Rashad Talley shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Rashad, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What is a normal day like for you right now?
A normal day for me starts once the school day is already in motion. We have strong systems and routines in place, so my team is already leading when I arrive. I begin by walking the building, greeting students and staff, and getting a pulse on the energy of the day. Those rounds help me see what is working well and where extra support might be needed.
From there, I meet with my leadership team, teachers, and students to check progress on goals or address any emerging needs. I also connect with parents and potential partners who can bring new opportunities or resources to our school. In the afternoon, I follow up on priorities, visit classrooms again, and reflect with my team on what we accomplished that day. It is a full schedule, but it is purposeful, and I enjoy seeing the systems we have built continue to create real results for students and staff.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Rashad Talley, and I currently serve as Principal of Wendell Phillips High School on the South Side of Chicago. I’ve spent nearly 25 years in education, leading with a focus on excellence, equity, and community. What makes my work special is that it’s rooted in transformation—turning challenges into opportunities and helping students and staff see what’s possible when structure and belief come together.
My leadership brand is centered around the “3 Es”: excellence, effectiveness, and efficiency. I believe in creating systems that work for people, not the other way around. Beyond running a school, I see myself as a mentor and builder of leaders. I mentor aspiring principals, partner with organizations to bring new resources into our community, and continue to push for policies that create access and equity for students in Chicago.
Right now, I’m focused on sustaining growth at Phillips while expanding my reach into broader leadership and consulting spaces. Whether it’s developing future leaders, strengthening community partnerships, or elevating the narrative around Black male leadership in education, my mission is to leave every space better than I found it.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
As a child, I believed that I always had to stay in control or keep everything perfect. I carried a lot of pressure to get things right and make sure everyone around me was okay. Over time, I learned that being high strung was really just passion without direction. I’ve learned to channel that energy into focus, calm, and presence. Now I see that I can still care deeply and give my all without letting that drive control me. It is one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned about balance and leadership.
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
Losing my dad at 15 was the defining wound of my life. For years I carried that loss quietly. I never really visited his gravesite and honestly did not see the point. It was only about ten minutes from my house, but emotionally it felt much farther away. I told myself I had moved on, but the truth is I had just buried the pain.
About thirty years later I decided to visit. That one visit changed everything. Standing there I finally faced the grief I did not even realize I was still holding. It was freeing in a way that words cannot fully explain. Now I go back every couple of months. It has become a space of peace and reflection instead of pain. That experience taught me that healing does not always come with time. It comes when you finally allow yourself to face what you have been avoiding.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes, the public version of me is the real me. I show up the same way in every space because that is what feels right and true to who I am. I do not believe in performing or pretending to fit in. What people see is a reflection of how I live my life with intention, consistency, and faith. My values do not shift based on who is in the room. I am comfortable in my own skin, and that steadiness has become one of my greatest strengths both personally and professionally.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I am doing what I was born to do. I have always felt a calling to lead, to teach, and to help people grow. It has never just been about a job or a title for me. It is purpose work. It is easy work when it is purpose. The hard part is getting people to operate in theirs. When you are walking in what you were created to do, it flows naturally. But helping others see their own purpose, believe in it, and move with intention takes patience, empathy, and consistency. That is where the real work begins, and it is also where the most meaningful growth happens.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://phillipshs.org/
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/klass.akt.1911
- Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/rjtalley007/
- Twitter: https://x.com/rjtalley007
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/rashadjtalley
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