Life & Work with Shaquira Langley

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shaquira Langley.

Hi Shaquira, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
“Teachers should be paid a million dollars,” I heard and saw that on one of many memes when parents became teachers overnight when the pandemic hit hard. The world realized that teachers are essential in a pandemic, but I realized teachers were essential the first day of school my residency year and that’s where my journey begins. With any teaching program, they train you on what school should look, feel, and sound like but there is nothing like being in it.

My name is Shaquira Langley, a 27-year-old from Pawleys Island, South Carolina. A millennial Teacher giving educators the voice we are deserved. I will never forget the feeling of being so overwhelmed and excited on my first day of school as a resident. I had the training over the summer. I reviewed my notes the night before, got up early to prepare for the day, and was ready to educate. I knew it was going to be the best day of my life and everyone would love Ms.Langley! SIKE! The joke was on me. I will never forget the feeling of being so overwhelmed and excited on my first day of school as a resident. I had the training over the summer.

I reviewed my notes the night before, got up early to prepare for the day, and was ready to educate. I knew it was going to be the best day of my life and everyone would love Ms.Langley! SIKE! The joke was on me. I give you a small peek into what life as an educator can be like before you can get a handle on it because I wasn’t the only one who felt the same way. Not only was the joke on me but everyone around me in that teaching program at the time felt the same way. I’ll never forget all of us sitting at tables venting, crying, stress eating, drinking about our teacher life drama. I vividly remember saying one day, “guys, day in and day out, we sit and vent to one another about what we are facing as educators but people on the outside of it will never understand. Our voices need to be heard on a bigger level,” and that’s what lead me to create The Millennial Teacher Podcast!

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
For those who don’t know the majority of teachers, our day starts as early as 5 am with no actual cut-off time so imagine the energy it takes to deliver content! The Millennial Teacher Podcast has not been a smooth ride. It’s a challenge because not only do I have to teach a full day, the time and effort to deliver quality content that my listeners appreciate can be very overwhelming, and let’s be clear at the end of the day the majority of teachers call it quits mentally after giving their all to their students so it can be a challenge getting consistent content but it’s getting done! So to answer the question, yes, it’s a struggle but love like no other. The amount of educators, students, and parents I’ve been able to reach is worth the time and effort.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My work is all things education! I am a 5th-year early childhood educator. I have been a resident teacher, lead teacher, mentor teacher, professional development speaker, and now on my own platform as a podcaster. I specialize in an early childhood education as it is my passion to reach all students academically and socially emotionally at a young age.

I’m most proud of the network I’ve been able to create through my platform. I’m able to give education and educators a voice as we are often overlooked. The trails from my residency year as a teacher lead to a beautiful platform that students, teachers, parents, and administrators can and have benefited from. What sets me apart from other education platforms is the topics I bring to light. The Millennial Teacher Podcast sheds light on hard to handle topics from leadership in education, microaggressions, single stories, student/parent perspectives, anti-racism, diversity and equity, and more.

Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
My advice for those who are looking for a mentor and need help with networking is simply to just do it. It can be very scary and takes another level of vulnerability to seek and ask for help. From my own personal perspective, I had to learn how to sit in the back seat before getting ready to drive on my own. My personality is always thinking that I can do things on my own and learn as I go, which is true in certain situations but reaching out and learning from those who have done it before you is the best thing you can do for yourself. Doing the research and doing the work has worked for me and will work for you!

Contact Info:

• Email: Shaquira.langley1@gmail.com
• Website: https://siteid-678307.onuniverse.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shaquira_/
• Other: https://anchor.fm/shaquira-langley