School prepares teens for the next grade.
I prepare them for what comes after.
Educator + Mentor + Speaker
Hi, I'm Cheryl Simon.
For nearly two decades, I've helped teens develop the reading, writing, communication, and critical-thinking skills that prepare them for college, careers, and life beyond the classroom.
My work is built on a simple belief: the teens who thrive aren't always the ones who know the most — they're the ones who know how to think, communicate, and start.
Let's spend more time teaching our kids how to think than what to think.
Background
Nearly Two Decades Helping Students Prepare for What Comes Next
For six years, I was a college student while my children were in school.
Like many families, our evenings often revolved around homework. The difference was that I had homework too.
While my children were completing assignments for middle school and high school, I was reading textbooks, writing papers, conducting research, participating in discussions, and learning firsthand what college professors expected from students.
When I eventually became a high school teacher, those experiences were still fresh in my mind.
One question stayed with me:
What skills will students be expected to have next year that they aren't intentionally developing today?
At first, I thought about that question through the lens of college because I had recently experienced those expectations myself. But over time, I realized the question was much bigger than college.
Not every student would pursue the same path after high school. Some would attend a university. Others would enter technical training, military service, entrepreneurship, or the workforce.
Yet regardless of the path they chose, the skills that mattered most were remarkably similar.
Success depended on more than academic knowledge.
Students needed to manage their time, communicate effectively, ask good questions, evaluate information, build relationships, solve problems independently, and continue learning when the answers weren't obvious.
These were skills I wanted my own children to develop.
They were also skills I wished I had developed earlier myself.
As a teacher, I began to see that my role wasn't simply preparing students for the next class, the next test, or even the next year. It was helping them build the habits, judgment, and confidence they would need long after graduation.
That idea became the foundation of my teaching philosophy and ultimately the reason I created this program.
My Approach
The Three Pillars
Think
Learn how to evaluate information, ask better questions, and solve problems.
Communicate
Develop writing, speaking, and professional communication skills.
Start
Learn to take initiative, set meaningful goals, and follow through on your own.
My Story
Why This Work Matters to Me
Over the years, I've come to believe that many of the skills that matter most in life are rarely taught directly.
Students are expected to manage their time, communicate professionally, evaluate information, solve problems independently, build relationships, and continue learning long after they leave the classroom. Yet these abilities often develop by accident rather than design.
As a parent, I wanted my own children to develop those skills.
As a student, I wished I had developed many of them earlier myself.
As a teacher, I saw how often success depended on more than intelligence or academic knowledge alone.
Whether students pursue college, technical training, military service, entrepreneurship, or a career directly after high school, the ability to think critically, communicate clearly, adapt, and continue learning remains valuable.
That's why this work matters to me.
My goal has never been simply to help students get into college. My goal is to help them become capable, confident, and prepared for whatever comes next.
Experience & Expertise
18+ Years in Secondary Education
Helping students develop reading, writing, communication, and critical-thinking skills.
AP Capstone & Research Instruction
Teaching students how to evaluate sources, conduct research, build arguments, and present ideas effectively.
Department Leadership
Supporting teachers and improving instructional practices across multiple classrooms.
College & Career Readiness
Helping students prepare not only for acceptance into college, but for success after they arrive.
Recognized Educator
Teacher of the Year recipient. Texas Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) Exemplary Designation.
Let's Work Together
Ready to help your student thrive?
Whether you're a student looking to build real skills or a parent seeking a trusted guide — I'd love to connect.
Work With Cheryl