An Interview With Eric Pines
…I do think it is the role of the educational system to prepare young people for the job market and labor force. One key shift that needs to be made though is deeper collaboration, thought partnership, and planning alongside industry on the part of schools/school systems. Often, decisions are made in vacuums with assumption of what industry needs, and are thus not always aligned to what industry leaders, companies, etc. actually need cultivated within students.
Asa part of our interview series about 5 Things That Federal, State & Local Governments Can Do To Help Improve The Educational System, I had the pleasure to interview Krystal Allen.
A native of historic Selma, Alabama, Krystal Allen is the Founder & CEO of K. Allen Consulting™, an award-winning former teacher and school principal, a real estate investor, a respected organizational leadership and DEI thought leader, and published author of “What Goes Unspoken: How School Leaders Address DEI Beyond Race”. Krystal began her career teaching elementary school, then moving into instructional leadership as an administrator, and in 2017, became a social entrepreneur founding what has become a highly sought after global education & management consulting firm serving over 9 countries; major corporate brands, such as Google, Amazon, and Microsoft; school systems, nonprofits, and government agencies. Most recently featured within Time Magazine for her thought leadership on racial bias with K-12 classrooms, she is a 2019 Gambit 40 Under 40 recipient, a 2019 Aspen Institute Ideas Festival Scholar, the 2016 Urban League of Louisiana Activist Award recipient; was named one of the 2022 Most Influential Women in Business in Louisiana by the BRM Regional Chamber of Commerce, and serves on the Board of Directors for several national and state nonprofit organizations that advance educational equity.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you share the “backstory” behind what brought you to this particular career path?
I’m a proud native of historic Selma, AL; a first generation college graduate; and a teacher at heart and in any and every space that I find myself. My roots in Selma, AL prepared me to have a keen eye for injustice, particularly racial segregation, discrimination, and other inequities. It also equipped me with the spirit of advocacy, a commitment to servant leadership, and a deep sense of obligation to community uplift. I loved school as a child, looked up to many of my teachers — be they my K-12 teachers or my community teachers within church or our local neighborhood, so naturally attracted to becoming an educator. As a first generation college graduate, I also saw the role access to a quality education played in my own life. All of these things combined to guide me into a profession I feel is a calling…education.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
One of the most interesting phenomena I’ve come to experience throughout my career is that of dynamics, events, and happenings coming “full circle”. I have watched — for instance — myself as a Black woman educator, particularly as a school principal, be penalized for creating spaces to support students in making meaning of their racial identity, processing racial injustice taking place around them, and more…only to now be a highly sought out consultant and thought leader being booked to support hundreds of schools and organizations across the country in learning how to do those exact same things I was punished for doing. I can recall the discomfort and resistance even of certain teachers and leaders during my time as a teacher and later school leadership during any conversation about social justice, race, etc. Today, several of those same teachers and leaders advocate for space and support that centers learning how to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion within K-12 schools. Therefore, the most major lesson I’ve learned is to stay true to yourself in this work, to trust yourself, to always stand for what is right even when it costs you something, and to trust the process in knowing that the work you do today is not in vain.
Are you working on any exciting new projects now? How do you think that will help people?
Yes! I founded and lead an international education & management consulting firm that provides customized workshops, strategic planning service, and executive coaching for individuals and organizations across all industries and sectors. Currently, we have a number of exciting projects underway! One is the launch of my very first book, “What Goes Unspoken: How School Leaders Address DEI Beyond Race”, which helps parents, educators, school leaders, school board members, education nonprofits, and more learn how to operationalize DEI within every domain imaginable within schools. This is guide to understanding what DEI truly looks like within not just instruction and culture, but also school finance, marketing/branding/communications, operations, family engagement, and more. We’re excited to see this text be pre-ordered in high volume via Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Books A Million! We know it will dramatically change the way DEI is seen and discussed, particularly as it touches matters that not only center race but gender, income, neurodiversity, and more.
Can you briefly share with our readers why you are an authority in the education field?
I’m a former high-performing school teacher and school leader, school board members, education author, and current consultant to many school systems across the country and globe.
