We were lucky to catch up with Dr. Tyana Velazquez-Smith recently and have shared our conversation below.
Dr. Tyana, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
Introducing Myself
My name is Tyana Velazquez-Smith, and I am the Founder of Sensational Inclusion, an educational tutoring and consulting business that provides customized tutoring programs to students in grades Pre-K-3rd. As an early childhood literacy expert and special educator, I believe that all children, especially those with neurodiverse minds, need environments, educators, and supports that meet their unique needs. This belief led me to establish Sensational Inclusion to create unique learning experiences for students as they embark on the complex journey of reading development in a safe, accommodating, and affirming space.
How I Got Into the Industry
My journey into the field of education began with a focus on literacy and early childhood development. Over time, I realized the significant gap in support for neurodiverse students and those requiring tailored educational approaches. This realization motivated me to pursue advanced studies and work on creating inclusive educational environments that cater to the diverse needs of all students.
Products and Services
Sensational Inclusion offers a range of services designed to create inclusive and culturally sustaining educational environments. Our intersectional methodology combines students’ special interests, culturally sustaining literacy practices, and sensory-friendly approaches to help emergent readers become proficient and confident lifelong readers. Our services include:
Customized Tutoring Programs: Tailored one-on-one tutoring sessions for students in grades Pre-K-3rd, focusing on their unique learning styles and needs.
Curriculum Development: Designing sensory-friendly and culturally relevant curriculum for schools and educational programs.
Teacher Training: Professional development workshops that equip educators with the skills to support neurodiverse students and implement inclusive practices.
Educational Consulting: Working with school districts, nonprofits, and other organizations to develop and implement inclusive education policies and practices.
Curriculum Auditing and Writing: Reviewing and creating curriculum that aligns with anti-racist, disability justice, and educational equity principles.
Problems We Solve
Our primary goal is to address the systemic barriers that prevent all students, particularly those with neurodiverse needs, from thriving in traditional educational settings. We focus on:
Reducing punitive and exclusionary practices in schools.
Improving teacher-student interactions and representation in the curriculum.
Providing support for students with behavioral and other needs during school trips.
Enhancing professional development for teachers in the arts and integrating arts with core subjects.
What Sets Us Apart
Sensational Inclusion stands out due to our commitment to using research-backed and promising practices to support our students. We are deeply rooted in the community, working hand-in-hand with families, educators, and local organizations to create environments where every child can thrive. Our approach is holistic, addressing not just the academic but also the social and emotional needs of our students.
What I Am Most Proud Of
Since opening, I am most proud of the dozen students who have enrolled in our tutoring program and the growth and confidence they have gained as readers. Seeing a child who struggled in a traditional classroom setting begin to thrive because of our tailored interventions gives me immense pride and reinforces the importance of the work we do with emergent readers.
Key Messages for Potential Clients and Followers
To anyone considering working with Sensational Inclusion, I want you to know that our commitment is to excellence, equity, and creating an environment where every child can thrive. We believe in the potential of every child and are dedicated to providing the support and resources needed to unlock that potential. By working with us, you join a community that values inclusion, respects diversity, and strives for continuous improvement to ensure a brighter future for all students.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
One significant lesson I had to unlearn was the pervasive fear of starting something brand new. My journey began when I took on a leadership role at a local non-profit, overseeing a preschool and managing all education-related tasks, including curriculum writing and providing professional development for educators.
For a couple of years, I passionately advocated for culturally sustaining teaching approaches and even developed new curricula to support these methods. Despite my efforts, I often encountered resistance and skepticism from teaching staff and every effort was a constant battle to justify necessary equity-centered changes. I felt trapped and on most days alone, it began to impact my mental health in ways that I never experienced.
It was during this period of deep frustration that I realized the need for a change. The fear of starting my own business was daunting, but the fear of remaining in a state of continuous struggle was even greater. I understood that to truly make a difference and implement the changes I believed in, I needed to create a space where my vision could thrive without constant opposition.
This realization led to the founding of Sensational Inclusion, an educational tutoring and consulting business. This new venture allowed me to fully implement my ideas and support students through customized tutoring programs and consulting services that focus on culturally sustaining and sensory-friendly practices.
Starting Sensational Inclusion was a transformative experience that taught me to unlearn my fear of starting something new. It showed me that stepping out of my comfort zone and embracing the unknown can lead to the most rewarding and impactful outcomes. This journey not only helped me grow personally but also enabled me to create meaningful change in the field of education, supporting students and educators in a more effective and compassionate manner.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
Months before leaving my job, my mental health was severely impacted. Despite loving my role, the constant need to advocate for culturally sustaining teaching approaches and the resistance I faced from the teaching staff caused significant harm. Depression settled in, and loneliness took over as I felt increasingly isolated in my efforts. This challenging period forced me to confront the reality that my job, which I had been so passionate about, was taking a toll on my well-being.
After I left my job, my mental health initially worsened as I dealt with the uncertainty and fear of stepping into the unknown. However, it was during this period of deep frustration that I found myself drawing on the resilience of my ancestors, who made a way out of nothing. As an autistic Black woman, I realized that to heal and create the change I wanted to see, I needed to build a space that I never had growing up—a space that was safe, accommodating, and affirming.
This inner strength led to the founding of Sensational Inclusion, an educational tutoring and consulting business. Building up Sensational Inclusion has been a transformative experience and a testament to my resilience. It allowed me to create a supportive environment for other children, providing customized tutoring programs and consulting services that focus on culturally sustaining and sensory-friendly practices. This venture has not only allowed me to support students in meaningful ways but also to heal that part of myself that needed such a space as a child.
The journey of building Sensational Inclusion has been the best therapy for me. It showed me that stepping out of my comfort zone and embracing the unknown can lead to the most rewarding and impactful outcomes. This experience has helped me grow personally and enabled me to create meaningful change through research-informed approaches.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sensationalinclusion.com
- Instagram: @Sensational_Inclusion @tyanavelazquezsmith
- Facebook: Sensational Inclusion Tyana Velazquez-Smith
- Linkedin: Sensational Inclusion Tyana Velazquez-Smith
Image Credits
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