When people ask me to sum myself up, in a nutshell, I say I am a teacher, writer, and education coach. I love to share any knowledge I have obtained in this life with others. I see myself as a resource, hence my slogan, “Empowering minds one resource at a time.” If I can be a resource or connect you to a resource, I do my best to make it happen. We should not compete with each other; we should work together and improve together. My willingness to help others has led to several opportunities. Below, I have listed my past and upcoming presentations, speaking engagements, and panel participation. If you would like to connect with me, email my executive assistant at assist@blazingbrilliance.com or complete my contact form.
Upcoming Engagements:
Thursday, June 24-25, 2025 – Presentation: From Classroom to Coaching for the Keep Indiana Learning K-12 Conference in at Noblesville West Middle School in Noblesville, Indiana
Past Engagements:
Saturday, March 1, 2025 – Presentation: Balancing Self-Care with Classroom Success for the Teach Indy Educators Conference at Ivy Tech College in Indianapolis, Indiana (Co-presenter – Alice Stockton)
Tuesday, February 18, 2025 – Presentation for Ball State University SCCO 660 – Partnerships & Collaborations in Schools Course
Thursday, November 21, 2024 – Panel: Empower Her: Women of Color Panel at Marian University, Indianapolis, Indiana
Thursday, June 27, 2024 – Presentation: Restoration or Revenge: Humanizing School Discipline for MidCon at Westfield Middle School in Westfield, Indiana
Thursday, June 13, 2024 – Presentation: Vocabulary Voyage: Navigating Middle & High School Language Development for the Keep Indiana Learning Reading Summit in at Lebanon High School in Lebanon, Indiana
Thursday, May 30, 2024 – Presentation: Restoration or Revenge: Reimagining & Humanizing School Discipline for the Warren Township Equity in Education Conference at Raymond Park Middle School in Indianapolis
Wednesday, May 15, 2024 – Book Club Facilitation: Cultivating Genius (literacy focused) for Kokomo School Corporation – Virtual
Wednesday, April 17, 2024 – Book Club Facilitation: Cultivating Genius (literacy focused) for Kokomo School Corporation – Virtual
Tuesday, March 26, 2024 – Presentation for Ball State University SCCO 660 – Partnerships & Collaborations in Schools Course
Friday, March 22, 2024 – Presentation: A Conversation about Burnout and Self-Care for the University of Michigan College Advising Corps – Virtual
Wednesday, March 20, 2024 – Book Club Facilitation: Cultivating Genius (literacy focused) for Kokomo School Corporation – Virtual
Wednesday, March 13, 2024 – Workshop: Supporting Diverse Learner Needs Part II at Kokomo School Corporation Administration Service Center
Saturday, March 2, 2024 – Presentation: Enriching Minds with a Tapestry of Stories for the Teach Indy Educators Conference at Ivy Tech in Indianapolis (Co-presenter – Alice Stockton)
Friday, March 1, 2024 – Storyteller: From Lesson Plan to New Plan, a teacher story slam at Fay Biccard Glick Neighborhood Center.
Wednesday, February 21, 2024 – Book Club Facilitation: Cultivating Genius (literacy focused) for Kokomo School Corporation – Virtual
Wednesday, February 7, 2024 – Presentation: Unveiling the Power of Year-Round Black History for Youth for Indiana Youth Institute – Virtual
Wednesday, January 17, 2024 – Book Club Facilitation: Cultivating Genius (literacy focused) for Kokomo School Corporation – Virtual
Wednesday, November 29, 2023 – Workshop: Supporting Diverse Learner Needs at Kokomo School Corporation Administration Service Center
Tuesday, November 16, 2023 – Storyteller: Don’t Make Me Use My Teacher Voice, a teacher story slam at Ash & Elm Cider Co.
Saturday, October 28, 2023 – Presentation: Enriching Minds with a Tapestry of Stories for the Indiana State Literacy Association Conference at Broad Ripple Middle School in Indianapolis
Saturday, October 21, 2023 – Author Feature: Meet an Author; Be an Author at Central Library in Indianapolis
Saturday, October 14, 2023 – Author Feature: Center for Black Literature & Culture 6th Anniversary Celebration at Central Library in Indianapolis
Wednesday, August 9, 2023 – Workshop: Launching Learning Through Literacy at St. Monica School
Tuesday, August 8, 2023 – Poetry Reading: Unseeing the Unseen (Quilts and Poetry) at Indiana Humanities
Friday, July 21, 2023 – Interview: Interviewed award winning author Derrick Barnes (no relation) for the Summer Literacy Night at the Indiana State Museum
Monday, July 10, 2023 – Friday, July 21, 2023 – Workshop: Blooming Verses: Planting Poetic Seeds -Youth Summer Poetry Workshop at Brick Street Poetry’s Neighborhood Literary Art Park
Thursday, June 29, 2023 – Guest: The Doc Chat with Dr. John C. Turner – podcast
Saturday, June 10, 2023 – Literacy debrief facilitation of the implications and next steps surrounding the Sold A Story Podcast – St. Monica School Teachers
Thursday, March 2, 2023 – Presentation: Developing Anti-Bias Curriculum & Resources for Kokomo School Corporation lecture series – Virtual
Friday, February 17, 2023 – Presentation: Poetry with Mrs. Barnes for Christ Temple Christian Academy in Indianapolis
Thursday, November 3, 2022 – Presentation for Ball State University SCCO 660 – Partnerships & Collaborations in Schools Course
Monday, June 13, 2022 – Presentation: Collaborating Culturally Responsively to Implement and Support School Discipline Initiatives for the Indiana School Counselor and Administrator Collaboration Institute (ISCACI) at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana.
