Inspiring Conversations with Dr. Kelly Bullock Daugherty of Transitions Educational Coaching & Consulting Services

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Kelly Bullock Daugherty.  

Hi Dr. Daugherty, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
Teaching was NOT my initial career path. Initially, I wanted to be a therapist and I knew I wanted to work with children for certain. I went to college and finished my bachelor’s degree in psychology, then my master’s in counseling & Human Services. By the time I had finished my internship working with adjudicated youth domestic violence offenders, I knew that therapy was not for me after all. I decided to use my psychology and counseling experience in the classroom. My first assignment was a temporary middle school position in January 2000. This was the beginning of what would be close to 20 years of teaching in the urban school classroom. 

I struggled during my formative teaching years. My administrator was very tough on me for reasons I never understood. She would set higher expectations for me than my teammates, exclude me from professional development opportunities, and berate me to my colleagues behind my back; during one of my last evaluation meetings with her, I remember her asking what I hoped to accomplish working in education. After explaining my aspiration of becoming an administrator, she shut me down explaining that I was inadequate as a teacher and would never make it as an administrator. I was devastated and began to think about leaving the field altogether. 

A pink slip and a change of districts helped to reignite my dream of teaching and the pursuit for leadership opportunities. I did encounter a brand-new set of obstacles during this time, however. In this new district, I received amazing mentorship and was reassured that I did have the leadership qualities necessary to become an administrator. There were still some things I needed to learn, such as leading with humility, compassion, and empathy; all things I knew but needed to have ingrained in my leadership practice. So, I began focusing my professional development plans around leadership, even going as far as obtaining my Ed.D in Teacher Leadership. I led and participated on many committees and in 2009, was selected for the position of School Improvement Coach, which was exactly where I wanted to be; coaching and training teachers in effective teaching strategies and classroom management. Unfortunately, due to the consummation of grant funding, that position was eliminated, and I was assigned back to classroom teaching. Sad as I was, I had made my mark as a respected leader, so I continued pursuing my leadership goals. 

Over several more years, I had been overlooked for leadership positions more times than I could count. I’d watched positions be created for people and could never be provided any reason or feedback as to why I continued to be overlooked. By the 2018-2019 school year, I was feeling confused, discouraged, and defeated. I had done everything I was asked to do towards moving up into a leadership role. I said everything I was supposed to say and taught everything I was supposed to teach the way I was expected to teach it and that still was not enough. So, with the encouragement of my family, I submitted my resignation and started Transitions Educational Coaching & Consulting Services. 

Transitions specializes in leadership coaching, educational training, and custom course/program curriculum development for teachers who are responsible for educating and inspiring K12 students. I’m doing exactly what I love and impacting education just the way I have always imagined. 

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has NOT been a smooth road at all! In my first three years of teaching, I encountered an administrator that seemed to spend her every waking moment working to berate, devalue, and break me down. To this day, I will never understand why she worked so hard to ruin my life and career. Had it not been for the pink slip I received and the change of districts, I probably would not be an educator today. 

While the change in districts was a great benefit to my career, I encountered another obstacle. No matter how much education, professional training, or committee leadership roles I took on, nothing I seemed to do was enough to prove I was worth a district leadership position. It seemed that I was only good enough to represent and fulfill the diversity quota on building and district leadership teams, but not enough to hold a full-time position (despite being told that I was being looked at for certain positions over the years). 

We’ve been impressed with Transitions Educational Coaching & Consulting Services, LLC, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Transitions specializes in leadership coaching, educational training, and custom course/program curriculum development for teachers who are responsible for educating and inspiring K12 students. 

With an intentional focus on the transition between and intersection of Elementary, Middle, High, College, and Grad school academics and practices, I utilize my 20+ years of experience in teaching and leading to facilitate teachers’ reflection on specific characteristics that work synchronously to promote student engagement and motivation, as well as teacher effectiveness and efficacy. 

Having taught in the urban school district for over 20 years, I know that many educators share similar experiences, challenges, and barriers as I have. My story is different in that I have spent the last few years transforming myself using my personally developed GREATNESS Model for Leadership Success Framework as a specific guide for transforming my mind and my practice. 

The GREATNESS Model for Leadership Success is a fundamental framework outlining key characteristics that I have identified as vital skills that lay the foundation towards building capacity and becoming more effective and efficacious teacher leaders; all things that have been practiced and determined most effective in my own teaching and leading practices. 

Urban school teachers often receive professional development that is more targeted to mid-low suburban schools, which fail to consider the many factors that impede students’ academic growth and development. 

I have worked and trained many educators that have felt helpless and wanted to leave the field. I have been in their shoes and made the decision that I had something more to offer students and educators. I was intentional about focusing on this change and believe the work I do can disrupt educators’ current beliefs about education. Especially those who feel there is nothing more they can give. 

I am the Co-Author of two Amazon Best Sellers, “It Takes Money Honey!” and “Power of Kingdom Mindset, Volume 1”; a contributing author to “A Second Helping of Gumbo for the Soul: More Liberating Stories and Memories to Inspire Females of Color,” and just released my first book, Rebuilt, Not Broken: An Educator’s Journey to GREATNESS in 2020. 

What would you say has been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
I think the most important lesson I have learned along my journey is that in every experience, whether positive or negative, there is a lesson. 

When I understood this, I was better able to take a more transparent look at myself, my responses to events, and how my reaction affected those I was leading. Taking the time to understand why something did or did not work out had a transformative impact on my leadership practices. When you understand yourself, you are better able to understand and connect with others which is key in effective leadership in my opinion. 

Contact Info:

• Website: www.transitionseducates.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drkbdaugherty/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrKBDaugherty
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drkellybullockdaugherty/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrKBDaugherty

Image Credits
Blair Daugherty Photography