Exploring Life & Business with Kimberly Daniel of Keystone Instruction

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kimberly Daniel. They and their team shared their story with us below:

Kimberly Wilson Daniel, M.Ed, GCDF, also known as “Coach D,” is a mother, grandmother, mentor, author, public speaker, education consultant, REALTOR®, and edupreneur. Being born and raised in a small town in Northeast Georgia, Kimberly was blessed to grow up in the “it takes a village to raise a child” era. She lost her mother to breast cancer when she was just 14 months old and was raised by her father, a blue-collar worker who was a master electrician.

She can recall the presence of several “mother figures” within her village who poured heavily into her and influenced her upbringing. So, although there was a void in her life left by the earthly absence of her mother, she has always felt her spiritual presence and the physical presence of others. At the young age of 16, Kimberly gave birth to her first of five children. Having to “grow up fast” was an understatement.

The majority of the life lessons she learned along the way were through trial and error. Many of those lessons were the basis for a very “colorful” journey to self-actualization, and as a result, she has made a conscious effort to help others reach self-actualization in a less “colorful” way, all while experiencing life to the fullest.

Today, her life’s purpose is centered around helping people get back to the basics of life that will support a solid foundation rooted in clarity and purpose. Growth, confidence, productivity, social and emotional wellness, self-advocacy, and personal and professional development. Kimberly accomplishes this by EDUCATING, EQUIPPING, and EMPOWERING individuals with tools and strategies for success.

Kimberly is the Founder and Director of Keystone Instruction and resides in Atlanta, GA. In her previous roles in the education sector, she has served as a College and Career Academy Leader, Master Teacher Leader, Director of Financial Aid, a District CTAE Entrepreneurship Pathway Specialist, and a District Learning Architect. Her work inside and outside of the classroom centers around equipping people with the necessary tools to excel in every area of their lives.

A highly skilled educator with over 19 years of experience, Kimberly offers empowerment in the areas of New Teacher Mentorship, CTAE Program Development, Leadership Development, Curriculum Design, Classroom Instruction, Student Success Strategies, College and Career Readiness Improvement, Relationship Building, Technology Integration, and Parent Involvement.

She is the ideal speaker and facilitator for educational conferences and professional development sessions, as well as colleges, summer camp programs, parent meetings, and after-school enrichment programs. Outside of Education Consulting, Kimberly’s heart work in the community centers around assisting high school students and their families in securing scholarships and other forms of financial aid to attend and graduate college DEBT FREE!

She is a native of Toccoa, GA, and a graduate of Stephens County High School, North Georgia Technical College, Piedmont College, and the University of Phoenix. She has earned an AAT degree in Computer Information Systems, a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, and a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction.

She has also earned her Tier 1 Education Leadership certification, coaching endorsement, and certification in Entrepreneurship and Small Business. Kimberly is also a certified Global Career Development Facilitator and REALTOR® in Georgia.

Alright, 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?
This journey to where I am today has been anything BUT smooth. I have had to overcome many struggles along the way. One such struggle was overcoming depression. When I was suffering from depression, there were times when I couldn’t even get up enough mental energy to get out of bed. There were days when I was literally fighting to stay alive mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Pouring out my emotions into my journal was the method God used to save me, and I used that journal as a lifeline. That lifeline became one of the first books that I authored, “God Was Waiting On Me.” The chapters in the book detailed my journey to Total Restoration.

1. Married… and Divorced
2. How Do I Go On?
3. Seeking Me Before Seeking We
4. Forgiveness and Freedom
5. Waiting on God
6. Worth the Wait

God helped me discover strategies for breaking free from my past and discovering – Self-love, God’s love for me, and tools that guided me along my journey to finding love through forgiveness and freedom. I began to believe that God had a plan and purpose for my life. Even in times when I didn’t understand the course my life seemed to be taking, I chose to believe in His promise!

With God’s guidance, I realized that many of the situations I found myself in were fueled by my desire to be in control and do things my way. My mind was transformed and I began to look at life differently. I let myself and others off the hook for many of the setbacks I endured and eventually, I reached the point where I realized it was time to stop doing things my way/ I bossed up and said, “Enough is enough.”

