Today we’d like to introduce you to Jana Briggs.
Jana, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
To quote the great Slick Rick: “Once upon a time, not long ago, when people wore pajamas and lived life slow…”
I kid! I grew up in the West End of Atlanta. While I don’t remember a whole lot about my early schooling, I do remember that there were a few teachers who impacted me greatly and that I could probably thank for saving my life. I never thought I wanted to be an educator, but I knew that I was put on this earth to help children.
After graduating from Fort Valley State University (Go Wildcats!) with a Bachelor’s in Psychology, I moved back to Atlanta and began working at a psychiatric hospital for children. Shortly thereafter, I began a doctoral program in Clinical Psychology. After an interesting four years in the field, and two years in the program, I decided that I’d be a better blessing to kids by serving them before they had gotten into a place like where I worked. Just like my teachers did for me. I was determined to do just that.
I began working in DeKalb County as a 3rd-grade teacher and eventually as a 5th grade, and then Title I Reading and Math teacher. Within the first three years of teaching 3rd grade, I met a woman who truly helped me to see the value of Instructional Coaching. She changed my life as an educator, and I am forever grateful for the time she spent helping me to fine-tune my craft. (Thanks, Coach Mathis!) It was because of her that I realized that I wanted to be an instructional coach. I knew teachers were working hard and I knew that the hard work they were putting in didn’t always yield the results that they were going for. And that’s discouraging! I wanted help them bridge that gap.
I became an instructional coach in 2012 and made it my mission to transform the teachers in my building into data gurus. I knew that if they really took a close look at what their student data said (even when it wasn’t pretty), we could work together to TRULY provide targeted, data-driven instruction and change student outcomes. Over the course of the next four years we operated in that vein and though I’m not there anymore, I know that they still do.
I left public education because I realized that the same way the teachers in my building worked hard, other teachers and administrators do, too–even when their data doesn’t always tell that story. Plus, I know first-hand the impact of providing teachers with quality professional learning and instructional coaching, and I want to do that for as many teachers as I can. I want to be part of helping schools find data-driven solutions that will build teacher capacity and ensure the success of their students. Imagine how many students could be impacted by that work! More Fed.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The whole opposite of easy!
I didn’t grow up with a silver spoon at all, and the way my student loans are set up (ahem), leaving my bread and butter to start a business built on a lofty dream was the literal definition of risky–and/or crazy, depending on who you ask. I’ve funded every aspect of my business from my pocketbook and of course, starting a business is expensive. To that point, because I’ve opted to fund it myself, I’ve had to learn a lot about how to even run a business, design a website, market myself, (and as you can see from my prior answer, my degrees are in Psychology and Education. So there’s that). The learning curve has been crazy! One of the hardest things, though, is knowing what I have to offer, but not being as visible as a larger company. It’s hard in these small business streets!
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the MorphEd (pronounced More Fed) story. Tell us more about the business.
MorphEd is an education consulting firm that specializes in providing quality professional learning and strategic planning at a fraction of the cost of large corporations. These services include data-analysis, needs assessments, walkthroughs, instructional coaching and professional development. The goal is to be affordable for schools who have to spend their funds on simply ensuring that their students have the basic resources that are available to other schools.
The great thing about MorphEd is that the professional learning services are based on schools’ data, and solutions are offered that support whatever resources that are available in the building. There’s nothing to buy. Other companies are not tailoring your professional learning experience. You’re getting the same PL that the school next to you bought!
In addition to that, because MorphED’s focus is on building teacher capacity and affordability of services, a key component of my business model is that when services are purchased by a school, days are gifted based on the number of days they purchase. Again, something else that other companies aren’t doing. It is important to me that schools see the impact of our work together.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
It’s funny. Prior to recently, I’ve always considered myself to have the worst luck ever. I’ve been dealt a few challenging hands. I don’t look at it like that now, though. I have a post-it in my office that says, “EVERYTHING, good and bad, has gotten you to this place. It’s yours!” And I believe that. Instead of operating from a deficit mindset, I choose to operate from a place of gratitude. I know that in the grand scheme, I’ve been truly blessed and it appears that the more I acknowledge that aloud, the more the blessings pour in. My cup runneth over with blessings these days.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.morphedconsulting.com
- Phone: 404-720-5024
- Email: jana.briggs@morphedconsulting.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morphed_llc
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MorphEdLLC/
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