Meet Joyce Winston
Founder. Educator. Change Agent. Community Leader. Overcomer.
I am a first-generation college graduate, a mother, and a woman who refused to let her circumstances define her future. My journey is rooted in resilience, faith, and an unwavering commitment to transforming not only my own life—but the lives of others.
As an educator and educational leader for over five years, I have dedicated my work to creating spaces where individuals feel seen, supported, and empowered to rise. Today, I serve as a community leader and education change agent, committed to advancing healing-centered leadership in schools and underserved communities.
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I am currently a doctoral candidate in Educational Leadership, where my research is rooted in the Superwoman Schema and the mental health toll of leadership among Black women in K–12 education. My work lives at the intersection of identity, resilience, and sustainable leadership.
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This is more than what I do—it’s who I am.
I didn’t start with access. I started with determination.
I am from Detroit, Michigan—a city that shaped my strength, my perspective, and my purpose. As a first-generation college student, I navigated a path that was never clearly laid out for me. I completed my financial aid using my neighbor’s computer and Wi-Fi. My assistant principal paid my housing fee so I could stay enrolled. I boarded a Greyhound bus with $50 and a vision for something greater.
And I made it.
Every obstacle I faced became a stepping stone. Every barrier became proof that I was capable of more.
Over time, I began to understand that my story was not just about survival—it was about transformation.
As an educator and leader, I have spent the past five years working in schools and communities, witnessing firsthand the emotional weight carried by students, educators, and leaders—especially Black women navigating systems that demand strength without support. That reality shaped my purpose and led me to build what I could not find.
In 2020, I founded Transforming Your Trauma, Inc. (TYT)—a healing-centered nonprofit dedicated to mentorship, community restoration, and wellness. Through this work, I created initiatives like Rising Royals Mentorship, which empowers young girls to lead with confidence and character, and Teaching TransformED, which equips educators and leaders to build sustainable, healing-centered school systems.
I am also a framework builder, currently developing the Generational Resilience Leadership Framework (GRLF)—a model rooted in identity, healing, structured excellence, and sustainable leadership for individuals and organizations.
My academic work is deeply personal. As a doctoral candidate in Educational Leadership, my dissertation focuses on the Superwoman Schema and the mental health toll of culturally responsive leadership among Black women in K–12 education. I am committed to not only studying this reality—but changing it.
Beyond my research, I am currently writing my first book, The Secret Life of a Bipolar Educator, where I explore the intersection of mental health, leadership, and lived experience—bringing voice to what is often carried in silence.
I have exceeded every hurdle placed in front of me—but my journey is not just about overcoming. It is about building pathways for others.
With my doctoral degree, I plan to expand this work by developing leadership programs, influencing policy, and creating sustainable systems that prioritize both performance and wellness in education and underserved communities.
Because I don’t just want to succeed.
I want to change systems.
I want to shift narratives.
I want to build legacy.
And this is only the beginning.
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We welcome partnerships, speaking opportunities, and collaborations that align with our mission to heal, empower, and transform communities.
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Let’s build something impactful—together.
