Rising Stars: Meet Semeka Samuels of Powder Springs

Today we’d like to introduce you to Semeka Samuels.

Hi Semeka, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
The Origin Story of MyConnect Consulting & Semeka Samuels From Classroom to Consulting

Semeka Samuels’ journey began in the classroom. As a teacher, she saw firsthand students’ brilliance and the challenges teachers faced in meeting their needs. From early childhood to high school and eventually as an assistant principal at a large Georgia high school, Semeka built her career on one central belief: every student deserves teachers who feel supported, prepared, and empowered to do their best work.

A Passion for People and Learning

Semeka’s experiences as both a teacher and leader gave her a panoramic view of education—its strengths, gaps, and possibilities. While pursuing her Ed.S. in Instructional Technology and later her Ed.D. in School Improvement, she became deeply committed to building systems that nurture teacher growth, student leadership, and sustainable change.

She recognized that teacher retention, student engagement, and civic leadership weren’t separate challenges—they were interconnected. What teachers needed wasn’t just another initiative; they needed connection: to resources, mentorship, each other, and their purpose.

The Birth of MyConnect Consulting

In 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic stretched schools everywhere, Semeka decided to turn her vision into action. She launched MyConnect Consulting to bridge gaps in professional learning, teacher support, and student leadership.

The name “MyConnect” reflected her philosophy:
My: ownership, personal investment, and individual growth.

Connect: the power of relationships, collaboration, and networks that drive real change.

Through partnerships with school districts, universities, and national organizations like Mikva Challenge, iCivics, and the Georgia Council for the Social Studies, MyConnect quickly became known for innovative professional development, curriculum design, and civic engagement programming.

A Legacy of Impact

Today, MyConnect Consulting is more than a consulting firm—it is a movement. Under Semeka’s leadership, the company continues to:
Develop new teacher induction and retention programs to keep great educators in classrooms.
Write a curriculum that blends civic education, equity, and real-world application.
Train and mentor leaders who impact schools and communities positively.
Elevate student voice, ensuring the next generation of leaders are informed, empowered, and inspired.

Looking Ahead
For Semeka, MyConnect Consulting is not just her company—it is her calling. Her origin story reminds us that education is not about quick fixes but about long-term commitment, connection, and courage to reimagine what’s possible.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
When I left the stability of school leadership to start my own consulting firm, I was stepping into uncertainty. The timing was both right and incredibly difficult: schools were navigating the aftershocks of the COVID-19 pandemic, budgets were tight, and trust in “outside solutions” was often low. I faced questions like: Would districts invest in a new partner? Could I balance building a business with finishing my doctorate? Was my vision too ambitious?

The early years were filled with obstacles: long nights of writing proposals that went unanswered, learning the business side of consulting from scratch, and fighting the doubt that comes when doors close before others open. At times, I wondered if the need I saw—for stronger teacher induction, retention, and civic engagement—was something schools were truly ready to prioritize.

But every challenge became a lesson. Every “no” taught me to refine the message. Every barrier reminded me that persistence is part of leadership. Slowly, MyConnect grew—one contract, one professional learning session, one curriculum project at a time.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
MyConnect Consulting Services 1. Professional Development for Educators

New Teacher Induction & Retention Programs (0–3 years of experience, multi-year support, mentorship, and coaching)

Instructional Strategies Workshops (engagement, inquiry-based learning, technology integration, MTSS, literacy, and differentiation)

Leadership Development (coaching for teacher-leaders, assistant principals, and instructional coaches)

PLC Training (Professional Learning Communities—cyclical inquiry, data-driven instruction, and collaborative culture)

Customized PD Sessions (curated to meet district/school needs, aligned with TKES/LKES, GSE, or client frameworks)

2. Curriculum Development & Writing

Standards-Aligned Curriculum Writing (Georgia Standards of Excellence, C-3, Educating for American Democracy, etc.)

Civic & Social Studies Curriculum (Project Soapbox, Youth Summits, iCivics partnerships, Pullman Porter Museum programs, Project Citizenship for early grades)

STEM/CTAE Curriculum (career clusters, mentoring modules, integration of workforce readiness skills)

Instructional Resources & Assessments (lesson plans, pacing guides, formative assessments, inquiry-based units)

Culturally Responsive Content (integrating diverse voices, history, and perspectives into curriculum)

3. Student Leadership & Civic Engagement

Youth Summits & Student Advisory Councils (planning, facilitation, and coaching students to lead discussions and present solutions)

Public Speaking Training (helping students advocate on issues that matter to them)

Student Showcases (designing platforms for students to present civic, academic, or talent-based projects)

Civic Partner Collaborations (connecting students with community organizations and local leaders)

4. Coaching & Mentorship

Teacher Coaching (instructional, reflective, and goal-setting coaching, in-person or virtual)

Leader Coaching (for new administrators, department chairs, and program directors)

Mentorship Program Design (structures for pairing mentors/mentees within schools or districts)

Ongoing Virtual Support (webinars, coaching cycles, check-ins)

5. Consulting & Strategic Planning

Change Leadership Consulting (guiding schools/districts through transitions and initiatives)

MTSS (Multi-Tiered Systems of Support) (strategies for intervention, Tier 1–3 supports, progress monitoring)

Retention & Recruitment Strategies (for teachers and pre-service educators)

Equity & Inclusion Consulting (DEI frameworks, culturally responsive teaching, advocacy support)

Community/Partner Engagement (designing collaborations between schools and civic, cultural, or corporate partners)

6. Special Projects & Media

Educational Media Content (podcasts, video series, social media campaigns for teachers and districts)

Conference Sessions & Keynotes (brain-based learning, civic education, AI in education, teacher motivation)

Custom Educational Materials (certificates, awards, guides, templates, and turnkey resources for events/programs)

What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
MyConnect Consulting will be recognized as a national leader in teacher induction, retention, and student leadership development. By this stage:

We will have long-term contracts with multiple school districts across the U.S., providing year-round professional learning cycles.

Our three-year teacher induction model will be established as a best practice for reducing turnover and improving teacher efficacy.

We will publish signature curriculum collections—civic engagement, early literacy, and culturally responsive resources—that are widely adopted in districts.

Our youth summits and student showcases will serve as national models for civic engagement, amplifying student voice in schools and communities.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.myconnectconsulting.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myconnectconsulting/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/myconnectonline/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/99254055/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MyConnectConsulting
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/myconnect-consulting-powder-springs