Meet the Shapel Monique LaBorde

Peace and Blessings. I love learning. I love school. I love education. I need to clear the air with that first and foremost. I am a Black woman who is multi-faceted and well-rounded by own self definition. I have another website and identity centered around wellness and beauty. Yes, it is me, the same ole G. No but really it is me, Shapel. And this, is my identity some of you know and some of you forgot. Allow me to reintroduce myself.

I had to do this right here. This space was created because although as I mentioned I have my healing, wellness and beauty identity and many of the topics mentioned here can intersect with topics there, I wanted to give both worlds their due diligence. After all an educator never really stops learning and teaching. So that is why I created this, The Practipel Pedagogue.

So my first go round on IG with @thepractipelpedagogue was disabled immediately after three posts, this happens to me frequently anytime I start playing unfair. As soon as I start talking about issues in real-life, philosophy, race and anything leaning towards revolution and activism. You guessed it! Metaverse (FB/IG) deletes my account. I almost did not create another IG, but I decided that I would and that I have to keep moving forward despite resistance. My new IG is https://www.instagram.com/the.practipelpedagogue/

and I hope to see you all there some time.

Let us just get the little credentials out the way a bit I suppose. Only because that is what this space is for. I went to Afro-America Daycare, PS 123, MS 226 and then Long Island City High School. My whole Pre-K -12 experience was shaped and molded through my matriculation in the New York City Public Schools. But then I went on HBCU tour and I knew I was going to an HBCU and not just any but the best, I applied to only three schools, 1/ Spelman College, 2/Bennett College and 3/North Carolina Central University

I received my Bachelor's of Art in Philosophy at the illustrious Spelman College in Atlanta, GA. I should have stayed the extra semester so that I would also have my Bachelor's in Art History but hey, I was young and honestly in dire need of a break from school. While at Spelman College, I lived for philosophy, art/art history and women's studies. I love Spelman College forever and I exited to serve in 2013.

I joined City Year in New York, Queens specifically. I had a very transformative time doing National Community Service with AmeriCorps in schools as a Corps member. After the year I went on to teach English as a Foreign Language in Vietnam for one year, 2014-2015. The transforming just did not stop! At 23, I was so blown away by living and loving in Southeast Asia, that when I came back or rather right before I planned to come back, I applied for the New York City Teaching Fellows. I got rejected. It was not my time and I was not ready.

So here was my year of hardship, 2015-2016, I worked in retail for the first time that summer and then I transitioned to a Assistant Supervisor role for a Extracurricular Community Education program at The Queens College School for Math, Science and Technology. It was interesting in terms of setup and roles of staff but the kids! The kids were the most amazing part. Being active and structured with the kids was the highlight of my time there. During 2016, I lost quite a few family members. It was a struggle. But I thrive in the struggle.

So in 2016, after re-applying to the New York Teaching Fellows and being accepted, I started my journey as an ESL Educator obtaining my licensure and becoming a Master's of Arts Candidate for Teaching English to Speakers of Other Language at Hunter College School of Education. Let me tell you there was nothing easy about any of those classes for those full two years. In 2017, I traveled to Cuba and then Costa Rica, the first place was for cultural immersion and experience as a speaker of non-dominant language and then the second place was through the TESOL program at Hunter in which the program was for credits. I taught and studied in Costa Rica for the summer and it opened my eyes as a teacher in my position and also for learning.

Now we are in 2018, I walked across stage and received my Master's and immediately after in the summer of 2018 I enrolled in Esthetics school. Now, I already told you... I love learning. I love school. I love education. I need to clear the air with that first and foremost. I am a Black woman who is multi-faceted and well-rounded by own self definition. So yes, I ended up committing to a vocational/trade school even after obtaining my Master's. Two different worlds. Two different reason. One woman finding the balance and being in harmony with all the authentic parts of myself.

I am not sure if you were able to keep up but we will do a quick roundup, BA in Philosophy, TEFL Certification, MA in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), Diploma in Esthetics, Advanced Certifications in Esthetics, Continued Education and Teaching Certifications and now--- a brand new daughter too! Hey Sage Ali!

We have made it 2019 and I am still teaching, momming, and balancing a business and the caretaking of my late great-grandmother, Rose LaBorde. I am now the Head of Household and enrolled and receive a Nails Diploma all of these shifts solidified in 2021.

September 2021, I lost one of the most important people in my life, my Great-Grandmother, Grandma Babe, RoseBud LaBorde. I also started my second Master's in Philosophy of Education at Teachers College Columbia University. I survived all of that and turning 30 that month.

And now I am here...telling you my stories around learning, teaching and living as a Black person infinitely in love with learning, wisdom and knowledge.

Welcome and thank you for dropping in :)