“While I Breathe, I Hope”: How This NYC Education Leader Stays Motivated

Kiah Hufane
Location: New York, NY
Job: Associate Director of Talent, Success Academy
Education: B.A. Political Science & Urban Studies, Temple University; M.S.Ed Urban Teaching, University of Pennsylvania
Twitter: @SuccessCharters

What was your first “real” job? How did you get it?

My first "real" job was as a corps member in Teach For America. I taught 7th and 8th grade history and English in South Philadelphia. I actually had no intention of teaching when I was in college — I thought I was going to go off to law school and work in the corporate sector. But, during the fall of my senior year, I took an Urban Policy class that focused on education reform. That class changed my life. I witnessed the horrifying, deep rooted inequities in urban education and realized I couldn't turn a blind eye any longer. With the support of a professor and mentor that I had known for years, I decided to apply to Teach For America so that I could experience the challenges that teachers in major cities face. I intended to go to law school after my two-year commitment was finished, but after my first year in the classroom, I was hooked.

How did you transition from teaching to working in talent acquisition for Success Academy?

After Teach for America, I moved to New York, where I worked as a teacher in Harlem and Brownsville before landing a job at Success Academy as an assistant principal. A year later, I was promoted to principal and spent two years leading a successful middle school. With experience as a teacher, assistant principal, and principal, I knew I had a unique vantage point. I saw that successful teachers and leaders are humble, yet confident. They own the fact that they have areas of growth and know that teaching is a constant learning process, and yet they’re able to celebrate the things they are doing well. They’re inspirational people who are capable of guiding a community through obstacles. Recognizing this, I decided to move into talent acquisition so I could help identify the best people for our network. Now, I have the privilege of finding, recruiting, and nurturing remarkable school leaders.

What does your typical workday look like?

I currently oversee the recruitment of K-8 lead teachers and school-based leadership (think assistant principals and deans) for all 46 of our Success Academy charter schools. My immediate team is directly responsible for hiring more than 200 leaders and teachers. I spend a large amount of time in schools, both interviewing candidates and observing the people that I've hired in the past, to monitor and support their growth. Nothing makes me happier than walking into a new leader’s school and seeing them shine. When I'm not in one of our schools, I'm meeting with other members of the talent acquisition team to build out our recruiting strategy. I love that I'm able to be on the ground interviewing candidates in addition to planning and executing larger scale recruitment efforts.

What is the biggest obstacle you’ve had to overcome? How has it shaped you?

I was raised by my mom and grandmother, “Nana.” When my Nana was diagnosed with cancer and passed away seven years ago, I fell into a deep depression. My Nana raised me to believe that I could do anything I put my mind to, but she was also incredibly blunt about the challenges that Black women face in America. Losing her just as my career was beginning was gut-wrenching. Learning how to pick myself up after such a loss has helped me be self-reliant. I spend every day trying to make decisions that would make her proud of the woman she helped raise me to be.

What advice do you wish you could have given yourself on day one of your career?

Be confident in your voice. As a Black woman, it's easy to feel like your voice doesn't carry much weight. Unfortunately, when I was younger, I didn't believe my voice could truly lead to systemic changes in education. Ten years later, I've hosted press conferences, led rallies, and spoken to elected officials to change education in NYC.

Do you have any specific strategies you use to stay productive?

I meditate every morning before work for at least 20 minutes. Three years ago, my organization put all principals through a meditation course, and I still use those skills today. There’s something really calming about silence that allows me to reset. As a teacher and as a school leader, it is so crucial to allocate time for myself. It makes me a calmer, more centered person.

How do job candidates stand out to you (in a good way!) during the hiring process?

Candidates who are passionate and personable will always stand out to me more than the "perfect" candidate on paper. When I'm interviewing candidates, I want to know who they are and what makes them unique. In education, you have to be charismatic and you have to be confident in who you are — and both of those things have to shine through in the interview.

What have you read recently that you’d recommend?

Smarter Faster Better by Charles Duhigg really forced me to think about leadership differently. He encourages leaders to create a sense of psychological safety among members of a team, and that really resonated with me. I strive to foster a culture in which everyone feels safe making mistakes and taking risks.

Do you have a favorite motto or saying that keeps you motivated?

I have a tattoo on my wrist that says, "Dum Spiro Spero," which means "While I breathe, I hope" in Latin. I got it during my first year of teaching when I was feeling particularly stressed about the state of education. Whenever I'm feeling overwhelmed, I take a moment to say the phrase to myself.

Success Academy is a Jopwell partner company.

Images by Jocelyn Coombs.