The Price of Being Passionate with Dr. Mary Hemphill
This episode is a masterclass in reclaiming purpose, honoring your calling, and choosing wholeness over hustle. If you've ever been called too much for simply doing what's right, this one is for you.
In this episode of The Exit Interview: A Podcast for Black Educators, Dr. Asia Lyons sits down with transformational leader Dr. Mary Hemphill for a powerful conversation about the cost of caring deeply inside systems that weren't built for us. From returning to teach in her childhood classroom to leading statewide academic reform, Dr. Hemphill shares how purpose, pressure, and policy collided in her journey and how her exit became a path to liberation.
Together, they explore:
The tension between being vigilant and being labeled a vigilante
Why transformational Black educators are often placed in the most broken schools
How systemic neglect and adult complicity show up in schools (especially for Black boys)
The challenge of leading with vision when the system prefers silence
What wellness actually looks like for Black women leaders in education
First of all.... have you signed up for our newsletter, Black Educators, Be Well? Why wait?
Amidst all the conversations about recruiting Black educators, where are the discussions about retention? The Exit Interview podcast was created to elevate the stories of Black educators who have been pushed out of the classroom and central office while experiencing racism-related stress and racial battle fatigue.
The Exit Interview Podcast is for current and former Black educators. It is also for school districts, teachers' unions, families, and others interested in better understanding the challenges of retaining Black people in education.
Please enjoy the episode.
Peace out,
Dr. Asia Lyons
Mary Hemphill
CEO/Author/Speaker
Dr. Mary Hemphill is a nationally recognized leader in education and innovation, serving as North Carolina’s first Director of Computer Science and earning recognition as one of the Top 100 EdTech Influencers for 2023-24. With over 20 years of experience as a teacher, administrator, and state leader, Mary has championed transformative leadership strategies to bridge the gap between technology, education, and equity. In 2024, her work earned her a spot on the inaugural District Administration Top 100 Education Influencers in the country, and her thought leadership has been featured in Forbes, where she shares insights on human-centered leadership and mentoring future-ready leaders.
As a human-centered leadership strategist and the CEO & Founder of The Limitless Leader LLC, Mary brings academic expertise and real-world impact to inspire leaders across industries. A sought-after speaker, Senior Fellow at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, and author of The One-Minute Meeting, she equips professionals with the tools to navigate complexity, foster innovation, and lead with purpose.
