Meet Ericka S. Mason | Educator, mother, life-long learner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ericka S. Mason and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ericka S., is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
The most important factor behind my success and the success of the brand is having a pulse on what students and teachers need in order to experience success. Additionally, what will encourage students and teachers to have conversations about to plan for next steps. These two pieces are paramount to success for me and as a brand.

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Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I graduated from North Carolina Central University with a degree in English and from Regent University with an advanced degree in Educational Leadership. For the past 22 school years, I have taught English/Language Arts for all grades from pre-kindergarten to college. I have spent the bulk of my career in high school Special Education, and I absolutely love it! What I am most proud of is my students hard work around vocabulary and writing instruction. Nothing “boils my water” more than hearing students casually, and effective weave practice unfamiliar vocabulary into conversations. Equal to vocabulary mastery, I thoroughly appreciate growth in writing and confidence that oozes out of students once they master expository and narrative writing. None of this work is easy; however, the benefit to the student lasts far longer once they master skills they will need for the remainder of their lives. Along the way, I have learned every student will not want to improve his/her writing or vocabulary word bank. I have also learned politics does not have to define how I engage my students. Despite the fact that most of my students will go off into the world without me ever knowing how they turned out, is part of the process too, and it is okay. I am a teacher. I have 10 months to make an impact that will have lifelong effects (if I do “it” right). When I think about my brand, these thoughts are residents of the largest parts of my brain. How can I create impact? What can I say in silence that will scream the loudest to students? What graphics can be used on my posters to resonate enough to inspire change or confirm the student is making the right decisions. What about my posters can offer a new solution and/or perspective to an old issue? These are the questions and experiences that have created Sheamus and Jaimason.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Planet Word for some Monday museum time

The Muse Box Selfie Museum early Friday fun at the National Harbor
Replay at Pose* at the Harbor for Friday follow up
Swingers to close out Friday with a little put-put
Kitchen Cray DC has to be our Saturday brunch spot
Lanham Skate Center for a little Saturday roller skating
First Baptist Church of Glenarden for some Sunday worship
Urban Roast for an aesthetically pleasing Sunday post church dinner
Never Looked Better for our Sunday close out

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to shoutout North Carolina Central University for a high-quality formal education in English literature and the friendships that still flourish today. I would also like to shoutout my parents for recognizing I need help and showing up without provocation nor hesitation. To my favorite author: J. California Cooper, thank you for teaching me how to respect perspective. We are all characters in a story, and every perspective is unique and full of color. Lastly, I would like to thank my kids and life partner who keep me grounded, laughing, and guessing.

Instagram: sheamusandjaimason

Image Credits
Starvin Artists