Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Talia M. Pennington-Dorsey.
Hi Dr. Talia M., please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I always knew I wanted to be an educator. As a kid, I would play pretend school in my room and rip sheets out of my moms grading book to record my pretend students grades. I would waste so much notebook paper grading fake papers and scoring them with my mom’s ez grader. Fast forward to college, I was slatted to major in education but was influenced not to because of the low pay so I changed my major to Criminal Justice and Sociology with the hopes of becoming an investigator reporter. I even earned a masters degree in Journalism but deep down inside I knew I wanted to be in education. So, I went through an alternative teaching program and got into education through the back door. The rest is history.
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?
The road was not smooth because it was years before I started my dream job of teaching which ended early because of lay offs through the district I was working for. That let go allowed me to spread my wings and work in higher education for my alma mater and rebuild enrollment from the devasting damage of Hurricane Katrina. In 2015, I went back to K-12, and I’ve grown so much professionally ever since.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
As Director of Counseling at an all-girls Catholic college preparatory high school, I lead a comprehensive counseling program that integrates college readiness with social and emotional wellness. I guide students through every stage of the college admissions process, from exploration to enrollment, while building strong partnerships with universities and coordinating key programs such as college fairs, essay workshops, and financial aid sessions.
In addition to college counseling, I provide individualized and group support to promote students’ emotional well-being and academic success. Through wellness initiatives, classroom lessons, and crisis intervention, I help students develop resilience, confidence, and healthy coping strategies. I collaborate closely with teachers, families, and administrators to ensure a supportive and inclusive learning environment rooted in Catholic values.
As a department leader, I mentor counseling staff, align services with the school’s mission, and use data to strengthen program effectiveness. I also engage parents through education programs focused on adolescent development, mental health, and college planning. My work centers on empowering young women to lead with integrity, purpose, and faith—both in college and in life.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Trust your gut and trust the process. That’s the message.
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