Faith Borkowsky
High Five Literacy and Academic Coaching
Planview, NY USA
"Do what feels right, trust yourself, and things will work out. You’ll find your way. If you give to other people, it’s always going to come back to you."
Career Roadmap
Faith's work combines: Education, Writing, and Teaching / Mentoring
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Day In The Life
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life has been direct
1.
I began teaching children when I was 21 years old, which was a challenge. The strategies I learned weren't working for many kids, and, quite frankly, made no sense to me.
2.
I decided to go for a master’s degree in reading hoping that a graduate-level program would provide answers. Unfortunately, that degree did not give me any better tools to teach struggling readers.
3.
Years later, the answers came to me in a book that changed my life: "Why Your Child Can’t Read and What You Can Do About It" by Diane McGuinness.
4.
I committed myself to learning everything I could about scientifically-based reading instruction (SBRR) and traveled to Washington D.C. for my first training. It started me on my path to fulfillment.
5.
I knew I wanted to share my knowledge with others, so I became a Regional Reading Coach and helped low performing school districts implement SBRR.
6.
I made the decision to leave public education to start my own tutoring and consulting business.
7.
I work with children and parents and am blessed to feel like I’m changing lives for the better. I wrote a book about my experiences and reading instruction that won the Wishing Shelf Silver Medal.
8.
I have written several books to help parents navigate the literacy maze. I am also involved with many amazing people and organizations to help promote change in the way reading is taught.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Parents:
You can't be an entrepreneur, you need security, health insurance, and a steady paycheck. You can't handle risk taking.
How I responded:
No one at home was entrepreneurial. I always wanted to branch out and do my own thing, yet that voice of needing stability was always in the back of mind, and that sticks with you. It’s not negative, but that’s what I grew up hearing. When I decided to do this on my own, it was very scary for my family - could I do this? Am I doing the right thing? I just had to shut the noise out, move ahead, trust that I was good enough, and that I would make it work.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
Raising two children, I just couldn’t start my own business sooner than when I did. I wanted to make sure they went to college, they came first, so I let that doubt get in the way. There were many years when I wanted to do it, then chickened out.