Dreamkeeper™ Spotlight: Shawnee Caruthers

A journey of the unexpected, guided by faith and a strong belief in dreaming boldly, Shawnee Caruthers shared with me how the redirections in her life, moments that once felt like failures, ultimately led to something greater. Like many of us, Shawnee had her path to success carefully planned, but it was the curveballs and the pushes to take a different road that shaped her into the person she is today. Her willingness and passion to pour into others and selflessly give back to the next generation stand as a testament to who she is as an educator, mentor, and leader. Now serving as the Partner, Advocacy at Getting Smart, my conversation with Shawnee was a powerful reminder that letting go of one dream can open the door to even greater opportunities, and that leaning into discomfort often becomes the greatest catalyst for growth.

SHAWNEE CARUTHERS IN CONVERSATION

Q: What’s a dream you’ve outgrown or let go of and why?

I would say journalism, in a sense, my dream of the advertising component. I had my mind set that I was going to work at an ad agency after college. But, like most college students I needed money when it was time to graduate, so I went to work for Sprint corporate headquarters instead and did marketing. It wasn’t exactly advertising but it was adjacent. I was eventually laid off and during that time my husband and I somewhat adopted twin boys that my husband was mentoring in the community. They were struggling with their academics and we jumped in to tutor them and help them get on track. I was having fun teaching them and it sparked something in me. I decided to go into education and teach journalism at my alma mater. Journalism has always been part of my journey in some way, but not in the advertising space that I was originally set on.

Q: Who in your life challenges you to dream differently?

I would say all of my friends in their own unique way. Kara May. She is so prophetic in the way she pours into me and such an empathetic person, but she pushes me to question and reflect and consider the possibilities and removing the what-ifs instead lean more into the why nots.

Shameka pushes me to dream bigger. She challenges me to be intentional, to not to sit in comfort and recognize that we all have greatness within us and that everything is a risk, but are we willing to risk it all on us or risk it for other people?

"If we can show up and work for other people and dream for other people, then we should also be able to show up and dream for ourselves.”

Victoria, she’s one of those friends where she doesn’t give a lot of advice, but she asks amazing questions and allows you the space to just sit and think on them. I would say that she pushes me by creating space and allowing me to lean into being uncomfortable.

Carmita, she just allowed me to dream beyond boundaries and to not let other people’s norms or the patriarchy determine who I was and how I would show up in spaces and how big my dreams could be.

Q: What is a cultural or personal belief you’ve challenged along your path to prosperity?

Like most people, I went to college, so I thought, “Why can’t everybody go to college?” That was uncomfortable for me to grapple with for a while. Even though I was the director of Career and Technical Education, which focuses on the trades, I still felt like kids should go to college. At the same time, I was trying to promote the idea that college doesn’t have to be for everyone. That tension was a real struggle.

Over time, through my experiences with learners and seeing all the amazing things kids could do, recognizing that they’re all different — my thinking started to shift. I saw that going to college doesn’t automatically define success, and not going doesn’t make someone less smart. Context matters, and it’s really just a choice.

Now, I really believe in career readiness: some careers require college, some don’t, but they all require lifelong learning in whatever form that takes.

Q: What’s a moment in your journey when failure taught you something unexpected?

When I shifted from one district to another, I went from my alma mater to a new opportunity. When it was time to pivot, I didn’t just jump into the next thing.

I took a year off to tutor and work with my son who was about 5 at the time. After that, I transitioned to the next district. But it was hard coming to terms with something ending when you’re not necessarily ready for it to end. It was also hard being away from it all for that year — focusing on something important, yet still feeling a little like a failure for stepping back and not working.

“I think sometimes when it’s time to stop doing something or leave a place, we see it as failure instead of as a growth opportunity. And at the time, I didn’t see it that way.”

But years later, I’m really thankful, because I wouldn’t have the opportunities I have now if I hadn’t made that pivot. It felt uncomfortable and uncertain then, but it led to so much growth.

“Just knowing that although this opportunity is ending, that doesn’t mean there aren’t other opportunities that are the right fit.”

Navigating through that season I leaned on praying, being patient, trusting in God, that He’ll provide and send something my way that speaks to my heart. And He did, and continues to. That’s not to say there haven’t been bumps along the road, but I’m thankful that God knows better than me.

Q: Describe the last time someone made you feel truly seen in your work or your journey.

I would say there have been a couple of instances. I really do love moderating conversations, like at conferences, panels, and I also really love doing podcasts. I always feel seen in those moments because I take pride in hearing people’s stories, getting to know them, and having conversations that feel organic. After every one, I just feel so full.

But one of the best ways of feeling seen, is mentoring and teaching young ladies, and it’s when a young woman comes up to you and says, “Thank you, I learned so much,” or “It’s so great to learn from other women leaders.” You’re just being yourself, but when they see themselves in you and want to emulate that, it feels like the highest form of praise.

And then when you actually see them putting what they learned into action — that’s even more powerful. Nothing makes you feel more seen than that, especially through the eyes of a young girl.

Q: What is your dream anthem, the song that just fuels your ambition?

Fred Hammond - This is the Day & Jonathan Reynolds - Moving On 

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