Dr. Karen Baptiste
Principals Institute '12
There was a fire in each of us to do something different. And we did. We all are. It was already there, and Bank Street pretty much just lit the fire, right? They saw that spark and they just lit it.
Dr. Karen Baptiste (who goes by “Dr. K”) is the founder and CEO of the Preschool to Prison Consultancy, a multifaceted organization that provides teacher development and executive leadership coaching and strives to support leaders in creating liberatory spaces within school districts, schools, non-profits, and corporations. The organization also works with non-profits on policies that address issues impacting the education system, such as mental health services, leadership development, and appropriate teacher training and support.
Dr. K has been recognized for her potential at every stage in her career. She was offered her first job in journalism by a customer she ran into at Toys R Us who was impressed by her thoughtful guidance. Later, a supervisor motivated her to pursue a position in public education, where her assistant principal encouraged her to obtain her teaching license. When she earned her master’s degree and accepted a job at a different school, the principal and assistant principal both told her she needed to become an administrator. They referred her to the Principals Institute at Bank Street where she was also recognized for her ability to create change.
“They saw something in each of us,” Dr. K said about Bank Street’s program for educational leaders. “There was a fire in each of us to do something different. And we did. We all are. It was already there, and Bank Street pretty much just lit the fire, right? They saw that spark and they just lit it.”
Her personal experience along with her work in education inspired her to produce and direct a documentary called Preschool to Prison, which was recently released on Amazon Prime. The film is a compelling examination of how the US public school system is built and operates like a prison; zero-tolerance policies are used to justify suspension and arrests, which set up a pathway to send children of color and children with special needs from school to prison.
Here are Dr. K’s answers to a few questions we posed in a recent interview.
What challenges for teachers does Preschool to Prison address?
It asks: At what time are we going to sit and prioritize the education and the well-being of our children? If our role is to prepare the next generation, how are we truly preparing them to lead and create a better society than how they found it? We actually focus primarily on leadership because the leader of that building or organization can reduce the in-house variabilities educators face that impact student achievement. How do we make sure that we hold the right people accountable to providing the appropriate resources that our students need, that our parents need, that the community needs, and especially what our educators need because they are on the front lines? We recognize that when the adults in the educational ecosystem are supported and well-equipped, it creates a healthy environment that fosters the well-being and success of the children. Simply put, if the adults are well, the children are likely to be well.
Right now, our youth come to school with so many layers of trauma. I can’t tell a child to have no emotion when they step into the school building and just be prepared for all of the math and reading lessons that I have for them. That is not realistic to tell any human, let alone a child. We have certain districts that say, “That’s not our job. That’s the parent’s job.”
Other districts are saying teachers can’t teach because our children are coming in with so many different challenges and the children are not ready to learn. I have to get my kids to pass the state test, and my job is on the line if I don’t. What happens then, right? So now it becomes, do I choose the students over my family? My livelihood is going to come first. We now put teachers in a really tough position because they want to care and do all these things, but they also have these mandates and the pressure to get these scores.
We collaborate with non-profit organizations to address various policies that tackle important issues. Our focus includes ensuring access to mental health services, providing appropriate training for teachers, and supporting our educators effectively. While it’s common to discuss the needs of children, we often overlook the needs of adults. If adults are not healthy, that impact is inevitably passed on to the children.
What part of your Bank Street experience do you carry into your current work?
Bank Street is one of the top programs in this country for leadership development, and it’s an honor that I went there. I met some amazing people. They’re all doing amazing things, but that’s the type of preparation that Bank Street gives. The type of program support and coaching that Bank Street provides is unparalleled.
I hold every aspect of my experience at Bank Street close to my heart. The courses I took were meticulously designed to foster deep understanding and practical skills, integrating both theory and real-world application. I fondly recall our time spent in the field, where we engaged in hands-on learning, collaborating closely with experienced mentors. Their guidance during our clinical practice was invaluable, nurturing my growth and helping me refine my leadership abilities while building meaningful connections with the communities we served. Each of these elements left a lasting impression on my professional journey.
What advice do you have for current Bank Street students?
You have to know your purpose. That’s where people miss the mark because many of us live our lives for others. I stopped that a long time ago. I tell people all the time that if you’re not living out your purpose, you’ll never be happy because you will always have an internal void and unfulfillment no matter how much money you make. Money will always come and go because money is transient. Don’t chase the accolades. Don’t chase fame. Don’t chase titles. If you want to do something, try to solve a problem for people. Do that. Because if you’re solving a problem for people, you’re making their life better, and enriching your own life in the process.
Listen to Dr. K describe the personal experiences that inspired Preschool to Prison Consultancy and led to her making the documentary.