Dr. Tiffany Tyler Of ‘Dr. Tyler Inspires On The 5 Things Parents Can Do To Help Their Children Thrive and Excel In School
An Interview With Jake Frankel
Be open: Be open to the resources, strategies and approaches that may be needed to assist your child. When I was growing up, there was a stigma associated with using certain resources, particularly mental health counseling, food assistance and other supports. No more than ever, many recognize the value of counseling, the need for food assistance, and our nation’s challenging economic picture. Moreover, many recognize the distinction between generational and situational poverty. If you or your child are experiencing a challenge, the willingness to receive help can make all the difference.
School is really not easy these days. Many students have been out of school for a long time because of the pandemic, and the continued disruptions and anxieties are still breaking the flow of normal learning. What can parents do to help their children thrive and excel in school, particularly during these challenging and anxiety-provoking times?
To address this, we started a new series called ‘5 Things Parents Can Do To Help Their Children Thrive and Excel In School.” In this interview series, we are talking to teachers, principals, education experts, and successful parents to learn from their insights and experience.
As a part of this interview series, I had the pleasure to interview Dr. Tiffany Tyler-Garner.
Dr. Tiffany Tyler-Garner is an educational psychologist, published researcher, and thought leader. Her personal and professional achievements reveal a servant leader committed to transforming the conditions that impact children, families and communities. Currently, Dr. Tyler-Garner spearheads workforce development and social initiatives for the City of Las Vegas.
Prior to joining the City, Dr. Tyler-Garner served as the executive director of the Children’s Advocacy Alliance, a 23+ year child policy advocacy organization. Dr. Tyler-Garner’s professional journey also includes serving as a gubernatorial cabinet member, CEO of an affiliate of the nation’s largest dropout prevention organization, Communities in Schools, and the COO of a White House-recognized workforce development nonprofit organization, Nevada Partners, Incorporated.
In each of these roles, Dr. Tyler-Garner has been a champion for opportunity while spearheading the delivery of programs, policy and services to improve conditions for Nevada’s most vulnerable populations. Moreover, Dr. Tyler-Garner has a rich history of service that includes serving on an array of governmental and nonprofit boards and commissions, including the Nevada Children’s Commission, Clark County Juvenile Justice Services Citizen Advisory Committee, and Communities in Schools of Nevada.
Dr. Tyler-Garner’s commendations include the Urban Chamber of Commerce’s Women Business Advocate award, Vegas Inc. ‘s Humanitarian of the Year award, Workforce Connections’ Workforce Development Champion of the Year award, and UNLV College of Education Alumna of the Year award. Dr. Tyler holds a Doctorate in Educational Psychology for the University of Nevada- Las Vegas, a Master of Science in Counseling from California State University- Northridge, and Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Sociology from the University of Southern California.
When Dr. Tyler-Garner is not leading or serving, you can find her empowering professionals, businesses, and communities in the areas of personal development, professional development, program development, program evaluation, grants management and grant writing.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dive in, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you share with us a bit about your “backstory”?
I am an educational psychologist by training and education leader with a long standing commitment to empowering youth to reach their potential. As I reflect on my professional journey, I am proud to say I have served in several capacities that have afforded me opportunities to serve youth, including school counselor, educator, psychologist, nonprofit leader, and mentor. Currently, I serve in the City of Las Vegas’ Youth Development and Social Initiatives Department where I am spearheading the development and implementation of youth development programming designed to arm youth with the awareness, skills and knowledge to ensure academic success while forging viable career pathways to the future they desire. This important work includes the administration of several signature youth development programs spanning middle school grades, high school grades and young adult needs. Additionally, I am supporting several regional youth initiatives, with a focus on mitigating youth disconnection and violence. Each of these efforts leverage key elements found to increase youth success, including soft skills, mentorship, and tutoring.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
One of the most interesting stories that happened to me since I started my career was my journey to my first Chief Executive Officer appointment. I was encouraged to apply by the board chair. I had recently met the chair at a roundtable on community needs hosted as a part of the chair’s congressional campaign. Passionate about student and family needs, I shared my perspective on the challenges facing students and the critical need for mental health supports, basic needs assistance, and mentorship. At the time, the chair was heading the board of Communities in Schools of Nevada, an affiliate of the nation’s largest most effective dropout prevention organization. As a result, my deep knowledge of education programming and expansive practice really resonated with the chair. Only weeks later, the board chair approached me about the opportunity to head the organization. This experience taught me two valuable lessons and affirmed one of my faith beliefs. It taught me to always be prepared and share my passion. It also affirmed for me that our gifts or talents can make room for us. Now I lead through solid consistent preparation, speak with passion, and welcome opportunities to share my gifts, talents and knowledge.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
My favorite life lesson quote is “ There is pain in change and there is pain in remaining the same. Why not choose the one that moves you forward.” This quote encapsulates what I have come to learn about resilience, progress and fear. I have learned that we all experience fear but if we are to make progress or realize our resilience, we must move forward no matter how painful, challenging or scary the process is. Accordingly, much of my achievement has been the result of moving forward no matter how I was feeling. Challenge is an inherent part of progress and paralysis. With this recognition, I have consistently chosen to move forward because it was the only action that ensures progress towards my goals.
