Finding the Joseph Within

In this inspirational memoir, Dr. Shawn Joseph shares his journey—from growing up in poverty to becoming the first African American superintendent in the city of Nashville. Drawing lessons from Joseph of the Bible, he aims to inspire readers to hold on to their faith and believe in the power of God's promises even as they endure difficult times.

In this inspirational memoir, Dr. Shawn Joseph shares his journey—from growing up in poverty to becoming the first African American superintendent in the city of Nashville. Drawing lessons from Joseph of the Bible, he aims to inspire readers to hold on to their faith and believe in the power of God's promises even as they endure difficult times. Joseph engages the reader, drawing him through his childhood, college years, and into the workforce, culminating with his appointment as superintendent and transition into a faculty appointment at prestigious Fordham University. His story will resonate with readers, with the lines between his life and Joseph's story well-drawn and will uplift any reader who has ever faced adversity. This is a book that every parent, particularly parents of children of color, should give to their children to help them understand that God's promises can be achieved in their life if they maintain their faith and develop an ability to persevere.

Dr. Shawn Joseph's passion for equity and social justice has led him to serve in a number of positions in the field of education. He has been an English teacher, school administrator, central office administrator, and superintendent in Maryland, Delaware, and Tennessee. His work as the superintendent of Metro Nashville Public Schools resulted in more equitable schools and accelerated growth for all student groups in both reading and mathematics. In 2009, he was honored by his peers as the National Association of Secondary School Administrator's Met-Life Middle School Principal of the year for the State of Maryland. In 2010, he was the recipient of the American Educational Research Association's Outstanding Dissertation Award in the area of Educational Leadership. In 2019, he was selected as the Person of the Year by the Tribune Newspaper in Nashville. His first book, The Principal's Guide to the First 100 Days of the School Year: Creating Instructional Momentum, offers insight into the complexity of the principalship and suggests strategies for focusing on increasing student achievement. He earned a doctoral degree in educational administration and policy studies from George Washington University and a master's degree from Johns Hopkins University. His bachelor's degree is from Lincoln University, Pennsylvania, America's oldest historically black college. He is currently on the faculty of Fordham University in the Department of Educational Administration and Leadership.