Against the Pushout Pipeline: Dr. Lisa’s Relentless Stand for Our Youngest Learners

toniciaff
4 days ago
4 min read

Did you know that children as young as preschoolers are being suspended and expelled from school?

According to data from the Office of Civil Rights, for any randomly selected school district, Black and Hispanic boys are disproportionately suspended and expelled from school. When these students are sent home, they lose access to language development, peer connection, critical social-emotional learning, and fall behind academically. At the same time, their families face economic, mental health, and emotional tolls as parents are forced to miss work, rearrange schedules, or secure alternative placements. Over time, these young people begin to lose interest in school, and families become exhausted.

In her work, Dr. Lisa amplifies this slow but intentional pattern known as the Preschool-to-Prison Pipeline—the first stops on a journey that too often funnels Black youth from preschools to juvenile justice and, eventually, to incarceration.

Through LMS Consulting, Dr. Lisa Smith is a Mom on a mission to disrupt the prenatal-to-preschool-to-prison pipeline. Through keynote speaking, Dr. Lisa shares her personal story as a mother navigating her son’s suspensions and expulsions in real time. Her workshops help providers and system leaders understand the data, the impacts, and the changes needed to better support youth and their families. And through her parent advocacy, she walks alongside parents and caregivers as they navigate intimidating conversations, uncover root causes, and seek culturally responsive, shame-free support.

What inspired Dr. Lisa to become an owner, and how did she get started?

Dr. Lisa stands at a powerful intersection—advocating within the same system she works in, and the same system her family must navigate each day to protect her son’s future. She is a Mom working hard to prevent her son and other youth from entering the juvenile justice system, because she knows this is too often the trajectory for many Black youth after suspension and expulsion.

Sitting quietly while the data continues to illustrate rising suspension and expulsion rates was never an option for Dr. Lisa. As a mother, she knows what it feels like to be dismissed, ignored, or shut out of conversations about her own child. She knows the exhaustion of daily calls from school, the emotional toll of advocating nonstop, and the fight to protect her son’s future. And she knows that if advocacy is hard for her—with her education, experience, and access—it must be even harder for families without these resources.

Dr. Lisa has been immersed in this work for years, both personally and professionally. Her dual lens as a parent and former educator gives her a unique ability to see both sides: the perspectives of practitioners and educators, and the lived reality of families who are overwhelmed or completely unaware of their rights and options.

Her mission is clear: Use her voice, her lived experiences, and her expertise to ensure families know they are not alone—and to offer authentic mentorship that prevents burnout, apathy, and advocacy fatigue. Grounded by her village, encouraged by friends, and inspired by a newly earned doctoral degree, Dr. Lisa launched LMS Consulting—a business centered on the work she is most passionate about.

What impact has ownership had on Dr. Lisa's life, family, and community?

Dr. Lisa is living the very work she teaches. Nothing about this journey is theoretical. The stories she shares through social media, keynote speaking, and workshops are happening in real time—she has lived it or is living it now. Her transparency and vulnerability are normalizing conversations that have long existed in silence—and the response has been powerful. Workshop participants and viewers on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn consistently share that her messages resonate deeply.

At home, her children see her fighting for them and for others, and they are proud. Her family and friends cheer her on every step of the way. Knowing that her son is proud of the work she’s doing—proud that she is fighting for him and other youth who deserve a chance to thrive fuels her purpose.

What fears or challenges did Dr. Lisa have before becoming an owner, and how did she overcome them?

Like many entrepreneurs, Dr. Lisa continually confronts her fears.

Fear of doing it right.
Fear of doing enough.
Fear of doing it well.
Fear of how her messages will be received.

She moves through these fears by giving herself grace, pacing herself, and honoring what feels comfortable. She is intentional about monitoring her bandwidth to maintain balance—being a Mom first, while nurturing her career and growing her business.

What advice would Dr. Lisa give someone who’s never owned an income-producing asset but wants to start?

Dr. Lisa’s guidance is bold and inspiring:

Do it scared.
Do it alone.
Do it broke.
Do it when you don’t have all the answers.
Do it when it feels lonely.
Do it when you’re excited.

JUST DO IT!

Work with Dr. Lisa Smith

Dr. Lisa wants people to understand: Young people don’t end up in the juvenile justice system overnight. Many youth have been riding this slow-moving “train” of adverse educational impacts since preschool. She is passionate about working with the entire ecosystem connected to youth suspension and expulsion, including:

Parents, caregivers, and families navigating discipline decisions
Early childhood educators and early learning providers
Practitioners in early steps, coalitions, and systems of care
Juvenile justice professionals
Criminal justice and law enforcement personnel
Anyone impacted by or connected to the suspension and expulsion of youth from preschool through high school