You are a successful leader. Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you please share a story or example for each?
I think the three character traits that have been most instrumental to my success are perseverance, faith and hope. While these characteristics may appear aspirational, they are at the center of my progress and performance. My dogged perseverance has empowered me to maintain grace and consistency during challenges or obstacles. As a result of my persevering nature, I am inclined to see failure as the trial and error required to refine, perfect or secure any achievement. Accordingly, I routinely give myself grace when I am learning or trying something new. I also consistently try varying approaches until I achieve my goal or vision. Similarly, my propensity for faith is a critical element of my success. I begin most days or tasks, by leaning on the faith that has resulted from knowing that I have survived 100% of my yesterdays. Moreover, when tasks feel daunting or I am tempted to worry, my faith in God is an invaluable support. The impact of this character trait is that I tend to be optimistic and believe most things are possible with practice and prayer. Lastly, another significant characteristic trait that is integral to my success is that I am hopeful. Even when I face dire conditions or pervasive issues, I am hopeful that things can and will get better. It’s almost like having a growth mindset. Rather I believe that if things are possible somewhere, they can be possible anywhere. Moreover, even if great things haven’t happened yet, it‘s just a matter of time before it does if I commit, continue and never concede.
Are you working on any exciting new projects now? How do you think that will help people?
I am working on several exciting initiatives, personally and professionally. Personally, I recently wrote and released my first book, “The Journey Inward: Four Seasons of Reflection for Deep Healing and Transformation.” It chronicles my year long commitment to reflection as a healing practice. I’m hopeful it will empower others to unpack, understand, and transform any limiting beliefs, trauma, or misconceptions standing in the way of them having the
life they want. Professionally, I am supporting several regional youth initiatives, where the goals are to end youth disconnection and violence, while affording youth pathways to a bright future!
For the benefit of our readers, can you tell us a bit about why you are an authority on how to help children succeed in school?
My professional and personal journey reveal a transformative leader that has dedicated nearly 30 years to investing in student success. As an educational psychologist, former school counselor and educator, and published researcher, my expertise has been instrumental to the development, implementation, and administration of programs designed to bolster student achievement. To date, I have published 19 articles in education and/or workforce development to elucidate opportunities and strategies for increasing student success. My earliest investment in student success began with my time facilitating small learning groups for children in hiding with their mothers fleeing domestic violence. Under the auspices of this programming I developed pedagogical strategies for helping students manage trauma while learning. Subsequent to this early professional experience, I supported the University of Southern California’s efforts to increase diverse student representation at the doctoral level, under the auspices of a federal program, the McNair Scholars Program. My professional journey then took me to the student success initiative that transformed my professional lens and spurred my interest in doctoral studies, the Alliance Program. The Alliance Program was a special partnership between a school district and municipality, whereby youth were identified in middle school and supported through case management to graduate high school. This professional experience was foundational to my practice. I would later leverage its student experiences to develop other strength-based youth development programs, in various capacities, including as Chief Operations Officer of a White House recognized workforce development program, Chief Executive Officer of Communities in Schools of Nevada, and Executive Director of Children’s Advocacy Alliance.
Ok, thank you for that. Let’s now jump to the main focus of our interview. Can you help articulate the main challenges that students face today that make it difficult to succeed in school?
Students are living and learning in unprecedented times. The culture and climate of our educational, socioeconomic, and political landscape is such that children are increasingly faced with social isolation, stigmatization, and violence. The decline in civility has left children with fewer models for self-regulation, conflict resolution and problem solving. Moreover, our inflationary economic conditions, decline in housing affordability and the lack of quality mental health support has meant that children are learning in instability. Moreover, it has placed an economic burden on learning that instruction is not designed to address. While classrooms can be a safe haven, they are not equipped to address the pressing social needs more and more students are bringing to school.
Can you please share your “5 Things Parents Can Do To Help Their Children Thrive and Excel In School?”
