Today we’d like to introduce you to Montel Evans
Hi Montel, 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?
Today, I am a husband, principal, and a dynamic speaker. My inception began with my mom, Gwenleia Ausler, and father, Kevin Evans. As two young parents, they knew it would take a village to instill the values necessary for my brother and I to become our ultimate selves. Therefore, my Aunt Bonnie Haley became an integral part in my life as she had been for my father. My father lost his father, Willie Evans, when he was the age of three. My great aunt became the driving force behind passing down what an Evans man is. She groomed these qualities into my father and would then go on to do the same for my brother and me. One statement my Aunt Bonnie always made was “Evans men are leaders!” If you look into the careers of my father, my brother, Adarius Evans, and I possess, you will discover we are all leaders on our respective jobs. So, when people talk about the power of manifesting greatness into the lives of children, my great aunt is living proof of this having a high success rate. My parents echoed this statement for my brother and I through every major challenge and hurdle in our lives.
My mother was always the driving force behind me getting an education and taking it as far as I can go. Her side of the family is riddled with intelligent people who never turned that intelligence into something that could have an impact on a community. So, each day, she strived to ensure my mind was focused on how I can be a benefit to those around me instead of a hinderance. She made it a point to enroll me into programs, read books, and surround me with models of who I could become. I owe it to my mom for developing my diligence, persistence, faith, dreams, and commitment.
My father drove my passions and interests. He developed and shaped my character well into my adult years. He’s the person in the world I trust the most with my mental, physical, and emotional safety. I can always rely on him to provide me with wisdom and tell me what I need to hear versus what I want to hear.
My wife, Brittany Raino-Evans, continues to not only be my support, but my biggest advocate. She provides me balance in life to sustain me through good and difficult times. She sacrifices so much of herself to help me realize my dreams for our benefit. I certainly could not imagine having gotten this far without her by my side.
My little brother Adarius Evans is and has always been a driving force behind my ambition. I’ve always wanted him to have a big brother he can be proud of. As a child, I told him, I will gladly make mistakes in life for his benefit so he can observe and learn what to do and what not to do. I am proud of the man he has become, and I know he is always watching. Therefore, I know it’s my responsibility to keep driving the elements of an Evans man further and further so he can not only obtain them himself, but to start investing and promoting them within his own son.
As I grew into a professional, there are a handful of people who made a significant impact on my growth and development, but none more important than Dr. Dred Scott. This man impacted me in a significant way in the field of education well before I met him. I’d find myself constantly being compared to a man I had never met, so I very eagerly aspired to meet him. So, the first chance I shared a room with him, I made sure to let him know how much I knew of his accomplishments and what an honor it was for me to be working underneath him in the Independence School District. His words to me at the time were “your reputation precedes you.” The same way I had heard of him before meeting him, he had heard of me. Meeting this man was one of the most significant moments in my career. I still call and lean on his wisdom to this day to help me navigate my career.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The road to where I am today was certainly not a smooth one. Being one of the first in my family to obtain a college education and take it to the levels of a Masters Degree and now working towards a Doctorate, there were many moments where no one could readily provide me wisdom on how to navigate these rough terrains. I made many mistakes, failed courses, lost loved ones, and lost a great deal of sleep. My high school questioned if they had prepared me to get a college education. My response was “No.” The teachers in my life meant well and did their best. However, it was the discipline my mother established in me that helped me get my first bachelor’s degree at the University of Missouri-Columbia. I didn’t graduate with an outstanding grade point average, but I graduated, nonetheless. By the time I was graduating, I finally realized how to be a college student and had come to realize, I was not graduating with the degree I truly aspired. My college advisor told me it would be a waste to start over and that I should just focus on graduating. It ended up being terrible advice, but it was clear my pathway would not be at the University of Missouri-Columbia. The most difficult part was determining where I would pursue my next degree in education. I gave the University of Missouri-Kansas City a try towards becoming a high school teacher, however, it was the words of a high school student telling me I was too late to make an impact on him that led me to elementary education. He stated he needed me when he was 7 or 8. My drive became to be the male figure he needed for future young boys. Therefore, when I enrolled at Graceland University, I had a clear purpose for what I was trying to obtain. Being a college student, this time around came with a lot more ease and flow. I realized my first time around; I was lacking a true purpose and conviction. I wondered; how could this be so when my mom worked so hard to show me what was possible? I reflected and came to the conclusion that my mindset was really only on going to college and graduating with an attempt to make as much money as possible. I never once considered chasing down a passion. After completing my coursework at Graceland, things began to flow fairly easily for me career wise. The only things I would end up having to navigate was being a black man in a predominately white female career field. I was and am loved by many, but the negativity I experienced from some was truly due to a lack of their own understanding of who I am as a black man. I uncovered many had no true strong relationships with black men so trying to develop one with myself came with personal biases and fear. I was a walking land mine for them, and they wanted to avoid an explosion that did not exist anywhere expect for in their own mind.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
As stated before, I am an Elementary Principal at Thomas Hart Benton Elementary School in the Independence School District in Independence, Missouri. My specialty is leadership. I have made it a point to research, study, and observe some of the best leaders in the world to help shape my leadership. I am most known for my enthusiasm, excitement, high energy, support of students/families/teachers, and ability to engage a large audience. I am most proud of the students I have impacted that are doing significant things in their life and attribute much of their success to their time spent learning from me and the example I set for them. I told them all when they were children, they will forever be an extension of me, and their job was to go out into the world and apply my life teachings to the best of their abilities. A majority make it a point to reach back and keep me up to speed on how life is going and invite me to their significant moments (birthdays, graduation, etc.). What sets me apart from others is my never-ending drive to grow and become a better version of myself. My energy is contagious and rubs off onto those in my proximity. My presence is a tough thing to replace. I often find that spaces I once occupied are difficult to step into because people grew accustomed to the way in which I served and provided for them. It is hard to meet the standard in which I established. Simply put, I’m a tough act to follow.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I love Kansas City. It has such a rich history and hidden gems throughout. There is plenty to do and opportunities for all. What I like least is how often we are overlooked. In some ways that is good because we don’t become overpopulated causing traffic issues, however, it does create the opportunity for business and buildings to become vacated, thus causing some unnecessary eye sores downtown. I am pleased we have been taking gradual steps to beautify and reclaim abandoned areas to give our city more purpose and vibrance.
Contact Info:
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/montel.evans.7/
- Twitter: https://x.com/MontelEvans
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSP_9i14LQSg5AXiCbLD7_w
