Rising Stars: Meet Portia Gray

Today we’d like to introduce you to Portia Gray.

Hi Portia, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Growing up, I watched my grandmother work with families/children in headstart program and within the community, but I got into the field of education after the passing of my firstborn son when he was three months old. There was a void in my heart and working with children is what helped me heal. I followed my grandmother’s footsteps and began my career as a teacher assistant at the same headstart location she worked in. I went on to work at an afterschool program at an elementary school and was promoted to Assistant Director the following year. I continued my education while employed and obtained my Associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education. Then, I left TN and moved to GA in 2007. I got a Lead PreK position at the YMCA Academies of South Dekalb and worked there four years. Next, I became a Paraprofessional with DeKalb Co. Schools and continued my education. I obtained my Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education Administration and my Master’s in Special education. I eventually was promtoted to a Special Education teacher. After working in the public school system for six years and seeing the lack of education our black youth are receiving, I left my career and started G.L.A.S.S, which stands for Gray Learning Approach STEAM School. I could no longer work for an organization where basic materials were not being provided, health and safety concerns for staff/students not being addressed properly, the curriculum being taught is inadequate, lack of resources, non existing stem/art programs that are not provided to students, unless you attend “certain” schools, and etc. I decided I was going to give black youth the education they need and deserve. With God, my husband, children, and family rooting me on I pursued my dreams.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has been a very hard road. Covid hit two months after I opened. I wasn’t eligible for any of the grants due to when my business opened. Obtaining loans, grants has been really hard and unsuccessful.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m the Director/Teacher at Gray Learning Approach STEAM School. I have a specialty for working with children and families with special needs. I’m most proud of the example I’m setting for my children, and that is with God/Faith anything is possible, helping others is our duty, and to know that self-love is best love. I’m not afraid to take risks. I learned that I have to do what makes me happy and to be comfortable in uncomfortable situations sometimes.

Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I took a risk when I left my teaching career to start G.LA.S.S. I had a guaranteed specific amount of income, health benefits, and work responsibilities. When I started a business, I took the risk of losing all those guarantees because I wanted to be happy and see my children and black youth thriving educationally.

Contact Info:

• Email: glass@steamapproach.org
• Website: www.steamapproach.org
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/steamapproach
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/steamapproach

Image Credits
Jayla Jackson Jay Jackson