Ashley, Senior Manager of Academics at TNTP: Advize Career Interview

A fascinating career journey, beginning with a ballet major and a desire to bring dance to public schools, led to an unexpected passion for curriculum development and a path to senior educational leadership at TNTP. This individual's trajectory showcases the power of adapting to new opportunities, highlighting a progression from classroom teaching to district-level roles and, ultimately, a senior management position focused on improving student access to high-quality education across the Southwest.

The work involves leading professional development for thousands of teachers, training district leaders, and collaborating with diverse teams.

A significant aspect of the role emphasizes strategic prioritization, strong communication, and cross-cultural agility.

The interviewee stresses the importance of mission-driven work, the value of teamwork, and the necessity of strategic decision-making, even learning to say "no" to clients to maximize impact.

Entry-level opportunities like tutoring, teaching assistant roles, and associate positions at organizations like TNTP are highlighted, showcasing a path for aspiring educators.

The experience of being a first-generation college graduate instilled a resourcefulness and awareness of available support systems that are invaluable in navigating a demanding career.

Advizer Information

Name

Job Title

Company

Undergrad

Grad Programs

Ashley D. Essary

Senior Manager of Academics

TNTP

Texas Christian University (2010)

University of Colorado at Denver, MA in Curriculum & Instruction: Pedagogy for Urban Leadership, concentration in English Language Acquisition

Majors

Industries

Job Functions

Traits

Fine Arts, Music

Education

Strategic Management and Executive

Honors Student, Scholarship Recipient, Took Out Loans, LGBTQ, First Generation College Student

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Career Path of a Senior Manager of Academics at TNTP

Ashley's career path began with a ballet major background and a desire to "bring dance to public schools," leading to Teach for America, where a math teaching placement unexpectedly sparked a passion for curriculum development. This passion propelled a progression from classroom teacher to district-level roles overseeing curriculum and professional development, culminating in a senior management position at TNTP, a transition reflecting a commitment to educational leadership and impact.

Career Path of a Senior Manager of Academics at TNTP

Main Responsibilities Of A Senior Manager Of Academics At TNTP

Ashley, a Senior Manager of Academics at TNTP, focuses on improving student access to "high expectations, deep engagement, grade-level materials, and strong instruction" across the Southwest. This involves varied responsibilities, such as leading professional development for 6,000+ Texas teachers implementing new math materials and training district leaders on instructional vision implementation.

Main Responsibilities Of A Senior Manager Of Academics At TNTP

A Day in the Life of a Senior Manager of Academics at TNTP

A Senior Manager of Academics at TNTP spends their days in a mix of client meetings—"a lot of motivating and influencing"— team collaboration to ensure project success, and creating professional development materials (about 40% of their week). The role also includes significant travel (up to 40%) and offers flexibility, allowing for personal time and volunteer work, reflecting a work culture that prioritizes results over strict schedules.

A Day in the Life of a Senior Manager of Academics at TNTP

Most Important Skills For a Senior Manager of Academics at TNTP

Ashley, a Senior Manager of Academics at TNTP, highlights "strategic prioritization" as crucial, balancing multiple projects for maximum impact while working with diverse clients. The ability to "motivate and influence" colleagues and clients, combined with "cross-cultural agility" and clear communication, are also essential for success in this role, given the diverse teams and communities they work within.

Most Important Skills For a Senior Manager of Academics at TNTP

Favorite Parts of Being a Senior Manager of Academics at TNTP

Ashley, a Senior Manager of Academics at TNTP, most enjoys "making things better" on a large scale, impacting student outcomes across the southwest region and improving the work of their team through coaching and process improvements. The opportunity for continuous professional development within a "learning organization" full of talented individuals, combined with a focus on feedback and learning from others, is also highly valued.

Favorite Parts of Being a Senior Manager of Academics at TNTP

Biggest Challenges Faced by a Senior Manager of Academics at TNTP

A significant challenge in Ashley's role as Senior Manager of Academics at TNTP is balancing contracted work with external barriers outside the control of the teams Ashley works with; this necessitates navigating how to "address those" challenges and make progress despite limited capacity and the inability to "change everything all at once".

Biggest Challenges Faced by a Senior Manager of Academics at TNTP

Favorite Parts of Working in the Education Industry as a Senior Manager of Academics

Ashley's favorite aspects of the education industry are the impactful work, "staying connected to the kiddos," and the inherent creativity and flexibility required to solve complex problems; this is evident in their career progression from teaching to consulting at a nonprofit. The ability to "come up with a variety of Solutions" and maintain personal connections fuels their passion.

Favorite Parts of Working in the Education Industry as a Senior Manager of Academics

What Type Of Person Thrives In The Education Industry According To A Senior Manager Of Academics At TNTP

Ashley, a Senior Manager of Academics at TNTP, highlights that success in the education industry hinges on "mission-driven" and "vision-driven" individuals passionate about equitable student outcomes. The ability to effectively communicate and translate experiences across diverse contexts, a skill honed from Ashley's own varied background, also proves crucial for navigating the industry's complexities.

What Type Of Person Thrives In The Education Industry According To A Senior Manager Of Academics At TNTP

What A Senior Manager Of Academics At TNTP Wishes They Had Known Before Entering The Education Industry

Ashley, a Senior Manager of Academics at TNTP, learned that a consultant's role involves strategically saying "no" to client requests, even if it initially feels counterintuitive. The most impactful work involves pushing clients' thinking to achieve better student outcomes by "giving them the right questions to ask," ultimately resulting in a more effective product.

What A Senior Manager Of Academics At TNTP Wishes They Had Known Before Entering The Education Industry

Entry-level Positions for Aspiring Educators at TNTP

Ashley, a Senior Manager of Academics at TNTP, highlights entry-level opportunities in education, citing tutoring ("a huge need") and teaching assistant roles as examples, along with TNTP's own associate role and part-time options, noting that "I started part-time...it was a really nice just kind of get introduction to what skills and context would be needed for that work."

Entry-level Positions for Aspiring Educators at TNTP

Significant Career Lesson From a Senior Manager of Academics at TNTP

Ashley, a Senior Manager of Academics at TNTP, identified a significant career lesson: "my work is so much better when I work on a team," highlighting the unexpected value of diverse perspectives and collaborative brainstorming to achieve superior results beyond individual capabilities.

Significant Career Lesson From a Senior Manager of Academics at TNTP

College Experiences That Helped a Senior Manager of Academics at TNTP Succeed

Ashley's experiences at TCU, including a "paid internship with Teach for America," auditing education courses, and participating in the honors program, instilled valuable time management and leadership skills crucial for a demanding career. The long-term planning involved in joining Teach for America and the rigorous demands of a ballet major and leadership roles prepared Ashley for the challenges of a master's degree alongside teaching, demonstrating that "nothing was too much" for them.

College Experiences That Helped a Senior Manager of Academics at TNTP Succeed

How Identity Has Influenced a Senior Manager of Academics at TNTP's Career

Ashley's first-generation college graduate status significantly shaped their career path, driving a focus on maximizing available resources; "I had an eye towards how to pay off those loans," leading them to strategically leverage loan forgiveness programs and employer benefits throughout their career, including Teach for America and Denver Public Schools, ultimately enabling graduate school without incurring further debt. This experience fostered a keen awareness of available support systems and benefits, making Ashley adept at navigating workplace resources and assisting colleagues in doing the same.

How Identity Has Influenced a Senior Manager of Academics at TNTP's Career

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