Life and Work with Dr. Kemberly Edwards

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Kemberly Edwards.

Dr. Edwards, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I grew up in Chattanooga, Tennessee alongside my brother with two hardworking, present and dedicated parents, surrounded by love within a very close-knit family. After graduating from high school, I matriculated at the University of Memphis. After completing my master’s degree in education, I began teaching students with learning disabilities. I fell in love with the challenge that came with working with students who learned differently and finding strategies that allowed them to utilize their strengths to compensate for their weaknesses. In 2004, I moved to Atlanta to complete my doctorate degree while also continuing to pursue a career in education as a teacher and school administrator. In 2009, I felt that I was ready for a new challenge and left the traditional academic setting and transitioned into working for education and publishing companies where I was responsible for training teachers and administrators across the country on reading intervention programs, data analysis coupled with sales, implementation and account management. After almost 10 years in working for education companies, I did something that I thought that I would never do and that was a transition back into the school setting. My love and passion for working directly with students led me to Woodward Academy where I am now the Director of Learning Support. All of that aside, I am blessed to be a mother to an amazing 13-year-old son, Caden and the soon to be wife to Rae.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It absolutely has not been a smooth road. I have dealt with many challenges, including company reorganizations and lay-offs. I have experienced loss, been lost, gone through a divorce, had doubts, lived through betrayal and becoming a single mother to a then one-year-old. All of this while completing my comprehensive exams and beginning to write the proposal for my dissertation. Most importantly, all of the adversity taught me some valuable lessons and shaped me into the person that I am today. Many people observe me from afar and assume that I have always had it together. The truth is, my faith has sustained me through every adversity. I didn’t realize that God was all I needed until He was all that I had.

The advice that I would give to other women would be to always be your authentic true self. Own it. Walk in it while also continuing to evolve for the better. There is more than one  avenue to success. You don’t have to have the titles, accolades, degrees, fame or go viral, etc. Those things only enhance your wins as a mother, sister, friend, employee, philanthropist, etc. Welcome opportunities for growth by learning from diversity and culture. Always keep people in your corner who will pray with you and for you. Don’t expect everyone in your circle to want to see you win. Do something every day to move closer to your goals. Don’t ever overestimate what you can accomplish in a year and underestimate what you can accomplish in two to five years or even 10 years. Find a good mentor. Learn from your mistakes and downfalls and make adjustments. Sometimes you have to be okay with going at things alone. While you are building, don’t forget to pour into yourself, at every stage in your life. I am a better mother, because I make a conscious effort to come up for air. Always be in the business of authentically building people up, even on your way up, you can still pour into others and find ways to uplift people. Watch what you put on your social media and the image you portray. That dream job that is within your grasp at 40 could be ruined by that post you made when  you were 25. You don’t have to be in charge or a business owner to make an impact. You would be surprised at the ways you can use your voice and your story to empower and encourage someone. Aside from all of the titles, material possessions, etc., it is important to still be a mother, daughter and genuine friend whether you receive public recognition or a million followers on social media. Your name does not have to be in lights to make a difference and you don’t have to be rich to do so either. Being kind and approachable can go a long way. Exercise grace. Even at almost 40, I’m still finding my voice… I’m still dreaming, working and building inwardly. There may be a book, a YouTube channel, business in my future and/or re-birthing my abandoned blog. I am still figuring out ways that I can monetize some of the many gifts that God has blessed me with.

Please tell us about what you do.
As I mentioned previously, I am currently the Director of Learning Support at Woodward Academy. In this role, I wear many hats. I teach and serve as the department chair for our learning support courses, serve as the special testing coordinator for the ACT, manage our testing center, peer tutoring program as well as our adult tutors. In this role, I have the pleasure of working with some phenomenal teachers and students. I also serve on our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee.

Honestly, what I am most proud of are the things that I don’t get paid to do and that is empowering parents to seek out various enrichment and educational opportunities for their children. I have been learning along the way, but daily I am researching and reading about the best educational practices on how we can and should work to raise more well-rounded children. As a mother, I have personally had always sought out opportunities, clubs, and organizations in addition to the athletics that my son naturally gravitates towards. For example, the trend seems to always be athletics or music, because that is what is glorified in the media while other avenues of success don’t get the same or equal visibility. I personally believe that every student needs to take a course in debate and/or public speaking. Although I was never introduced to debate and only took one public speaking course in college… I don’t even recall if debate or public speaking was an option at my school… it didn’t occur to me until I began having to deliver numerous presentations within my career, the need to be able to communicate effectively in writing and in conversations that this is something that should also be more heavily invested in schools. This is just one of many examples. While discovering various resources, I have begun sharing them on social media and within my circle of moms. I hope to create a platform or social media page to share resources and options to a broader group of parents.

With that said, my story is still being written. I feel that I have yet to “arrive”, but I have dropped pins along my journey that have made a small impact in the lives of people that I’ve had the pleasure of crossing paths with… locally in my church, at work, during my travels, on social media, doing sex-trafficking prevention initiatives locally and in Ethiopia, being a listening ear, helping others rewrite their resumes, practice interviewing skills, advocating on behalf of parents of students with learning disabilities, using my professional and personal experiences to assist others in navigating the available educational options.

There’s a wealth of academic research that suggests that a lack of mentors and networking opportunities for women has materially affected the number of women in leadership roles. Smart organizations and industry leaders are working to change this, but in the meantime, do you have any advice for finding a mentor and building a network?
When it comes to finding a mentor and/or networking, a well-written email that is straight to the point can go a long way. Be sure to state your purpose clearly, what you admire and why the individual would be a good fit for being a mentor for you. Have someone read over your message before sending it. If the individual does not have the time, be sure to ask them to recommend someone else. For me personally, I have found that treating someone to a cup of coffee or lunch or asking to schedule a phone call works well.

Which women have inspired you in your life? Why?
The women who have inspired me have been women from all backgrounds and levels.

My grandmothers… one was a share-cropper from Lafayette, Alabama with a seventh-grade education who I enjoyed watching cook, garden and serve in various ways such as serving in our A.M.E. church and visiting and praying with the sick. My other grandmother was a teacher, pianist and singer who encouraged me to always do my best. Lastly, my mother, like my grandmothers, is a wife, mother and grandmother keenly devoted to family and traditions. This renaissance woman taught me first hand the importance of dedication and hardwork as well as how to be a great (protective) parent and wife… she gets major kudos for the example she set. She was and still is an advocate of making sure that you can conduct yourself in any environment. My mother has also instilled in me the importance of health and wellness. While living out her life, she has been a phenomenal example of being a woman of substance with standards and showed daily how to be a lady in every sense of the word. She poured into me daily, preparing my inner-self to be strong and tough enough to face the challenges of this world is while. Most importantly, she taught me class, integrity and to remain consistent and present by putting family first. It might sound small, but those key values have carried over in my friendships, work, and everyday life.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: iamdrkem
• Twitter: iamdrkem

Image Credit:
Kemberly Edwards, Ph.D.

Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.