I made the decision to follow God’s plan for my life, and that one decision put an end to many of the struggles I was experiencing. I began using the lessons I learned from my experiences to inspire and motivate others to also shift their perspective on life. I understand that following God’s plan may not be the popular or glamorous choice for some, but for me, its benefits have been everlasting.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
I left my passion to chase my purpose. I had always been told that I should become a school leader. Even the students in my classroom would say, “You should be the Principal.” I was blessed to meet their expectations in 2021 when I was presented with the opportunity to lead a College and Career Academy. However, after serving in the role for two years and being very successful, there was an undeniable pull to step out on faith and become an advocate for teachers on a much larger scale.

My last day as the academy leader was May 31, 2023, and I have been working full-time on behalf of teachers ever since. On February 24, 2024, I released my latest book titled, “The Burnt Out Teacher: 7-Steps to Relight Her Fire,” Working closely with teachers and administrators across many states has been the most rewarding experience ever.

According to the National Education Association, teacher burnout is “a condition in which an educator has exhausted the personal and professional resources necessary to do the job.” Teachers are increasingly frustrated with the profession. They face challenges such as low pay, long hours, and lack of support on top of the other daily demands. They entered teaching with passion, vision, and a desire to “be the change they wanted to see,” but now, many are walking away. There is a cry for genuine support, not just checkbox programs or superficial initiatives.

Results from a Gallup poll indicate that “55% of female teachers are feeling burned out while 44% of male teachers feel the same way.” It would not be a stretch to say that many teachers are suffering from Pandemic PTSD based on what they endured before, during, and after the pandemic. For a while, teachers continued to show up day in and day out for students, but they are finding it difficult to keep this up. They are trying their best to be loyal to their students and the profession. They are trying their best to be there for everyone, but is there anyone truly there for them?

Teachers need to be seen, heard, and provided with meaningful, customized support that recognizes their individual needs. Keystone Instruction is presented as a solution to minimize teacher burnout, bridge the gap between teacher preparation programs and the classroom, empower new teachers who need mentorship within their first five(5) years in the profession, and support CTE teachers transitioning from industry to education. Our products and services are designed to reduce attrition rates among teachers with five or fewer years of experience by educating, empowering, and equipping them to thrive personally and professionally in the teaching profession.

Our professional development models assist in recognizing the signs and symptoms of burnout and the impact of burnout on teachers and students, helping teachers avoid overwork and burnout by coaching them on setting boundaries and achieving work-life balance, establishing an effective and engaging new-teacher mentorship program that supports the mission and vision of the school and increases instructional capacity, and, maintaining teacher well-being over time by ensuring they remain in the career fulfillment zone.

Can you share something surprising about yourself?
Most people don’t know that I left my dream job in 2023 to become “The Teacher’s Agent.” (agent(n) – a person who acts on behalf of another person or group). I am able to fulfill this purpose through my education consulting business, my podcast – The Teacher’s View, AND Real Estate.

Yes, that’s right, I am a REALTOR in the state of Georgia. While I work with clients from all walks of life, I have a special heart for educators, and I enjoy sowing into their personal and professional lives. I partner with a long-time friend and mortgage lender, and we go into schools and communities to promote financial wellness and home ownership. Our program, W.E. CARE, is all about empowerment. There is much misinformation about the journey to home ownership, and we are on a mission to educate, equip, and empower individuals with the knowledge needed to move from where they are to where they want to be.

As the host of A Teacher’s View, I utilize this platform to give educators a safe space to share solutions and strategies that will help everyone navigate the challenges in education. Teachers are often overlooked when there is an opportunity to speak out on issues within our education system, especially issues that directly relate to them. Although they are often added to the category as a stakeholder, their voices are often muffled in the conversation. If you are someone who wants to speak from a place of contribution and solution, I would love to share the mic with you.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://keystoneinstruction.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kimberly_wilson_daniel
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kimberly.leeanne.wilson/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/KimberlyWilsonDaniel/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/kimwilsondaniel
• Other: https://linktr.ee/kimberly_wilson_daniel?utm_source=linktree_admin_share

Image Credits
Ronnell Collins and Creative Lair