**Ron Rapatalo**: (00:00:00) What's up? I'm **Ron Rapatalo** and this is the Randings Podcast. Around here, I sit down with guests for real, unpolished conversations about the lessons and values that shape them. And I'll be right there with you, sharing my own take, laughing at myself when I need to, and wondering out loud about this messy thing called life. Glad you pulled up a chair. Let's get into it.

**Ron Rapatalo**: (00:00:23) Welcome to another episodes of Randings. Today I'm excited to dive into a powerful conversation with **Dr. Rahesha Amon**, a true New Yorker and force in education. From growing up in Harlem to leading the **City Teaching Alliance**, Raha's story is all about identity, purpose, the power of knowing your roots. We're going to talk about her heritage, her path into education, what it means to lead with both heart and vision. Let's get into it.

**Ron Rapatalo**: (00:00:53) Hey friends, before we get started, I want to share something that's been a big part of my own journey. Two years ago, I published my book, *Leverage*. That experience cracked something open for me. I saw how publishing isn't just about pages, it's about owning your story, sharpening your voice, and amplifying your impact. The part that meant the most, readers reached out to me to say they felt seen. That's when I knew this work mattered. I loved this so much I co-founded Leverage Publishing Group with friends who would make [it] known this world inside and out. Now we help leaders, entrepreneurs, and change makers turn their ideas into books and podcasts that actually move people. You got a star in you, and I know you do. Let's chat. Find me on LinkedIn or at leveragepublishinggroup.com because the world doesn't just need more books. It needs your book.

**Ron Rapatalo**: (00:01:46) All right, let's get into today's episode. Peace. **Ronderings** universe. I have one of my New York City ed friend extraordinaires. **Dr. Rahesha Amon** is on the mic. We in for a treat today. How you doing?

**Dr. Rahesha Amon**: (00:02:00) I am so good and so happy to be here. Ron, thank you for inviting me.

**Ron Rapatalo**: (00:02:05) Absolutely. You know how we go New York, right? You know, it's just it's a vibe. I remember the first time I got to meet you in person after a lot of like LinkedIn and like virtual interaction was seeing you at ASU GSV a couple years ago.

**Dr. Rahesha Amon**: (00:02:18) Yeah, I remember that moment. I was like, "Oh my god." I think we were both getting coffee or something and I was like, "Ron, is that you?" Right. And you know, in true New York fashion, like we greeted one another and hug. Like New Yorkers are not mean. I get so upset when people think that we're like, we're we we do things with purpose now. And if we're, you know, right, but we are not mean. And so yeah, I really appreciated that opportunity to meet you in person and we've just been like, you know, vibing ever since.

**Ron Rapatalo**: (00:02:44) Yeah. I'm just like I have to say when it comes to New Yorkers, right, we are direct.

**Dr. Rahesha Amon**: (00:02:50) Yes.

**Ron Rapatalo**: (00:02:51) We are clear and kind.

**Dr. Rahesha Amon**: (00:02:52) That's right. That's right. That's right.

**Ron Rapatalo**: (00:02:54) Now, we are also in a rush to get places. So you don't keep it moving. You might get a little bit of the rustice cuz I'm like, come on. Chop chop.

**Dr. Rahesha Amon**: (00:03:04) Gotta move it, move along. Time is valuable here. That's right. I mean, folks got to just understand it is it is, you know, there are times when we are able to absolutely slow down. I would say like in this season of my career I am for sure not moving as fast as I used to. And I'm grateful for the opportunity to slow down in this way and be more intentional, you know. And I don't live in the city. I happen to live outside in Westchester and definitely move a lot slower. And I feel more like my southern counterparts and my friends when I'm home in Westchester. But I think [it would be] really sad if I didn't have the opportunity to hop into the action of the city like at a moment's time. Like I'm one metro north stop away from Harlem and I'm like a 20 minute drive, right? Like down that westside high[way], like I'm literally west side, right? And I'm there and I'm in the action and I love it.

**Ron Rapatalo**: (00:03:57) That's beautiful. Yeah. I'm uh hop skipping a jump away from downtown Manhattan and Jersey City and so can see One World Trade from our home and I am a Path right away and all the things. Metro North. It all depends on like where you go get to the city right?

**Dr. Rahesha Amon**: (00:04:12) Oh, world. Yeah.

**Ron Rapatalo**: (00:04:13) Amen to that. So Raha let's get right into it. What is your story?

**Dr. Rahesha Amon**: (00:04:19) Oh okay. So first and foremost I want to say that we could not tell my whole story in this one episode, right? Because it would for sure, it would for sure be a sequel, right?

**Ron Rapatalo**: (00:04:33) My guest. We have my first, you know, recurring guest.

**Dr. Rahesha Amon**: (00:04:36) That's right. Right. It would be a Netflix sequel with at least eight episodes for sure. But, you know, I'll give you like a little bit of like how I got to this part of my story. And so, we started with New York. I am quintessential New Yorker. It is what I am proud of. I think it's like a magical place and having traveled the world, I really appreciate more and more what this I always say it's like a study in cultural anthropology like the opportunity to like be around so many different people. I could essentially never leave New York City and also travel the world, right? You know, though I I love collecting passports on my stamps. Those stamps on my passports, excuse me. My being a New Yorker is something that I'm so very proud of. It it really speaks to who I am. I'm fourth generation New Yorker as well. So, we are not new to this. We are true to this. And you know, I believe like being raised here has made me resourceful. I'm able to navigate complicated and comp[lex] situations. Like as a child you were given a metro card and you knew where to go without a cell phone and we got there with maps on time, right? Safely, right? We figured it out, right? And so like being a New Yorker is a huge part of who I am. I love the museums. A lot of people don't know this about me. I started my career in the museum space. So what I was see—

