We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Silvia Lloyd. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Silvia below.

Alright, Silvia thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s start with education – we’d love to hear your thoughts about how we can better prepare students for a more fulfilling life and career

Thank you for having me on your program. One of the things I’ve noticed in education over the years is the vast disparity in the quality of educational services between children who attend public schools in the city versus children who attend public schools in the suburbs. In fact, if you Google the phrase “white supremacy in education” you will encounter a plethora of articles, studies, and data on the topic. It is well documented that white supremacy is deeply entrenched in all aspects of the educational system; from staffing, to curriculum to funding to testing as well as other policies such as the zero tolerance policy which fuels the school to prison pipeline.

I went to public schools my whole life. My elementary school was integrated with White, Black, Latinx, and some Asian, Pacific Islander, and Native American students. While in elementary school, I rarely ever learned anything about myself and my community until later in the 7th grade when a White male teacher taught me about the Trans Atlantic Slave Trade. As a child, I watched Roots with my family but I was too young to fully understand it. No one had ever said to me “all Black people were slaves to Whites” until my 7th grade social studies teacher Mr. Wagner framed it that way through his Eurocentric pedagogical lens. I cringed in my seat and looked around at all of my classmates. All of the other students looked just as shocked. Our happy-go-lucky childhood spirits died and a piece of our innocence had been stripped away. Looking back on that experience, I realized that the teacher didn’t mention other facets of slavery such as the fact that many of the enslaved were half-white, children of the slaver. And rape was a regular part of that “peculiar institution.” Or that some Whites were indentured servants.

I went on to college and obtained a teaching certification in New York State. For the past 20 years I have worked mostly in Title 1 schools, that is schools with the highest concentration of poverty. Schools where the majority of students are poor Blacks. I realized that the majority of the teachers are White, middle class females. They are the majority and are in leadership positions such as union presidents, union representatives, lead teachers, and other leadership roles. They hold a lot of power and could have an impact on who gets tenure and who is forced to leave a school district. The teacher’s union can also decide who to support and who not to support when issues arise with administration. I have seen them ban together by lodging bogus complaints and taking votes as to whether or not they have confidence in someone else’s ability to do their jobs.

The White majority teaching faculty also decides on, not only what curriculum to teach, but also how it is taught. And what we get is a curriculum that celebrates the accomplishments of the White ruling class that oppresses poor Black communities.

Some of the changes I would make to the educational system would be to first create a pathway for more low-income, people of color to get certified to teach in New York State. The current system is not conducive to people of color because many live below the poverty line, which means going to college for six years is not always an option. They may be forced to enter the workforce immediately after high school in order to take care of children or even help a parent to provide financially for the household. In New York State, a teacher must possess a master’s degree to teach, while in some southern states, only a bachelor’s is required. I would change this to help increase the percentage of people who want to become teachers as well as increase the number of parents and community members who would like to work in the schools in their neighborhoods.

I would also level the playing field when it comes to funding public schools. The current funding formula is based upon the property tax value. Therefore, more affluent communities receive more money for their schools than poorer communities. This perpetuate the cycle of poverty by denying poor students the additional services and resources they need. Therefore, many public schools in urban areas continue to be underfunded and underserved. Moreover, residents in the city are not allowed to vote on the allocation of funding like their suburban and rural counterparts.

Lastly, I would get rid of the zero tolerance policies which fuels that school to prison pipeline. I would create programs and services for restorative practices to be implemented. I believe that schools should be safe; nurturing environments that are an extension of the community they serve. A place where there are multiple opportunities for counseling, mental health services, and conflict resolution as opposed to punitive programs that ultimately leads to discipline and expulsion.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

After working in public schools for over 20 years I felt overwhelming sadness and disappointment over the lack of services that low-income children in city schools receive. I realized that very little has changed since I was that little girl sitting in the classroom being overlooked, having a lack of access to a better education because of a lack of privilege. I wanted to do something to bridge the disconnect between the school and those who are being oppressed by its lack of vision, services, and opportunities. Something that will create positive learning outcomes for Black and Brown students. In 2020, when schools were closed due to the Coronavirus pandemic, many educators wrote editorials and reports about reimagining schools. However, when schools reopened, nothing changed. Many of those inequities simply became the new normal. But as they say in Hip Hop culture, “Don’t just talk about it, be about it.” I figured that I could have greater success working outside of the school district as a consultant providing the services needed for today’s socially conscious child. Today’s child who already marched in the 2020 protests and passionately chanted “No Justice, No Peace,” with the rest of the world.

