Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Danielle Smith Ross. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Danielle , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today. Setting up an independent practice is a daunting endeavor. Can you talk to us about what it was like for you – what were some of the main steps, challenges, etc.

Starting Education PowerED came as a decision after spending a few years in urban education working with students of color. As new teachers it was easy to recognize how the lack of resources played a major role in our students educational trajectory and the disparities that existed across different zip codes. We saw students struggling to meet the same expectations as students in affluent neighbors with fewer resources. As educators, we also realized that there was not sufficient training and/or support that equipped us with the skills we needed to support these students with getting what they needed to be successful. Frustration was a consistent emotion experienced because we had a desire to support our students but no real development of how to do so. Sometimes all it takes is to get frustrated because after looking so many places for answers we decided to become the answer!

If I could give any advice to a young professional looking to start a new venture it would be to DO IT! Now, is the time more than ever to be a solution. Find the people who are looking to do something great with you and then do it!

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Hey there! I was born and raised in Houston, Texas with roots in Memphis, Tennessee. I became the first person in my family to graduate from college in 2016 with a Bachelor of Science in Communication Studies from the University of Texas at Austin. Shortly after, I received my Master’s in Education from Southern Methodist University with a concentration in Gifted and Talented Education. I would be lying if I said that I always wanted to be a teacher because that was not the case. As a Corporate communications major I honestly thought I was going to be the next Olivia Pope or CEO of some big corporation but God has a funny way of orchestrating things. Two weeks before my senior graduation I received a job offer from a company that would basically have me making about 30,000 a year and live in Austin. I honestly had no other options until I was reminded by my close friend about Teach for America an opportunity I had applied to years prior but then declined. I ended up reaching out to the recruiter via email and I got an offer letter to join the Dallas Ft. Worth Teach for America Corp.

I started my educational career in South Dallas at the Dr. Billy Earl Dade Middle School teaching reading and writing. Two years after starting there I transitioned to KIPP Destiny Middle School in Oak Cliff where I currently work as the Assistant Principal of Culture leading transformational work for black and brown students.
Before beginning my career in the educational sector, I was heavily involved in non-profit work having served as the Communications Manager at Whole Cities Foundation (apart of the Whole Foods Network) and working with youth and community organizers from the Midnight Basketball organization in Sydney, Australia.

My biggest accomplishment thus far has been co-authoring my first book Culture to the Max where we discuss the domains of culturally responsive teaching. Education PowerED is about to be the next major educational organization that is doing the work to transform education for the long haul.

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Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

The best advice I received as an entrepreneur was to realize that I am my business. Education PowerED is an organization full of successful young black educators. How can we say we are transforming Education if we are not practicing what we teach ourselves. That is when we realized is was so important for us to create an authentic brand that showed other educators what success could look like for them. With that sort of came a niche in our market young, new, vibrant, and bold. Seeing so many different educators, hearing their stories and successes but also saying the things others won’t has set us a part amongst our competitors. Remember you are your brand. Often times, people don’t follow a product that follow a person, a story. Something that gives them the emotional tug to buy that product or book your service. Be authentic in who you are and what we want to be true about your business.

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How do you keep your team’s morale high?

Managing any team can come with its challenges. People come with different perspectives, personalities, and ideas around how they want to accomplish something or how they target work. You will never be able to change everyone to think and act like you do so you always have to model what you hope will translate to your team. The biggest thing you have to model is your ability to stay positive when “shit hits the fan”. How you navigate challenges as a leader will help your team do that as well. In addition, you have to celebrate and recognize people. People want to hear what they are doing well and often they want to be rewarded for their well doing. As a leader, it is important that you know who your all stars are and you celebrate the work they do.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.educationpowered.org/
• Instagram: lei_bellissima
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielle-smith-41705860/