Episode Description

In this conversation, Nadia Bennett shares her journey into education, driven by personal experiences and a desire to uplift marginalized communities. She discusses the challenges of school leadership, the importance of building relationships with students, and the strategies she employed to turn around failing schools, particularly focusing on improving ELA scores. Nadia emphasizes the need for high expectations without pressure, advocating for a supportive adult culture in schools that values teachers and fosters student success. In this conversation, Nadia Bennett discusses her journey in education, focusing on the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in schools. She shares her transition from working within school systems to becoming an entrepreneur, emphasizing the joy of coaching and leadership. Nadia highlights the challenges of leadership, particularly the skill versus will issue in coaching, and the significance of visibility and networking in her business. She also outlines her plans for scaling her company to reach a larger audience while maintaining her passion for education.

Key Takeaways

Nadia's early experiences shaped her passion for education.
Education can provide freedom and opportunities for marginalized communities.
Leadership in education is complex and requires a calling.
Building relationships with students is crucial for effective teaching.
Consistency in expectations fosters respect and accountability among students.
High expectations should encourage, not pressure students.
Teacher support and coaching are vital for a positive adult culture.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion are essential in educational settings.
Nadia emphasizes the importance of addressing biases in education.
The journey of education is personal and unique for each individual. Diversity in education goes beyond just student demographics.
Representation in teaching staff is crucial for student success.
Entrepreneurship can reignite passion in one's profession.
Coaching leaders involves addressing both skill and will issues.
Visibility is key to business success, especially for introverts.
Networking can be a powerful tool for personal and professional growth.
Delegating tasks outside of one's zone of genius is essential.
Understanding one's priorities is critical for effective leadership.
Scaling a business requires establishing a solid framework and training others.
Passion for education can drive impactful change in schools.

Meet Our Guest

In today’s episode of TKES, we have, Nadia Bennett, a former school leader, is the founder of When Brown Girls Lead™, an education consulting firm that leads the way for schools to become anti-racist learning environments through culturally-relevant leadership development and mentorship. Before becoming a thought leader in education-related diversity, equity and inclusion, Nadia’s time as a school leader was truly noteworthy. Serving as a principal in north Philadelphia (one of the most underserved areas in the country), Nadia recognized that there was important work to be done. This culminated in a career of over 15 years under Nadia’s leadership as a principal and executive director in which ELA test scores doubled, student attendance increased and teacher retention rates spiked, earning her a rare commendation from the New Jersey Department of Education. As a proud Black female entrepreneur, she currently leads her team at When Brown Girls Lead™ to make sure all students are receiving the equitable education they deserve. Her passion for championing change was strengthened during her time at Dillard and Howard Universities, where she received her Bachelor’s degree and Master’s in Education Administration and Policy. In addition to supporting anti-racist environments in education through her current work, she is also pursuing her doctorate degree. When she is not helping make impactful change across the country, Nadia keeps her mind primed by enjoying time with friends, reading, and traveling internationally. She has also been known to binge watch a show or two.