Ok, thank you for that. Let’s now jump to the main focus of our interview. From your point of view, how would you rate the results of the US education system?
I would rate our overall system as a 5–7 (mid rating)depending on the state on a scale of 10.
Can you identify 5 areas of the US education system that are going really great?
The diversity of the students and families we serve.
The gradual embrace of digital technology within schools & systems.
The launch of social emotional learning, mental health supports, and other holistic avenues for driving students’ holistic well-being.
The provision of differentiated funding for varying school profiles/demographics.
Schools’ initial response to COVID in providing wrap-around supports and being on the front lines in many communities in ways that far exceeded what educators are expected to do.
Can you identify the 5 key areas of the US education system that should be prioritized for improvement? Can you explain why those are so critical?
In addition to the article, I’ve written, I’d also say…
The intersectional diversity of the profession and sector as a whole, particularly within leadership, management, and governance positions.
Inefficiencies (not working smarter in multiple areas of how the profession addresses its challenges).
Not enough social emotional learning, mental health supports, and other holistic avenues for driving students’ holistic well-being, but also having too much of an emphasis on the students alone and not thinking comprehensively about how we support BOTH students and adults within the profession.
Physical safety (e.g. protection/prevention measures to address school shootings).
Revamping school evaluation and high stakes testing.
Do you think it is the role of our educational system to prepare young people to enter the job market and labor force? If so, what can be done to better prepare young people for their future careers?
Yes, I do think it is the role of the educational system to prepare young people for the job market and labor force. One key shift that needs to be made though is deeper collaboration, thought partnership, and planning alongside industry on the part of schools/school systems. Often, decisions are made in vacuums with assumption of what industry needs, and are thus not always aligned to what industry leaders, companies, etc. actually need cultivated within students.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
Dr. Maya Angelou — “People may forget what you say. People may forget what you do. But, people never forget the way you make them feel.”
I have dedicated and continue to dedicate my life to ensuring that I impact hearts and minds. I care that people feel seen, valued, heard, and appreciated. It’s also a powerful way to support them in becoming their best selves.
We are blessed that some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US, with whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch, and why? He or she might just see this if we tag them :-)
Tyler Perry ❤️ and Oprah ❤️
How can our readers further follow your work online?
Instagram: @k.allen.consulting
Thank you so much for these insights! This was so inspiring!
About the Interviewer: Eric L. Pines is a nationally recognized federal employment lawyer, mediator, and attorney business coach. He represents federal employees and acts as in-house counsel for over fifty thousand federal employees through his work as a federal employee labor union representative. A formal federal employee himself, Mr. Pines began his federal employment law career as in-house counsel for AFGE Local 1923 which is in Social Security Administration’s headquarters and is the largest federal union local in the world. He presently serves as AFGE 1923’s Chief Counsel as well as in-house counsel for all FEMA bargaining unit employees and numerous Department of Defense and Veteran Affairs unions.
While he and his firm specialize in representing federal employees from all federal agencies and in reference to virtually all federal employee matters, his firm has placed special attention on representing Veteran Affairs doctors and nurses hired under the authority of Title. He and his firm have a particular passion in representing disabled federal employees with their requests for medical and religious reasonable accommodations when those accommodations are warranted under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (ADA). He also represents them with their requests for Federal Employee Disability Retirement (OPM) when an accommodation would not be possible.
Mr. Pines has also served as a mediator for numerous federal agencies including serving a year as the Library of Congress’ in-house EEO Mediator. He has also served as an expert witness in federal court for federal employee matters. He has also worked as an EEO technical writer drafting hundreds of Final Agency Decisions for the federal sector.
Mr. Pines’ firm is headquartered in Houston, Texas and has offices in Baltimore, Maryland and Atlanta, Georgia. His first passion is his wife and five children. He plays classical and rock guitar and enjoys playing ice hockey, running, and biking. Please visit his websites at www.pinesfederal.com and www.toughinjurylawyers.com. He can also be reached at eric@pinesfederal.com.