Dr. Natasha Halfkenny is an accomplished educational leader with over two decades of experience dedicated to uplifting inner-city youth through equity-centered learning. Her journey as an educator began in Boston, Massachusetts, where she earned a doctor of education in international higher education administration from Northeastern University. Over the years, Dr. Natasha Halfkenny has focused her career on creating meaningful opportunities for students from marginalized communities to thrive academically and prepare for successful futures.
From her early years as an English language arts and civics teacher at Edison K-8, where she led inclusive classrooms, to her administrative work as a cluster leader and transformation coach, Dr. Halfkenny has consistently empowered educators and learners alike. As principal of Maurice J. Tobin K-8 School between 2021 and 2024, she championed instructional leadership, equity in operations, and community engagement. She implemented culturally proficient curricula and worked to diversify staffing while promoting a school culture rooted in high expectations and social-emotional wellness.
As the founder and president of Melanin Scholars, LLC, and the pending nonprofit Con Una Voz Inc., Dr. Halfkenny continues to advocate for underrepresented voices in education. Her scholarly research, “Through the Eyes of Successful Black Males,” explores the persistence of Black students in higher education, shedding light on their resilience in the face of institutional barriers.
What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?
I start the day with prayer and affirmations. This starts my day with gratitude and positivity. One hour at the gym and prepare for work. I make a list of five daily goals and cross them off as I complete them. If by chance they are not completed, they are added to the next day’s goals.
How do you bring ideas to life?
Everything we see and experience started as an idea. These ideas are brought to life by strategic initiatives. Being aware of my daily desired outcomes, I work strategically daily to accomplish any goals I set for myself.
What’s one trend that excites you?
The trend that excites me is “if you can see it, you can achieve it!”
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
Consistently practicing gratitude and focusing on what my outcome will be!
What advice would you give your younger self?
Know your worth; there is only one you, and God makes no mistakes. I have been uniquely designed. Things are never as bad as you think. Growing and changing is a blessing.
Tell us something you believe that almost nobody agrees with you on.
Choosing the energy you want to feed begins with perspective. The universe hears both words of building and words of destruction; how you speak to yourself will manifest your outcomes.
What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?
Practice gratitude daily.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
I slow down and center myself through prayer and meditation.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?
One strategy that has helped me grow is being consistent with whatever will bring strategic and desired outcomes. I often create strategies and road maps to carry me from where I am to where I want to be and work on it daily.
What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?
One failure in my career was not utilizing the team to their potential. I had so much talent working shoulder to shoulder with me and I did not use those voices to create better outcomes. I overcame that by listening more and delegating others to use their specific talents. The lesson I learned is that we can do so much more together that we can alone.
What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
Application software that helps me be productive is Zoom. This allows me to speak with others globally. It enables me to share ideas and learn from others.
What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?
The best $100 I recently spent was given to my son, who is in college, for a text book. It is important because my children are the future.
Do you have a favorite book or podcast you’ve gotten a ton of value from and why?
Jay Shetty has a podcast that is valuable. It offers insight, deep reflection, and a focus on purpose.
What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?
I recently watched Ruth & Boaz. This movie was enjoyable because it demonstrated the importance of spiritual strength through much adversity.
Key learnings
- Change is growth.
- Everything one needs to succeed is within them.
- Deep reflection is necessary for growth.
- Prayer works.