In this inspiring episode of The Exit Interview, we have the privilege of hearing from Elia Martin, a former educator and social worker turned grant manager, who shares her transformative journey through education, social work, and beyond. Elia's story takes us from her initial dreams of becoming a dentist to finding her true calling in supporting youth and families, mostly in Black communities. She discusses the challenges and motivations behind her career shifts, emphasizing the importance of mentorship, the impact of leadership changes, and the quest for better opportunities. Elia also delves into her current pursuits, including her work in grant management and her passion project, the Mommyana podcast, dedicated to the experiences of Black motherhood. Join us as we explore Elia's journey, her insights on Black educator retention, and her valuable advice for those contemplating a career transition.

This episode of The Exit Interview features a deep dive into the experiences and insights of Jailyn Jenkins, a former STEM educator who transitioned into a role supporting Black educators after facing burnout. Jailyn shares her personal journey, highlighting the significance of mental health, the critical need for authentic recruitment and retention strategies for educators of color, and the transformative power of rest and healing. The discussion also covers the establishment of BEST (BIPOC Educational STEM Thinkers), a community initiative aimed at fostering joy, belonging, and advocacy amongst educators of color. The episode is an inspiring call to action for supporting Black educators, enriching educational environments, and prioritizing well-being in the educational field.

In this episode of The Exit Interview, Dr. Asia Lyons and special guest Dr. Cletis Allen delve into the educational journey of black educators. Dr. Allen, an advocate for culturally responsive literacy instruction and a curriculum development specialist, shares her transition from a classroom teacher to a consultant. Discussing the importance of teacher participation in curriculum decisions, shared experiences of navigating through educational careers, and the significance of seeking joy and satisfaction in personal and professional life. This episode sheds light on challenges faced by black educators and explores the transformative power of education.

In this episode, of the Exit Interview: A Podcast for Black Educators Yasha Chapman, an accomplished Black educator and CEO of Elementary Education Evolved, shares her experiences and insights about the challenges faced by Black educators and the importance of retaining them in the field of teaching. Yasha discusses her journey in education, from initially wanting to be a pharmacist to becoming a classroom teacher and eventually an instructional coach. She emphasizes the need to amplify the voices of Black educators, involve them in decision-making processes, and compensate them for their expertise. Yasha's consultancy, Elementary Education Evolved, focuses on providing professional development and coaching for new teachers and aims to close the academic achievement gap for Black and Brown students in the K-5 setting. This episode offers valuable insights and strategies for school districts, human resources departments, and school unions to better retain Black educators and create a more inclusive and supportive educational environment.

In this week’s compelling episode, we speak with Dr. Asia Lyons, CEO of Lyons Educational Consulting, co-facilitator of the Black Educator Wellness Cohort, and co-host of The Exit Interview Podcast. With experiences spanning Detroit to Denver, Dr. Lyons shares her journey, from attending a gifted high school and navigating failure in college, to shedding light on the critical role of community colleges and nontraditional pathways into education (#shoutout to those bus routes!).

After teaching in Atlanta's public schools Brittni had to make a choice, quit teaching or try her hand at teaching in the Middle East.  Take a listen as she shares her experience as an educator both here and abroad, what she feels would improve schools in the United States and what she is up to now that she is back state side.

In this episode of The Exit Interview, Kev and Dr. Asia sit down with Deidra Fogarty founder of Black Girls Teach an organization that offers Black women educators a supportive environment to openly grow, collaborate, and unite as they demand change in education.  Take a listen as she talks about her transition out of education, strategies she feels could turn the tied of Black women leaving education and how Black Girls Teach is changing the game for education across the U.S.

Michelle Emmanuelle is a former private school educator turned wellness educator, consultant, and professional speaker.  In her episode, she discusses the ways she navigated pressures from administrators and students.  Michelle also provides our audience with healing practices that they can begin anywhere and in any situation.

