We recently connected with Marisa Chambers and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Marisa thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?
The mission of the school is “Meeting social-emotional and academic needs one child at a time”. Children come to school needing to learn how to read, write, and do math. They also come to school needing to learn how to interact with others and develop their personal emotional skills.
I saw how relevant this was in the students I was serving in the public school system as well as in my personal children. I have two children who are two years apart and are both now in middle school. When they were in 1st and 3rd grade, my highly gifted 3rd grader was the best reader in his class. However, his teachers expected that he would just be “good” at math, and he really struggled. He also struggled with how to navigate his emotions that year. We placed him a Montessori school for 4th and 5th grade where he could learn at his own pace, and it was amazing what a world of difference it made! My youngest child has been in public school since Pre-K and has done a fabulous job navigating the school system. Entering middle school was very difficult for her in a new school and post-pandemic. She had quite a bit of difficulty but was able to verbalize that she needed emotional support and asked for us to seek out a counselor for her to speak to.
I saw this in the public school system as well. There are certain benchmarks that a student must make to be considered on track. This is very difficult for some kids, especially children with trauma and English Learners. We must meet each and every child where they are in their journey. For example, some children are just not ready to read when entering school but will catch up if we allow them the space with less testing pressure. Others are way beyond their peers academically but need to learn how to interact with other children.
I believe my school is a safe space for kids to grow and be successful in all aspects of their lives.
Marisa, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
A lifelong learner, I, use my two degrees from Georgia State University, and 10+ years in education, to bring out the best in children. With a passion for reading and a commitment to never letting a problem go unsolved, I will stop at nothing to ensure your child has all they need to excel in today’s ever-changing world.
Starting a school began as a dream 15 years ago while working in a small ministry called “Saturdays at the Circle” in Newnan, GA. We provided 2 hours of recreation to a small group of children who lived in a small, underserved part of the community. Through this experience, I knew that I was being called to become a teacher and to one day start a school. I then got my second degree from Georgia State University with the “Urban Accelerated Certification and Masters” program where I received a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education and an ESOL endorsement. I was hired at Hapeville Elementary where I taught ESOL for 4 years and then became the Assistant Administrator specifically working to educate teachers on how to provide interventions for students who were struggling with the traditional school model. I left the public school system in Fall of 2019 to pursue my dream of opening a school on the southside of Atlanta.
When schools closed due to COVID-19, I opened my home up to assist students with their online schoolwork. I also started a small homeschool group as well as tutored students one-on-one online and in person. Our living room was literally turned into a classroom! As we outgrew my home, a local church was kind enough to rent space to the school, and this is where we are currently located.
Our school currently serves children ages 8-14. As we grow, we will also add the lower grades.
In a traditional school model, a child would work on his or her “grade level” in reading and math, At Tri-Cities Christian School, students are evaluated every year before school begins. The teacher and parents then have a conference to discuss where the child is performing academically. A plan is then developed collaboratively for that child’s starting point and expectations for mastery for the year. This means that if you would be considered in 3rd grade in a traditional school but are reading on a 6th grade level, then you will be taught at Level 6. If that same 3rd grader is performing at a 2nd grade level in math, he or she will be working in Level 2 mathematics.
Many students at the school are neurodivergent meaning that they may have been diagnosed with ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia, etc. The school focuses on building capacity in these students through our social strategies. Every day starts with a “morning meeting” where students have time to share what is going on in their lives. Students learn how to use academic planners and create academic goals for themselves through ongoing conferencing. Students also learn how to communicate when they need breaks, extended time, or maybe just need some alone time. They are encouraged to “use their resources” to find the answers to their own problems or have another student help them problem solve. When an issue arises in the classroom community, all of the teachers and students hold a meeting to problem solve solutions. Everyone in the class has a voice.
We also provide as much real-world experience as we can. Research tells us that students perform better on standardized tests when they have prior knowledge with the content (no matter the academic level). At Tri-Cities Christian School, Science and History are taught in 6-week units and reading and math are as directly related as possible. We go on a minimum of 6 field trips per year which are directly related to our Science and History units of study. Most lessons are hands-on so that students can truly make connections to what they are learning. Our connections classes (including Art, Spanish, PE, and Nature Studies) also make cross-curricular connections to our Science and History units.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
I feel as if the whole journey of starting a school has been one of resilience. It is very hard to leave a “safe” job in the public school system to pursue a dream. I am so grateful to my husband who pushed me out of my comfort zone and into this whirlwind journey!
This school year has been specifically challenging. I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease in July of this year. Due to health issues, my family determined that it would be best if I discontinued afternoon one-on-one tutoring to focus on getting healthy. This was a large portion of the business’ income.
This is also the first year that we have operated as a private school versus a homeschool co-op. Several of my clients were attracted from my previous public school and one-on-one tutoring. I am still learning to navigate being a businesswoman while also helping less fortunate families who believe in the mission of the school attend at a reasonable price.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
I have had to unlearn the “do it yourself” mentality.
I have always been a self-sufficient woman, but I am learning that it’s okay to ask for help from others. For example, while I may be a good teacher and an even better administrator, I have never built a website. And my personal social media page doesn’t get updated often, let alone the business one! I am learning to find the experts and lean into their aid and coaching.
I am also learning to ask for help from the families in the school. We have one Spanish speaking family who come in and teach Spanish to the students for 45 minutes a week. I have another crafty aunt who is a master party planner! Families are willing to come and help sort and organize or chaperone a field trip when you ask. In fact, they enjoy being asked to do specific tasks!
Just as the students in my classroom are so much stronger as a community, our entire school is stronger when we reach out to others who are eager to lend a hand.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.tri-citieschristianschool.com ***website will be launched January 14, 2023
- Instagram: tricitieschristianschool
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/chambersschool