Tag: Education

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The Unspoken Part of Conference Travel

How did I know my social battery was depleted before the conference got started? I walked into the networking session and physically just didn’t feel like saying a word.  I scoped out the hors d’oeuvre options and left.  One of my own action items for myself is honoring my instincts.  This wasn’t a push through moment.  It was a conversation with myself to myself, “Grab some dinner and go watch the Real Housewives of Potomoc.” I hear you, girl!

Professional development and learning from others in the field is absolutely essential to growth and frankly, a privilege. Being able to network with other practitioners and create new connections is only going to help and the students I work with benefit from these connections.  For all the learning, it is important to realize how taxing attending a conference can be.

The work day is longer from attending breakfast, breakout sessions, meals and post-conference gatherings.

Your brain is in brainstorming mode, trying to figure out how you take what you learned back to your team and implement it.

Home life is still happening.  Your partner, your children, pets and whoever else you love still needs you in some way.  

What can you do to find integration that is best for you?

  • Understand your own needs – don’t feel obligated to go to every single part of the conference. Think of it like a buffet: pick and choose what works for you.
  • If you can, adjust your travel so you are not rushed going to the conference or heading back home.
  • Level set with your colleagues if you are traveling as a pair or a group – everyone might need space, even if they don’t say it outloud.  Teams don’t always have to coordinate sitting together at every large gathering or going to dinner each night of the conference.
  • Decide what your goals are before you go.  What are you looking to learn? What is going to make you feel like attending was worth your time? 
  • Honor the out of office message you set. It is impossible to be present at the conference and constantly check your email. Give yourself time and grace for responding to messages.

As I wrap up my time at the CEIA Conference in Tampa, I’m leaving full of ideas, thinking about what I have the capacity to implement, while still ready to get back home to the hugs and kisses that await.

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Ending 2022, Featured in The Star!

Fun fact: once upon a time, I wanted to be a journalist. As a teenager, I had a once in a lifetime opportunity to write for Teen Star, published weekly in The Kansas City Star.

Nearly 20 years later, I’m honored to be featured in The Star, alongside other local Black authors as we share our stories. This has been quite the journey for me and I’m grateful to continue to have these opportunities!

https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article269974342.html

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Want to purchase my book?!

You’ve got options!

You can reach out to me directly at info@crystaleverett.com for orders of 20 books or more. You can also purchase though any of the following sites or retailers:

LaunchCrate

Target

Barnes and Noble

Amazon

Walmart

I am extremely humbled by every single purchase of my first book and appreciate your support in advance!
With love, Crystal

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The Power of Educating Black Students

During my senior year of college, I had a chance to visit one of my best friends and attend #GHOE (The Greatest Homecoming on Earth) at North Carolina A&T State University.  What a time! 

I thought back to this experience during my conversation with Amber Buck, who serves as the Coordinator of Community Relations and Partnerships for Piper Schools in Kansas City, Kansas.  She also teaches African American Literature in this school district that is predominately white, with Black students representing a small fraction of the population.  Amber spoke about how she not only teaches students about the history of Black people in America, she is also able to teach students about resilience and that comes with education about historically Black colleges and universities, as well as fraternities and sororities.  Personally, I think it is necessary and absolutely perfect.

As a high school student, I heard about historically Black colleges, but unfortunately, they were presented as a lesser option.  My comfort zone was no more than four hours away from home in Kansas City, leaving fewer options that I chose to consider in terms of HBCU’s.  My closest friends from high school all left the city and went to schools such as North Carolina A&T, Florida A&M and Alcorn State because they were determined to be in spaces with people that looked like them.  If I knew then what I know now, I hope that I would have given more consideration to an HBCU or at minimum, applied to one.

The power that Amber and frankly, all of us have as educators, is to demonstrate what opportunity looks like to our students.  Ultimately, they have to make their own decisions, but if we truly want what’s best for them, they should hear about the legacy of HBCU’s and possibly see themselves on campus.  I truly appreciate the work of educators such as Shanelle Smith, who founded HBCU Walking Billboard, an organization that brings awareness to historically Black institutions and supports students as they attend and graduate.  There is room for allies who can support this cause, even if they didn’t attend an HBCU.

I simply want our Black babies to recognize their greatness and walk in it, even when the world around them doesn’t. I’m thankful to stand in a space and play even a small part in supporting the education of Black students in Kansas City and beyond.

You can check out our conversation here: https://www.spreaker.com/user/onekcradio/episode-13-education-is-eternal

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Conversations with Crystal: Education is Eternal

Check out the episode featuring Amber Buck, Coordinator of Community Relations and Partnerships for Piper High School.

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Conversations with Crystal: Education is Mandatory

In this week’s episode of Conversations with Crystal, I chat with Jaedda Hall, who serves as the STEM Promise Program Coordinator at Tidewater Community College.  Jaedda and I had an opportunity to meet last summer as participants in the AAWCC LEADERS Institute, a week-long experience for women who aspire to leadership roles at the community college level.  

We connected on a number of levels as the millennial moms with young daughters in the group.  As we discussed in our conversation, we both struggled with the idea of imposter syndrome and not believing that we should be in the room with people bearing titles such as vice president or director.  

But she’s doing it! In her role, she has been at the forefront of developing a scholarship opportunity for students that was developed in response to the pandemic and leading initiatives that support students dealing with food and housing insecurity.  Service at the community college level is special and Tidewater is lucky to have someone so personable and so passionate.  She takes the time to develop relationships with students and works to identify both their academic and personal needs.  

Above all, Jaedda is definitely about that #MomLife.  She takes the time everyday to ask her daughters about something they learned, so when she says education is mandatory, she means it and it starts at home.
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Conversations with Crystal: Education is the Bridge to What’s Next


In the latest episode of Conversations with Crystal, I speak with Eric Thompson, who currently serves as the Adult Learner Innovation Manager and an Adult Learner Coach for KC Scholars.  His 20 years of experience in higher education have included roles in residence life, student support services and most recently, Eric served as Dean of Students at MCC – Penn Valley.  We talk about his journey in higher education, his experience as a student at Jackson State University, as well as the need for our education systems to demonstrate a clear path for students to follow and see all of the opportunities available to them.
Enjoy!
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Conversations with Crystal: Education as a Gateway and Door Opener

In the latest episode of Conversations with Crystal, I chat with Deidre Anderson. First things first, she ensures that all the respect is put on her name as she is no longer operating under the title executive director, but chief operating officer of United Inner City Services.   Her passion for the youngest learners is unwavering and was built based on her experience being educated in public schools in Iowa and Minnesota.  

Deidre is leading the operation of three early childhood education facilities, during a pandemic no less and making difficult decisions that only the public see after much conversation.  

One thing that stands out to me from the conversation is this: “As a leader, I’m supposed to envision a utopia and figure out how we create as close to that reality as possible.”

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Conversations with Crystal: Keeping the Early in Early Childhood Education

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Conversations with Crystal: Interview with Monica Nance

A conversation with my mother and veteran educator, Monica Nance about teacher preparation programs and what teachers need to succeed. We also explore the importance of cultural competence and why Black students are looking to be held accountable. Tune in!