Today we’d like to introduce you to Shauntrell Thomas.
Hi Shauntrell, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I left my hometown of New Orleans, Louisiana in pursuit of the college experience. Arriving in Houston, Texas in 2000, I began my educational journey at Texas Southern University. As a psychology major and criminal justice minor, my experience was rich. During my senior year at TSU (Geaux Tigers), I met my amazing and good-looking husband 😉 Desmond Thomas. Desmond and I would date for a year before Katrina hit New Orleans and our lives would be turned upside down. My NOLA family relocated to Houston and we (26 family members) hunkered down in a four-bedroom single-family home. Through this tragedy, Desmond and I would build a forever-lasting bond. While working on my Master’s in Business Administration, I began co-teaching at the Parish school. As I began the process of learning the craft of entrepreneurship through my MBA program, I found myself developing a strong passion for educating children.
Towards the final months of my MBA journey, Desmond and I became pregnant with our first child, London. As a new wife and mom, I began to search for a work-life balance. I soul searched for a way to combine my two passions, business and education. In March of 2009, my Aunt Jovana (who is now an angel in heaven) assisted in helping me lay the foundation of Angel Watch Academy and Preschool. She was instrumental in creating the foundation of loving kids and teaching. 11 years later, Angel Watch Academy is an accredited preschool. We take pride in ensuring that the foundation of learning is evident in every “Angel” who attends our school.
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?
The journey of entrepreneurship has been the hardest journey I’ve ever endured. People often think that being a boss is so glamorous but I think it’s the opposite. A true leader encourages uplifts and is understanding all while keeping the main goal the main goal.
Throughout my journey, I’ve lost three influential family members which caused me to question every aspect of my life’s journey. I’ve dealt with bad contractors and lost lots of money. But, through the hardships God kept me going and my family was my anchor.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Angel Watch Academy?
My life’s goal is to educate and empower young learners. I find absolute joy in watching a child grasp a new concept, it’s like winning the Super Bowl to me. ☺️ Our activity-based learning environment encourages children’s early cognitive, social, and motor skills. Our preschool focuses on problem-solving, decision making, and self-help while promoting interpersonal communications which I believe are key elements that contribute to a child’s development, self-esteem, and confidence.
“Each day of our lives we make deposits in the memory banks of our children.” – Charles R. Swindo
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
Angel Watch Academy welcomes high school and collegiate childcare internship opportunities. We partner with Cy Fair Schools to offer high schoolers real-world childcare experiences. We look forward to the opportunity to collaborate with other local child-friendly businesses and educationally based agencies. Angel Watch Academy is open to any information and or resources geared towards educational grants.
Contact Info:
- Email: sthomas@angelwatchacademy.com
- Website: www.angelwatchacademy.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/angelwatchacademy
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/angelwatchacademy
Image Credits
Family photo taken by Alvarez Boyd III @festiv.alphotography (Instagram) www.festivalphotographystudio.com. All other photos are taken by Cory Dixon @cdixonphotos (Instagram) www.cdixonphotos.com
