Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisa Moya.
Lisa, please share your story with us.
Since I was a little girl, I wanted to grow up to be a teacher. At age 10, my parents took me to visit The Redstone School, in Sudbury, Massachusetts, where Mary (as in Mary Had a Little Lamb) attended school. I sat in a pew of that little red school house and wondered how the teacher was able to teach kids of different ages and grade levels all at the same time. I told my dad that I wish I could do that one day. My dad said to me, “You know, if you aspire to have your own little school house like this one day, it can happen. You need to work hard and never let go of your dream.” That created a vision in my mind that I held on to throughout the years. At age 23, I became a teacher and over the next 19 years, I gained teaching experience in many different grade levels. In 2010, with the help of my 3 children, we began tutoring kids in our home after school. I used the money I made to collect things I would need for a tutoring business and saved these things like tables, chairs, and workbooks in my garage. When I felt like I had enough students to follow me, in 2011, I took a chance and opened a location in Cypress, TX and have been gaining success ever since. There was a while I didn’t think it could ever happen as I became a single mom and raised my kids alone, but remembering those words from my dad gave me the strength I needed to believe in myself and take a risk. I still teach school in CFISD as well as run ASPIRE after school hours.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
There were struggles. My dream was set back many years as I became a single mom busy raising 3 kids. I didn’t want to work two jobs knowing my kids needed my time so I waited until they were older. It ended up being just the right time though because my kids were able to help me which they enjoyed being tutors and it enabled me to do so much more for my kids financially as they started their college years. My advice to young women would be the same advise my dad gave to me when I was a little girl… aspire to be… and work hard to make it happen. NEVER let go of your dream, hold on to your vision. It may seem at times that it will never happen but during those times tell yourself that this must be a blessing in disguise and that there will be a better time in the future and don’t stop moving forward no matter how small the steps may be. When you get to a point where you feel ready to take a leap but are afraid so you are sitting in limbo, take a risk and jump in and tell yourself that failure is not an option and tell yourself you will find a way and repeat over and over again I can do it! Those words are words I tell myself and I smile when I say them as those words give me direction and power. Also, be thankful every day and pray.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Aspire Advancement Center – what should we know?
HISTORY:
Over the past 7 years, Aspire Advancement Center has grown from an in-home tutoring hobby to an established tutoring company in the Cypress, Texas area. Founder and owner, Lisa Moya, has 25 years of teaching experience in a wide range of grades and subjects. She continually works to improve her skills as professional through advanced degrees, professional certifications, staff development, and research. Lisa wanted to create an environment where she could work with a small group of students to provide differentiated instruction to meet each of their specific needs. Seeing students struggle and not receiving the necessary help they needed outside of school made her want to make a difference. In 2010, she began tutoring students in her home until it was time to finally open Aspire’s first location in 2011.
ABOUT:
Aspire Advancement Center is a private, family-owned tutoring center focused on academic improvement by using a variety of sound, up to date, research-based instructional strategies. Advancement opportunities are provided for all students in grades 1-12. We offer reading, writing, math, STAAR prep, testing strategies, homework assistance, and SAT/ACT prep. We teach according to the Texas standards adopted by the State Board of Education called the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). These standards outline what students are to learn in each course or grade.
Aspire offers private 1:1 or semi-private 1:2 tutoring only. This enables us to engage in intense teaching and to give your child consistent attention. As we use a team teaching approach, either a highly qualified tutor and or a certified teacher will work with your child. Throughout the session, we teach, guide, evaluate and reteach or move on to ensure students meet or exceed the required standards. Students love to learn at Aspire because they are motivated, encouraged and empowered-they feel at home here.
Students are given multiple opportunities to be successful and improve self-regulation skills. Targeted academic language is used in a variety of lessons to meet the visual, auditory, and tactile needs of the student. We accomplish this by varying lessons which may include discussions, educational games, pencil- paperwork, graphic organizers, and computer work. Homework is also given for reinforcement of what was taught.
WHY US:
When choosing a tutoring program for your child, we know that you want to make the best decision. This is why we make it simple:
-We have flexible scheduling to meet the needs of your family. For example, siblings can attend at the same times.
-We serve you on a month-to-month basis rather than having you sign a contract.
-Missed sessions can be made up or you can come by to pick up the missed lesson to have your child do at home.
-The certified teachers at Aspire still teach in our schools today. They stay up to date with changes in instruction and keep our tutors updated.
-We choose only the best tutors through referrals and a rigorous interview process.
– We follow the scope and sequence of your child’s school.
Finding a mentor and building a network are often cited in studies as a major factor impacting one’s success. Do you have any advice or lessons to share regarding finding a mentor or networking in general?
A network of other teachers helps a lot because they offer advice and information where together we can keep up with changes across grade levels and pass that along to the tutors. I have teacher friends who fill in for me when I need to be out and they share ideas and advice with me and the tutors. They provide good modeling for the tutors and offer them specific tools that help individual students.
- Two sessions per week: Elementary & Middle School is $290/month and High School $320/month
- Three sessions per week: Elementary & Middle School is $425/month and High School $470/month
- Four sessions per week: Elementary & Middle School is $560/month and High School $620/month
Contact Info:
- Address: 9740 Barker Cypress Rd. Suite A Cypress, TX 77433
- Website: www.aspire-now.com
- Phone: 713-494-3971
- Email: info@aspire-now.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aspireadvancementcenter/
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