I started Edusite Scholars, an educational consulting. My main mission is to help students implement social change. This is different from school district’s goals of preparing students for college and the workforce. My goal is to help children be the leaders of the next generation by helping them to identify oppression and the lack of power in their communities. After all, the whole purpose of providing a free, public education in a democratic republic is to produce an educated populace who is capable of self-governance. However, city school kids in poor schools are not taught how to govern their communities, how to form a bloc, or how to change laws that do not benefit their community. With newcomers entering the country at increasing rates every day, it believe this is a service that is needed, especially after the autocratic, authoritarian regime of former president Donald J. Trump. The Trump administration ushered in rhetoric into mainstream America that sparked a renewed interest in the Ku Klux Klan, the Alt Right, and the Proud Boys. Racially motivated killings increased and targeted specific communities that are historically vulnerable such as Blacks, Jews, and the LGBTQ community.

I wrote a social justice curriculum titled The Buffalo 10 Massacre: Spoken Word Poetry for Healing and Understanding which is currently only available on Amazon. Moreover, I provide professional development to school districts, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) professionals as well as organizations throughout the country on how to implement the program. As a new entrepreneur, my goal is to secure funding to offer the courses online and market it to children of all ages. My vision is to be the world’s most used educational consultant to produce 21st century, cutting edge programs for teaching the whole Black experience with fidelity, using 21st century technologies that will engage the next generation. Finally, my overall purpose is to provide culturally-responsive, anti-racist curricula, literature, coaching, and media that will transform education.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

In education, certification and experience are very important. However, that alone does not convince others to do business with you. Building trust with potential clients and stakeholders is harder for women of color. Research shows that men are perceived as more effective communicators than women and are also able to gain trust easier than women. Conversely, women must focus on ways to exude confidence and build trust in business. This means presenting our achievements and accomplishments more than men. For example, on my social media biographies, I include my doctorate degree and awards received. Even though it may be seen as boasting, it is very necessary in business to project a strong appearance. Additionally, getting the testimony of others is even more powerful. Posting a news story and being published in a reputable media outlet can have a powerful effect on public opinion as well. Currently, my goal is to direct stakeholders to my LinkedIn page for reviews and endorsements. This has been a struggle for me since leaving reviews on Facebook and Instagram seem to be easier for my stakeholders.

Once a relationship is established, it is always important to listen to stakeholders and regularly seek their feedback. I like to send an informal survey with no deadline for completion. Customers should feel as though their feedback is desired and important. Even after an agreement is made and a contract is confirmed, stakeholders goals and objectives could change. So it is always a good idea to follow up to check for changes or adjustments. Most importantly, stay positive and friendly. As they say, “the customer is always right.” Make that your motto and try to meet people where they are. You never know where your next referral will come from. Word-of-mouth testimonials are better than any advertising spot you could ever purchase. They’re genuine, credible, and free.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I came to entrepreneurship in pain and sorrow. After working in schools for over 20 years, I was suffering from disappointment with the educational system and my career not going in the direction I wanted it to. I felt stifled and extremely limited in how I could make a difference in the lives of children and in my own community. I faced so much racism and never would have imaged that the education field would be like this. Had I known that oppressors would be so bitter and vicious. I probably would have never gone into the field. Feeling discouraged, I started to write. Writing is cathartic and definitely helps to get ideas out. I wrote my debut book titled Pandemic Preparedness Guide for School Administrators: Policies, Practices, and Lesson Learned from the COVID-19 Pandemic. My cousin, Phil Lloyd, Jr., who is a business consultant encouraged me to start my own consulting business. He was aware of the potential the book had as many educators from Japan, the UK, and China purchased the book. The book quickly reached #6 on Amazon’s Most Best Selling List. I informed Phil that I knew nothing about consulting, I only knew education. So he offered to go into business with me to help me get started. Together, we started Edusite Scholars.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://drsilvialloyd.com/
• Instagram: @edusitescholars
• Facebook: Edusite Scholars Page
• Linkedin: Dr. Silvia M. Lloyd
• Twitter: @edusitescholars
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZlxG1XU9nJxYgeTGsUsKVQ/videos
• TikTok: Edusite Scholars

Image Credits
Gil Rios