Changing Lives
The core of Elevate Orlando is our staff, and it is expanding! We are thrilled to welcome Tia Willoughby to the Elevate team as our second full-time teacher/mentor. Tia is an enthusiastic, principled young woman committed to changing lives in Pine Hills.
Tia faced many of the same challenges as the student she mentors, growing up in a single parent home with 3 siblings, faced with continuous financial struggles and multiple moves. Although Tia cites her family involvement and attention as the inspiration for her love of reading and academics, she credits the unexpected words of a Science teacher for reigniting her passion for learning and preparing her to attend college.
Tia attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC), graduating with a degree in International Studies, and spent a year in Cape Town, South Africa serving with a faith-based non-profit teaching leadership and life skills to college students.
Tia is confident that her calling is to teach and mentor students in Central Florida urban schools, helping them develop the character and life skills to live a successful life. We are excited about having Tia on the team!!