**Ron Rapatalo**: (00:08:00) I did not know that. We'll have to talk about that a little bit.

**Dr. Rahesha Amon**: (00:08:02) Yes. I was, you know, wanted, thought I wanted to be a curator. I was actually a history major. And so, I love the museum. I love the arts. I've played the piano, the violin, I've danced. I think teaching entered my world because it allowed me to express myself in a way. But New York just fuels me like no other city. And while I've lived in North Carolina, I live very briefly in Washington DC, I am always drawn drawn to the magic of this space. I'm also a black woman, right? And I don't say also like it's like separate from being a New Yorker because if I had to describe myself, I'm the quintessential black New York woman, right? You know, and all of the things that that means. And no, we're not a single story, right? But my story is, you know, special to me. And so, you know, being able to show up in the world every day now at my old age authentically who I am as **Rahesha Aman**. I am say your name. I am so proud of the foundation my parents my family my village the black church Harlem. Right? Like we are Harlem nights. Though we have journeyed far from Harlem, you know, in in in terms of our New York City but there's something about the magic of that community, my family that has allowed me to stay proud and grounded as a black woman in this country in particular in this moment in time. So my story is one that it starts in New York, very proud family roots who definitely instilled so much in me. I would not be this confident, strong but soft leader, you know, being able to have led in the largest school system in our country and now a national nonprofit. If I didn't have a village of love, a community that stood behind me that said, Raisha, first and foremost, never forget that your story did not start on this country's ground. You are from a rich legacy of mathematicians. You are from a rich legacy engineers, of business people, the original entrepreneurs, of doctors, of lawyers, of debaters, right? And so that is who you are. That is why we named you Rayisha, the sun goddess of life, that is why your last name is Aman. And if you know Egyptology and those roots, that is why. And so that's just a bit of my story. Like that would probably be episode one.

**Dr. Rahesha Amon**: (00:11:04) Now we'll end with proud mother of a 19 year-old who I love dearly, Savannah. Okay. And you know, proud member of Alphacap Alpha Sorority Incorporated. My connection, I knew that was going to be mentioned because I've had a number of y'all on here, including my connection to like being in community with women, black women, and other women, and just women is it's important to who I am. I went to an all girls school 6 through 12, and that is such a strong part of my brand. And so, you know, now I stand anchored in that proud mom, less anchored in like my career, but more anchored in this space of like I'm so confident in who I am and the body that I hold space in. And then just being able to serve as this kind of say like the the chair of the board of directors of Savannah's life as I am guiding this 19-year-old on the second half I would say or second quarter of her life.

**Ron Rapatalo**: (00:12:12) Quick pause in the action here. I know a lot of us leaders, entrepreneurs, folks just trying to do good work develop that grind of pushing a boulder uphill by ourselves. What I learned is you don't actually have to do it all alone. Genius Discovery Program at Thought Leader Path like having a think tank in your corner. It's not some cookie cutter formula about your story, your plan of impact, giving you the clarity and assets to take the next big step. I've seen people go through this and walk out with their voices amplified, ideas sharpened, some even launching podcasts like this one, **Ronderings**. So, if you're tired of grinding in the dark, you're ready to step into your impact with right support. Check out geniusdiscovery.org.

**Ron Rapatalo**: (00:13:00) Obviously, you have shared this story before. You're so passionate about your roots to hear that it's not it's it's even beyond confidence, right? It's a level of like growth in this because it sounds like you know more about your story and roots. So when I think about one of my favorite shows ever on PBS that I watch with the misses, Finding Your Roots, right?

**Ron Rapatalo**: (00:13:28) It sounds like So I I want to go there a little bit. Like you talked about being a fourth generation New Yorker. How much do you know about your history beyond New York? Because you mentioned your deep African roots. I'm curious about how do you what do you know about that story? How did you find it out? Right. Because I had a previous podcast guest I just talked with who gave his story of like being from Japan and like finding this re rich deep history which gave him a level of groundedness that reminds me of the conversation I'm having with you.

**Dr. Rahesha Amon**: (00:14:07) Yeah. I mean I I feel like I'm still uncovering some of who we are, you know. And you know again, um my father's David Aman and so that's Aman's and then my mother is Darish Joe, right? So there's the Joe family and then obviously they birthed this beautiful creature that you're having the opportunity to see, to talk to, right? And so, you know, there this I always say like my maternal side I felt was most prevalent, you know, and understanding that history. But one of the things that my mother did for me, my paternal side is present too. But it was like my maternal side and my mother in particular who made sure that like I knew who I was and why. My grandmother's mom, her mother passed when she was 12 years old. And my grandmother had to leave New York at 12 as a little girl and go south outside of Charleston, South Carolina. And and you know, we don't need to go back into history, right? So, she was a New York City girl who was in school, right? Who actually lived in a brownstone in Harlem. Who [had] piano lessons, right? So, you know, there right there was some privilege in her life at that time. And now she's in the south. What who I now know as my great-grandmother who raised her, her cousin and her two siblings. But when my grandmother got old enough to come back to New York, she did. And she never spoke of the South. And with my mother's siblings, she never took them back to the South. Right. And we understand that that was a generation that didn't really speak of things that were that may have happened to them traumatically.

