Meet Keiosha Quarles of Miss Quarles Educates

Today we’d like to introduce you to Keiosha Quarles.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My four years at the Illustrious Tuskegee University grew me and groomed me to be the woman and educator that I am today because of the unique and meaningful events and people that I came into contact with. Nevertheless, there were many obstacles that I had to face and growing pains that I had to endure. I made the most of things and ventured outside of my comfort zone by becoming extremely active on campus with various community service, social/political, and student government organizations. Being the social butterfly that I was allowed me to network and learn many new skills to help me be successful in classes and in personal escapades.

Even though I came from a long line of educators, I never fathomed the thought of becoming an educator. I had the plans of playing collegiate softball, studying sports medicine, and then going to play Olympic softball. But, in 2012 my plans changed when I injured my ankle during my final year of high school basketball and did not allow it to heal properly. Nevertheless, I believe that everything happens for a reason.

I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Tuskegee University and with the distinct honor of Magna Cum Laude in May 2016. I did not think that I was going to be able to finish my degree after hitting a rough patch financially in 2013. I lost one of my university scholarships and I had no idea how I was going to finish paying for school. Luckily, I have an amazing support system and they helped me get a loan to go back to school so that way I could finish. I knew at that moment that I had to learn from the mistakes that I made and fast!

Academics became my life and I pulled my GPA up, applied to get my scholarship back and did, and because of my exemplar work ethics–I received a scholarship from my professor. After I received that external scholarship, I knew that people are watching me and that I had to continue to go the extra mile.

I continued to excel in my studies and as my classmates would say “do the most” because that is all I knew how to do with everything that I put my name on. In 2014, I joined the Explosive Epsilon Theta Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Incorporated and that helped me develop skills necessary to be an effective leader, collaborator, and communicator. Joining a sisterhood that was founded by seven school teachers and that focuses on scholarship, sisterhood, and service was one of the best decisions that I made while in undergrad. It allowed for another realm of my HBCU experience to be complete.

Let’s fast forward to 2016, I was awarded the Winfred Woods Davis Outstanding Teacher Award from the Tuskegee University School of Education for having outstanding scores and reviews in my student teaching internship and their portfolios, and for passing all parts of my licensure exam the first time. I was at a lost for words when my professors told me that I was the graduating senior receiving this award.

After I graduated, I moved to Huntsville, AL to begin my career teaching 5th grade ELA, Science, and History. My first year in the field as a whole teacher was definitely a learning experience full of growing pains. I think that I went through a mini-life crisis moving from young adulthood to adulthood so fast. I did get the hang of it though. I had the best mentor teacher, who became more than my mentor–she became my sister! We are still in touch today and I know that if it were not for her, her love, and her guidance, I would not be the educator that I am today. I taught in Huntsville for two years and I developed so many positive relationships with students and their families–through school, the race car team that I developed, and extracurricular activities–that I am so grateful for. My very first babies are now in the 8th grade and my second set of babies is now in the 7th grade. I have enjoyed watching them grow into amazing young scholars. They know that they can call me at message me at any time and I will be there for them.

In 2018, I moved to Tuscaloosa, AL to continue my journey. I taught 6th grade for a year and now I am the STEAM Coordinator for my school. I teach 6-8th grade computer science, coding, and robotics. I also coach the middle school softball team. Never did I think that I would be teaching middle school!!

I have developed a 5-year plan for myself and it entails obtaining National Board Certification, a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership, and continue to earn a Ph.D. in Education. I aspire to become a principal, superintendent of a district, state superintendent, and then the US Secretary of Education. I really would like to develop a team to rewrite educational policies for both students and educators. I believe that education should be equal for all students, no matter their socioeconomic status, background, race, religion, etc. Also, educators work many hours and most of the time, their pay does not reflect the actual hours they work. Bottom line is, I want to work to get educators the pay that they deserve.

Over these past four years, my understanding of education policies and procedures has manifested and my love for educating everyone has grown a vast amount. I love teaching and I love watching my students grow from August to May. Knowledge is the one power that we have that cannot be taken from us; so, it is important that we learn every single day. When we learn better, we know better, so we can do better. Learning is free! Knowledge is powerful! I want to help change the world by empowering others through education.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It has not been a smooth road at all. I lost a university scholarship after the second semester of my freshman year; so, I had to take out personal loans until I was eligible to appeal to receive my scholarship back. For the most part, that was my only obstacle in college.

