Teach Your OWN Kid is a multi-purpose read that acts as a guide for parents who want to be actively engaged in the academic success of their children. It also acts as a coach for all who are involved in the collective effort of providing quality educational programming- college education majors, school administrators and even veteran teachers. Teach Your OWN Kid is filled with short anecdotes coupled with solutions that give the reader a glimpse into the mind of today's teacher. Readers will, inevitably, see the value in the simple, easy-to-digest information the author provides as she tackles one of education's most critical issues- the necessity of the parental partnership.
About the Author: Born to a thirty-nine year old teacher's assistant and domestic abuse survivor, Arianne learned fairly quickly that her life would be littered with challenges. From the more-than-occasional disconnect notice to the family's periodic evictions, Arianne, her seven siblings and their mother often relied on each other. Basic necessities were scarce and Arianne became well-acquainted with lack. However, the nurturing environment her mother created helped to develop in her a love for God, family and education. Arianne credits two individuals with influencing her to become an educator- her mother, Doris Powell Craig and her fourth grade teacher, the late Flora G. Weber. Arianne's mother has always been a staunch proponent of education. She understood that the key to providing a more promising future for her children was through empowering them to garner knowledge and equipping them to take advantage of opportunities. Arianne, along with her two older sisters, would travel with their mother to the library to read as many books as they could. They would check out the ones that they didn't have time to read. Their mother would have the girls write reports about what they had read and challenged them to stretch themselves by reading more difficult material. This served as a catalyst for developing Arianne's love of learning. Mrs. Weber wrote her phone number on the chalk board on the first day of fourth grade. This was unheard-of. Most teachers were extremely protective of their personal information and were not open to allowing prepubescent boys and girls that level of access to them. Mrs. Weber was different. She made it clear that her mission was to help her students become productive contributors to society, by any means necessary. Arianne determined very early on that she wanted to have the same effect on as many young people as possible. After earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary and Special Education from Dillard University and graduating with honors in 2001, Arianne wasted no time beginning her studies at the University of New Orleans. She earned a Masters degree in Special Education from UNO in 2002. Arianne taught in the public school system for some time before she and her husband (Joshua Jolla) started HYPE Academy Private School and Academic Resource Center in 2011. Arianne's goal is to carry on the legacy of her mother and Mrs. Weber by empowering young people through education.