**Ron Rapatalo**: (00:16:11) Yes.

**Dr. Rahesha Amon**: (00:16:13) But my mother was very cognizant about like, okay, but there's this family there, right? And there's a history that we want to learn so we can know a little bit more about ourselves. So it was my mother you know really who decided to explore more of both who are the Joe's and who are the Amans, right? And that takes me back south and then that takes me overseas, right? And at 12 years old, I don't know how my mother had the knowledge to take me on my first trip to Africa to the continent. She took yeah, she took me to West Africa. We explored Senegal and she, you know, I coin it now because I've done it for my daughter. I had a black mitzvah, so to speak, and there were rituals and things that I was a part of and just understanding that my story did not begin there. And then I've had the opportunity to then study under Dr. Ben, travel to Egypt, other parts of the continent to really make the connections. I didn't know like my father never said Aman was connected to Egyptology even though like he would speak about Rah amen. I was able to understand those things deeper from you know my my mother again who arranged the opportunity for these trips to the continent. So you know it was really my mother and wanting me to and herself and our family understand that yes we are proud New Yorkers but our story did not start here. It did not absolutely start with slavery. But there's a reason why cousin Eloise makes herbs in her kitchen to heal up, right?

**Ron Rapatalo**: (00:18:13) Yeah.

**Dr. Rahesha Amon**: (00:18:14) There's a reason why cousin Eloise would speak of spirit in the way and say things like when I would say, "I could feel my mother. She must be close to coming to get me." And she'd say, "Well, that's a part of your ancestral rights and let me explain a little bit deeper for you." And so, you know, I've had a lot of opportunity to explore. And now, why I say I'm still learning is through my own daughter, right? She did ancestry.com. Like I've not done any of that, right? But okay, you know, I'm able to like learn even more as we return to the continent, meet new family members, recognize that there's like Beijian in me, right? And you know, my father's Beijing and there are some traces back to Saudi Arabia. And so then like this beautiful exploration of self that's me to like be prouder of who I am, stand taller as who I am as a black woman living this American experience and know that girl, yeah, you're a New Yorker, but you are richer and more than just. And so it allows me to step into spaces like, yeah, girl, you belong here.

**Ron Rapatalo**: (00:19:28) Of course, because if you have that history and that understanding under your feet and those ancestors and all that history surrounding you, right? You can You're not taking up space. You You're in. You are. You just exist because you know where you're from. I mean, who needs Skip Gates with all the research you've done with your mom and then what your daughter's doing, right? I was about to say we need a nonprofit CEO version of Finding Your Roots. And you need to be the first guest. We need I'm going go hit up Skip. Like I know I don't know him like—

**Dr. Rahesha Amon**: (00:20:07) No, we need Listen, I'm g[oing to] I'm gonna pick as a history major. I'm gonna pay homage to brother Skip Gates. But, you know, I do think that there are ways in which, you know, we can uncover. I mean, I believe that every young, me personally, every black American teenager should be afforded a trip back to the continent, right? It is watching my daughter have her black mitzvah at 13 was probably one of the most powerful experiences. And I remember when my mother said, "Just promise me you do this with your children." I didn't understand then. I was a child. But once I had a daughter I said I am going to make sure at 13. And my, you know, my good friend Phyllis Jeffers and her husband who hosted us who happened to, you know, do this for American families to watch my daughter come to life, right? To watch her see, right? Like real time that we existed.

**Ron Rapatalo**: (00:21:04) Yeah.

**Dr. Rahesha Amon**: (00:21:05) Rich civilizations, right? Like the original again like architects like all of these things that her history classes may not have been telling her in middle high school, right? Because she went to Thurgood Marshall Academy lower school connected to Abyssinian Baptist Church. So her elementary school foundation was solid in who she was. But the middle school, high school started to try to want to chip away at that, right? Like at everything we had instilled and say, "No, the Greeks started that or you know this was started with the Roman Empire." And my daughter was like, "Wait, that's not what I learned in my church, my family, my school." But then going to Africa—

**Ron Rapatalo**: (00:21:49) Yeah.

**Dr. Rahesha Amon**: (00:21:50) Affirmed. It was almost like, "Oh, no. These people are not lying to me. This was real. This is true." Right. So, yeah, I, you know, we could talk about that all day long. It is something I am so passionate about really getting folks, everyone should have the opportunity to go back to their the place of origin, you know, as they name it. I mean, but I'm speaking as a black woman living this American experience.

**Ron Rapatalo**: (00:22:19) Yeah. I had a family trip, the only time which I need to change to being a second time and bringing my full family.

**Ron Rapatalo**: (00:22:33) So, I went to the Philippines in 1988 and it was the hugest like cultural identity reflection point. Because I remember saying something to my mom before I asked you another question is I remember telling my mom, I didn't want to go. I complained because I was going to be gone for summer for my friends at middle school. I'm like a bratty middle schooler. Right. Brady, New York City, middle middle school, right? I was like, "But mom, I'm I'm more American than Filipino." And I could see my my mom be like—

**Dr. Rahesha Amon**: (00:24:00) I know what.

**Ron Rapatalo**: (00:24:00) "You're still going. I don't care." I was like, "Oh s***." Oh.

**Dr. Rahesha Amon**: (00:24:05) That's right.

**Ron Rapatalo**: (00:24:05) And when I three months later, the love of our people, see the beautiful natural resources.

**Dr. Rahesha Amon**: (00:24:15) Yes.

**Ron Rapatalo**: (00:24:16) It's really the love of the people and the culture, right? But like it's beautiful. I mean, when I mean beautiful, it makes me want to cry. It's beautiful back home. It's not even funny.

**Dr. Rahesha Amon**: (00:24:26) Yes.

**Ron Rapatalo**: (00:24:27) You I came back with pride. It switched. I was like I am more Filipino than American. And I'm proud of like being but like those that was the beginning of me being more curious.

