-Ann Lieberman
“Great leaders empathize with their teams, respect them, and believe that each one has something special that can be built upon.”
Being a first-generation college student, Derrick never thought that he would have an opportunity to attend college. He was quiet, sat in the back of his classes, and he was a struggling learner. He lacked
motivation, and he did not see the value in what he was learning in school.
After high school, he was afforded the opportunity to attend college—which he almost passed up. His struggles continued throughout college, but his sophomore year, at the age of 20, one of his college professors took interest in him. She gave Derrick his first book he’d ever read in its entirety, Earnest Gaines’ A Gathering of Old Men. He read it in its entirety, and for the first time, he started to feel differently about school. For a long time, Derrick thought that reading that book changed his life because it ignited a love of reading in him. However, in hindsight, he realized that it was the interest that his college professor had taken in him that helped him choose to learn continuously. He realized that he struggled less when he had relationships with teachers. He looked forward to coming to class more, he had enlightened conversations, and he experienced several opportunities that he would not have gotten had he continued to hide in the back of classes.
Empower52 uses researched-based practices to create relevant professional learning to help excel teachers and students to their optimal learning potentials.
Here comes an intro about company.
About Us
Our Mission
At Empower52, our mission is to transform the landscape of organizations by empowering them to cultivate supportive and innovative ecosystems that foster collaboration and drive sustainable growth. We are committed to maximizing employee experience, ensuring their success, and contributing to corporate financial success and individual talent improvement. With dedication and equity at our core, we strive to be a catalyst for positive change in the corporate world, helping our clients thrive in an ever-evolving business environment.
Our Vision
By December 2029, Empower52 aspires to be among the top 1000 companies. Empower52 aims to help organizations cultivate supportive and innovative ecosystems that foster collaboration and achieve sustainable growth while maximizing employee experience.
Our Team
David Hardson
Mike Hardson
Humble D. Dawnil
Jilmaoni Y. Yankee
Hilixer D. Downtow
Miranda H. Halim
Our Limitations
After graduating from college with a B.A in English Literature, Derrick concluded that if positive relationships enhanced his learning, then it might work for others. Derrick decided to test his theory. He started a career in education in Jackson, Mississippi as a high school English teacher, and he’s never looked back. Throughout his 15-year career, he has had the opportunity to learn from the best, learn how to impact culture, mentor teachers, and provide teachers with the strategies that set their students up for success. Derrick’s philosophy is that exceptional teaching must include meaningful relationships that inspire students to stretch their limitations—much like his college professor did for him.
Derrick later went to receive a master’s degree in English and another Educational Leadership, and he has held positions from a teacher, academic coach, and school administrator, just to name a few. He is currently receiving a Ph.D. in Psychology and has used his research to engage more educators in the importance of building relationships first. Derrick’s mission is to affect individuals so that they never have to wait as long as he did to choose to love learning, which is enhanced by relationships with leaders. To accomplish this mission, he knows that relationships must come first.
How Syetem works
Derrick has 15 years of experience in building relationships, coaching relationship building, mentoring, and training leaders and teams in various capacities. He maintains the notion that the best way to reach people is through building positive, long-lasting, complete relationships. He contends, “An individual’s reason for struggling should never because they did not feel like a leader is invested in them.” Currently he serves as a Senior Director of School Culture for a notable charter system.
