Natia McLendon is a 2023-2024 Michigan Teacher Leadership Collaborative Member and Director of Academics at Detroit Leadership Academy in Detroit, Michigan where she coaches teachers and provides humanities-focused content support. She taught high school English Language Arts for 14 years before accepting a leadership position where she is able to lend her expertise to colleagues in an official capacity. She skillfully aids teachers in seeing themselves as purveyors of knowledge and molders of critical thought while empowering them to approach every aspect of learning with equity, care and persistent dedication to cultural responsiveness. One of the aspects of education she loves most is interacting with students–recognizing how much she can pour into youngsters, but also how much she can learn from them. Her instructional prowess earned her Teacher of the Year in 2019 at Detroit Leadership Academy, and Rookie of the Year in 2012 at Robichaud High School. She earned a BA in education from Western Michigan University and an MA in sociology from University of Michigan, Dearborn. She loves to travel (with her hubby), cook and spend time with family and friends.
