Dear Reader ,

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Today April 4th marks the solemn anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. It is imperative that we pause to reflect on his enduring legacy and the profound impact of his advocacy for justice and equality. Dr. King's commitment to nonviolent resistance in the face of systemic oppression continues to inspire and challenge us to this day.

As we remember Dr. King's legacy, let us recommit ourselves to the ongoing struggle for justice, equality, and human dignity. May his life and teachings continue to guide us as we strive to build a more just and compassionate society for all.
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In commemoration of Dr. King's life and legacy, I wanted to take a moment to share some thoughts with you and offer a glimpse into my upcoming book, S.T.A.N.D. Five Powerful Strategies for Overcoming Barriers to Becoming an Instructional Leader.

I view knowledge as the outcome of receiving an education. Knowing is a result of experiences both internal and external. From an early age, my father would urge my siblings and me to learn all we could about a topic or any endeavor we aspired to engage in. I grew up in a time where Google was not an option; rather we had sets of encyclopedias and other books as reference sources. This practice has carried me throughout my life –as an educational leader, as I earned my terminal degree and as I transitioned to entrepreneurship. I am a lifelong learner. I enjoy sharing my knowledge, experience and wisdom with others.

As a veteran educator, I can certainly say I have witnessed the tide shift in many facets of education. From what is considered current instructional best practices to the nature of how systems are maintained, in many ways education has changed over the years. While educational policy analysts have adopted private business practices to essentially judge our systems and to some degree validate certain positions, I have viewed education as a human services business. At the end of thirteen years, the goal of public education is to have an educated literate human walk across the stage and earn an academic credential. Now how we view the quality of that academic credential has changed over the years, one thing remains constant, it takes committed human interactions to produce our end product - a young adult ready to be a productive member of society.

As I was thinking about writing the follow up to my Amazon Best Seller, My Hope is Built: Reflections of Faith, Grace and Resilience from an Educational Leader, I kept hearing the word “stand.” As a verb, the Oxford Dictionary defines the word stand as “to have or maintain an upright position; supported by one's feet; also to be upright, to be vertical, to be on one’s feet.” So I began to consider the link between the definition of stand and being an instructional leader. In the literal sense of leadership, one may physically stand in front of others. Stand also can be defined as “to be positioned” and to take a stand means “to have a viewpoint” or “take a certain position.” As I conduct market research for my consulting business, I ask educators: What are your pain points? What is preventing you from taking that next step? Some responses have been fear, some have responded they do not understand the process. Many educators, particularly marginalized females, expect to be tapped on the shoulder and given an opportunity. Keeping your head down, being a busy beaver will not yield automatic results in career advancement. Not to chase a rabbit, we certainly cannot ignore the Three P’s: power, politics, privilege ( That may be my next book!); however, in many cases, it has been the lack of knowing that has stalled career advancement. This text is based in part upon my experiences as well as the knowledge I have gained through observation, professional development or scholarly research. To make my work memorable for the reader, I decided to create an acronym for the word “stand.” In addition, this text outlines my framework for working with aspiring instructional leaders and school systems that wish to build capacity for their current instructional leaders. This book will explain the five strategies for overcoming barriers to becoming an instructional leader.​
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This is only a sneak peek!😉

Order your copies today at pre-release pricing! Feel free to share this link with others in education or in any leadership capacity.

With gratitude and solidarity,

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