Staff Members
Tamiko Jordan, Founder and Executive Director
BA-Spanish, BS-Secondary Education, MSEd-Educational Administration and Leadership, Doctoral Candidate-Transformational Leadership
Knowledge and education are indeed the keys to a better life...and yes, there is a difference between the two. I have been in love with both all of my life. My education started at home with my mother. She was my first teacher and as she instructed me daily, she was also helping me to develop a strong understanding of the power and importance of a great education. It also became very clear that the world was my classroom; that information I received and my experiences would augment my knowledge. I am certain that my purpose in life is to nurture this type of love for knowledge and education in others.
My professional experiences have been varied and enriching. I began working as a parent volunteer and went on to work as a secondary school Spanish teacher and a principal; but, I was still hungry and very unsatisfied. The red tape and politics were a constant distraction and were stifling my efforts. I walked away from the traditional education system and became engaged in youth development. Oh the excitement!!! As the Vice President of Programs and Administration with the Center for Leadership Development (CLD), I found my calling. It was ridiculously refreshing to be able to identify issues and address them immediately...without all of the red tape. Still, my employment with CLD was only the beginning of what was to come and eventually Beyond the Gap was born.
As I pursue my passion, I truly understand the need for balance in my life and that is exactly what my family, my daughters and my grandchildren provide for me. Cooking, writing, reading, crocheting, traveling, fishing and outdoor activities are also all a part of my strategy for staying refreshed and mentally prepared to manage the stress of being a catalyst for change.
BA-Spanish, BS-Secondary Education, MSEd-Educational Administration and Leadership, Doctoral Candidate-Transformational Leadership
Knowledge and education are indeed the keys to a better life...and yes, there is a difference between the two. I have been in love with both all of my life. My education started at home with my mother. She was my first teacher and as she instructed me daily, she was also helping me to develop a strong understanding of the power and importance of a great education. It also became very clear that the world was my classroom; that information I received and my experiences would augment my knowledge. I am certain that my purpose in life is to nurture this type of love for knowledge and education in others.
My professional experiences have been varied and enriching. I began working as a parent volunteer and went on to work as a secondary school Spanish teacher and a principal; but, I was still hungry and very unsatisfied. The red tape and politics were a constant distraction and were stifling my efforts. I walked away from the traditional education system and became engaged in youth development. Oh the excitement!!! As the Vice President of Programs and Administration with the Center for Leadership Development (CLD), I found my calling. It was ridiculously refreshing to be able to identify issues and address them immediately...without all of the red tape. Still, my employment with CLD was only the beginning of what was to come and eventually Beyond the Gap was born.
As I pursue my passion, I truly understand the need for balance in my life and that is exactly what my family, my daughters and my grandchildren provide for me. Cooking, writing, reading, crocheting, traveling, fishing and outdoor activities are also all a part of my strategy for staying refreshed and mentally prepared to manage the stress of being a catalyst for change.