In this episode, we are joined by Lacey Robinson, the president and CEO of UnboundEd and the chair of the Board of CORE Learning. As CEO, Robinson sets the organization’s vision for transforming instruction for students at the margins. She is a former teacher, principal, and professional development specialist who has focused on literacy, equity, and school leadership for more than 25 years. Her life’s work aims to enable educators to disrupt systemic inequities in their school districts and classrooms. She shares her journey from a pre-service educator at Marva Collins Prep to her current position in UnboundEd.

We're back for another episode! In this edition, we have a conversation with Ronda Haynes-Belen, a former family liaison who played a vital role in connecting families with essential resources within a school district in the Denver area. Tune in as she opens up about her encounters with instances of anti-Black sentiment within her department, her choice to step away from that environment, and the self-care and healing she now prioritizes.

In this episode, Mia Street shares her story of working hard to protect Black children while creating her own peace within her community.  Listen as Mia explores anti-blackness in the schools she supported as well as ways that she advocated for herself and the children in her care.

In this episode of the Exit Interview: A Podcast for Black Educators, we continue discussing what it means to heal from racial battle fatigue in the workplace.  Listen as Dr. Flowers shares her classroom experiences and how she supports the healing of Black educators.

In our first live tapping, Kevin and Dr. Asia sit down with Dr. Dedrick Sims of the Sims-Fayola Foundation to talk about the importance of retention and recruitment of Black and Brown male educators, his own education story, and what it means to heal while doing the work of educating our youth.

This will be Kevin's first year as an assistant principal in the Denver area!  In this episode, he briefly talks about his ideas on how school districts can retain Black educators based on his experiences in the classroom.

Dr. Asia Lyons is a guest on The Thoughtful Counselor Podcast!"In this episode, Dr. Asia Lyons meets with Dr. Dèsa Karye Daniel to discuss the tenants of Racial Battle Fatigue and racism-related stress. Throughout their conversation, they reflect on the experiences of Black Teachers and how sharing these experiences can change the narrative for future Black educators. Dr. Lyons gives examples of how mental health practitioners can support Black educators through culturally responsive practices." -From, The Thoughtful Counselor Podcast

In this episode, Janet Stickmon returns to the podcast to talk to our audience about what healing from racial battle fatigue could look like.

This brief episode highlights the crucial importance for school districts to acknowledge and address the influence of family support on the departure of Black educators from the education field. The departure is being triggered by various factors, such as policies, colleagues, administrators, and others who are contributing to pushing Black educators out. Simultaneously, family members of Black educators are also playing a significant role in pulling them out of the classroom, driven by their weariness of witnessing vicarious racial battle fatigue.As conversations arise about retention and recruitment during summer professional development sessions within the education sector, it is imperative to include the impact of family support in these discussions. Recognizing and understanding the role of family dynamics in the decisions of Black educators to remain or leave the profession can lead to more effective strategies for addressing the issue and fostering a supportive and inclusive environment for educators of all backgrounds.

Janet Stickmon was named 2023's Distinguished Professor by her university.  She takes great pride in working with her students.  She has created CenterJoyPWR®: Strategies for Healing Racial Battle Fatigue—an online experience for professionals of color who want to center joy in their lives. But before this Janet was a Catholic school educator with a strong desire to teach ethnic studies in a space with no interest in seeing their students understand the humanity of themselves and others.  Listen as Janet shares her story along with fantastic strategies that school districts and universities should implement to retain Black educators.

Enola Garland found her way into the classroom as an early childhood educator.  She quickly realized that working with three and four-year-olds was what she was meant for.  After years in the ECE space and with COVID-19's impact on her students, colleagues, and herself along with racism-related stress in the workspace after the murder of George Floyd she knew she had to leave.  Listen as Enola shares her story and what she is doing now that continues to support early child hood educators across Colorado.

Well, it’s time for me to tell my Exit Interview story.  On the last day of school in 2018, I threw my work i.d. in the garbage can in front of the middle school where I had taught for six years.  I didn’t know what was next, but I knew I had to get the hell out of there!  Listen as Kev, our producer Gerardo, and I talk about my journey from the D (Detroit, that is), my own experience with racism-related stress and racial battle fatigue to being the co-host of The Exit Interview: A Podcast for Black Educators.