**Ron Rapatalo**: (00:24:42) What I did at NYU learning, you know, co-founding APA studies as a student activist, right? Learning more about Filipino American and Philippine history. It just but without that experience of being in my ancestral home, I don't know if I would have been as curious this fast. So, Kudos for your mom doing that, you know, starting that journey for you, doing that for your daughter. It just it these are necessary things because we can have another episode talking about the state of this country and everything going on. Our groundedness and our identity and who we are and the history, resistance, resilience is something that we need to understand at this time.

**Dr. Rahesha Amon**: (00:25:34) That's right. That's right. That's right. That's a whole another episode. I told you this could be like a Netflix series, right?

**Ron Rapatalo**: (00:25:44) Well, you just gonna have to come back. I'm g[oing to] have to have you come back and we going to like chop it up on something really specific. But let me go back to what you said about that. My first like oh I didn't know Rahesa wanted to do that was involved in that was wanting working in museums. Talk to us about that journey and what you learned about working museums being a history.

**Dr. Rahesha Amon**: (00:26:10) I mean it all so much goes back to my mother. And you know sometime I mean I love her to death but you know the mother daughter relationship sometime, right? But like when I go back to like the ways in which my mother was so intentional around like taking me to Broadway shows, you know, the opera, to museums, like the cultural richness by which she like curated my journey foundationally was like brilliant and a masterclass in parenting for sure. And so my love started like from that. She put me in Harlem School of the Arts, which still exists. Dorthy Maynard, you know, I was there when Dorthy Maynard was there. And so, you know, My mother started the first parent teacher association there and so we were in that original building, right? So she was like, "You will play an instrument, right? And you will learn to dance," you know. Like the foundation—

**Ron Rapatalo**: (00:27:14) Yeah.

**Dr. Rahesha Amon**: (00:27:15) And so that's always lived within me.

**Ron Rapatalo**: (00:27:18) Yes.

**Dr. Rahesha Amon**: (00:27:20) Funny fact though, I became a history major because I needed to graduate in four years and I had like four majors before that. Yeah, don't ask my—

**Ron Rapatalo**: (00:27:32) Look hey you were figuring out your options and after a while it's like you need expediency, right? You know.

**Dr. Rahesha Amon**: (00:27:40) My mother always said to me, like my family had, well, my mother in particular was like, I will pay for four years of college, which she did. She was like, I, you know, I don't want you to have student loans, but you got four years. It took me an extra semester to graduate. And that is the only student loan I had to have for that extra semester.

**Ron Rapatalo**: (00:27:57) Okay.

**Dr. Rahesha Amon**: (00:27:59) But, but history became, it's always been in me, but I did have other majors, but I found my way back to my love. And so, what ended up happening is one of my professors said there's an opportunity to work with Dr. Bernice Johnson Ranken at the Smithsonian, right? I didn't even listen, I didn't even realize like these blessings. And so that was my first opportunity out of college. Didn't last long because of a boy. It was a boy that I wanted to live in DC. Anyway, long story. And then I ended up coming back home and doing a little bit of work at the Schomburg Center and Research and Black culture. This is where my journey in teaching started. Right as I was there, someone said to me, "You do so well with children." Like, "You're so good when children are in certain spaces, you take over."

**Dr. Rahesha Amon**: (00:29:05) And I then they said, "Well, why don't you sub for a little bit?" And my substitute role turned into a full-time gig in December. But my my love for the arts really started with my mother and her just exposure to things like that, you know, I don't know if every normal every child, but I feel like it's a New York child's experience, right? Like we have every museum reflective of so many things.

**Ron Rapatalo**: (00:29:43) Yes.

**Dr. Rahesha Amon**: (00:29:43) All of the art forms and then Broadway. Like the Broadway shows like if you don't fall in love with the arts. So yeah, so my my my love of the arts remain. I mean now it's more access for me. And even as a teacher, it was important to me like we went on two field trips a month. Like no better. Yes. I believe that New York City is the classroom, right? I mean, no greater place to teach. Like there's so much you can do within the four walls. But when you're able to apply like when you're I was a fourth grade teacher.

**Ron Rapatalo**: (00:30:30) Okay.

**Dr. Rahesha Amon**: (00:30:30) Teaching the history of New York. I was fourth and fifth grade. I did fourth, fifth. Yep. But when you're able to take a kid like you're studying the history of New York and I'm like, well, let's go. Right. Like when you're right? Like to take kids on field trips to bring things to life.

**Ron Rapatalo**: (00:30:52) And them.

**Dr. Rahesha Amon**: (00:30:52) So, it's still in me even though I've left that space formally and didn't stay in it for a long time. I'm still like I'm like, let me get to a Broadway show. I'm actually going to an art exhibit in New Jersey on Sunday because one of the pieces of art that I had commissioned for me in my home is the artist was called. They asked for that particular piece to be exhibited. So, I'm going to celebrate her. So, like it it it remains part of like my passion. I'm still like those NYU discounts to Broadway shows as alumni that we did. Like I'm got to take advantage of that. NYU Ticket Central for the win. Come on.

**Ron Rapatalo**: (00:31:47) Come on.

**Dr. Rahesha Amon**: (00:31:48) So, might have been a longer answer, but I could talk about the arts and just dance and you know those things, but that's how I got there. I really I I got to thank my mother because I do believe that a lot of that started with her. And then the history part of it I would have to credit my growing up at Kanan Baptist Church. Dr. YT Walker was my senior pastor. He was the chief of staff to Dr. King. And so in my church like the who we got to see walk through those doors, Bishop Desmond Tutu, Nelson Mandela when he [was there]. I mean just everyone, right? It really made me want to know more.

