Send us a textWhat happens when education fails to provide students with the tools they actually need to succeed? Tanisha's powerful journey from correctional officer to education reformer reveals the often-hidden connections between our school systems and the prison pipeline that disproportionately impacts Black and brown youth.Her story begins in the juvenile sector of an Indianapolis prison, where she witnessed teenagers—some as young as 15—serving decades-long adult sentences. Their common refrain still echoes in her work today: "If I had just known... if someone had just told me..." This experience launched Tanisha into education with a mission to create something different, something that truly serves students beyond standardized curriculum.During our conversation, Tanisha challenges conventional education practices with refreshing candor. "I've taken trigonometry and calculus. I've never used it in my life," she notes, "but if you would have taught me finances, I probably could have started a business 20 years ago." This disconnect between academic requirements and life skills represents just one way the current system fails to equip students for real-world success.As Wilberforce University alumni, both Tanisha and I share deep appreciation for the unique support HBCUs provide—support many students never learn about through their high school counselors. "No college campus will love and take care of you and wrap themselves around you like an HBCU," Tanisha explains, highlighting how representation and community create environments where students can truly thrive.Inspired by Mary McLeod Bethune's legacy, Tanisha is now establishing her own all-girls private school as a safe space where young Black girls can proudly embrace their identity. In a world where Black students still face discrimination for their natural hairstyles and cultural expressions, she's building a place where they'll receive the affirmations and tools they need to become confident change-makers.Ready to rethink what education could and should be? Listen now and join the movement to create learning environments that truly serve all students.Support the show

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