Today we’d like to introduce you to Iantha Ussin.
Hi, Iantha. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was a middle school English teacher for 15 years. Somewhere around year 10 of my career, my focus began to shift. I was still very much committed to teaching my students with a spirit of excellence, but I couldn’t help noticing other teachers in the building who didn’t have the same commitment because they’d either grown weary of the profession or hadn’t been equipped with the necessary tools to reach that level of commitment. My heart broke for the latter, which was mostly comprised of new teachers who, in most cases, hadn’t been teaching for more than a year. Many of these teachers struggled to manage their classrooms, so students were missing out on impactful instruction. And that’s what compelled me to action—students not receiving the quality education they deserve (EVERY student is my student).
Over a five-year period, after much prayer and enduring a season of frustration, God began to show me that there was need of me and all the skills I’d acquired as a model teacher in my school district. He showed me that it’d be impossible for me to teach every child in the nation, but if I empowered and equipped education majors and pre-service and beginning teachers, they could create classroom environments that are conducive to learning and daily institute innovative, impactful instruction for their students.
May 2021, on a direct commission from God, I retired from the classroom and formed Ms. Ussin Teaches, LLC, to partner with K-12 school districts and universities, preparing new teachers for the classroom.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road? If not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Only because my business operates on contracted work do I consider myself a consultant, as the true heart of my work is teacher training. I generally refer to myself as The New Teachers’ Teacher and a keynote speaker, and that’s what sets me apart. There are a host of consultants and speakers out there that cater to educators’ needs in many different capacities. As far as I know, though, I’m the only “consultant” whose focus is solely pre-service and beginning teachers, preparing them to start their careers strong with effective classroom management tools and surefire instructional strategies. And it has been a ride! Fifteen years in the classroom was sufficient preparation for the content I present at conferences, in my signature workshops, and in my book for new teachers, Your Classroom or Their Playground. Second nature for me. The business side of Ms. Ussin Teaches LLC, however, not so much. Daily, I’m learning and growing in the many areas that are necessary to stay afloat—implementing systems, mastering social media, understanding taxes, and maintaining relevance, to name a few. I’m also learning the importance of building a team of people who can handle the things in which I’m not well versed. This is a work in progress, and in the process, I’m being stretched. Naturally, I’m a loner and a quiet visionary. I’m accustomed to praying about what I see, planning in God’s presence, and producing. For most “projects” in my life, I’ve done that alone or with one or two others, so I’m challenged, daily, in sharing myself, my time, my space, and the inner workings of the business. But I’m doing the work to get where I need to be.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out.
If you believe you’re called to the consulting and/or speaking business, get mentors who are not only skilled, but knowledgeable and well-versed in the inner workings of “the life.” I believe, too often, we move into new spaces trying to gain footing on our own, and we really don’t have to.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.msussinteaches.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/msussinteaches/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/msussinteaches/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/msussinteaches
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVvVnOEROfDZxvHkOdO0-FA
Image Credits
Crystal Smith Miller
