From House Keys to Classroom Keys: Where Real Estate Meets Education

Trading Open Houses for Open Minds: A Realtor's Journey to the Front of the Class

You know that moment when your separate worlds suddenly collide and everything just... makes sense? Well, that's exactly what happened when my seventh graders discovered my "secret identity" as a real estate agent. But before I get into that wild tale…..let’s rewind a bit.

The Accidental Real Estate Kid

Picture this: A little girl sliding across freshly waxed hardwood floors in a brand new pair of socks… sunlight (doubling as her spotlight) streaming through the windows of the inclosed porch…. outside smelled of freshly gardened petunias…a driveway decorated in chalk and jump-ropes….and just steps away, a local library beckoned with endless adventures….. That was my first taste of homeownership, though I didn't know it then. The only thing that mattered was that we had a deck perfect for summer barbecues, bay windows which doubles as my cozy reading nook, and a backyard that could host epic games of tag.

It was the ideal home for a little girl and her family. A space to learn love, create memories, make friends, and begin to learn the importance of caring for what’s yours. My parents had pride in their home, they taught my siblings and I how to care for our rooms, establish family traditions, and most of all valuing our family’s growing legacy.

Fast forward to my teenage years, when my parents decided to level up their homeownership game with an investment property. While most kids were hanging at the mall, my siblings and I were doing homework to the soundtrack of renovation: the rhythmic taps of hammers, the swish of paint rollers, and the occasional frustrated sighs of DIY legends (aka Mom and Pops). Little did I know, those after-school sessions watching them transform spaces would plant the seeds for my future career.

Soon I went from watching them work to getting dirty myself. From learning to paint, to understanding leases, interviewing potential tenants, the process of purchasing such properties….and before I even realized I was in the office….listening as my mother took calls and began building her career as an agent then eventually a real estate broker. For me, going to the office was my way of escaping the monotony of being at home. I read my book, folded brochures, and packaged up mints for open houses. Who would have thought that I would soon being doing it all for myself one day.

Finding My Path (Plot Twist Included!)

But here's the plot twist: I didn't jump straight into real estate. Life had other plans first. After collecting degrees like some people collect shoes, I found myself in various education roles, from tutoring students to directing pre-college programs. I even worked as a college admissions counselor for about a year or so. It wasn't until graduate school that I purchased my first home and finally got my real estate license; though I kept it in my back pocket for several years.

Then 2020 happened. The season of drastic change and epic decisions. Like many others my life 360’d. I took the plunge and moved to Atlanta, diving headfirst into full-time real estate. I joined a really awesome brokerage, cleared my first million in sales, and nearly became addicted to the science of it all. It was exhilarating! But life, as it often does, threw me a curveball in the form of health challenges. I was in and out of the hospital for months, on and off treatments, experimenting with everything under the sun to try and get back to my full self. After months of trying I decided to take another look at my life.

That's when I discovered something magical and realized that sometimes your greatest pivot can indeed lead to your perfect path.

Cue the classroom bell…..yup! I accepted a position as a 7th grade ELA teacher.

Where Homework Meets Home Work

Now, here's where it gets interesting. As a middle school ELA teacher who moonlights as a real estate agent (or is it the other way around?), I've noticed something fascinating. My students whose families own homes carry themselves differently. They speak with pride about their neighborhoods, engage more in class discussions, and often have parents who are more involved in their education. It's like homeownership creates this invisible foundation of stability that ripples through every aspect of their lives. Which is exactly what happened to me at their age and their parents and my parents had or has rather so much in common.

When my students discovered my real estate background, their eyes lit up with stories: tales of endless house tours with their parents, the drama of bidding wars (2020-2022 was wild, wasn't it?), and sometimes, the frustrated sighs of families still searching for their perfect home. These conversations in between grammar lessons and literary analysis became something more – they became bridges to deeper discussions about community, financial literacy, and the American Dream. I think I love most our conversations about being children of entrepreneurs, specifically those in the construction and home improvement fields.

This unexpected intersection of my two passions has ignited a new mission: understanding and advocating for the profound connection between homeownership and educational success. Because here's the truth – it's not just about four walls and a roof. It's about the confidence a child feels knowing they have a stable place to call home, the engagement of parents who are invested in their community and their child's academic success, and without a doubt the generational wealth that can transform families.

So here I am, straddling two worlds that turn out to be more connected than anyone might have guessed. I absolutely love exploring these connections between housing and education, sharing stories from both sides of my professional life with folks in passing, and diving in understanding the policies and practices that can help more families find their path to homeownership.

Because sometimes the most important lessons aren't found in textbooks – sometimes they're written in property deeds, family memories, and the proud smiles of students who can't wait to tell you about their new home.