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Rise Academy Origin Story
Rise Academy, owned and operated by Felicia Smith, a certified dyslexia therapist (CALT) of 11 years and proud Puerto Rican/Syrian mother, is a small business that offers top-notch tutoring and therapy services. With an impressive background working as a dyslexia therapist in public schools for six years in Texas, she gained comprehensive knowledge of the role of public school therapists in understanding laws governing testing requirements while identifying areas where needs were not being met. As she noticed that her ability to serve students within her own guidelines was restricted in public school systems, she decided to start her own private practice and provide services for them from the dining room of her home. Since then it has expanded beyond the walls of her home into freestanding spaces offering quality education with exceptional results.
Presently, our services extend across Texas and Florida with an ever-growing team of teachers, students, and families. Nevertheless, we continue to uphold our original vision, purpose, and mission - facilitating individualized learning experiences through genuine connections and effective communication at crucial junctures in a student's academic journey. Our ultimate goal is to empower learners by providing them with the necessary tools for self-reliance while nurturing their confidence toward success. Above all else though, it brings us great satisfaction to serve as guides who help students trust themselves again by unlocking their inner genius.
About the Owner
Felicia Smith
Former homeschool student, mother, and certified teacher and dyslexia therapist (CALT) Felicia began her work in public schools in north TX learning specifically in disadvantaged communities and grew her skillset within a public school space. After six years, she left public school and opened her own business as a private practice dyslexia therapist in the front room of her house. Though it began humbly, it quickly expanded outside her house into free standing spaces continuing the model of individualized educational support through year round one on one tutoring and dyslexia and dysgraphia therapy.
Guided by her students, she has organically grown to work in TX and FL and continues to create services that facilitate the needs of students. She also works on larger projects that are rooted in advocating for students with learning differences and continues to invite community leaders to align with educational expansion through actionable support for the needs of all learners. She believes every child can feel safe, secure, and connected in a learning space that is focused on teaching them in the way they best receive information.
Director of Student/Educator Success
Chelsea Green
Chelsea joined Rise Academy this year and supports Felicia, the educators who facilitate learning, and student success! Chelsea is an educator with extensive experience managing larger projects, connecting with the community, and supporting students by supporting the educators that serve them. Breaking the mold of “overworked and underpaid” Rise is committed to changing that narrative of the education career pathway.
Chelsea works daily to ensure staff is provided all the resources and support to come into sessions fully prepared to deliver excellent experiences to Rise students. In addition, she is focused on building community support and awareness for learning differences within our local communities and connecting with parents to answer questions and provide additional resources and referrals.