[00:00:00] F E B N. What is this amazing acronym? And why I decided to leave the classroom this year. My name is Jebeh Edmunds and welcome to the cultural curriculum chat. I'm so glad that you're listening.
[00:00:18] I am so excited to share with you. I am the founder and CEO. Of Jebeh cultural consulting. And my biggest passion is to share with you lots of multicultural, educational resources and strategies on how to be. Able to facilitate and work through.
[00:00:40] Authentic cross-cultural connections. And so you might be wondering, okay, Jeb, what does F E B N mean? It's an inspiring mantra. That has kept me going every time I've hit a crossroads in my life. [00:01:00] And even in my career choices, well, Without further ado. F E B N stands for.
[00:01:08] Forward ever backward. Never. Now. That mantra. Has been in my family for generations. My maternal grandfather, Anthony. K yo used to say this to my mother. And my mother in turn shared that saying with us girls growing up, my sisters and myself. And I must say in my life, I've never knew how impactful.
[00:01:39] This phrase meant. Until I grew into it. I always felt that every time something happened along my path with big decisions. This phrase forward ever backward never would echo in my thoughts. And it helped me find clarity of what I wanted to do next.
[00:01:59] [00:02:00] So I remember. Starting my business, Jeb cultural consulting. It's two years running. Oh, yay. Cue the confetti y'all. So two years ago in the hearts, in the big point, of this pandemic, My husband and I were going on a walk. And this was at a time in Minnesota where the state literally shut down, everybody was home working from home.
[00:02:31] We were starting school on distance learning. We loved going on date nights and things. And so for us, This was our way to, you know, get away from our rambunctious boys for a little bit. So we walked around in our neighborhood and.
[00:02:46] And I remember going this was two years ago and, chatting with my husband and just telling him I I've got a whole bin of, African cultural lesson plans and black history month activities I've used in my classroom [00:03:00] for 18 years. And I just want to figure out a way, if I could just start a business where I could set up like a, digital shop.
[00:03:11] And have one part of my business, be lessons that teachers can purchase online and download right away and have stuff that's culturally appropriate right at their hands and teach their children and students, , that's not the, stereotypical tropes that I've been, , talking and sharing with you this whole year and a half with this podcast.
[00:03:35] And then there's another part of me where I've done some diversity trainings, you know, four years ago, my best friend and I, we used to do that with our, mommy's in black and white, initiative. And so I wanted to think of a way where I could meld the two ideas together , and I was sharing this idea with my husband.
[00:03:53] And he's like, Jeb that's a no brainer. Go for it. And my husband, Andy he's [00:04:00] still so very supportive. And, and with that walk, I went home and wrote my business plan y'all and I looked up, how to get an LLC. And I hired a former student's who's mother is a business coach. Shout out to you and Angie.
[00:04:21] I will give you her information in the show notes. And she helped me immensely on just kind of guiding my way of who are the people I need to hire. You know, what things do I need to get in place to get my website? Up and running. I had a very dear friend of mine, shout out to Phil. With creative Arcade also have their information in the show notes. If you're looking for wonderful graphic design and marketing ideas and services.
[00:04:52] . I started getting this business up and running. So I'm getting clients and I'm getting [00:05:00] excited. I mean, I even did a little happy dance when I got my, my LLC certificate in the mail and I'm starting to do these trainings on zoom. And I'm also teaching on, you know, Google meets. And it was going and I'm going, and I'm getting my student, my teacher shop online and.
[00:05:20] Everything is great. Everything is golden. And after a year, I'm starting to build that momentum. And I started my podcast and that was awesome. And I love sharing with you all my favorite books and even started my YouTube channel, which is also parallel to my podcast. And in that was born and, I'm in this place where my plate is starting to get full y'all. I mean,
[00:05:48] I got the podcast. I've got the YouTube channel. I've got my blog on my website. I've got my trainings. And then I got my family, but I got to feed it in and take [00:06:00] places. And you know, I'm a wife fan. I also have students that I am smiling and teaching and Showing them how to divide fractions. I'm armpit with my one sided, white, dry erase board marker. And I'm doing all the things and having a blast.
[00:06:20] So after the first year, yeah. I'm getting clients, I'm doing the thing. I'm reaching and meeting new people and they're loving it and I'm receiving great feedback. Good, bad. And, and likewise. And then year two comes. And we're back in the classroom in person and, you know the season of masks on masks off masks on again, masks off for like the last minute school. You know what I'm talking about?
