Today we’d like to introduce you to Autumn Fulton.
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?
Playful Pathway Learning started from my experience as a special education teacher and my passion for creating spaces where all children can feel successful. I’ve seen firsthand that children learn in so many different ways, and I wanted to create something that made learning fun, hands-on, inclusive, and accessible to all youth — especially for children who may not always thrive in traditional learning environments.
I started small with an idea and honestly didn’t know exactly where it would lead. Since then, Playful Pathway has grown into a 501(c)(3) nonprofit offering STEM enrichment, tutoring, and early learning support. We’ve launched STEM Saturdays and have had the opportunity to partner with childcare centers and community organizations throughout Memphis to bring hands-on learning experiences directly to children.
My faith in God has played a huge role in the journey as well. So many opportunities have come together in ways I couldn’t have planned myself. I’ve learned to trust God, continue doing the work, and walk through the doors He opens.
I’m still a full-time educator while growing Playful Pathway, and I definitely don’t have every step figured out. But when I look at how much we’ve grown in such a short time, I’m incredibly grateful — and I truly feel like we’re just getting started.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely hasn’t been a completely smooth road! One of my biggest challenges has been balancing being a full-time educator while also building and running Playful Pathway Learning. There are days when I leave school and go straight into tutoring, program planning, preparing STEM materials, answering emails, or handling the business side of PPL. I’ve had to learn that I simply can’t do everything at once.
I’ve also had to learn a lot as I go. I’m an educator first, so things like pricing my services, marketing, building partnerships, managing a nonprofit, and even learning when to say no have all been part of the journey. Access is also important to me. I want children to have opportunities to explore STEM and receive learning support regardless of what their family can afford or what part of the city they live in, and creating accessible programming while also building something sustainable takes resources and strong partnerships.
One of my biggest lessons has been realizing that growth doesn’t always mean being busy or doing more. Sometimes it means strengthening what I’ve already built, creating better systems, building the right relationships, and trusting the process. Every partnership, returning family, and child who gains confidence reminds me why I started. I’m still learning every day, but I think that’s part of being a founder.
As you know, we’re big fans of Playful Pathway Learning. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Playful Pathway Learning is a Memphis-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides inclusive, hands-on learning experiences for children. We specialize in STEM enrichment, tutoring, early learning support, and opportunities that help children build social-emotional skills, confidence, and independence.
What really sets us apart is our approach to inclusion. As a special education teacher, I understand that children don’t all learn the same way. Our programs are designed with different learners in mind, including children who may benefit from movement, hands-on experiences, repetition, sensory-friendly approaches, or individualized support. I never want a child to feel like they aren’t capable of learning simply because they learn differently.
One of our signature programs is STEM Saturdays, a free community program where children build, experiment, code, create, problem-solve, and interact with their peers. Keeping that program free is important to me because I want families to have access to quality enrichment opportunities regardless of their circumstances.
We also provide individualized learning support in reading, math, early literacy, and school-readiness skills and partner with childcare centers, schools, and community organizations to bring programming directly to children. Most recently, Playful Pathway became an active vendor with Memphis-Shelby County Schools, opening the door for us to expand our STEM and enrichment programming into more schools throughout Memphis.
What I’m most proud of is that Playful Pathway is becoming more than a place where kids come to learn a skill. I want children to feel comfortable being themselves, connect with others, try new things, and discover that learning can actually be fun. I want them to leave thinking, “I can do this.” That feeling is at the heart of everything we do.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
The most important lesson I’ve learned is that I don’t have to have everything figured out before I take the next step. I’m naturally someone who likes to plan and know what’s coming next, but building Playful Pathway has taught me that sometimes you just have to start, do your best with what you have, and be open to where the journey takes you.
My faith in God has been a big part of learning that. Some of the best opportunities for Playful Pathway have come from connections, conversations, and doors opening that I never could have planned for myself. I’ve learned to do my part, stay consistent, and trust God with the rest.
I’m still learning as I go, but I’ve realized that you don’t have to know exactly what the finished picture will look like to keep moving forward.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/PLAYFULPATHWAY
- Instagram: @theplayfulpathwaykids
- Email: fultonautumn0@gmail.com
