Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Tanisha Stanciel.
Hi Dr. Tanisha, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I’ll be the first to admit I was a late bloomer when it came to finding my path in education. I started out with a degree in Communications from Missouri Western State University, but life took a turn after my son, Micah, was born. I wanted to be closer to home and spend less time commuting for work, so I took a job locally, as a paraprofessional for the Saint Joseph School District.
I remember my very first day. A teacher gave a student a simple instruction, and the student just hit a breaking point. She threw her things, yelled a few choice words, and walked out of the room. Most people might have seen that as a reason to run the other way, but I had the opposite reaction. I thought, “This is exactly what I want to do.” That moment pushed me to enroll in a master’s program at Walden University to earn my teaching certificate in special education. I spent my first year as a certified teacher at Colgan Alternative Resource Center, and even though I had a lot to learn about the process, I loved the work.
When I moved to Saint Louis, I started working at a charter school and began seeing the bigger picture. I saw how changing demographics and achievement gaps affected our kids, and it opened my eyes to how much we need a solid Response to Intervention process. I didn’t want to see students labeled as learning disabled simply because they hadn’t been given the right support yet. I felt a pull toward leadership because I wanted to be in a position to make decisions that truly supported teachers and students in underserved communities.
Since then, I have moved from being a special education processor to the director of student services, earning my K-12 certification from Lindenwood University along the way. After starting my principal journey with Saint Louis Public Schools, I am now in my fourth consecutive year with the Maplewood Richmond Heights School District (MRH). I am where I am today because of the mentors who guided me, the educational programs that prepared me for administration, and the village that supported me every step of the way. Finally through my research with MRH, I earned my doctorate from Maryville University. This work was dedicated to parent engagement within the school system.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
What many people didn’t see behind the scenes of my professional rise was that I was navigating my own heavy personal hardships, rooted in a past of childhood trauma and abuse within my own home. Since I was five years old, I’ve also lived with Alopecia Areata, an autoimmune condition that causes my hair to fall out. Because it wasn’t something people in my community really knew about or understood back then, I faced constant bullying and a deep sense of isolation, which only added to the weight of what I was already enduring at home.
Navigating those years was incredibly difficult, but it’s exactly why pursuing my education and stepping into leadership became such a personal mission. It wasn’t just about career growth or titles; it was about breaking cycles that had once defined my life. Every time I advocated for a struggling student, I was in many ways speaking to my younger self. Finding my way into the classroom and eventually into administration allowed me to transform that history of abuse and the resilience I gained from the bullying into a source of empathy and strength. I found a unique kind of healing by showing up for others and being the advocate I needed when I was a child.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I specialize in leading with a Multi-Tiered Systems of Support mindset, which many know as MTSS or formerly RTI. I am recognized for my ability to look past the behavior of a student to find the actual root cause of their struggle. A major part of my work is advocating for students in underserved communities. I am particularly dedicated to ensuring that students are not mislabeled as learning disabled simply because they have not yet been given the right support systems or interventions.
I am most known for thinking outside the box and for building a sense of community within the schools where I work. I love making my workplace a place of joy. This career is already challenging, but finding ways to bring joy to those around me builds the kind of long-lasting relationships that matter. My unique perspective comes from working in all types of school settings, including urban, charter, and public school systems.
What sets me apart is that when I see a student having an outburst or a family struggling to navigate the school system, I do not just see another person or another case. I see a reflection of a journey I know personally. My leadership is grounded in a level of raw empathy and grit that you cannot learn in a textbook. I am more than just an administrator. I am a product of resilience, and I have made it my mission to be the support system for every student and teacher in my care. I strive to be the leader who truly supports teachers because I know how hard this work is. As a team, we can set a plan, put it into action, and succeed at the highest levels possible.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
The mentorship, professional development, and networking opportunities I have received have been truly life-changing and essential to my growth. I want to highlight a few notable individuals who were instrumental in my journey as an administrator:
Dr. Jana Schaefer Starwalt: For encouraging me to pursue both my K-12 principal’s certification and my Doctorate in Ed. Leadership at Maryville University.
Dr. Lisa Small (Principal, Saint Louis Public Schools): For providing invaluable insight into the complexities of being a head principal.
Bill Schiller (Head of School, The Arch Community School): For granting me the autonomy to lead authentically. His trust propelled me to focus on building community and deepening parent engagement.
Dr. Bonita Jamison: My first female superintendent, who has guided me in becoming an effective leader while navigating the unique political challenges faced by Black women in leadership.
My Professors at Maryville University: For believing in my potential and inspiring me to set my sights on a future superintendency.
The village that supported me along the way deserves all the credit for where I am today. I would be failing as a leader if I didn’t give a heartfelt shout-out to my incredible current team at the ECC, as well as every team I have had the honor to lead thus far in my career. I would not be successful as a leader without my school team and community.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mrhschools.net
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tstanciel84/
