Redefining Leadership in Education with Principal Dare'ra Spragg

Join us on an intriguing journey with Dare'ra Spragg, a remarkable figure in the field of education, and the principal of Leadership Preparatory Brownsville Middle Academy. She is redefining leadership and reshaping education from the helm of her school in Brooklyn, New York. In this episode, she takes us through her non-traditional path from UVA to Teach for America, and eventually finding her calling as a school principal. She opens up about her day-to-day challenges, her commitment to her students, and her relentless pursuit of creating a safe, supportive environment for academic excellence.

Dare'ras story is one of passion and perseverance. She shares her experiences from her college days at UVA, where she found her sense of community in various clubs, leading her to join Teach for America. We discuss the critical skills she honed during this period and her eye-opening experiences in Atlanta public schools. It was here that she witnessed the stark achievement gap in America, a realization that spurred her decision to earn a master's degree, backed by a robust support system embodied by her family.

In the final segment of the episode, listen to Dare'ra as she reflects on her journey to becoming a principal, supported by her post-graduate experience at Johns Hopkins University. She discusses her experiences teaching in Baltimore and New York City, and how these experiences prepared her for her current role. We also delve into the significant impact of the pandemic on student learning, the importance of fostering relationships within the classroom, and the critical role of school safety. If education and leadership inspire you, or if you enjoy hearing about the journey of a passionate professional, this episode with Dare'raa Spragg is a must-listen.