After college, it was almost like I went through a premature mid-life crisis while I was transitioning into full adulthood. I did have to break an engagement off after being in a relationship with the person for three years and that was rough. The lines almost got blurred between work and personal life because there was this one co-worker that attempted to make my life miserable every single day. In May 2017, I finally listened to my mentor teacher and went to see a therapist to help me get all of my ducks back in a row. When that happened, I really realized that mental health was so very important and I had to take better care of my mind.

I did end up leaving my job in Huntsville because I was on a temporary contract. It seemed as though Summer 2018 was the worst summer of my life. I had to move, I had a car wreck, and my health was not the best due to stress and other issues. I was surely being challenged; but, I know that God gives his toughest battles to his strongest soldiers. There is always a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, too. So, I just remained hopeful and prayed for strength and guidance.

Little did I know, my troubles were not over with. In February 2019, someone attempted to steal my car. So, here we are again with my car in the shop and from 2018-2019, I had to get accustomed to my new job. Like I really was ready to give up; but, I did not do that. Perseverance has to occur because things are not always going to go how we expect them to. Becoming an adult was hard and I feel like I was broken in pretty well the four years after graduation.

Yet, I still remain hopeful and optimistic because I know that a lump of coal becomes a diamond while it is under extreme pressure and a grain of sand has to agitate the clam to become a beautiful pearl.

Tell us more about Miss Quarles Educates.
Miss Quarles Educates is a platform that benefits scholars of all ages. I am working on becoming a non-profit, 501c3 organization to help benefit an even greater number of scholars of all ages.

Miss Quarles Educates promotes life-long learning, creating meaningful relationships both in and out of the classroom, having a growth mindset, equality in education, teaching methods that can reach every learning style, and the whole child, and learning through project-based, hands-on experiences, cross-curricular, and engaging lessons and activities.

Miss Quarles Educates motto is “Empowering through Education” because we should encourage our scholars and equip them with the necessary tools that they need to be successful in every part of life while fostering a positive, growth and opened mindset. Not only should we empower our scholars; but we should also teach and encourage our scholars to empower and teach others because it is our duty to come together and make our world a better place.

Education is not limited to the academics in the classroom; with that being said, scholars should be educated on life-skills, mental health, coping mechanisms, study skills, time management, teamwork, etc. in order to give them a strong foundation to be successful and to share knowledge with others. The K.E.Y to being successful is to Keep Educating Yourself and we should understand that knowledge is power and learning is our superpower. Knowledge is the one thing that we possess that can never be taken away from us!

I specialize in education–teaching, mentoring, coaching, etc., grant writing, professional branding for educators and educational companies, social media marketing, and graphic design. I am mostly known for being an educator and mentor. As a company, I am most proud of the impact that is being made in so many scholars’ lives and how they have grown from our encounters. Over the past four years, I know that I have been able to impact close to 500 scholars just in the capacity of a teacher and coach and if I am able to expand, I cannot wait to lead a team to help impact the lives of many more scholars.

What sets me apart from others is that I encourage the scholars that I come in contact with to be open-minded, to be free thinkers, to respect the perspectives of others, and to have a growth mindset. Back in the day, education was literally by-the-book and our teachers taught us that this is how it was so this is how it is. How the world is today, our scholars are exposed to many more things and they already have a free mind; however, it is important that they know how to cultivate that power and use it to their advantage and how to help others, too.

Malcolm X said, “Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.”

If we desire a better future, we have to prepare our present to use their knowledge wisely. My main goal is to “Empower through Education,” because learning is free and our knowledge is the one power that we have that can never be taken away from us.

Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
In my opinion, luck is subjective and everyone has their own rendition of what luck is and what it means to them.

I know that I have had some victories and some losses; however, I keep persevering through both the good and the bad. I believe that what God has for me is for me and as each chapter in my book of life unveils itself, I accept it and do what is in my power to capitalize on each opportunity that is presented to me. In certain situations, I allow my work to speak for itself because showing is better than telling.

Contact Info:

• Website: facebook.com/missquarleseducates/
• Email: keioshar.quarles@gmail.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/missquarles/
• Facebook: facebook.com/missquarleseducates/
• Twitter: twitter.com/krquarles/
• Other: twitter.com/msquarlesclass/

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