Today we’d like to introduce you to Bisa Lewis.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My career trajectory has been quite interesting! My education experience started in 1993 as a paraprofessional (teacher’s assistant) in a first-grade classroom at a primary school (grades K-2). I was a junior in college majoring in early childhood education at Albany State University. After graduating with my bachelor of science degree in early childhood education in 1995, I was hired as a first-grade teacher with my own classroom at an elementary school (K-5). Four years after that, I jumped way up to the college level as an instructor of early childhood education at my HBCU alma mater – Albany State University.
My experience working as college faculty included more than teaching classes. My dean tasked me with administering the two child development centers owned by our institution. One center was nearby and the other was in a neighboring city about 30 minutes away. As I worked from each of the sites for a select amount of time each week, I was able to learn about the other side of early childhood education – the preschool years, along with all the state licensing regulations that came along with owning and operating a child care center in Georgia. This experience opened up a whole new world for me. From that point on, my entire career has primarily focused on the first five years of children’s care and education. These days, I spend most of my time showing others how to navigate early care and education with best practices in and out of the classroom.
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?
The road has definitely not been smooth; however, I learned a lot from every twist and turn. One of the primary challenges in my career is being valued enough to be offered a salary equivalent to my education and experience. I’ve always had to operate at least one business outside of my full-time job to live the life I desired for myself and my family. You’d think college faculty, especially those with doctoral degrees, would make a pretty good wage. Well, I wish that were true. I actually earned more teaching high school students in a public school than teaching at the university level – almost double.
Other struggles include health, safety and basic human respect. I always thought educators were highly respected because we prepare society’s workforce and leaders. Unfortunately, we live in a time when “The customer is always right” doesn’t only apply to businesses; it applies in schools, colleges, and classrooms, too. Education has become a moneymaker and even privatized in many cases. Funding is dependent upon student data. As a result, course pass rates, standardized test scores, and graduation rates are the factors that truly matter in education. Educators’ health and safety continue to be unaddressed challenges around the nation – from increasing illness and disease stemming from workplace stress and the inability to take the necessary restroom breaks to the lack of school security/protection, such as gun control.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Ideal Early Learning LLC?
I have three businesses. Ideal Early Learning, LLC and WINGS Curriculum, LLC are my for-profit entities. Dr. Bisa Foundation is my nonprofit organization.
Ideal Early Learning, LLC: All the consulting work I do is under the auspice of Ideal Early Learning, LLC – a service company devoted to providing quality technical assistance and professional development opportunities for early childhood programs, school districts and elementary schools (birth through third grade + high school Career and Technical Education programs seeking to implement the national Child Development Associate – CDA program). In a nutshell, Ideal Early Learning, LLC provides professional development, coaching and resources for educators of society’s youngest learners.
WINGS Curriculum, LLC is my publishing company offering a comprehensive learning system designed to guide early educators in effectively organizing and implementing developmentally and culturally appropriate practices based on the interests, needs and skill levels of children from infancy through age 5. WINGS Curriculum provides daily activity schedules, learning environment tips, assessment tools, fillable and printable forms, plus lesson plans for the entire year for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers-pre-k. Lesson plan guides are available for each of the age groups. In addition, early educators have access to electronic versions of the forms and lesson plans inclusive of live web links to additional resources through MyWINGS – our online resource center.
After publishing children’s books through traditional publishers since 2004, I recently started publishing through WINGS Curriculum. This process has enabled me to incorporate my own vision for illustrations, as well as keep more accurate records of sales, profit, ratings and overall progress. In May 2022, I relaunched my first children’s book How Flowers Get Their Colors with new illustrations, along with a coloring book and activity guide to extend the learning of academic key concepts.
Learn more at https://www.wingscurriculum.com/
Dr. Bisa Foundation: After years of making personal donations, giving away products, and providing complimentary services, my accountant recommended I start a nonprofit for my philanthropic efforts. Dr. Bisa Foundation was launched in 2013 as a 501(c)(3) public non-profit organization for this very purpose. The mission of the Dr. Bisa Foundation is to support current and prospective educators to engage in quality professional development and small-business aspirants to develop profit-level brands. We have three focus areas:
Entrepreneurship
Early Childhood Education
Higher Education
We raise funds to:
Provide business development workshops and resources for current and prospective entrepreneurs.
Provide complimentary curriculum to child care providers.
Offer college scholarships to future early educators.
Learn more at https://www.drbisa.com/foundation.
What sets me and my businesses apart from others is my range of professional experiences in education. I have worked in almost every sector of education and with every age group – from preschool to college, as well as with professionals at all levels of the workforce. My work and publications are rooted in experiential concepts and not just research. The practices I recommend and strategies I publish are tried and tested, which is what makes me most proud brand-wise. Best of all, I work with integrity as my guiding principle in all that I do.
My overall career goal now is to show fellow educators, at all levels and in all industries, how to increase earning potential using their superpowers.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
The Atlanta area is full of opportunities with reduced barriers for people who look like me – women and Black/African American people. Entrepreneurs have a vast amount of opportunities and avenues to thrive here. I feel extremely fortunate and empowered to live in an area where I can attend events, virtually and in-person, and see people of color owning and operating profitable businesses, sharing opportunities for others to learn how to hone their talents and giving back so the next generation can keep it going.
What I like least about the Atlanta area is the traffic, especially to and from the north side. Whew! I love it that so many people adore us and move here from all over; however, it’s gotten pretty darn busy! I continue to value virtual meetings and events. And honestly, of course, welcome anyone from anywhere who wants to enjoy all we have to offer.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.drbisa.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drbisa/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrBisa
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.
com/in/drbisa/ - Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrBisa
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/thedrbisa
- Other: https://www.wingscurriculum.com/
