Today we’d like to introduce you to Chelsa Foley.
Hi Chelsa, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I graduated from U of H (central campus) in 2006 after attending Grambling State for two years and was also a cheerleader. I received a Bachelor’s degree in Advertising and a minor in English, only to realize my senior year that I didn’t want to continue on that path for Advertising. After college, I continued to work at Sprint selling cell phones then got a temp job processing tax returns until I figured it out. I had always wanted to be a teacher since 2nd grade. I used to stay after school with my teacher and help her in the classroom. I would always hear that teachers didn’t make a lot of money (still don’t unfortunately), so I always tried to think of a lucrative career I could choose, only to come back around to my love of teaching. I left the tax processing job, started the teaching alternative certification process and started substitute teaching. In December 2008, I got my first teaching job being a science lab teacher and from there, I taught 5th-grade science for ten years in Houston ISD. Then was promoted to a Teacher Development Specialist for the next four years in the same district. I left the district in March 2022, however, still work with the district for an educational software company.
I always wanted to write children’s books. My first one as actually supposed to be about bullying since I experienced it so bad growing up. But then coming from teaching 5th grade Science for ten years, I thought to write a book that would help students in the classroom and with state testing (STAAR). My first topic of choice was to choose something was was very important to the world (our existence), future careers and that was normally considered boring lol. So, I thought back to when I was in the classroom and chose Fossil Fuels! My students would always forget which natural resources supplied which necessity and where the resource was located. For example, Coal is generated into making electricity and it found in swamps, marshlands, and wetlands. When I taught fossil fuels in the classroom, I would tell the students to think of coal, petroleum oil and natural gas as superheroes. Everyone loves superheroes and growing up watching X-Men and Captain Planet, it was easy for me to teach fossil fuels in that light. Also, being obsessed with fairy tales and Alice in Wonderland, I wanted to create a story where you could see everything I saw in my imagination just by reading the story.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
I wouldn’t say that it has been smooth. It has taken a lot of work and most importantly patience, but its been worth it, I loved teaching and strongly feel that when a person loves what they do or when a person chooses to do what they want to do, it makes the process better and easier. You’re working towards YOUR goal and dreams. No one else’s.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Now I work for an educational software company called Imagine Learning, that supports campuses and teachers in Houston ISD. I train the staff on our program for Language and Literacy and Math by facilitating presentations and visiting the campuses and working one-on-one with the teachers as well. I absolutely love my new job and believe in our program that really helps students grow and make progress.
I am known to be professional, having lots of positive energy that I bring to my job, fun, and being creative.
I am most proud of me. All my accomplishments. My house, my daughter, my job. Being able to take care of myself and my responsibilities by myself. Annnddd, my book!! It’s such an amazing playful story and every time I read it, I amaze myself as to how awesome it really is.
What sets me apart from others is that I can be in a large or small setting and be comfortable. I can talk to 300 people in a large crowd or be ok being by myself. I learned a while ago to spend time with myself and to love myself. I feel that this quality makes it easy to be in any setting.
What makes you happy?
Doing what I want to do or need to do. Accomplishing things and tasks. DOING what I say I’m going to do. I used to really procrastinate and feel like I didn’t get anything done, which I didn’t. Now that I take the time and push myself, I feel way more successful in any of my tasks.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.chelsabug.com
- Instagram: chelsabugllc
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/chelsa-foley-4bbb84249
Image Credits
Jaiden group
