Meet Pratia Jordan | Teacher, Speaker & Author

We had the good fortune of connecting with Pratia Jordan and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Pratia, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
I’ve been an educator for 13 years. It has been my dream job. When I first joined the industry I was single, freshly degreed and eager to absorb everything about the career. I was a student of education. I spent many hours outside of my regular work day being dedicated to becoming a better educator. It was intentional. This was my career of a lifetime and I knew I had a short window of time when I could be completely immersed in it and I took advantage of it. It was great while it lasted, but the season in my life began to change. No longer could I be immersed in my career as I had done before. I had greater pursuits in mind. As I transitioned into becoming a wife and a mother I had to be intentional about re-shifting the weight I had given to becoming established in my career and prioritize focusing on myself and my family. That transition has not been without its challenges; but I feel blessed to have been able to enjoy each season of life to its fullest, appreciating what each one brought and what each one cost.
When it comes to work-life balance the analogy that has resonated with me the most is about juggling. Imagine you’re juggling many different balls in the air. Each one is labeled: Family, Career, Self, Health, Wealth, Fun. Whatever things matter to you. When we think about maintaining balance, we think about trying to keep all the balls up in the air. Not dropping a single one. But the reality of balance is that even the best jugglers drop a ball every now and then. What matters most is which ball you drop. Some of the balls are made of rubber, but others are made of glass. If you drop the ones made of rubber, it’s ok. They’ll bounce back eventually. But if you drop ones made of glass, they may crack or break. Sometimes irrevocably. Maintaining balance is about knowing which balls to drop and when.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I grew up in a house full of love. Love for God, love for people and love for learning. I am grateful for the village that was willing to nurture the growing curiosities of a young mind constantly questioning the world around her. With that support and stability I was empowered to pursue all of my wildest dreams. The wildest one: teaching. “Be who you needed when you were younger” is a favorite inspiration. My life was filled with wonderful teachers, at home and at school. I had who I needed. When I learned that wasn’t everyone’s truth, I knew teaching was my calling. While pursuing degrees from UT-Austin and UH-Main, I constructed an untraditional path that would provide me with the experiences I desired to truly become a great teacher. Two bachelors and one master degree later, I was ready to be a teacher, not just a disseminator of knowledge, but a master relationship builder. A passionate advocate for student-centered learning, I’ve obtained more than $17,000 in grants to ensure my students have the tools, resources and opportunities needed to fully engage in their educational journey. My belief that a great teacher must be a great student first has led me to seek out content and pedagogical seminars, workshops and training all over the world. From Gettysburg to Oxford, there is no distance too far to travel if it means being a better resource for my students and peers. Most recently, I became a Fund for Teachers Fellow for my proposal to retrace the transatlantic journey to encounter transformative experiences at historical sites in Africa, Europe and North America. This fellowship led to a transformative summer. I love sharing my wealth of knowledge with others through facilitating professional development sessions, presenting at conferences and maintaining my educational blog, Prayer and Pedagogy. Teaching is not easy, but nothing worth doing ever is. My mantra and brand slogan, Pray, Teach & Repeat, has been the key to every success. I preach it because I live it, and I live it because it works.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
When visitors come into town, I often become a tourist in my own city. I like to tailor each trip to my guests’ specific interests and sometimes that means stepping outside of my own Houstonian comfort zone. However, as a native Houston with 3rd Ward roots, there are some non-negotiables on my list: The Original Frenchy’s Chicken, The Breakfast Klub, Crumbville, TX, The Discovery Green, The Miller Outdoor Theater and Japanese Garden in the right season, and a trip to the Houston Underground and Phoenicia Specialty Foods is a must if the timing is right.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
“When a woman is loved correctly, she becomes 10 times the woman she was before.” I can’t lie, the “strong, independent, Black woman” in me used to side-eye this quote. Then my husband stepped in and loved/loves me in ways only a man who sits with God to get the cheat codes to my heart can love me. I am well-kept and well-loved. Daily. And I thrive. I sparkle. I blossom. I grow. Ten times, a hundred times, a thousand times over. My husband, Bailey Jordan, has been a fearless entrepreneur for over a decade. Without his influence and encouragement, entrepreneurship is not something I ever saw in myself. I’m so grateful to him for his ability to see and nurture the gifts God has given me. It is powerful to be partners with a person who is never intimidated by your personality, purpose or potential. With God on my side and my husband having my back, nothing is impossible. I’m exceedingly grateful.

Website: PrayerAndPedagogy.com

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