Last year, I released my first book and launched an educational consulting business. My book, ‘Identity Affirming Classrooms: Spaces that Center Humanity,’ has been one of Routledge Publishing’s bestselling texts. My book has sparked engagement with school throughout the U.S. and internationally- it’s been a blessing! However, while working in a full-time DEI practitioner role for a school district, it was challenging to meet the requests to support schools across the country and connect with people who interacted with my book. I turned down many consulting opportunities, book talks, and speaking engagements (during the year my book was published) due to career-related responsibilities, and sacrificed my time with family to support organizations when I was available. It was hard to juggle a career, consulting, board affiliations, speaking engagements, and many other things on top of my roles at home (e.g., mom and wife). Plus, as humans, we have to take care of ourselves and not neglect our well-being. Oftentimes, I would debrief with my husband and share with him that I needed God to give me a sign regarding where I should shift my focus.
Near the end of the school year, my school district leadership team and I learned that our roles for the upcoming year would potentially change. When a meeting was held to discuss the reorganization of roles, I noticed that my position was not listed on any of the tentative organizational flow charts. As a spiritual person, I believed this was my sign. In the weeks to come, I learned that I would be reassigned to a different leadership role (e.g. title, responsibilities, etc.) while still being held responsible for district DEI efforts. After expressing concerns with the change and exploring alternative options, I made the hard choice last month to resign due to my passion, research, and work on a national level, knowing that the change would impair my ability to do DEI work as reflected in my history and scholarship. Importantly, the new role would have taken me into a different direction and it did not align with where I wanted to be at this moment in my life.
I deeply miss all my friends and colleagues. It was truly the best environment to do DEI work (e.g., cabinet-level position as advised in my publications, inclusive community, supportive school board members, collaborative thought partners for colleagues, etc.) considering our political climate, and I would not have considered leaving without the nudge of a reorganization. No threats from right-wing groups (like my previous district as a DEI director), but rather a diverse, inclusive community that valued the work and voted for people who mirrored those values. Yet, life has twists and turns, and you are ultimately shown where you need to be. I am grateful for clarity and excited for the next chapter!
Moving onward and upward, I am super excited to continue my consulting work and serve undergraduate students as an adjunct. I look forward to tapping into the spaces that I could not reach during the year of my book release while at capacity. I am already scheduled to work with more schools and organizations, and will now do more extensive work in the districts I already support. I’m also looking forward to working with preservice teachers, and presenting my research at more conferences during this upcoming school year (barely had the time to do that last year).
To follow my work you can visit my EBR Educational Consulting LLC page, website, or fill out the engagement form if you have interest in connecting. You can also find me on LinkedIn and Twitter.
I often share in publications and speaking engagements, that it’s important to know your worth, gifts, and what brings you joy to maintain wellness… and I have always walked in that truth. I truly look forward to the next chapter!
