Daily Inspiration: Meet Lindsey Williams

Lindsey Williams

During high school, before I was even old enough to drive myself, I volunteered as a summer reading tutor for a small charter school in a high-poverty neighborhood in Louisville, KY. I remember sitting across from the first child I was supposed to work with, asking what grade she was going into, she quietly mumbled sixth grade, and I recall choosing a random middle school book based on her response. I was supposed to begin our session by having her read out loud to me, and then follow up with questions. But she never started. We just looked at one another, and then she began to cry. She couldn’t read, and I, only five years older than her at that time, didn’t know what to do. So I just said, “I’m sorry I made you sad” and I found her a box of kleenex.

I was raised in a small KY town. I had two loving parents who instilled in me the idea that I could be anything I wanted. I had a great great support system. I attended the best schools and had a really happy childhood. I could not fathom as a teenager how a child born into a different zip code than I experienced such a broken school system that allowed children to make it to sixth grade, unable to read all the while I had the most magical memories of teachers reading to me and reading and writing stories with my friends.

 From that point forward, I became passionate about child development, urban social problems, and educational equity, and in 2009 graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Rhodes College in Memphis, TN. In 2011 I earned my Masters in Urban Education and worked as a Middle School Teacher in Memphis. For the next few years, I spent my days as a classroom teacher and later a reading interventionist at a high-performing charter school, where I saw many of the same stories as before. Children significantly behind and unable to read at a level expected. I saw innocent children who, through no fault of their own, were perpetually let down by a broken system. I noticed that some of the most marginalized and educationally neglected children were also children with special needs or neurodiverse learners. Over time, this became a social justice issue for me as both a teacher and a mother.

Because you see, my son has Autism. I went back and forth about sharing his story for the longest time because it’s his story, but I found that the more I opened up and shared with other moms on social media, the more people yearned for connection and to learn more. When it became apparent that he needed more support, around the age of 2.5, I stepped away from the classroom. I devoted myself entirely to supporting him and learning as much as possible about his needs and the needs of other little people who are neurodiverse.

In 2019 we moved here to Palm Beach County and it was the best decision for our family; however, we still struggled with schooling. Don’t get me wrong, there are many beautiful schools here, but even amongst the private options, what I’ve found to be an oasis for neurotypical children was still not the best fit for my high-functioning autistic child. I’ve noticed post-pandemic pressure across countless schools around the idea that the kids are just so far behind due to learning loss and while that may be the case that does not help children learn any faster and it was causing a lot of stress and regression.

My turning point in creating this program came after one specific car ride home from school. I remember my son breaking down saying, “I just don’t know what I’m doing wrong, Mommy.” It had been a hard day on the playground and also with finishing assignments and it seemed to be getting worse by the day. I decided at that point that we had to try something new. He was in first grade then, and it shouldn’t have had to have been that hard or high-stakes. It wasn’t worth the stress.

So I rolled up my sleeves and got started. I was determined to make the most perfect homeschool year possible for him as a breather year. I researched as much as possible, as quickly as possible, and did what I did best. I went to those with experience, looked for resources, and along the way, I designed a robust curriculum that honored him and his needs and connected with various groups for extra-curricular opportunities and other families who had been in the same boat. We added another student to our learning pod and truly began to serve those who had also been cast to the side for lack of a better phrase.

Ready, Steady, Grow Edu., was born. And the children who I have had the pleasure to work with have not just gotten through their year or survived; they’ve thrived. I’ve watched them relax and laugh and smile and breath. They know they are valued, they know they are safe, and they know that they will not be left behind.

But it’s not just the children that need support. It’s also the parents. This past January, I began an intensive program to become a certified parenting coach to holistically serve families. So, in addition to our learning pod, we also offer parent coaching. Working with parents to help them reach their goals and dreams of being present and fully alive for their kids is an absolute cornerstone of my work. Assisting parents to break down limiting beliefs and shed expectations of what they “should” do to fully embrace who they are and define what they want for their family is an absolute gift. The needs of neurodiverse learners can differ, and parents are often only partially equipped to give confident support because you can’t pour from an empty cup. Sometimes you need an unbiased person telling you that you’re doing a good job. It’s as simple as that.

Ready, Steady, Grow Edu. is a culmination of my life’s work and lifelong dedication to education for my children and yours.

There will always be a challenge when creating a business from scratch and then growing and nurturing that business. The best entrepreneurs will tell you, though, that if you fail, you fail -reflect, learn and move on/try again. My challenge was knowing that failure was not an option, so I needed to get this right the first time. I’ve seen too many children let down by broken educational systems over the years, and I refuse to allow that to happen to any children I serve. The beauty of developing this model of tutoring and parent support is that it can be refined so that it organically supports each family, and there are no limits as to what can be put together.

Some of the struggles were getting out of my own limiting beliefs and the idea that someone wouldn’t be interested in this model of learning. FALSE. Parents want better for their children and right now there is great demand for flexibility, more personalized instruction, and a loving and supportive child-honoring space. Parents also want that for themselves, now more than ever in a post-pandemic world.

At Ready, Steady, Grow Edu!, we understand that traditional schooling may not always be the best fit for children with disabilities or learning differences, and that’s why we support homeschooling parents by designing the best and most supportive curriculum possible for their children. We help parents with an individualized plan that considers each child’s strengths, weaknesses, and learning style so that our families feel energized and school is something positive and happy for them. Our homeschool learning pod is also a supportive and welcoming environment that prioritizes the child’s mental health, well-being, and progress. We believe that learning should be fun, engaging, and empowering for every single child, regardless of their abilities or perceived challenges.

Regarding parent support, we also offer several containers of parent coaching. Often times parents have advocated for their children for so long they’re left feeling overwhelmed, stressed, and mentally exhausted. We believe you deserve support tailored to your needs and centered on giving you greater capacity, connection, and confidence. Our coaching services are designed to help you overcome burnout, restore balance and gain a sense of peace in deeper connection with and acceptance for your child/children and family. We offer both group coaching and 1:1 private sessions.

It’s still hard to wrap my brain around these last few years. It’s definitely shined the light on a lot of the brokenness in the world. Still, one of the biggest blessings of the Covid-19 pandemic for me was the ability to access so many learning opportunities worldwide through the power of online learning. I’ve found tremendous success with some really fantastic teaching platforms and realize this is a new frontier for education. I’ve also been fortunate to have formed global friendships through my coaching program. Before Covid, I honestly did not even know what Zoom was, and now I use it weekly to collaborate with friends and clients both locally and internationally; to me this broadening of opportunity is a tremendous gift.