Friday, June 10, 2022 – Presentation: Incorporating local Black history into instruction for the 100 Black Men of Indianapolis 100 Summer Academy Teachers
Friday, June 10, 2022 – Presentation: Supporting Learniing for the 100 Black Men of Indianapolis 100 Summer Academy Youth Assistants
Saturday, May 21, 2022 – Presentation: A Conversation about Supporting DEIA Work as a Board Member for The STEM Connection in Indianapolis, Indiana
Saturday, April 30, 2022 – Presentation: How to Navigate the School System for Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church in Indianapolis, Indiana
Thursday, September 16, 2021 – Panelist: People and Places that Inspire Us for the Indiana Housing Conference
Wednesday, June 30, 2021 – Presentor: Embracing Equity to Strive Towards Excellence for the Keep Indiana Learning Summer Conference
Saturday, April 10, 2021 – Panelist: Are You Listening? Perspectives from Black Educators for the Teach Indy Educators Conference
Friday, July 17, 2020 – Presentation: A Conversation about Burnout and Self-Care for the University of Michigan College Advising Corps – Virtual
Wednesday, June 24, 2020 – Presentation: A Conversation about Cultural Responsiveness Follow-up and Diversity and Inclusion Problem Solving Session for The STEM Connection in Indianapolis
Thursday, June 4, 2020 – Panelist: What If the Best Way to Teach Struggling Students is Unpopular with Educators? for Citizen Ed Virtual Show.
Monday, March 30, 2020 – Guest: Teaching at Home While Black for Citizen Ed Virtual Show.
Friday, June 21-Saturday, June 22, 2019 – Presentation: The Stigma of Mental Health Among Teachers of Color for the Teacher Self-Care Annual Conference in Atlanta
Wednesday, June 5, 2019 – Presentation: A Conversation about Cultural Responsiveness for The STEM Connection in Indianapolis
Wednesday, February 13, 2019 – Panelist: Black Excellence in Scholarship to celebrate Black History Month and the 50th anniversary of the field of black studies at Purdue University in West Lafayette.
Tuesday, January 29, 2019 – Presentation: Building Relationships with Parents and Families, a co-presentation with Lauren I. Peterson, Enroll Indy Manager of Community and Outreach for the Children’s Policy and Law Initiative (CPLI) of Indiana Positive School Discipline Institute, Session 3: Teachers Championing Positive School Discipline at Stonybrook Middle School in Indianapolis
Friday, January 25, 2019 – Presentation: What to Consider When Choosing a School for Your Kindergartener for Indianapolis Moms
Saturday, December 1, 2018 – Presentation: Strategies for a Positive Parent/Teacher Relationship for Teach-A-Rama at Marian University in Indianapolis
Saturday, October 27, 2018 – Presentation: Mental Health and How We View Ourselves for the Teacher Self-Care Conference One Day Institute at John B. Murphy Elementary School in Chicago
Thursday, August 2, 2018 – Panelist: The Importance of Educating Our Black Children at the National Association of Black Journalist Convention in Detroit.
Friday, June 15-Saturday, June 16, 2018 – Presentation: Extending Your Future by Becoming a Better You for the Teacher Self-Care Annual Conference in Atlanta.
Monday, April 16, 2018 – Presentation: ESSA, Equity, and Student Supports for Teach for America’s Teach Plus Policy Externs in Indianapolis
Friday, February 23, 2018 – Facilitator: Family Black History Night at Wendell Phillips Elementary in Indianapolis
Sunday, November 5, 2017 – Story Presentation: The Power of Food: Growing Together for The Spirit & Place Power Festival event The Power of Food: Seven Short Stories at Shortridge High School in Indianapolis
Thursday, December 1, 2016 – Poetry Reading: Busy Busy Bee for Brick Street Poetry, Inc. at SullivanMunce Cultural Center in Zionsville, IN
