Marklyn Johnson

How can your business open its recruitment and staff hiring pipeline to talented candidates from underrepresented groups? Are organizational values around DEI published on the company’s website or otherwise shared publicly? Does it make sense for your DEI commitments to be inward-facing, outward-facing, or a combination of both? Is the organization’s commitment to DEI part of regular discussions with current board members, management staff, and employees? How will your company assess the progress you are making towards your goals of diversity, inclusion, and equity? What will success look like? Feel like?

Teachers are encountering numerous formidable challenges today, from dealing with parents and navigating political pressures to the growing trend of teachers retiring and a diminishing number of newcomers entering the profession. Teachers are continually under scrutiny, but it's crucial for them to remember the underlying reasons. As the son of a teacher, I had the privilege of witnessing firsthand his motivation. I observed him labor tirelessly for 29 years within a challenging educational system, giving his utmost dedication. In a sense, I am paying tribute to his memory by engaging in this work.

In life, we all seek comfort, although what brings us that comfort can vary greatly from person to person. Often, our failure to achieve our dreams can be attributed to our aversion to the discomfort that challenges bring. These challenges manifest in various forms, and the question arises: how should we confront them? These challenges, more often than not, are rooted in emotional or mental distress. The pain that accompanies them can become overwhelming, driving us to retreat to the familiar, without realizing that what we truly desire or need lies beyond that discomfort. It's imperative to recognize that pain is an integral part of the journey. We must dispel the notion that success can be attained without struggle. If everything we desired came easily, without the struggle and pain, more people would achieve their dreams effortlessly. Regardless of their aspirations, they would simply acquire them. The pain we encounter serves a purpose—it is there to motivate us to fight.