In each of our newsletters, we like to highlight a member of the Partners team. In this issue, we’re happy to introduce you to Tisha Markette, one of our program coordinators. Tisha’s career in education spans 27 years, showcasing her dedication to fostering equity, leadership, and systemic change. From classroom teaching to administrative leadership, coaching, and program facilitation, Tisha has continually focused on breaking barriers to ensure every child receives a quality education.
A Personal Journey of Awareness
Tisha grew up in Ansonia, a predominantly white, working-class town, where she and her sister were among the few biracial children. Middle school, a more racially diverse setting, was where Tisha first encountered the complexities of race and identity.
“I was always in the highest groups, educationally,” she recalls. Yet, peers often said, “Oh, you think you’re white.” Such remarks fueled her resolve. “I just wanted to be Tisha, not some label.”
Despite excelling academically and socially, she acknowledges that lighter skin and her role as a cheerleader likely afforded her opportunities that others may not have received. These experiences shaped her understanding of inequity and privilege.
From Accounting to Education
Tisha’s first career was as an international tax accountant, but the work left her unfulfilled. “I had a nice office,” she says, “but I hated it. It was so mundane. Wherever you left your ruler, you’d just pick it up the next day.”
Her cousin’s pursuit of a teaching career inspired her to pivot. Tisha returned to school, earned her teaching credentials, and became a fourth-grade teacher. It was there she met a mentor who emphasized experiential learning. “That was my first real window into how powerful a good education could be,” she said.
A Leader in Equity and Community Building
As Tisha transitioned into school administration, her leadership philosophy emphasized trust, community, and high expectations. As founding principal of Amistad Elementary School in New Haven, she worked closely with mentor Dacia Toll to foster a culture of collaboration and accountability. She gave her teachers books on child development and pedagogy as summer reading, which they discussed as a group so the lessons could be implemented into their practice.
Building a supportive community became central to Tisha’s work, and her involvement extended beyond the traditional administrator role. She taught a daily reading class, reviewed lesson plans, and held community dinners. “When my teachers were sick, I’d give them tissues and vitamin C or tell them to go home, and I’d cover their classes,” she recalls.
Tisha believes that systemic change requires rejecting deficit mindsets and embracing students’ “funds of knowledge.” She asserts, “We can’t use excuses when children are not succeeding. We can’t blame them or their families. If you care about kids and have high expectations, they can achieve anything.”
A Legacy of Advocacy
Tisha’s educational philosophy has been influenced by a wide range of learning opportunities, such as the ones she had at Teleos Coaching Institute and UnboundEd, and has been shaped by the work of many luminaries in the education field, like Paul Gorski of the Equity Literacy Institute and Tanji Reed Marshall, founder of Liaison Educational Partners. Since becoming a PEL program coordinator in 2022, Tisha has channeled her expertise into leadership development and equity-focused coaching.
Whatever her role, Tisha’s mission has remained clear: to value every child’s unique contributions and dismantle barriers to their success. As she says, “Education is real-time work. If you see a problem on Friday, you should be working on it by Monday.” You can reach Tisha at tmarkette@partnersforel.org