Five things parents can do to help their children thrive and excel in school are:
1. Be present: During this time when children are experiencing greater isolation, it is critical to be present. While it is not possible to be present all of the time, I have found that having defined blocks of time and strategies for checking in can be very helpful. Examples of defined blocks of time for being present include times like your commute, dinner time, fifteen minutes before bedtime, scheduled downtime together, and/or any time that you designate to actively listen. Active listening is the key component to being present. It is important to note that id does not require you to have all of the answers or find solutions. The goal for being present is to ensure your student/child feels seen and heard. In support of being present, there are several strategies you can use. One strategy is maintaining an emotions chart on your child’s door or the refrigerator door. This chart is typically a list of faces associated with different emotions. By creating visible places to identify where you and your child are emotionally, you empower each other to be present. Another strategy is journaling and letter writing. Be present by supporting your child to put their emotions into words in ways that encourage them to process and give you an opportunity to respond. Yet another strategy is expressing emotion through art. You can be present by drawing, coloring or painting together, while giving your child a viable self care strategy.
2. Be open: Be open to the resources, strategies and approaches that may be needed to assist your child. When I was growing up, there was a stigma associated with using certain resources, particularly mental health counseling, food assistance and other supports. No more than ever, many recognize the value of counseling, the need for food assistance, and our nation’s challenging economic picture. Moreover, many recognize the distinction between generational and situational poverty. If you or your child are experiencing a challenge, the willingness to receive help can make all the difference.
3. Be consistent: Children thrive with structure. The more we can make their lives predictable, the more they will thrive. Having consistent times for dinner, homework and bed time are great strategies for establishing consistency. Moreover, it empowers children to begin developing planning skills, time management skills and a sense of accountability.
4. Be flexible: Be flexible with your child’s learning. Explore their strengths, orientation, talents and gifts. Then leverage these dimensions of their personality to increase their learning. There is much research about concepts like learning styles, personality types, and our inherent disposition. Each of these holed clues for how we can best support our student’s success. Be flexible and open to the approaches that may be best suited for your child’s learning.
5. Be adaptable: Be adaptable to the natural stages of your child’s development. Their development can sometimes be best understood as an evolution that will require different approaches to their changing needs. It is important to note that most stages don’t last forever but the stages can be distinct. Be adaptable to stages that are a natural part of their becoming.
As you know, teachers play such a huge role in shaping young lives. What would you suggest needs to be done to attract top talent to the education field?
We must support the conditions needed for optimal engagement. These conditions include adequate compensation, classroom size, professional development, safety and other factors impacting the teaching profession. We must compensate teachers at a wage comparable to the impact we desire for them to have in the lives of children. If their role is to equip children for a bright future, we must compensate them as such. Further, we must ensure that the conditions for instruction and classroom management are tenable. In some schools, classroom size far exceeds what quality learning environments dictate. Also, we must attend to the professional development needs of our educators. We must ask ourselves if we are equipping our teachers with world class professional development to deliver a first class education. Moreover, we must work to ensure that every teacher and student are afforded the physical, psychological and emotional safety needed to teach and learn.
We are blessed that some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US, with whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch, and why? He or she might just see this if we tag them 🙂
I am inspired by resilience and the practical strategies individuals use to overcome challenges. I would love to learn from individuals that have had a Phoenix experience or developed strategies for ensuring success in various areas of our lives, including mentally, spiritually, and financially. I am moved by Oprah Winfrey’s journey of early abandonment to global impact. Similarly, I have found the teachings of faith leaders at The Potter’s House of Dallas transformative. In his early teachings and writings, Bishop T.D. Jakes of Potter’s House Dallas frequently noted a scriptural reference to a woman being loosed from bondage. He later memorialized examples of this resilience in a film of the same name. The central character overcomes poverty and abuse to heal. I think there is great value in understanding the spiritual nature of resilience. Similarly, I am intrigued by Philanthropist Robert Smith, CEO of Vista Equity Partners. In 2019, he paid the student loan debt of 400 graduating students in hopes of fostering new career aspirations because the students were unencumbered by student loan debt. Not only did I marvel at this investment in the next generation, I wondered about the principles he and his parents lived by to marshal this level of economic prowess.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
You can follow my work online on several platforms, including:
https://www.sherisesstudios.com/tiffanytyler
www.drtylerinspires.com
#drtgtyler on Instagram
#drtgtyler on Facebook
@blessed.doctor on Tik Tok
http://linkedin.com/in/dr-tiffany-tyler-garner-a603431b on LinkedIn
Thank you so much for these insights! This was so inspiring!
Dr Tiffany Tyler Of ‘Dr Tyler Inspires’ On The 5 Things Parents Can Do To Help Their Children was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.