Life & Work with Essie Childers

Today we’d like to introduce you to Essie Childers.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I must begin by introducing myself as the daughter of a truck driver and a maid born in Longview, Texas in the early fifties. Even though my parents had less than an eighth-grade education, they raised six children to value education and respect their elders. So, I was raised with the belief that gaining a good education was my ticket out of poverty. Looking back, I was blessed to have great role models in the church, school, and the community.

In the early seventies the schools in Longview were integrated. The mandatory integration forced the closing of Womack High School, an all-black high school. This was a very crucial time in my life with the height of racial tension. It was during my high-school years that I decided that I wanted to reach for excellence in my education and pursue a degree in teacher education. Many teachers encouraged me along my educational journey by saying, “You have potential. You are smart enough to go to college.” I studied hard, participated in school activities, and became an officer in the Vocational Office Education Club. I graduated from Longview High, attended Southwestern Christian College, and later graduated from Abilene Christian University and the University of Texas at Tyler.

My first teaching job was in Austin, Texas at Crockett High School. My passion became student success which fueled me with excitement as I taught students. Later, I decided to pursue a Masters in Reading from The University of Texas at Tyler. The words, “You have potential. You are smart enough to go to college,” continued to echo in my mind. I sought the need to reach out to encourage other young ladies to pursue their dreams.

In 2013, I became the Founding Director of Young Ladies Success. The mission of Young Ladies Success is to help young ladies prepare for college or a career. Young Ladies’ Success helps ladies develop a strong self-esteem and develop positive goals. Each year, middle and high school girls are invited to attend a success conference to learn about college tips, career readiness, and other topics to help them be successful in school and life.

My dash in life includes many leadership awards because I learned to appreciate the past and cling to encouraging words from my mentors. One of my favorite quotes is by Ella Fitzgerald. “It is not where you come from, it is where you are going that counts.”

As a retired educator of 34 years, I continue to work with Young Ladies Success to develop non-profit status. Even though I am retired, I am not “tired.” I serve as an adjunct professor for Cisco College, a faculty mentor for Cengage Learning, and a nationally certified trainer of K-12 grade teachers for the Center of Teacher Effectiveness. My humble beginnings, role models, and belief in God have elevated me to become a servant leader.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It would be nice to have a magic wand to zap and make the path to success smooth and clearly defined. However, this is not the case. The number one challenge with the Young Ladies’ Success is funding. To host a conference, we rely on donations from individuals and committee members. Another challenge is encouraging young ladies and parents to realize the importance of attending a conference to receive valuable college information and to learn how to start early visualizing their prospective careers. We hope to become a non-profit organization to be able to offer mini-workshops throughout the year. The challenge I am experiencing with being a certified trainer is learning a vast amount of material and marketing to the schools. The training I offer may be one or two days in length. Much preparation is needed to present effective training while being able to address a school’s pain points. The good news is that I have wonderful mentors who can assist me in answering any questions or problems that may arise.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
For the last fourteen years, I have enjoyed presenting at conferences all over the United States and conducting Webinars. I am told that I have a knack for engaging and motivating my audience. I am proud that I was elected as the President of the Texas Community College Teachers Association. While serving on the Executive Board and president of TCCTA, my leadership skills flourished, and I received many speaking opportunities.

One thing that sets me apart from others, (as I am told), is my ability to be a team player and have a passion for diversity. I believe that no man is an island. Woodrow Wilson states, “I not only use all the brains that I have but all that I can borrow.” One can accomplish a great deal working as a team. Our nation has become a melting pot of nationalities and I believe everyone has value and we can celebrate our uniqueness. There is strength in diversity.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
Yes. Thank you for asking. I believe that when you are a servant leader, it is important to have a successful squad. In my success squad, I have the following people:

Balcony people: People who are my main cheerleaders and who help my dreams come alive.

Care People: People who care for my well-being. They are brave enough to tell me to take time to balance work and life.

Mentors: People who I network with to advise and connect me to opportunities.

Owls: People who have the wisdom to keep me grounded to avoid pitfalls.

In building a business I need to have a strong success squad.

I would like to dedicate this article to my loving husband, Terry, who has always been my greatest cheerleader and taught me the importance of having a success squad. He is and will continue to be the wind beneath my wings (Dr. Terry L. Childers, 1952-2021).

Contact Info:

• Email: essiechi@gmail.com / Mobile: 903-780-7817
• Website: https://essiechilders.com
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/essie-childers-bbb4898/
• Other: https://www.yl-success.com