The Only One At The Table With Monika Robinson

About this episode

Monika Robinson shares her experiences as the only Black teacher in her school and discusses the isolation faced by Black educators in predominantly white systems.

What does it mean to be the only Black teacher at the table year after year? In this powerful episode of The Exit Interview: A Podcast for Black Educators , Dr. Asia Lyons sits down with Monika Robinson, a former public school teacher, instructional coach, nonprofit leader, and founder of Reparations Ed, to unpack the quiet isolation many Black educators experience in predominantly white and suburban school systems. For six years, Monika was the only Black teacher in her building. While she describes her experience as not bad, she also names the subtle but persistent exclusion of being left out of informal gatherings, navigating leadership roles without support, and carrying the weight of representation alone. Her story highlights how school isolation is often normalized, minimized, or dismissed even when it impacts retention and wellness.

People in this episode

Host: Dr. Asia Lyons

Guest: Monika Robinson

Topics covered

• Black educators
• school isolation
• representation
• educational equity
• teacher experiences

Keywords

• Black teacher
• school isolation
• educational challenges
• representation
• teacher retention

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Reparations Ed

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