Dr. Nancy Dome has been supporting children to overcome institutional and systemic barriers and developing educators for over 20 years.
Starting her career as a Child Care Worker, she has worked as a classroom teacher, teacher leader, college professor, and recently co-founded Epoch Education. Dr. Dome developed the RIR Protocol, which through the Epoch Conversations Starters provides concrete steps to practice interrupting dysfunctional systems and negative behavior through Compassionate Dialogue using the RIR Protocol. Dr. Dome and her team work around the country providing workshops, keynotes, and online courses utilizing myriad modalities to gently support stepping into discomfort on hard topics, and calling for deep personal reflection.
Q: Why did you choose your present industry at this time?
I have been involved in education for over 20 years, it is my life work and passion. Co-founding my business seemed a natural progression on my journey to have the greatest impact possible on our youth.
Q: What is the best/worst moment you can remember in your career?
One of my best moments came when several years after removing a student from my class and placing him in a more suitable program for where he was in his life as a young unmarried father, I received a phone call from him informing me that though he was very angry at me for the change that he finally understood that my decision was the best thing for him at the time. He explained that the new placement helped him finish high school early and get valuable job experience that he was now using as a Probation Officer. At the time he did not understand that my decision was for his success as much as I would have loved him to stay with me. It reinforced for me that we have to trust our instincts and that sometimes the best decisions don't always feel like that at the time. Being able to get this feedback many years later was a powerful reminder of why I do what I do. It is hard to pin point a "worst moment" since generally I am a glass half full person. I see failure and setbacks as opportunities so I do not tend to dwell on them. However, if I have to name something, I would say it was when I found myself in a position where I felt my creativity and passion stifled. It truly felt desperate and after many failed attempts to resolve the situation I ended up leaving the position as I knew it was not within my capacity to simply exist to receive a paycheck.
I see failure and setbacks as opportunities so I do not tend to dwell on them.
~ Dr. Nancy Dome
Q: Who is your role model or hero?
I have so many and they have evolved over time. Currently, I would say the Obamas for their dedication, poise and passion through thick and thin.
Q: Tell us about the exact moment you came up with your business idea. How did you decide to go ahead with that one, instead of others?
My twin sister and I had been talking about the possibility of starting a consulting business for a few month and were planning to begin the process in September of 2014. However, my intuition compelled me to give notice early and start in May 2014. I can't explain what it was exactly, except for a core knowledge that this was the right time. I have always trusted when I get clear messages about next steps and know that I am divinely guided...so I leaped.
I have always trusted when I get clear messages about next steps and know that I am divinely guided...so I leaped.
~ Dr. Nancy Dome
Q: What is your favorite book?
I truly have so many but Ismael by Daniel Quinn comes to mind in the moment. I read it more than 20 years ago and still think of it often.
Q: Looking back - if you could advise a younger version of yourself to do something different - what would it be?
Save early, I know this seems unrelated but I grew up in a single parent household with limited educational experience. This lack information of how wealth is accumulated and/or how to thrive rather than survive did not exist in my household. I had to learn through trial and error (really one of the most glaring omissions in public education is financial literacy) and found myself frequently a hostage of jobs early on because I did not have the resources to make other decisions.
Twitter: @epocheducation
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