We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Shevonica M Howell. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Shevonica M below.
Shevonica M, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Has Covid resulted in any major changes to your business model?
Covid has changed my business model in many ways. For one, it allowed me to be more creative and it has also allowed me to expand my already “not-so traditional” school setting by tapping into the homeschooling way of life. Secondly, I no longer just introduce myself as a private school founder but an experienced educational liaison too! Last but not least, at the peak of COVID in 2020, I took a position as a live-in Nanny during the summer and I wrote and published a Math Study Guide to assist students that already struggled in math prior to COVID and a Word Search Puzzle book that enhances problem solving skills and orthography.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I am Shevonica M. Howell of Jacksonville, Florida and I have made it my business in life to NEVER BE ORDINARY but EXTRA-EXTRA EXTRAORDINARY! From birth to seven years of age, my Mom and Dad raised my brother and I, but after their divorce … we experienced life on and off between my Mother’s house and my Aunt & Uncle’s home.
I am the Founder & CEO of a private school, Academy of Scholars, Inc., a decorated Army veteran, a college graduate of five degrees, a published Author of 11 books, and more importantly, a Mother of two and Grandmother of three grandkids.
I had the pleasure of teaching in the public sector from 1996 and 2008, the private sector as an instructor from 2008 to 2011, and I decided to step out on faith as founder once I was tired of being sick and tired of students failing because their test scores didn’t meet the guidelines set up by the school board!
My school caters to students that have experienced disparity in education and my school’s only goal and priority is ensuring that each of our students meet their goals.
We believe that as long as WE teach, motivate, and nurture our students … success will come!
We believe that the sky is the limit, and we share realistic and doable goals of our successes with those that we teach.
I am most proud to share that I know my purpose in life is teaching and giving my testimonies. When I teach, when I share, when I assist others, I can truly feel God’s presence all over me. And His presence and my NEVER GIVE UP attitude and demeanor has ALWAYS set me apart from many!
Listen, I never “just talk a good game” … I play in the game!
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
Too easy … I was the Teacher of the Year that didn’t get to park in the Teacher of the Year parking space! I was the Teacher of the Year that was not allowed to place my picture in the halls of the school that nominated me as the TOY for the 2007-2008 school year!
Lastly, I was the Teacher of the Year that lost my job before the beginning of the following school year due to failing the professional exam more than SEVEN TIMES!
Well as far as Google is concerned, the definition of resilience is the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness.
Well I must toot my own horn by telling you that I AM THE EPITOME OF RESILIENCE!
Did I give up on me during that extremely embarrassing and gut-wrenching hurt? Not at all! From 2008 to present, I have continued to smile to keep from crying and I decided to go back to school with being a business owner on my mind.
I became Teacher of the Year for the 2007-2008 school year. I was fired at the end of 2007-2008 school year. In August of 2008, I took at $30K pay cut at a private school, but I started the MBA program at the University of Phoenix as well. I earned my MBA in 2010 and I was chosen to compete to be the speaker for the MBA graduation. I didn’t earn the speaking spot, but since 2010, I have had the pleasure of being the guest speaker for more than 100+ speaking engagements (i.e., graduations, weddings, motivational ceremonies) throughout Florida and Georgia. I published my first book in 2011, became a professor and business department chair at a local college, and I applied for and received my 501(c)(3) status in 2012. In 2013, I placed my business plan in a competition in hopes of winning $25K. I did not win the first place win but I did win $15K and the second place title!
I opened my private school in 2014 and operated it until 2018. At the end of 2018, I could no longer afford the space that I had been renting and unfortunately, the zoning department in Duval County continued to deny my requests for each of the other properties that I wanted to use as a school space.
Pushing forward, I continued to give my testimony, pray, and motivate myself to not give up. Between 2016 and 2021, I wrote and published (nine more books three) children’s books, a Math Study Guide and collaborated with 11 other authors on a compilation book titled Ten Toes Down Vol 2. Prior to the 2019-2020 school year, I was featured on a radio show that allowed me to promote myself and my books. Ironically, before I started the interview I met a mother (a volunteer of the radio show) in need of a good school for her son and daughter. We exchanged numbers and long story short, the Mom gutted the room between her garage and her laundry room and I taught her son and daughter there for the 2019-2020 school year. During the 2020-2021 school year, a dear friend and business associate blessed me with a different location to house my school. This school year (2021-2022), my students are working from a hybrid education model. They work from home, we meet in person once each week, and Zoom, emails, and phone calls are accessed 24/7.
I am ecstatic to share that I recently participated as one on the 160+ exhibitors at the 2022 Florida Homeschool Convention in Orlando offering my services as an Educational Liaison.
Last but not least, I have partnered with Woodlawn Apartments of Jenninson Management to spearhead the “YOU TEACH IT” Math & Reading summer enrichment program for 2022.
Yeah, RESILIENCE is me!
Any advice for managing a team?
My advice for managing a team and maintaining high morale would be to give clear expectations concerning job descriptions as often as needed, always mean what you say, say what you mean, and treat your team with the same dignity and respect that you expect of them towards you.
At my school, we follow the Management By Objective philosophy. You assist me with being successful and I to you, No one works for me. We work together to achieve a common goal ..: BEING SUCCESSFUL!
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.AcademyofScholarsInc.org
- School Number: (904)274-1107
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/shevonicamhowell?igshid=NWRhNmQxMjQ=
- Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/Shevonica.howell
Image Credits
Edward Denson Studios
Aaron Daye