**Ron Rapatalo**: (00:32:41) Yeah.

**Dr. Rahesha Amon**: (00:32:41) About the past, you know, and you know figure out how we've gotten here, right? So I can continue to shape a better future.

**Ron Rapatalo**: (00:32:51) Yeah. Well, let's pivot now to talking about your professional education journey.

**Dr. Rahesha Amon**: (00:32:58) Yes.

**Ron Rapatalo**: (00:32:58) Fourth fifth grade teacher walk us through that to then now present day CEO of **City Teaching Alliance**.

**Dr. Rahesha Amon**: (00:33:07) You said before fifth grade teacher. Wow. Well, listen at one point I thought I was going to be in retail. I worked at Bloomingdales on 59th Street. But who wouldn't? The quintessential New York. I got to work at the flagship store. I was actually in an internship program for folks that want to go in retail my sophomore year in college. I—

**Ron Rapatalo**: (00:33:30) Okay.

**Dr. Rahesha Amon**: (00:33:31) I don't know how my brain goes, but I started at PS 107 in the Bronx as a fifth grade teacher. Uh took over a class for a teacher that just did not do well. And—

**Ron Rapatalo**: (00:33:43) Doesn't that I hear that story so much. It is a very common story.

**Dr. Rahesha Amon**: (00:33:48) Walked in the door and was like, "Okay, here's a class." Now, my mother is a career educator, retired, right? So, I did live with educators, you know, meaning my mother and her friends and you know, like, so I got to be in that experience. But, so I was an elementary school teacher. I loved it. I did not think I would do anything else. I had a bowl. I had animals in my classroom. Like, I still am in touch with those kids. Kids actually true fact one of my students her son is actually a sophomore with my daughter in college right now, right? And she I mean it's just you know, you hear this from educators all the time you just stay so connected.

**Dr. Rahesha Amon**: (00:34:47) I at the time Dr. Betty Rosa was my superintendent. I tell you this right. The world. This world. One of the lessons that I've learned around relationships and like right? And so at the time time there was a new program with Fordham university to think about leadership and my name was submitted. And it was like those of us who wanted to go into leadership. It was a blessing. Fordham paid a third. New York City Department of Education paid a third and we had to pay a third like for a master's degree of Fordham. And so I was accepted nominated accepted and second year in started my administrative administrative career. And I was the assistant director of a primary school in District 3. So I left the Bronx, oh my god, the boogie. And went and went to Harlem and um the District Three side of Harlem and did this job for a year. Quickly, I will say that was my first lesson in leadership. I still thought I could be friends with the teachers. And when the I probably shouldn't be saying this on a podcast, but I could say it now because you know long ago, but they were about to make some changes at the school that I knew because I was at an administrative meeting and I told [them] but I didn't those were my—

**Ron Rapatalo**: (00:36:13) Yeah. Yeah. You want Yeah. It comes from a place of like these are your people. You want Yeah.

**Dr. Rahesha Amon**: (00:36:20) Well, that got me to be asked to leave. And so that was one of my first lessons in leadership like you've got to know how to like separate yourself. You're going to have information, right? So, moving from there then went to be an assistant principal in a middle school in Harlem, District Five. Loved it. Seventh grade assistant principal, 333 kids the year of 911. So I'm like another major turning point. That's when I recognized the magnitude of this work, right? And the great weight of responsibility, you know, right, for someone else's child, right? Being a teacher is like 30 kids, but being an administrator is like massive.

**Dr. Rahesha Amon**: (00:37:31) And then I had the opportunity to found a school, Frederick Douglas Academy 3 took me back to the Boogie Down Bronx.

**Ron Rapatalo**: (00:37:37) Amen.

**Dr. Rahesha Amon**: (00:37:38) Yes. I was there for 12 years, 6 through 12. Still my favorite job. I am so proud of the work that we were able to accomplish together there. Love, love, love, loved being a principal there. You're able to see your impact immediately. Differently. And what I loved about the 6 through 12 work, it was like the last of a child's career. So I went from elementary, early childhood, middle school, high school have that diver like K12 exper[ience]. I mean Ra[hesha], how many people do we know have that kind of experience at K12?

**Ron Rapatalo**: (00:38:22) They don't. And let me tell you why. Another leadership lesson lesson listen to mentor.

**Dr. Rahesha Amon**: (00:38:32) One of my mentors, Dr. Thelma back was the superintendent of district 5. I remember when she offered the job to me. Sean Davenport had told me about the job. He was in my master's program at Fordham. Okay. I was going kicking and screaming. I had only done elementary and primary. I'm like, "You want me to be a seventh grade assistant principal?" She said, "You're so young right now, sweetie. You don't know the blessing in this and you being able to see the trajectory and understand the developmental stages of a learner."

**Ron Rapatalo**: (00:40:02) I love how she said that to you.

**Dr. Rahesha Amon**: (00:40:04) So I did it right when you're young. And look now I mean now I teach at NYU. So now I can say—

**Ron Rapatalo**: (00:40:11) You're an amazing professor by the way. Thank you for inviting me to like so much love that work.

**Dr. Rahesha Amon**: (00:40:18) I can say that I've had the really like prek 3k the early childhood to 16 experience and love it. But I've been a superintendent. I know I didn't share. See these are the jobs that get political. That's why sometime I'm like—

**Ron Rapatalo**: (00:40:31) Yeah no I know I it's every like leader like senior senior leader like you that I've met disproportionately will say their favorite job in K12 bed if it's not teaching it's being a principal.

