Tierionna Pinkston is a dynamic school leader, educator, and community advocate currently serving as the principal of The Noble Academy in Chicago. Tierionna brings both fierce intellect and deep heart to her work. Known for her commitment to antiracist education and restorative practices, she leads with vision, vulnerability, and a relentless belief in the brilliance of young people. Her leadership is shaped by experience in the classroom, lessons from her own family, and a growing network of Black school leaders committed to healing and liberation in education.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Tierionna’s journey from Louisville to Chicago and why she chose urban education as her life’s work.
• Lessons learned the hard way about transferring leadership skills to a brand-new campus (spoiler: listen before you fix).
• Surviving — and then thriving — in a “brutal” first year as principal by reclaiming authenticity and wellness.
• Building belonging through design-thinking: how re-imagining physical space and culture helped steady a school.
• Legacy Scholars, a Cabrini-Green–focused pathway at The Noble Academy aimed at reparative justice and college readiness.
• Why a principal’s self-care isn’t selfish: 

“If I am not well, nothing else is. The schoolhouse is well when the principal is well.” 

Relevant Links & Resources:

The Noble Academy – campus site & enrollment info

https://nobleschools.org/nobleacademy/

Noble Schools 

https://nobleschools.org/

Tierionna Pinkston on LinkedIn – follow her leadership reflections

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tierionna-pinkston-403b07131

Surge Fellowship

https://surgeinstitute.org/surge-fellowship/

Cabrini-Green Homes history – context for the neighborhood The Noble Academy serves

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabrini%E2%80%93Green_Homes

Give to support Legacy Scholars - an education program that supports young people whose families experienced the displacement and injustice of the policies around Cabrini Green:
https://give.nobleschools.org/give/673051/#!/donation/checkout

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Producer, editor and host: Ryan Maxwell

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