We had the good fortune of connecting with Andrea Pickens and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Andrea, is there something you believe many others might not?
“Keep Hustling” is one piece of conventional advice that I absolutely disagree with. I get what message is trying to be conveyed, but not everyone does. To hustle, by definition, means to work fast and tirelessly. That is no way to approach life because at some point, hustling leads to burning yourself out and losing passion for what you desire. “Keep persevering or being resilient”, I believe is what the context of those who use that phrase really mean, AND is what I live by.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?

I am an Education Professional and a Secondary Math/Science Instructional Coach. I have been in K-12 education and youth development nonprofit for a total of 7 years. I’ve taught middle and high school science. I am extremely passionate about bridging the academic achievement and opportunity gaps. I am currently a Doctoral Student at Baylor University studying Learning & Organizational Change with an anticipated commencement of Summer 2024.

All of the work that I do as an education professional is centered around helping all students be successful beyond the classroom and helping develop educators to help students along their journey. I got to where I am today because of pursuing God’s best for me, healing from child trauma, tapping into my identity, and my tribe. This journey has not been easy; prayer, discipline, consistency, resilience, and grit have played a huge role in navigating this journey. I’ve learned the importance of character development, collaboration, leveraging partnerships, and building community. I’m really just out here serving and joining the collective of educators and professionals determined to shift the lives of youth around the world.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
My favorite spots in the city are The Shops at Legacy West, Dallas Farmers Market, Grandscape, Bishop Arts District, and Uptown (McKinney Ave) to name a few. That’s a tough question; Dallas is a melting pot, so there is literally something for everyone here. I follow a few influencers on Tiktok and Instagram that give all the best spots: @dallasfoodiefix, @dubbsgrubs (never disappoints), @dallaslovelist, @dallashotspots, and @dtxcoupleoffoodies.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I have to shout-out God and my village. My village includes my husband (Darius), our amazing kiddos, my close family, my boss besties (Rickeal, Ashley, and Brittany), my mentor (Jamille), and former teachers and principals that paved the way for me to take risks, break cycles, and flourish. Wow, the list of names is long. I will start with my mom, Theresa, and my aunts, Christy, Janell, Kendria, and Kisha, you all have shown me what a black girl from Mississippi with dreams and goals can truly accomplish. You have taught me what resilience looks like, how to be tenacious, and how to rise above challenges with grace and poise. I am blessed to have women in my life that operate in excellence. Lastly, this shoutout is especially for my sister/cousin, Kayla, “If I can do all things” was a person, it would be her! God put her in position to pull me out of a place of lack and into a place of abundance. I’m forever grateful.

Website: http://apickensconsulting.com/

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/andreabracey

Twitter: educatorscallab

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