**Dr. Rahesha Amon**: (00:41:00) Yes.

**Ron Rapatalo**: (00:41:00) It's one or the other. Right? Because there's something like you know being on the ground of a school and being able to shape the container that impacts kids lives and trajectories. And plus as you know there's for me in my work doing talent for so long or in case there's nothing more magical in my work than visiting a school. Nothing. It's just it's it's like how do you not be jazzed about kids learning if you love learning in kids? Well, if you're just normal and you're not if you know what I mean, but like if you're not—

**Dr. Rahesha Amon**: (00:41:40) Like if you're just a normal human being, like kids just anchor us in such a way. I probably would have said teaching was my favorite job, but I didn't get to. I mean, I was one of those people that only taught for like six years, you know, whereas like I've been leading adults now the majority of my life because my first administrative position started at 28, you know. And prior to that like I was class president. I was class president even in the fifth grade. Like it's wild, right? I was class president in college, right? So I feel this weight of responsibility like when you know we talk about like episodes of my story. Yes.

**Dr. Rahesha Amon**: (00:42:30) One of the things that has defined me so much is being responsible, having to consider others over myself, right? Like that's the burden of leadership that people don't often think about, right? If you take it seriously, but I know that that is a part of my narrative. Yeah. That has for sure shaped who I am through the years because it's what I've done. I mean, I'm in my 50s, but from 28 to this moment, right? And even before, you know, in more formative years, being responsible for others has definitely been a large part of my story. So, like being a superintendent, like I I was good at it. I I liked the job. I didn't love the job. It was hard. It required navigating like politics, community, leadership, unions, right? It's it's multifaceted and and it's dynamic in so many ways. I liked it. We did well, very well. The district did and my team did well, but it was hard work. And then my central level leadership position when I got to do like all of the leadership work. It didn't start out that way. I didn't come there to do that, but you know, ended up acquiring a pretty solid office. I loved that.

**Dr. Rahesha Amon**: (00:44:03) Second to being with young people, the thing that brings me joy is seeing an adult be able to actualize themselves. Like like watching someone's journey is like and being a part of that is such a powerful experience. It's why I love teaching leadership too at NYU now, right? Because you get to be a part of someone's story.

**Ron Rapatalo**: (00:44:28) Yes.

**Dr. Rahesha Amon**: (00:44:28) For me, it's the story connected with children, right? And so that brings me great joy. So that's a little bit of my journey. I mean like I've done done other things here and there. Sat on board, started my own business, had a had a woman's empowerment business with my with my colleague that I loved bringing women together and celebrating them. But I'd say out of all of the things that I've named, the job that has been most fulfilling is that of being Savannah's mom. Hardest job, especially being the mother of a girl, you know, right?

**Dr. Rahesha Amon**: (00:45:06) Hardest job. But as she's a sophomore in college, it's the thing that I'm like, "Wow." When I talk to her dad when I'm like, "We did that, Naim. Like, we really did that." Like, look at this human being. Yeah.

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**Ron Rapatalo**: (00:46:21) Well, I want to make sure we make some space for your current role and the work you're doing at **City Teaching Alliance**. So, walk us through that. Raisha.

**Dr. Rahesha Amon**: (00:46:30) You see the smile that comes like when I I I have to say it's a blessing to be at this stage in my career. **City Teaching Alliance**, it's almost like a dream come true. You know, when when Brett reached out to me, the recruiter who—

**Ron Rapatalo**: (00:46:44) my homeboy love Yes.

**Dr. Rahesha Amon**: (00:46:46) He reached out to me was like, I have an opportunity, Raisha. I don't know, but I think it's right for you. And we had not been in communication. The more Brett told me about it, like when he said, "Oh, you'll get to develop and support the capacity of new teachers." I was like, "Brett, stop." Like, you can't you—

**Ron Rapatalo**: (00:47:04) Yeah. Here it goes.

**Dr. Rahesha Amon**: (00:47:06) Can't be true. But I'm going to tell you, not only is it is true, it is such an amazing organization. What we do to prepare the talent within the educator workforce now from the par[a]professional level and soon next year all the way up to school leadership is amazing. Our signature program and work and what we've been doing for the past 15 years is that of bringing in a new teacher into the classroom and supporting them through their first four years. What makes us special? Why do we have over 90% of our teachers in the classroom still after eight years? Is because we are able to provide coaching and mentoring.

**Ron Rapatalo**: (00:48:02) Is that I mean my god like that formula it's like it's almost like a. Why are we not doing this more?

**Dr. Rahesha Amon**: (00:48:10) And for the first three years coaching and mentoring. And mentoring still in the fourth year. Then this clinical residency, this apprenticeship, right? Giving you the opportunity to be in a classroom and not be the teacher on record and learn from a dynamic fantabulous experienced educator as your host teacher, right? Then our certification supports. 97% of our participants complete certification within the year three, three years in comparison to the national average which is under 70%. Right? And then our coursework. I mean, our coursework is rigorous. Our participants earn an MAT dual certified in both their content and special education. I, you know, I'm so imp[ressed] impressed with our alumni. I have the opportunity to engage with them. They are doing such exceptional work. When you look at their income, their I'm sorry, their impact on their students, not just test outcomes, right, but just overall impact when we get the principal feedback survey around how they're doing. They're outpacing their others. So, I like to say we don't have competitor friends. There is no one else doing the work of **City Teaching Alliance**. There is no one else supporting a new teacher through their first four years and beyond with our alumni supports, right? Not in the way that we're doing it. So, I'm grateful. I am so grateful to be able to lead and you know, really every day getting up is a joy working here at **City Teaching Alliance**.

**Ron Rapatalo**: (00:49:52) Thought I ask you the question because you've been around the ed block and some. Why do you think a structure like **City Teaching Alliance** isn't happening in every school district in America? Because I hear that form[ula] like well that makes so much sense right in terms of the building blocks, right? But yet h[ow] why is that not?

