We were lucky to catch up with Eric Ikonne recently and have shared our conversation below.
Eric, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. If you had a defining moment that you feel really changed the trajectory of your career, we’d love to hear the story and details.
A pivotal moment in my career transpired when I was entrusted with the role of Assistant Principal (AP) of Culture at Wayside Sci-Tech Middle School. After teaching Physical Education for two years, I aspired to transition into an administrative position. The opportunity presented itself in my third year at Wayside schools, allowing me to enhance my skills in academic coaching, fostering a positive school culture, and promoting social-emotional learning (SEL) development. In this role, I led the science and electives teams, organized weekly school-wide meetings to address pertinent issues, and developed a social-emotional curriculum featuring daily check-in questions, news updates, and videos aimed at nurturing SEL skills among middle school students. This leadership experience motivated me to improve my organizational skills, time management, and focus on achieving high-impact goals each week.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
My journey into the field of education was driven by my passion for supporting and guiding young individuals. While in college, I felt a strong calling to transition into a profession where I could work closely with children on a daily basis. Although I was uncertain about the specific path I would take, I knew that working with youth would provide me with a profound sense of purpose. In my current role, I oversee the Restorative Justice (RJ) Department, where our team focuses on supporting students’ behavioral development by creating personalized behavior plans. We offer students opportunities to engage in daily fitness activities, proactive breaks, restorative conversations with peers and staff, and other proactive interventions. This role allows me to collaborate with students and educators to cultivate a positive social and emotional environment both inside and outside the classroom. One initiative I spearheaded is the school-wide incentive program called “POLAR PAWSITIVES,” designed to reinforce positive behaviors such as hard work, honesty, helpfulness, and obedience. Students receive POLAR PAWSITIVE tickets when they observe educators demonstrating these positive behaviors, which are then entered into school-wide raffles held on Fridays via Zoom. Winners receive prizes and recognition, fostering a culture of positivity and motivation among students. Additionally, I organized a popcorn fundraiser to raise funds for staff events and activities. What started as a simple popcorn distribution to staff members evolved into a student-driven initiative, with the RJ team and executive assistant expanding the offerings to include drinks and snacks. The success of this initiative not only funded staff events but also supported various departments within the school. Being a servant leader is paramount to me, as I draw inspiration from my faith and strive to support and uplift those around me, including custodial staff, cafeteria workers, and teachers. Having received support and guidance from numerous individuals throughout my life, I am committed to reciprocating that kindness by meeting the needs of those I encounter.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
A lesson I had to unlearn was that sometimes not getting a promotion can be a positive thing. During my second year at Wayside, I applied for the Assistant Principal position but was not selected because the new Principal wanted someone with experience in an administrative role in an educational setting. Initially, I was discouraged because I had served as a recreation administrator at the Texas Juvenile Justice Department, and I thought that qualified as sufficient experience.
The principal, Vanessa Ruiz, saw my potential but wanted to ensure I was prepared for all the responsibilities that an administrative role would require. Although I wasn’t selected as an administrator, she appointed me as the leader of the School Culture Committee to give me an opportunity to display my leadership qualities. Additionally, she assigned me tasks that further demonstrated my capability to be an effective and successful leader. My second year as a P.E. teacher also helped me develop a deeper bond with the scholars at Wayside.
When a leadership role opened the following year, Ms. Ruiz confidently gave me the position because she had seen what I had accomplished the previous year and had witnessed my work ethic firsthand.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
While I was in Miami, I taught in four different educational systems over a two-year period. Most of my colleagues were able to stay at their first school for the entire two-year contract. However, the Miami-Dade school system was experiencing constant change, resulting in teachers frequently moving to different schools and positions.
I started my teaching career in 1st grade and found out that I was surplussed while attending a J. Cole concert with my roommate. I finished my first year at a different school, teaching 5th grade. A teacher had already built a culture and system in her classroom, and I was unprepared for the challenges I was going to face. It was a difficult year because I struggled to establish a strong classroom culture due to my inexperience. I was let go at the end of the year and did not know where I would teach my second year.
I returned to Austin for the summer to work at Foundation Communities, which allowed me to have a mental reset and practice teaching techniques to prepare for the next year. During the summer, I had no idea where I would teach, but my Teach for America mentor, Nicole Spoelma, encouraged me throughout the entire process. A coworker from my first school reached out to me and informed me of several open positions. I was hired at my first school and began the year teaching 5th grade, but transitioned into 3rd grade a few weeks later. Classroom transitions are very difficult, especially in elementary school, because you spend so much time decorating, planning, and creating systems for your students.
Even though my first year was difficult and stressful, I learned many things that equipped me for the next year. I always tell people that I learned what not to do, and I spent significant time planning to build a strong classroom culture that would stand the test of time. My 3rd grade class ended up performing very well on their state tests, and I built strong bonds with the scholars I served. I wouldn’t be where I am today without my first year because it taught me to roll with the punches and be flexible, as change is inevitable.
