As a middle school teacher at a private Christian school, I created a "Pause. Pray. Proceed." center where students could step away from any peer, personal, or academic challenges they faced that day. Each student had a personal journal for private reflection, with the option to meet with the guidance counselor or me to discuss their entries. This practice cultivated emotional safety and spiritual grounding. As a professional Black woman, I rely heavily on the "Pause. Pray. P

I have recently discovered that working remotely has unlocked a few magical powers that I never knew existed, such as: • Attend two meetings scheduled at the same time and contribute thoughtfully to both. • Answer team collaboration platform messages, emails, and phone calls, and complete all deliverables by their assigned due dates, while actively listening to a presentation. • Eat anytime, just not during the 50 meetings you are scheduled to attend today. • Ignore 15-min

When I first transitioned from elementary and middle‑grade education to adult learning environments, I constantly heard the phrase "industry standards." Every meeting and training referenced their importance for learner engagement, retention, and productivity. I understood this to mean research‑based facilitation, differentiated instruction, measurable outcomes, and meaningful learner engagement. Then I attended the trainings. In some environments, “industry standards” transl

Throughout my career, I have encountered some peculiar workplace situations that taught me valuable lessons in how to navigate the workplace wilderness without compromising integrity. Surprisingly, some of those lessons came from the personification of animals in childhood favorites: Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book, George Orwell's Animal Farm, and Robert C. O'Brien's Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH. Every workplace has its jungle, farm, and community filled with individua

Everyone needs a theme song. Yes, I said it. Even the professionals, leaders, educators, and the "I have it all together" people need a soundtrack sometimes. For me, music has always been my go-to source for laughter, encouragement, and motivation. Whether I need to reset after a challenging day, celebrate a small win, or remind myself to keep moving forward, there is usually a song ready to meet the moment. One of my favorite comedic movies is the Keenen Ivory Wayans cult c