Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashia Chambliss.
Hi Ashia, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I have always wanted to be a teacher. When I was in 6th grade, I wrote I would be a fashion designer until I was 45, and then I would retire and be a teacher in the neighborhood I grew up in. My first job at 14 was at a daycare as a 3-year-old teacher.
I graduated from the University of South Florida and attended the Art Institute of Dallas. I owned my modeling troupe and promotion company. I thought I was on my way to being a fashion designer until my life pivoted. An 18-year-old boy murdered my brother, who should have been in school, so I left corporate America and dreamed of being a fashion designer. I honored my brother by teaching in the Duval County Detention System. I taught for Duval County Public Schools (DCPS) for six years. Later, I was allowed to be a lead site coordinator for the 21st CCLC grant located in 2 DCPS elementary schools for 5 years. When I resigned from DCPS and the City of Jacksonville, my former supervisor suggested I use my talent and start my education consultant firm. I established The Lewis-Chambliss Group, LLC in 2019. I became a contractor with the City of Jacksonville as a program quality assurance consultant and a transitional liaison between the education system and the local government.
During the pandemic, parents posted on social media stating they needed assistance with their students and their learning. I founded the L & J Virtual Academy in the fall of 2020. I am certified to teach in Florida and North Carolina, with Georgia’s application pending. I tutor students in North Carolina and Florida in person and virtually. I support parents’ understanding of IEP, 504 plans, and pupil progression plans; I am also available for adult learning, including the ASVAB and the GED.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
This journey has not been smooth; matter of fact, nothing about my life has been smooth. However, I believe life’s bumps, lumps, highs, and lows give my journey “character.” The best art is never flat and mundane. My life is multidimensional, and all the struggles have been lessons I use to inspire and teach some of the student’s society deems a waste of time.
Great, so let’s talk business. Please tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others.
L and J Virtual Academy is a virtual co-op that does business with the whole child in mind. We are based out of Jacksonville, FL. We also serve Charlotte, North Carolina. With the power of the internet, we can support the world’s children. We specialize in tutoring kindergarten through 12th-grade students in reading and math. Our other main focus is helping parents understand IEPs and 504 Plans because, often, parents need to become more familiar with the federal rights and protections associated with their student’s plan. We also have adult learning available, most importantly the GED and ASVAB.
What sets us apart is we are available all the time, and we are affordable. Because our schedule is flexible, L and J Virtual Academy can support homeschool parents who need extra care for their students to meet specific academic benchmarks. We can also proctor and assess students while they take formal exams.
The readers must understand that tutoring is not a reactive plan. Tutoring is the conditioning or mental training needed to prevent a knowledge slide that tends to happen when a student goes on a long break from the education system. During that year and a half of fractured education, many children had learning gaps while the world was dealing with the pandemic. It is important to prioritize educational activities to fill those gaps, just like we do with giving our students new technology and new shoes.
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you, and are any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
I learned that the United States of America does not truly care about the education system or its educators. It showed where our priorities lie, and unfortunately. As a result, our children have a large gap in their learning. Our federal and state governments didn’t plan for a disaster of this magnitude, nor did they listen to the real educational experts to help mitigate the crisis. The Covid-19 Crisis pushed me to start my business to give parents better access to certified teachers.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ljacademyjax.com
- Instagram: @ljacademyjax
Image Credits
Photographer: Swiftography.shots Photographer: Mode Noir
