Today we’d like to introduce you to Meaghan Oliver.
Hi Meaghan, can you introduce yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
To know where I am going, you must know where I come from. My passion has always been education and fashion. I remember playing school and dressing up as early as five. However, when it was time for me to choose my career path, I chose Business Administration and Accounting. As an adolescent, Math was my favorite subject, and I loved Kyle Barker on “Living Single” because he had a corner office. I was immediately motivated to combine my love for Math and the thought of corporate America. But landed a teaching job and loved every moment of it. That lasted only a short time because I did not pass my praxis test; therefore, I could no longer be an educator. I decided to go back to school to fulfill the dream I had as a child of being in the corner office. So, I obtained a BBA and MBA before I was 30 years old and thought I had the perfect job. One day I began to feel drained at work, and the thought of pulling into the parking lot made me cringe. It was time for me to change gears.
I returned to teaching as I remembered that I never was drained, maybe tired but not drained. I loved being around the students and watching them progress in front of my eyes. I passed all necessary tests on the first attempt and earned an M. Ed. Education loved me just as much as I loved it. I was a hard worker, and my principal believed in me. Then the pandemic changed everyone’s lives. I was blessed to have a career that was not affected, but the pandemic allowed me time to seek other opportunities. I opened my first business, “Attention to Intervention with ME,” a tutoring service that specializes in servicing exceptional children. I returned to school again and obtained an Ed.S, which allowed me to begin my journey in leadership. I was a Special Education Teacher for eight years in the public school system.
Today I work for Memphis-Shelby County Schools as a district RTI2 Advisor. In this role, I can support teachers in supporting students by meeting their individual needs. I am now the owner of two businesses. I still tutor students through my “Attention to Intervention with ME” tutoring service and own an online clothing boutique, “Fashionably ME.”
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road could have been smoother. I never heard, so many people/companies say “no” in my life. I lost a teaching position because I was unprepared for being a new parent, beginning a career, and working/life balance. I also had several jobs that did not make me happy however they paid the bills. I attended college several times, and completing coursework, work, and being a parent was challenging. Life takes its toll on you, but you must decide to keep persevering.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
I work for MSCS as a district RTI2 Advisor. My primary role is to provide expert support to build capacity within school instructional teams on research-based strategies, develop strategies to solve complex problems, monitor and assess school performance data, and ensure adherence to District curriculum implementation. I support school-based RTI2 leads in implementing State-mandated RTI2 support. This support allows students to be taught on their instructional level versus their grade level to close academic gaps. I am most proud of the relationships I have built with schools throughout the District. My passion sets me apart from others because I am a “beast for data” simply because data does not lie. Data drives education which drives my support.
Can you talk to us about the role of luck?
I do not believe in good/bad luck, as life comes to each of us differently. This last year was emotionally a struggle for me as my grandfather passed. He was the most important person in my life and believed in me. One does not know what that truly means until it is gone. I struggled with being able to move on without him. One day it came to me that he would want me to continue my journey and do my best. Now I work to fulfill my dreams and continue to make my grandfather smile. Business-wise, life has been challenging as I funded both of my businesses out of pocket. Remember, I was a teacher; lol, meaning funds were limited, but I made a way to make my dreams come true.
Contact Info:
- Website: fashionablyme.shop
- Instagram: attentiontointerventionwith_me and fashionablyme_llc
- Facebook: Attention to Intervention with ME and Fashionably ME
