Shanda Wright and her husband Ralph were both raised by teachers, giving them a passion for education. Today, Shanda leads other families’ children through their studies as the executive director of the Huntington Learning Center.
Opening in June 2019, Shanda was introduced to the Huntington brand after her husband was laid off from his job. Drawn to Huntington’s personalized instruction, afterschool programs and SAT and ACT prep, Shanda saw a unique opportunity to support the Carroll ISD community in a new way.
“It was the perfect time to step out on faith and fulfill a dream of entrepreneurship,” Shanda says. “Education has always been at the forefront of our minds. By choosing a business that focuses on education and community involvement, we are able to fulfill our passion for education by helping students obtain the best education possible.”
As executive director, Shanda is in charge of programming and supporting kids through a variety of subjects including reading, writing, math and science. In Huntington’s first year of business, Shanda says the community feedback has been outstanding and that they have received an outpouring of support from the city and the Southlake Chamber of Commerce.
But before its first anniversary, COVID-19 forever changed Shanda’s business model. Huntington was forced to close its center last March and dealt with enrollment losses. Thankfully, the center quickly adjusted by offering a virtual option for its one-on-one tutoring and exam preparation services.
“We have been faced with uncertainty as we navigate through the global pandemic,” Shanda remarks. “But we have chosen to focus on our students and the community by continuing to provide the best educational resources to them.”
Shanda says she takes pride in being a minority small business owner and contributing to the backbone of the economy. But more important than that, she’s proud to help kids through their own educational journeys.
“My favorite part of the job is seeing the progress of our students — the confidence they have gained, the skill gaps that they once had close, the increase of their scores that allows them to attend the university and college of their choice and the smiles on their faces,” Shanda says. “I love watching how the center gives kids their love of school back.”