More Than A Diversity Hire with Dr. Melissa Leonard-Goodlett

About this episode

Dr. Melissa Leonard-Goodlett discusses her journey from being a diversity hire to becoming an educational consultant, highlighting the challenges faced in both underfunded and affluent schools.

Melissa Leonard-Goodlett, EdD. knew she was a diversity hire. She took the job anyway because she was also the most qualified person in the room. In this episode of The Exit Interview, Dr. Melissa breaks down a career that went from dyslexic kid playing teacher with her siblings, to AP English instructor watching Black students pay for a high school education they never actually received, to burning out at a wealthy PWI where parent surveys went straight to HR and her principal never once stepped foot in her classroom. She saw the literacy crisis from both sides: underfunded schools pushing kids through, and affluent schools inflating grades to protect their reputation. Same problem. Different zip code. After years of microaggressions, invisibility, and hives she couldn't explain, she resigned. Now she's an educational consultant, reclaiming her why one new teacher at a time.

People in this episode

Host: Dr. Asia Lyons

Guest: Dr. Melissa Leonard-Goodlett

Topics covered

• diversity in education
• educational consulting
• literacy crisis
• microaggressions
• teacher burnout

Keywords

• diversity hire
• educational consultant
• literacy crisis
• teacher burnout
• microaggressions

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: PWI

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