Today we’d like to introduce you to Pamela Seda.
Pamela, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I started my company in response to the need to support mathematics teachers and teaching. I had been a mathematics educator myself for over 20 years, and recognized how challenging school environments had become. I also realized that while states were increasing level of rigor of math standards, teachers were really struggling to keep up with all the changes. I also was very concerned about the inequities systemic in our educational institutions, especially for students of color. For too many students of color, mathematics classes meant feeling like a dummy or a failure. I wanted students to experience mathematics as I did, something that was empowering and positive. While supervising the mathematics programs in two metro school districts, I became well aware of the bureaucratic red tape that kept both students and teachers from receiving the help that they so desperately wanted and needed. Therefore, I started my own company to work with directly with principals and teachers.
Has it been a smooth road?
It has not been a smooth road, because of some of the same reasons that made working at the district level difficult. On many occasions, I had principals and teachers willing to work with me, but was unable to navigate through their district’s process for submitting the proper paperwork to secure my services. On one occasion, I had submitted all the necessary paperwork for a scheduled workshop, and received a call from the school secretary the day before the workshop indicating that it had been canceled due to lack of funds.
In other cases, districts that were able to secure my services, often were very slow in processing my invoices. Sometimes it would take up to 6 months for me to get paid.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Seda Educational Consulting – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Seda Educational Consulting is a professional development service provider. Our company’s motto is “Building the Capacity of Schools to Improve Student Learning.” We provide support at the district, school, and educator levels. What sets us apart is the deep respect for the professionalism and expertise of teachers, and our goal to build the capacity of districts and schools to do the very difficult work of teaching and learning, rather than us just telling people what to do. Oftentimes, I’ll be asked to come and evaluate a teacher’s practice first and then meet with teachers to inform them about how to improve. That approach does not fit in with my leadership philosophy. I believe that feedback will not be received or acted upon if you have not earned the trust of your participants. If my feedback is not received or acted upon, then I wasted my time, as well as theirs. I think it is a privilege to be invited into a teacher’s classroom, and do not take that privilege lightly. Therefore, I work with teachers first as a group, work to earn their respect, build their trust, before communicating my plan for improving mathematics teaching and learning at their schools. I am proud of the positive feedback that I receive from teachers who say things like, “This is the best workshop I’ve attend all year!” or “Everyone in the district should attend this workshop.”
I am also proud of the interactive math card games that my company sells. As a secondary mathematics teacher, I remember how hard it was to find math games that addressed the topics I needed to teach. It seemed as though the mathematics community felt like high school students didn’t need to have fun practicing math. So I printed my first card game on card stock, laminated the cards, and cut them apart. What I discovered when students played the game, is that they worked way harder doing math problems while playing the game, than they ever did doing a worksheet. I also saw that they made connections between math concepts on their own, and I did not have to explain everything. The game created a context that intrinsically motivated them to figure out how the concepts fit together and understand the subtle distinctions between them that students often get confused.
Although playing the card game was a lot of fun, making the card games took up a tremendous amount of time and energy; time I just didn’t have as a classroom teacher. Therefore, I looked for a manufacturer who could produce the card games for me. After hiring my daughter, who is an architect, to do the graphic design for the game, I was able to find a company to commercially produce the game for me. I now sell them on my website. I currently have 4 different versions of the card game, and look to develop 2 more versions this year.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
What I like best about Atlanta is the variety of opportunities that exist for upwardly mobile African Americans. There are so many companies that cater to my interests and tastes as an African American female. I also like the fact that Atlanta is an international city. With my husband being born in Kenya, and me being born in Germany (I was a military brat), I love the fact people from around the world feel comfortable visiting and living in our city.
What I like least about our city is how segregated it is. I really hate how people tend to think of certain parts of the city being the “black” side of town or the “white” side of town. White flight has made “mixed” neighborhoods very rare in the metro Atlanta area.
Pricing:
- VANG Game Card Game – 14.99 per game
- Professional Development Servies – $2000 per day or $1000 for half day
Contact Info:
- Address: 2724 Wesley Chapel Road #360150
Decatur, GA 30036 - Website: https://www.sedaeducationalconsulting.com/
- Phone: 770-870-8202
- Email: pamseda@sedaeducationalconsulting.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sedaedconsulting/
- Twitter: @pamseda1
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.