**Dr. Rahesha Amon**: (00:50:16) I think because we often think about the cost and not the long-term cost. So right, so we think about the initial cost and investment when there's a new problem in our country and it's the non-completer. Right? So we have teachers who are entering the profession and not able to complete certification within within the timed frame of their state, right? And so what a school district is spending on each of those teachers, the preparation, you know, the professional development upwards of what we found between depending on the the school district 15 and almost up to $30,000. So think about that times three or four.

**Ron Rapatalo**: (00:50:58) Yeah. Of course.

**Dr. Rahesha Amon**: (00:51:00) Right. Versus Right. So I think that we're not we hear the sticker price of something like a **City Teaching Alliance** and you know and the initial partnership and we're like oh I don't want to make that investment. I don't think and I was a superintendent. I don't know if we really break down and itemize what we spend anyway on talent and if we spent it intentionally, right? So that's why I'm—

**Ron Rapatalo**: (00:51:25) speaking my language here. Yeah, you got to hire a firm like mine to be able to like replace these teachers once they can't get their or they leave the [profession] because they're not. I mean it's just it's a vicious cycle.

**Dr. Rahesha Amon**: (00:51:38) It is. Right. And then the dirty side of this education is a business. I don't that's another episode. Right.

**Ron Rapatalo**: (00:51:48) So that's going to be on the um **Ronderings** after dark episode.

**Dr. Rahesha Amon**: (00:51:52) Okay. Let's do that. Let's do that. I'mma have my mocktail in my hand as we do. Yeah. Because you know there's also this business aspect in it that sometimes perpetuating this. And then systemic racism still exists. Do we really want to highly qualified teacher in every classroom, in every community, in every city? Cuz what might that mean? What might that mean if those—

**Ron Rapatalo**: (00:52:23) see the look on my face where—

**Dr. Rahesha Amon**: (00:52:24) who look like me rise up, who look like you rise up, right?

**Ron Rapatalo**: (00:52:31) Thank you for quoting Alexander Hamilton. I appreciate that. Yeah, you I had to bring it back to Broadway. Come on. Said rise up.

**Dr. Rahesha Amon**: (00:52:40) That's right. That's That's right.

**Ron Rapatalo**: (00:52:42) We We would I mean, and so I do believe that some of this is also anchored in. I don't believe that that set of children deserves the very best.

**Dr. Rahesha Amon**: (00:52:56) Oh my god. Jesus. Yeah. That's a Yeah.

**Ron Rapatalo**: (00:53:01) And that's built into you think about the founding of our country and our constitution that said that enslaved peoples were three-fifths of a of a citizen. I mean, you start from like the foundation of this country and a whole soliloquy which we're not going to be able to dive into about the history of public education and what it was really meant to do is that now this the system is design design to do what it's supposed to do and you're sort of like bandating it. I mean, that's a whole another—

**Dr. Rahesha Amon**: (00:53:41) Yeah, that's a whole another episode. I mean, we would have to talk about just education, right?

**Ron Rapatalo**: (00:53:48) Yeah. But you already teach that in your courses and I'm sure the brilliant folks, you know, in the NYU programs and what you learned in Fordham got gets at some of that history, right?

**Dr. Rahesha Amon**: (00:54:00) They do. But I still think that we haven't gone deep, right, to really say that this is, you know, because people still don't want to say that things are as a result of a group of people being better or perceived as better than another group and right being able to keep classes of people down, right? Because we have benefited from free labor, right? And as long as we can get free labor or labor that's less expensive—

**Ron Rapatalo**: (00:54:38) Yes.

**Dr. Rahesha Amon**: (00:54:39) Right. This perpetuates this capitalism and this vicious cycle which starts right in our K12 spaces. Who gets to go to what schools when, where, and how. Another conversation for another [time]. It's it goes back to my history background now. So see you taking me you take [me] right because these are the things that like like I these are the things like in my brain. I'm an only child so I'm so good being alone and actually love being alone. But when I am alone which is a lot these are the kind of things that I'm thinking about and journaling about and reflecting about you know as I think about public education and my contributions now with **City Teaching Alliance** and thinking about the future, right? Like developing the the teacher and cultivating the teacher for the classroom now and how **City Teaching Alliance** can, you know, really support and I'm going to just say this, all school systems—

**Ron Rapatalo**: (00:55:36) yes.

**Dr. Rahesha Amon**: (00:55:36) With ensuring that all school systems because we know, see, you about to get me on my preaching now, but we know what to do. Like, we do know what to do. We know how to educate kids. Like, we know how to teach someone to read. We know how to teach someone the appropriate signs of reading. Yeah. We know all of these things, right? Right. But why? And listen, I could go back to what I've learned when I was a superintendent. But unions are good, but then unions, right? And all right. But yeah, conversation for another day, Ron, because I know I know.

**Ron Rapatalo**: (00:56:19) Yeah. So, we are nearing the end of our time. So, I got to ask you, Rahisha, what is your rendering? What's the lesson or value you want to share with the audience today?

**Dr. Rahesha Amon**: (00:56:32) Trust the process. Trust the process. It is all rigged in your favor. Now, my faith is deep. I I believe in God, you know, and I'm going to tell you like Dr. Lette Neves always says, "Trust the process." Right? But I'm going to tell you, you know, my grandmother would always say, "Let life be." That doesn't mean that you're not prepared. Right? We talked a little bit about my education journey, right? Obviously, I had to get the credentials, but often, and I know I'm speaking about Raisha, I have tried to get in the way of God, right? And orchestrate things in the way that I thought that they needed to happen.

