Today we’d like to introduce you to Antoya Shuler.
Hi Antoya, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My path was not linear, as I never intended to work in education. However, as the saying goes, “If you want to make God laugh, tell Him about your plans.”
I am a first-generation college student, who grew up in a family filled with love and support but stemmed from a generation with less opportunities. My parents stressed the importance of education and pushed my siblings and I to achieve more than their opportunities afforded. Fast forward, I graduated as one of few minority students in the Top 10% of my high school class and earned a full academic scholarship to the University of Florida.
After academics, we were an athletic family. I always envisioned playing basketball and working around athletics. And I did, for some time. Until I started to realize how ill-prepared student-athletes were when they transitioned to college, for anything outside of their sport.
It was in this moment, that I appreciated my parents giving me access to what they did not have and bottom line, I wanted other students that looked like me, to have options when their athletic careers were over. To this point, I started coaching basketball at my high school alma mater and it was there, through mentorship, that I fell in love with the character development, exposure, teamwork, and sisterhood that I experienced in my youth, all over again.
I went back to school and earned a Master of Education degree, with a focus in K-12 School Counseling. I drove to Jacksonville twice a week for evening classes for a semester, before accepting a position at the University of North Florida, where I served as a College Advisor for The Jacksonville Commitment – a program whose focus was to assist first-generation students in and through their enrollment and matriculate of college. It was the perfect blend of all that I had been working towards, and it was filled with amazing milestones that fueled my passion to not only work in education, but to advocate for and specialize in providing educational opportunities and programming for underserved populations.
After completing the School Counseling program, I served as a Professional School Counselor at Englewood High School for six years, where I was nominated for School Counselor of the Year following a successful matriculation from freshman to senior year, and graduation with the C/O 2019! I attempted to leave the profession when “my babies” graduated and even to leave Jacksonville altogether, but God had other plans!
Over the next two years, He literally began to connect the dots and open doors that I had dreamed of, with no idea of how it would come to pass. All the while, I was volunteering with youth initiatives through the best sorority in all the land: Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. It was here, and through leading various educational activities and programs for students, that I came in contact and began to work in collaboration with other like-minded community members, who saw fit, to change the educational landscape for Black students in Jacksonville (and beyond).
Not only did the MyVillage Project birth life into the Black community, but it also empowered us (Black stakeholders) to work in collaboration around educational initiatives that allow exposure to culturally relevant educational models, STEM and workforce development and offers wrap-around support for families and local schools. From the inception of the “it takes a village” educational model, I’ve worked with the MyVillage Project initially as the Director of Operations and now the Vice President of Programs, during which time, Shuler’s A+ Consulting was birthed.
Now, I serve as a Consultant with the MyVillage Project and other nonprofit leaders locally and beyond, helping organizations craft, design and execute inclusive, culturally responsive educational programs that create lasting impact.
Through strategic guidance and expert project management, Shuler’s A+ Consulting transforms ideas into high-impact initiatives that elevate learner outcomes, fosters community engagement, and promotes equity. Our tailored approach ensures every program is sustainable, meaningful, and transformative.
As a Consultant, I work virtually most days, traveling sometimes for work and other times for pleasure, giving me the balance I desire and need, to simultaneously pursue a career and my love for travel, while making impactful and transformative change.
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?
My journey to entrepreneurship has been one of faith and thankfully, it has been relatively smooth! The hardest part was taking the leap, betting on myself and trusting God to orchestrate the plan.
To date, I can wholeheartedly say that I have been blessed to be amongst new and seasoned entrepreneurs that have been gracious to answer questions, connect me to resources and to provide guidance in every area imaginable.
Additionally, I have been able to set and accomplish professional development goals that have been Godsends in exposing me to communities designed to help me grow as a businesswoman and entrepreneur.
I am a Class of 2022 alumnae of the National African-American Women’s Leadership Institute (NAAWLI), I recently completed the Bank of America Institute at Cornell certificate program in Women’s Entrepreneurship (April 2025) and am currently a part of Cohort 7 of the Goldman Sachs One Million Black Women: Black in Business program (*anticipated completion June 2025).
Every day, I am in awe of the journey — where I started, the path I took and where I am now! On the longest of days, I do not complain because I know and realize that I am living out answered prayers and more importantly, creating a legacy, while supporting organizations and programming that positively impacts communities of color.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Shuler’s A+ Consulting takes big ideas and through creative program planning and project management, executes the visions of mission-driven organizations to build inclusive, culturally grounded educational programs. We bring vision to life with expert strategy and heart, creating transformative learning experiences that uplift communities, empower diverse voices, and drive meaningful change that lasts. We craft educational programs that don’t just inform—they transform, thereby, elevating learner outcomes, strengthening community connections, and ensuring every initiative leads to measurable, lasting success.
I am most proud of my ability to scale the MyVillage Project, from 15 organizations in a single city (Jacksonville), into a thriving network of over 350 organizations across 5 communities in the state of Florida (*the MyVillage Project now also serves communities and schools in Gainesville, Miami, Orlando and Tampa), with a single goal of collaborating to positively impact educational outcomes in underrepresented communities.
What sets me apart from others? While some talk about the work, I embody the work! I am a Black female. I am a first-generation college student. I have failed and gotten back up again. I have accomplished many “firsts” in my family. I am a servant of God and community. I advocate for equal opportunities. I believe in the power of community, and I am committed to being for others, what so many were for me, as I chartered unfamiliar territories on a journey to self-discovery and purpose. Thus, I operate with compassion, have a unique and unmatched attention to detail, I bring ecosystems into alignment, and I scale with integrity.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
In the next 5-10 years, I see my industry growing even more. With so many changes to educational systems in the state of Florida and nationwide, I truly believe that brick and mortar (emphasis on public) schools will soon be extinct. Additionally, the rise of AI in EdTech and life as we know it, is leaving students of color behind — often due to lack of access, rather than educational aptitude.
To this point, I believe that educators will continue to venture out to create impactful and innovative program designs, that will be key in educating businesses, communities and school incubators in culturally responsive ways, while maintaining a direct correlation to real-world application.
As the shifts, changes and trends continue, I am committed to architecting systems of support that empower community partners, align stakeholders, and ensure youth outcomes are front and center.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.shuleraconsulting.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/shuleraconsulting
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashuler
