Leticia Santiago-Jones of Gwinnett on Life, Lessons & Legacy

We recently had the chance to connect with Leticia Santiago-Jones and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Leticia , thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
For the first 90 minutes of my day, I choose stillness over screens. My morning ritual includes brewing coffee, lighting candles, taking care of my dog, and setting the tone for self-care and self-compassion. I carve out time for contemplation, praying, reading, checking my thinking, and emotions. This also includes daydreaming, brainstorming, and journaling. Lately, I’ve added watching the sunrise from my deck, savoring the quiet beauty of the morning. Silence and solitude bring me pure joy!

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am an educator, therapist, and founder of reignitED. I have experienced both the joys and challenges of teaching from the classroom to district leadership. Passionate about helping teachers advocate for their own well-being, I created reignitED to give back to the profession that saved my life. Through coaching, workshops, and strategic partnerships, reignitED supports educators in becoming bold advocates for themselves and their wellbeing—my focus clear: transform education one healthy teacher at a time.
We are working on expanding our reach via asynchronous learning opportunities. This will enable teachers the freedom to access courses that educate and promote personal growth. Developing strategic partners nationally and globally that are ready to create spaces for “true” teacher wellbeing is a critical next step. Our team is in REACH mode!

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
Recently, I celebrated a birthday, and I took time to reflect on the people who shaped my life, and one name stood out vividly—Mr. Rosario, my middle school teacher. He requested a parent-teacher conference. I recall walking into the parent-teacher conference with my mother, dreading what I assumed would be another list of shortcomings: poor attendance, too much talking, and academic struggles.
Instead, we were met with something entirely different. With a warm smile, Mr. Rosario praised my humor, my gift for public speaking, and even suggested acting classes, convinced I had the talent to command a stage.
Though acting classes never came, what he offered that day was far more valuable—the power of perspective. Mr. Rosario saw beyond the flaws others pointed out and recognized my power and potential. He reframed my “talking too much” as a love of language and a gift for communication, planting a truth that would guide me for years to come.
While I never became an actor in the traditional sense, I believe teaching itself is an art form that requires presence, delivery, and even a touch of performance. Mr. Rosario’s words took root that day, giving me a foundation of confidence and a lens through which to see my own power and greatness. “When the world tries to convince me otherwise,” I reflect, “I am immovable—rooted in my power and truth.” Thank you, Mr. Rosario!

What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
I believe wounds can be powerful teachers. That doesn’t mean I welcome suffering, or that I haven’t faced challenges I wish I could have skipped—my trauma began early. But over time, I’ve learned that leaning into pain creates space for growth and transformation. My wounds became a catalyst to rewrite my story. Where I saw others broken down by their own battles, I refused to surrender. I chose to compete with my pain, determined not to let it win.
The birth of my daughter deepened this commitment. I wanted her to witness grit, resilience, and triumph up close—to see that wounds could fuel healing and strength. Therapy was my first step, and it remains part of my life today, even as I serve others as a therapist myself. My support system, along with my work as a teacher, therapist, and business owner, has been instrumental to my ongoing healing.
Recently, I was struck by Henri Nouwen’s book The Wounded Healer, which suggests that our wounds can be offered for the healing of others. That truth has become my daily prayer. My life’s work is about repurposing wounds—not erasing them, but transforming them into sources of power, connection, and hope.

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Where are smart people getting it totally wrong today?
I’ve learned that smart people often need to step out of their heads and drop into their hearts. True leadership, decision-making, and relationships require a balance of both. As an educator, I found that everything began with a heart connection—with my students, their families, and my colleagues. Once that connection was established, what I taught, communicated, or implemented naturally aligned, creating a synergy that made the work meaningful and impactful.

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What do you understand deeply that most people don’t?
Most people don’t see the hidden struggles teachers face beyond the classroom. Low pay, dwindling respect for the profession, and the closure of teacher preparation programs are only part of the story—particularly in Exceptional Education, where enrollment remains critically low. Add to that the unspoken weight of systemic racism, which affects teachers personally and professionally, and the challenges deepen for educators of color.

Teachers wrestle with moral dilemmas daily: being asked to teach content they know isn’t fully accurate, follow practices that aren’t supported by science, or navigate the politics of book banning. All of this unfolds while they’re managing their own lives, families, and pressures. The reality is that many teachers, especially those from marginalized backgrounds, must reconcile their passion for serving students with the painful awareness that the very system they work in often disenfranchises both their students and themselves.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://projectreignited.com/
• Instagram: @reignit_ED
• Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/Leticiajones
• Facebook: reignited.now

Image Credits
Creatives’ Collective Co.