s speech i…

  Four years ago, I was an educator in a district teaching middle schoolers about what happens in society when a lack of humanity exists.  I asked them to examine with me what social justice means and why it is necessary when humanity is …

Last year, during a discussion in a pre-service teaching class I instruct, a Black woman asked me a simple and complex question, “Do all Black teachers experience racism at work?”.  My answer is, “Yes, of course. If we experie…