Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Shaw
Hi Michelle, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I started in the education field as a homeschool mom. Our five children were homeschooled all of their K-12 school years. The last ones graduated from high school in 2018. While I was homeschooling my own children, I was also teaching other children in the areas of economics, government and debate. I have also served on the boards of various homeschool organizations.
Throughout the years, I’ve accumulated a lot of knowledge regarding education in general and homeschooling in particular. Once I had concluded homeschooling my children, I chose to continue to put this knowledge to good use by becoming an educational consultant. I am also currently the Director of Eastside Academic Studies, a hybrid program for homeschoolers to take a la carte weekly middle and high school classes, and the Director of the Northeast Independent Preparatory Academy, an accrediting program for homeschooling families. In addition, I am on the boards of DeKalb Christian Home Educators and the Community Dreams Alliance. I am also a cofounder of the Georgia Black Home Educators Network which organizes the annual Flourish Homeschool Conference as well as several other events for homeschoolers in Metro Atlanta.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has been a relatively smooth road. But I did have some struggles within my own homeschooling journey that have helped to enhance my ability to assist others. My husband, Alan, and I have five children, and it was sometimes a struggle to adjust to their varying learning styles. It took me a while to appreciate that children have varying needs as they struggle with dyslexia, processing issues, ADHD and test anxiety. On top of this, and in part because of it, some of our children really loved academics, while others found them very challenging. I had to learn how to teach and assist in light of their varying learning styles.
In my work, I have found that the parents I consult with often have children similar to at least one of my children. I have worked with parents of high-achieving students, and my experience with my own high-achieving children has enabled me to help them guide their children to their full potential. But it has been even more rewarding to be able to work with parents whose children are struggling in the ways some of my children did. I’m genuinely grateful for the difficulties I faced, because they taught me what I need to know to help other parents learn to be patient with their neurodivergent learners, access helpful resources and connect with experts, and develop strategies to meet their kids where they are.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I specialize in homeschool education. I provide consulting services, and I direct two programs. Drawing on my 25-plus years of experience within the homeschool world, I am able to provide insight and direction to those on the homeschool journey, especially high school students. I have created high school transcripts, written recommendation letters, attended numerous college admissions presentations for guidance counselors as well as various national conferences. I have thereby amassed a wealth of knowledge. As the Director of Eastside Academic Studies, I have been able to organize teachers, parents and students to build a community of homeschool learners. We provide classes and a wide variety of social activities for the students, including clubs (e.g., writing, movie, cooking, DIY, Foodie, band, online game night, etc.), formal dances, talent shows and monthly in person game nights. As the Director of the Northeast Independent Preparatory Academy, I serve as a guidance counselor to high school students and their parents. We are able to provide additional support that enables families to adequately prepare their students for college. In addition to providing accredited transcripts, we also provide workshops for parents, letters of recommendation and a graduation ceremony.
All of my organizations are known for excellence in homeschool education. Many, if not most, of the students with whom we have worked have gone on to the colleges of their dreams including MIT, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, University of Chicago, Georgia Tech, UGA, Georgia State, Kennesaw State, etc.
I am most proud of the community with whom I have been able to work. The teachers are committed to bringing out the best in their students. They give them one on one attention as needed and are attentive to their various learning styles. The parents are devoted to their children and are not only interested in educating their own children, but they are willing to offer opportunities for other students as well. They supervise the clubs started by their children, they organize field trips and formal dances, graduation ceremonies, etc. And the students are not only intelligent; they are also enterprising and empathetic. I have been able to work with a number of student leaders through our student council. Those students have taken the initiative to start clubs, to lead activities such as the monthly game nights and to reach out to other students to make sure that they feel welcomed and included within our community.
I do not know if this sets me apart from others, but I know that everything that I do is with God’s guidance as well as with the wisdom and guidance of others. I know that these organizations would not be as effective as they are if it were not for these various actors being afforded the resources to follow through on their initiatives rather than just following my agenda. In many ways, I see my role as a coordinator who provides opportunities for other people to shine. I have been blessed to be able to garner resources so that others can do what they believe God has called them to do.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
Although I was able to obtain a BA in Economics from Harvard College and a law degree from Harvard Law School, I have absolutely no regrets for choosing to leave my legal career to homeschool our five children. I do not believe that working in the professional world could possibly compare to the joy that I experienced by not only watching my children grow and develop but by being an integral part of that growth and development. No completed project at a law firm could compare with seeing my children now as young adults (24 years old – 32 years old). And, I would have never imagined that making that decision would allow me to develop an entirely different career. I have been able to use the organizational and professional skills that I learned in college and law school to benefit those within the homeschool community. I believe that, through making the decision to obey God concerning the education of my children, I have been blessed beyond measure.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.eastsideacademicstudies.com and www.nipageorgia.com
- Instagram: eastside_academic_studies
- Facebook: Eastside Academic Studies
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-shaw-ba2153192
Image Credits
Lifetouch
Everett McNish
