Sycamore Tree Consulting Group

I get the opportunity to work with some of the best leaders in Memphis!!!

I have been afforded unique opportunities to manage and collaborate with a diversified portfolio of schools in Memphis.
Recently, I was honored as a Charter School Champion for Memphis School of Excellence.

Our aim is to empower teachers and continue to provide high quality schools to our communities and families.

studio:

In 2024, we proved Dr. Ron Edmunds right: "We can, whenever we choose, teach all children whose learning is important to us." This year wasn't about adapting to broken systems—it was about dismantling them.

As Director of Equity and Access at Memphis-Shelby County Schools, I've seen firsthand how transformative leadership can reshape educational landscapes. Our work isn't just about metrics; it's about creating environments where every student can truly thrive.

Three insights that drove our mission this year:

• Leadership Matters: "Above-average principals result in an additional 3 months of learning in math and reading per year compared to below-average principals." This isn't just data—it's a blueprint for systemic change.
https://lnkd.in/eedX-zih

• Listening is Leadership: "As school leaders, we must develop a listening mindset and ask, 'How are you experiencing my leadership?' If we listen, they will stay." Teacher retention isn't about perks—it's about genuine connection.
https://lnkd.in/etbCskm2

• Equity is a Choice: We demonstrated that educational achievement isn't a lottery—it's a collective decision we make as a community.
https://lnkd.in/euuhRmTP

Our year included critical milestones:
• Convening with thought leaders Ivory Toldson and Sharif El-Mekki to reimagine educational equity
• Creating affirming school cultures that center student experiences
• Speaking at the New Memphis Leadership Summit about transparent performance management
• Participating in the Southern Education Foundation's equity and policy reform project
• Celebrating Black history through powerful student-led spoken word and spiritual performances

Looking to 2025: We're scaling our approach. More than expanding programs, we're building a movement. Our focus? Developing leaders who don't just manage schools, but transform entire educational ecosystems.

To every educator fighting for genuine change: Your work matters. Your voice matters. Our collective imagination can rewrite what's possible.