[00:06:49] And so, you know, 20, 21, 20 22. Even though I'm in person. And I'm teaching my live students in front of me. [00:07:00] I'm doing my thing, working with my awesome team. Shout out to Kathy and Dan and, Going in through that and in teaching my own son in the class, , In also at night. I'm doing my podcast .
[00:07:14] I am doing my YouTube channel. I'm doing my blog on the weekends. And I'm doing my trainings on the nights and weekends in person now. And in zoom. And I looked at my husband. And I said, this isn't sustainable. I can't do all of these, my plate, my cup runneth over right. 18 years of being this joyous teacher.
[00:07:43] Is starting to have me feel like I'm Rocky Balboa climbing up the steps and it's only Tuesday. And I got to go back. The next day and do all of the things. And so. I had my [00:08:00] succession plan. And that for whatever backward never came in my mind talk with my husband and, shared with him, the plan told my supervisor.
[00:08:10] And she knew the plan that this was going to be my last year. In the classroom and leaving my school district after 18 years. For me, going through that and, and going through the plan and teaching and just kind of going up those steps, like, oh, I can do this, I can do this. And I always have that, on the last day of school, for my teacher colleagues like, oh, we did it, we got up to the top. And so for me, this was those same steps of, okay, we're doing it Jeb, 18 years. You did it. You gave it your all.
[00:08:45] And you can be proud of what you've left , in your students and your colleagues and in the parents that you have gotten to know. And so going through those proverbial steps, I didn't regret it, you know? For [00:09:00] me, going forward with my succession of, okay, Jeb, I'm moving forward. I'm not going back. I raised my two children through the elementary school process. They're going now to high school and to middle school.
[00:09:13] So we can put a pin in and close that chapter. Of being with your kids on their field trips and their holiday concerts and all of those things that you missed when they were in the early years. And now. I see myself. As the founder and CEO of my own business. What.
[00:09:35] Oh, yeah being a keynote speaker. And being a panelist at these university settings in the space of diversity, equity and inclusion. Yes. Giddy up. Let's go right.
[00:09:50] And to top it off icing on the cake. Being named nominee in our districts teacher of the [00:10:00] year. I didn't win. But to be nominated was like, yes, that is the icing on the cake. And y'all know how much I love cake. Right. That was the buttercream of the 18 years of my service.
[00:10:12] And so walking away with that, thinking of my grandfather, And how proud my ancestors are of me.
[00:10:22] Looking forward. To this new entrepreneurship adventure. That I've already built. And now right now, darlings I'm cultivating and, and getting more guests on my podcasts and, you know, becoming an adjunct professor at our local college. The college of St. Scholastica in the fall.
[00:10:44] About inclusion in education.
[00:10:49] I am so excited of the possibilities. And I have been to those proverbial steps and I am so excited. Of what. [00:11:00] My business is going to flourish and do I am just so excited to see. The possibilities of making more cross-cultural connections with people in this field and in this space. And I really wanted to share that with you.
[00:11:18]
[00:11:18] So, those are the things where you have to sit back and, and really reflect and, ask yourself districts. I'm putting you to the charge. Why are our teachers not coming back? What is it in our climate that teachers don't feel valued. Confident. And comfortable. In your buildings.
[00:11:43] If you heard my previous episode about what it was like to be a black teacher in Northern Minnesota, you could take that story and see what it's like to be a black teacher in the urban area and a black teacher in a rural area. Same [00:12:00] stories, different environments. A lot of us have our reasons of why we left the classroom.
[00:12:08] And a lot of us educators, myself included. Did not take that decision lightly. For me, it was a lot of prayer, a lot of journaling. And a lot of let's see what happens. And a lot of that backing. Of forward. Ever backward, never. I hope this talk and my story shed some light of getting to know me a little bit more. And I really would love for you to.
[00:12:40] Taking a deep breath in. And telling the good Lord. Thank you. And taking all of my experiences. And bringing it into. My heart of my business and my inspiration to. [00:13:00] Educate and inspire you all. Is what I am excited and motivated to do. Every single day.
[00:13:08] Download my free. Audio trainer titled four ways of increasing cultural competency. It's only 45 minutes and it really helps you with that foundational work of being a better advocate. That I am so proud to continue to share my work with you. Oh, huge, huge hugs. Thank you so much for listening to today's episode and.
[00:13:31] Be gentle with our teachers out there. We've got a big charge and we love working with your children. But we also. Value the work that we do each and every day. So simple. Thank you. An air fist bump. Goes a long way. Thank you so much. Take care.
.png)