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When Black Educators Bet on Themselves
March 10, 2026

When Black Educators Bet on Themselves

In a recent episode of The Exit Interview: A Podcast for Black Educators, I spoke with Latoya Turner, an educator, author, and founder of Brown Hands Literacy. During our conversation, she said something that stayed with me long after we stopped rec…

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The Cost of Perfect Attendance: What Are We Really Rewarding in Schools?
Feb. 26, 2026

The Cost of Perfect Attendance: What Are We Really Rewarding in Schoo…

In a recent episode of The Exit Interview, Whitney Tolliver shared a story that is celebrated in education: perfect attendance as an expectation. During new staff orientation, her principal stood in front of the room and proudly declared:She had b…

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"I Don't Know If I Should Tell This Or Not": Why Educator Truth-Telling Matters
Feb. 26, 2026

"I Don't Know If I Should Tell This Or Not": Why Educator Truth-Telli…

This weekend, I started reading Sisters of the Yam by bell hooks. In the opening chapters, she writes about truth-telling as a form of self-recovery, a way for Black women to begin healing by naming what has been carried in silence.  Those page…

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Breaking Free: Najmah Ahmad on Achievement Addiction, Nonprofit Burnout, and the Journey to Wellness
Feb. 5, 2025

Breaking Free: Najmah Ahmad on Achievement Addiction, Nonprofit Burno…

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

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The Value of Black Therapists in Addressing Racial Battle Fatigue
Aug. 20, 2024

The Value of Black Therapists in Addressing Racial Battle Fatigue

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, …

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The Power of Rest and Healing in Education: Lessons for Educators and Educational Leaders
Aug. 19, 2024

The Power of Rest and Healing in Education: Lessons for Educators and…

 <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…

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Navigating Toxic Work Cultures: Lessons from Dr. Adrienne Smith's Experiences
July 26, 2024

Navigating Toxic Work Cultures: Lessons from Dr. Adrienne Smith's Exp…

IntroductionToxic 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…

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The Mind-Body Connection: A Holistic Approach to Black Educator Wellness
July 7, 2024

The Mind-Body Connection: A Holistic Approach to Black Educator Welln…

 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…

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The Challenges Faced by Black Educators in Early Childhood Education
July 4, 2024

The Challenges Faced by Black Educators in Early Childhood Education

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.…

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Supporting Black Educators' Well-being
June 24, 2024

Supporting Black Educators' Well-being

Prioritizing Black Educator Well-beingThe 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…

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Challenges Faced by Black Educators
June 21, 2024

Challenges Faced by Black Educators

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…

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The Role of Mentorship in Career Transitions
June 17, 2024

The Role of Mentorship in Career Transitions

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…

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The Transformative Power of Rest and Healing for Educators
June 11, 2024

The Transformative Power of Rest and Healing for Educators

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…

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The Power of Imagination in Education: Afrofuturism in the Classroom
June 8, 2024

The Power of Imagination in Education: Afrofuturism in the Classroom

The Power of Imagination in EducationImagination 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…

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Black Educators Catalyzing Change
May 27, 2024

Black Educators Catalyzing Change

The Importance of Black EducatorsBlack 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…

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Rethinking Black Teacher Affinity Groups
May 25, 2024

Rethinking Black Teacher Affinity Groups

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…

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Healing In Community
March 27, 2024

Healing In Community

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…

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Living at The Intersection of Niceness and Silence
Jan. 8, 2024

Living at The Intersection of Niceness and Silence

“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…

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January 2024 Newsletter
Jan. 4, 2024

January 2024 Newsletter

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…

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Racial Battle Fatigue's Impact On Black Educators & Our Families
Dec. 21, 2023

Racial Battle Fatigue's Impact On Black Educators & Our Families

“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…

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June 2023 Newsletter
June 17, 2023

June 2023 Newsletter

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…

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Clean Pain
April 11, 2023

Clean Pain

 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…

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Take The Detour
March 14, 2023

Take The Detour

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…

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If You Are Living with Racial Battle Fatigue
March 7, 2023

If You Are Living with Racial Battle Fatigue

 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 …

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