We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Shontrice Maloney. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Shontrice below.

Shontrice , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. So, naming is such a challenge. How did you come up with the name of your brand?

The name speaks for itself. Academic Rescue seeks to SAVE STUDENTS FROM ACADEMIC DECLINE. With the onset of the pandemic and school closures across the nation, I knew a decline in academic achievement would surely follow. When national reports were released in January of 2021, student underachievement was substantially lower than I had anticipated. As I stared at the dismal numbers, I knew that I wanted to do more to help fill the gaps teachers simply could not alone. With every tutoring session, I hope that I am truly saving students from academic decline and catapulting them toward success.

Shontrice , 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?

I began dreaming of my very own classroom at the tender age of 4. I would line by stuffed animals and baby dolls in neat little rows and give them each paper and pencil to complete their assignment. Then I would stand at the front of my bedroom and proceed to teach them their letters and numbers. Playing school was my absolute favorite thing to do.

Eighteen years later, I was living my dream. I was given the keys to my first classroom where I would be teaching 2nd grade. I was beyond proud of myself and ready to teach “real” students.

It was the only thing I thought I would ever do. Never would I have imagined that I would step into entrepreneurship! I honestly thought I would continue teaching in public school classrooms through retirement.

I am now the owner of Academic Rescue, where I provide reading interventions to elementary students in kindergarten through fifth grade. The interventions help students move through the continuum of skills necessary to meet or exceed grade-level expectations. My primary goal is to fill the gaps created by a disruption of the educational system due to a global pandemic.

I pride myself on creating effective lessons, with appropriate goals, to ensure all of my students succeed. My first scholar earned the Most Improved in Reading award after one cycle (8 sessions) of lessons. The student and parent were extremely happy with the progress that she had made.

As a certified teacher with multiple degrees, my knowledge and expertise is unlike most other tutors and/or programs in the metroplex. Families who have worked with me love the individual attention their children receive. They also appreciate the multiple forms of communication they receive each week about their child’s progress.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

Referrals, referrals, referrals. Most, if not all, of my clients have been from client referrals. My clients have been extremely happy with the progress their child is making, that they share their experience with friends and family members.

Good customer service and client availability are the hallmark of my business. My clients know that I am available to help them with every aspect of their child’s education not just with reading. If my clients have any questions or concerns, they know that I am just a phone call or text away to help them make educational decisions for their child.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

With passion and great anticipation, I made my first Instagram post on May 1, 2021 and waited for the calls to come in. Nothing. I sat dormant for over 4 months without a single client. At the end of August 2021, I connected with a tutor coach and joined her 12-week program, The Tutor’s Blueprint. With great guidance, I had my first 4-figure month! The following months I continued to onboard new clients, who continued to reenroll every month. Since September 2021 I have had the honor of serving dozens of students around the country through my tutoring programs. I continue to work with my coach to improve my business so that it can grow to reach more students.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.academicrescuetx.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/academicrescuetx/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AcademicRescueTx/

Image Credits
Dr8nn Multimedia – Drayton McJunkins