Teacher, Entrepreneur, Author and Role Model Studies for Doctoral Degree While Educating At-Risk Students

Written by: Tyisha Blade

Dominique Kizer recently decided to embark on a new journey furthering her career in education. The East Cleveland native enrolled in coursework at the University of Dayton to complete her doctorate’s degree. While furthering her goals at the University, she also teaches youth as a Linkage Coordinator at Shaw High School in her hometown. She said wants to continue to give back and she remains diligent about her work.

In her role at Shaw, she advocates for at-risk youth helping them with struggles, intervening on issues that are barriers toward succeeding. She said that she maintains a healthy relationship with students and parents.

“I have great bonds and connections, the students come to me for a lot,” she said. “My relationships with parents are important. They might not call the school, they will call me directly. When you build those bonds they feel comfortable coming to you. I really enjoy what I do.”

When she began working at the high school, she immediately wanted to do more which led to her enrollment at the University of Dayton. “Going back to school provides me with opportunities to have more ‘say so’ in the decision making process and policies,” she said.

When Kizer began her collegiate studies at Ohio State University, she wanted to pursue a career as a lawyer.

Shaw’s Career and Technical program provided structure as she attended the Criminal Justice program there. At Ohio State, she studied Criminology and graduated in 2013. She later attended Case Western Reserve School of Law and obtained a master’s degree in Financial Integrity in 2018 which was an accelerated program that focused on anti-money laundering and fraud. Although this wasn’t the path that she had originally planned, she graduated from law school, an accomplishment she’s always wanted to achieve.

Kizer relocated to New Orleans in June 2020. With aid from the Black Educator Excellence Cohort (BEEC) and with the help of her friends and family, she took on a 16-hour drive to the Crescent City to begin her career as a sixth grade English teacher for urban students in Orleans Parish. She completed an accelerated teacher certification program and, on July 13, 2020, Kizer began her work at Langston Hughes

Academy with the goal of closing inequity and achievement gaps in the classroom. When she began her work in New Orleans, she realized this career path was something that she loved to do. “I love learning and growing with the kids,” she said.

The impact of Hurricane Ida and tragedy in 2021 forced Kizer to return back to Ohio. She remained determined and dedicated to education and began working for the East Cleveland City School District. She humbly attributes herself as a motivational tool in everyday life. “I have things that I need to do for myself and if I don’t do it, it won’t get done,” she said. “I also know that there are people who depend on me to get things done such as my family and the kids that I teach. That gets me out of bed in the morning.” As an author, Kizer’s written two children’s books. Her first: “Kinky Hair, Don’t Care.” “It’s for little brown girls who have trouble embracing their hair and skin,” she said. She authored another book titled “In School, the Kids are Really CRUEL” where she focuses on the impacts of bullying in school systems. Kizer is currently in her second semester at the University of Dayton. She said that when she is done with her course work there, she will have unlimited opportunities to work in education. Advice she gives to youth is to ‘go out and get it.’ “Nobody’s going to give it to you,” she said. “I had help, but I had to do it myself. I had to push myself and have that hunger and determination.” Going the extra mile and being a self-starter are two factors that she expresses as important factors for youth.