Founder of IMPACT Teaching Training and Leadership Development, Dr. Deidrea Stevens is making a difference in low-performing schools across the globe. The educational expert shared her thoughts on the importance of active parenting, recently implemented state-level policies, and preparing the leaders of tomorrow today.
You are the founder of Impact and you have been involved in education as both an administrator and a teacher for a combined total of over 20 years. What led to the decision to follow your current path?
When I first started, it was actually something that I was very prayerful about. Originally, I had gone to school to be a nurse. I received a CNA license, and I worked as a nursing assistant for a while. One day, I became frustrated with working in that field and switched my focus towards business, but that wasn’t fulfilling either. At that point, I was very prayerful about my future. Everywhere I went, people would tell me that I should teach. I worked a lot with children at my church and the after-school program. After hearing that over and over again, I believed that it was what I was supposed to do and went in that direction.
Out of great concern for the community and overwhelming passion, you launched Impact. Tell me about the event that inspired you.
I started out as a teacher and eventually became an administrator. I think I’ve been a school administrator for more years than I have taught. I saw that the schools they often assigned me were low-performing, with a high number of minority students enrolled. The quality of teachers assigned to those schools was not up to par. I had to start from scratch almost every year. We were either hemorrhaging teachers or the teachers we had just needed a lot of support. It inspired me to venture out and start my own consulting company. I was going to focus on new teachers, but then George Floyd was murdered before my eyes on national television.
As an African American woman, I had heard about these kinds of interactions with the police, but I had never witnessed it. I heard about it; I have read about it, and I even discussed it in conversations, but I had never witnessed it. It changed me in ways I cannot explain. From that moment, I decided to direct my company towards schools with high minority enrollment from low economic areas to prepare the next generation for the future… We go into schools that no one wants to go to and make a difference.
People have directed a lot of blame and concern about the behavior of young Black children towards the music industries. What are your thoughts on that?
I think that maybe it plays a small part. I don’t believe that it is the sole reason. I believe the mind can be affected by what you hear, what you see, and what you experience. All of your senses can affect your mental capacity. If you were to ask any other educator, I think they would agree with me. I don’t fault any of those things more than I fault the parent community. I feel like as we progress, the parent community is not changing as rapidly as the school environment. That’s saying a lot because education doesn’t improve all that quickly. But the social setting of education actually does. It transforms rapidly. So, as a parent, I feel like they need to understand that they are the first teachers. I think a lot of what’s happening now is a lack of parenting, however unintentional. There is a lack of knowledge regarding how to navigate through the school system successfully.
One might argue that one of the factors in the lack of active parenting is often economic restraints.
I feel like most parental involvement is free. It doesn’t cost anything. Most of the communities where I have worked, the parents have multiple jobs. One thing I have always made them aware of is what participation means. You responding to an email or text that I sent you is participation. It’s not necessarily baking cupcakes and coming to all the events. I understand that everyone’s home structure is not set up to do that, but you can respond when a school sends you communication. You can at least look at the report cards, which are now digitally available on your phone. You can, at least, ask questions if your child doesn’t understand something with a quick email or text so that the teacher knows and can make time to explain… There are so many ways parents can participate for free.
Another statistic that is being promoted across the country is that Black girls are likely to be suspended three times more than their white peers.
I would take an unpopular stand here. Maybe you will get some likes and stuff in the comments. I hope it resounds from one end of the country to the other. I read an article that Black girls are being suspended more often than they are being enrolled. When I read that article, I was livid. It was a reputable organization, and their research is definitely accurate and on point. However, I am going to take an unpopular stance on the sides of the schools.
Until you have been cussed out by an African American girl… I mean up one side of you and down the other and have the parent join in and act inappropriately as well. You don’t understand that suspension is to give everybody space, not just the young lady. It also gives the family and school space. Schools are educational facilities. We are not supposed to raise your children… Oftentimes, it’s being left up to the school and I think that’s unfair… I don’t believe that you are raising your children for success when you do not teach them how to be respectful.
What are some of the common traits you find in low-performing schools?
In many cases, you will see programs on those campuses that to me say, “I give up on you.” I am not saying that there is anything wrong with being an auto-mechanic or a nursing assistant or welder. The students can get a certification and immediately go to work as opposed to other schools where students are empowered and encouraged to take on more professional paths. They are told to go to college. I don’t think it is intentional implementation, but it occurs very often. I think it is a systemic flaw. It is set up to where a certain level of funding goes to certain schools because they are low-performing. But in communities where the tax base is higher, the teachers get paid more and the students have more resources.
There are so many states that are actively pursuing the erasure of Black history, sexual identity, and gender related topics from schools. How do you feel about this growing trend?
I think that they are banking on the consistency of parents to not inform their children. If the parent community were strong enough, that would never be. I don’t think parents fully understand the power they hold. If parents make enough noise, they will get rid of a teacher to satisfy them. If parents make enough noise, there will be a change in curriculum, but they are banking on the fact that you’re not watching the news. They are banking on the fact that you’re going to talk about it, but you’re not going to do anything. They are banking on the fact that we are not going to take the time to organize and strategize to make impactful change.
We also have to ensure that we take the time to raise and prepare of children so that they can pursue roles within our society where they can make the most difference. The generation of children coming up is so smart. The parents need to invest and position them.
Let’s talk about some of your accomplishments regarding “Impact.” What are you most proud of?
This year will be the first real accountability numbers that we have had since COVID. We have been counting how many schools we have affected. We have been able to affect 51 schools in and out of the country. We have been able to mentor international groups. We were just in Pakistan this past Sunday morning, mentoring up and coming educational leaders, answering their questions, and sharing experiences. I can say with a clear conscience that every school we have gone into, we have definitely made an impact. We have brought schools from potential ‘F’ ratings to ‘B’s within one year. We have done a lot. We are impactful and we live up to our name.
Be’n Original
