Where were you born and raised?
I was born and raised in Flint, Michigan.
When is your birthday?
October 13th.
Where did you earn your degrees?
I am a graduate of Wayne State University, in Detroit, MI where I earned a B.A. in Elementary Education and a M.Ed. in Educational Leadership.
What would you say is one of your greatest accomplishments?
In 2015 I was asked by the superintendent of the Flint Community Schools to be the keynote speaker and psalmist for their commencement. It was such an honor to come back to where I grew up to provide words of wisdom to the graduating scholars. Afterwards, I received several messages from the scholars who were in attendance as well as parents expressing their gratitude for the words that were given from me that night.
What made to go into the field of education?
My dad was an educator, drama teacher, and football coach. I grew up watching him work tirelessly make a difference in the lives of his students every day. He spent countless hours educating his students, putting together major productions, and creating film to send to colleges around the world to help his student athletics get scholarships. Seeing how hard he worked and the numerous lives he impacted really inspired me. As a teen, I began volunteering and working with students at the elementary level at a variety of after school and summer programs. This experience allowed me to see how impactful I was working with students. The students gravitated to me and enjoyed listening and learning from me. Teaching and educating became my passion at an early age. It is something that still brings me joy each day!
What do you do in your free time?
In my free time I enjoy doing hair, singing, designing clothes, creating jewelry, serving the community in various capacities, reading, mentoring, serving at my church, and most importantly spending time with my husband Michael and daughter Sophia.
What inspired you to write your book?
As a woman who finds affirmations of the upmost importance, I thought it was fitting to write a children’s book that spoke to how I was raised and made me into the woman, mother and teacher I am today. Being a Dean of Students with more than ten years of experience in and out of the classroom to an inner-city school, I see first-hand what positive language can do for children. My hope is that through the affirmations in this book, children and their families will also learn the power of speaking positive language to others and themselves.
What is your book about?
HOW I DISCOVERED MY POWER, revolves around Mia, an eight year-old African American girl who uses her parents’ teachings of affirmations to intrinsically motivate herself and impact the lives of her peers. Mia decides to share her love of affirmations with her teacher, Ms. Wilson, who then allows Mia to lead her classmates through daily affirmations. As the story unfolds, some of Mia’s peers are not as comfortable affirming themselves as Mia is, and finds the routine rather silly, leaving Mia discouraged. However, with the support of her parents and her personal affirmations, Mia finds that there is power in words and doesn’t allow herself to give up. After some time, Mia’s peers begin to express how using affirmations not only changed their way of thinking, but their perspectives on themselves and life.