**Dr. Rahesha Amon**: (00:57:33) Right? When I've been able to sit back, and that probably started to happen in my later 40s, and just trust the process and let God do his work and let life be, things have seamlessly happened, right? So, I don't have you know any like profound thing to say besides trust the process. Trust your process. Know that there is someone something whatever you believe in really working for your good. And everything even the things that don't feel good. It did not feel good to get fired from my first job in administration but the lessons I learned and what it set me up to be able to do. Yeah.

**Dr. Rahesha Amon**: (00:58:24) Right. Later in life. So trust the process y'all. It is really all rigged in your favor.

**Ron Rapatalo**: (00:58:33) Well, I can tell Raha that you have been on a pull pit before, even if you haven't. Certainly the esteemed, you know, places of worship you've gone to, you certainly have heard from the most esteemed preachers on the planet, right? So, you have a a gift of orating.

**Dr. Rahesha Amon**: (00:58:52) Obviously, you do. It's a.

**Ron Rapatalo**: (00:58:54) That you know, game game recognized game, right? Ain't that in New York then? Game recognized game.

**Dr. Rahesha Amon**: (00:59:01) That's New York. That's right. See, we we not haters in New York. We gonna get—

**Ron Rapatalo**: (00:59:08) I like you do good work. I won't I will work on your [behalf]. That's why as soon as I got to know you, I'm like Rah[esha] and I like sending you that core women in leadership. You were the first person I thought of. I swear to goodness.

**Dr. Rahesha Amon**: (00:59:22) You Thank you, Ron.

**Ron Rapatalo**: (00:59:24) Because it's a program that benefited me, right? I did Leadership New York in '08, '09 and I was like, "Wait." The guests on this podcast. ass are from that world. So, it's just it's been good to me. So, why not share that wealth with someone brilliant like you?

**Dr. Rahesha Amon**: (01:00:01) Thank you so much, Ron. It has been a pleasure really like to just know you, to get to know you, to follow you on social media. I love seeing those little beautiful girls and your wife. I love watching you lift. Listen, you have inspired me to start. Listen, I'm a Pilates girl now and you really inspired me to start to add strength train. No, seriously. I'm Thank you. I was see[ing you] lifting and I'm like, "Wait, I can do more." So, just keep doing what you're doing, Ron, because even if it's one or two likes, we're watching. We see and we appreciate you.

**Ron Rapatalo**: (01:00:41) Try not to get emotional with that. Thank you. I needed to hear that today. So, where do people find you? What do you want to promote before we end?

**Dr. Rahesha Amon**: (01:00:53) Find me on LinkedIn. Yes. Instagram, Facebook. I'm on Tik Tok, but I'm just on there because I like the recipes and the fashion stuff there. But no, Seriously, really, LinkedIn is a way to connect with me and and if you message me, anybody who messages me that is legitimate. I don't try to—

**Ron Rapatalo**: (01:01:21) Come on. I meet with—

**Dr. Rahesha Amon**: (01:01:25) this is why we get along. I've always, you know, one of my taglines is if someone reaches out with something I consider legitimate, I don't say no to a combo. You're like that. That's beautiful.

**Dr. Rahesha Amon**: (01:01:36) I am the. So, reach out to me on LinkedIn, message me. I will not say no. I will find you 15 minutes, 20 [minutes]. The kindred spirit. Y'all heard that. **Ronderings** universe. Raisha does the same thing I do. Go hit her up. She's brilliant and she going to help. You have to. I mean, this is the last thing I think we need to end with, Ron. And like as human beings, right? Connection is important. Like that is how we thrive. That is what we are meant [to do]. That is what we are meant to do. And guess what? There's space for us all to win. What is yours is yours is what is mine is mine. So, me connecting with someone else even in the same industry is not going to take anything away from me. So please reach out to me like I love new connections. I've learned from new connections. I grow from new connections. Please I believe wholeheartedly in that.

**Ron Rapatalo**: (01:02:44) So **Ronderings** universe I leave you with this. You thought Raisha Aman was hot. We always got hot guests. In the words of my hero Dion Sanders, we always come hot. So with that, peace out, y'all. Thank you so much, Raisha, for being a guest.

**Dr. Rahesha Amon**: (01:03:04) Thank you, Ron, for having me. Thank you.

**Ron Rapatalo**: (01:03:07) All right, that was such a rich conversation with **Dr. Rahesha Amon**. So much wisdom and grounding energy. I love a reminder to trust the process. It's all rigged in your favor. If her story resonated with you, connect with her on LinkedIn and keep the conversation going. Just like me, unless you're trying to to sell her something. She does not say no to combo for advice and assistance. Thanks for tuning in to **Ronderings**, where we dig deep, learn loud, celebrate voices that move us forward. Till next time, keep growing, keep reflecting, and keep rounding.

**Ron Rapatalo**: (01:03:44) Before we close out, I want to shout out the crew behind the scenes, podcasts that matter. Their belief is simple. Every great idea deserves a voice. I'm here to co-sign that. You've been sitting on a podcast idea, learning from now the time. I'll tell you it is. Head to podcastmatter.org. See how they can help you bring your idea to life. All right, y'all. Thanks for listening. I'll catch you on the next one. Peace.

**Ron Rapatalo**: (01:04:15) Thank you for listening to today's Rathering. I enjoyed enjoyed hanging out with me and my guest. And I hope you leave with something worth chewing on. If it made you smile, think, or even roll your eyes in a good way, pass it along to someone else. I'm **Ron Rapatalo**, and until next time, keep wandering, keep laughing, and keep becoming.