Meet Dr. Monica S. Hall | Founder & K12 Principal, T.H.R.I.V.E. Christian Academy

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dr. Monica S. Hall and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dr. Monica S., what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
There was none! Imagine that, growing up in a dual Army household, moving every 2-3 years of your life and having your mind set on being a JAG attorney in the military, but then God calling you to education… my story is definitely a tale of obedience versus strategy.

I attended Howard University on an Army ROTC scholarship and dual-majored in Political Science and Sociology with plans of heading to Emory Law thereafter. My ultimate goal – to serve 20 years as a military lawyer then retire and serve as a justice in the Supreme Court. The summer preceding my junior year, God shifted my track from law school and becoming a JAG Officer to seminary and becoming an Army Chaplain! It came out of nowhere, but obedience has always been a pillar for me and has afforded me much Favor in my life. I shifted from applying to Emory law school to applying to their seminary, namely Candler School of Theology. I graduated early from both Howard and Candler and was commissioned as a Chaplain in the US Army. I opened an outreach center to serve the community and two years later, birthed T.H.R.I.V.E. Christian Academy. Another move out of obedience, but one that proved to be necessary for hundreds of children that needed a space to be educated, enriched and empowered – essentially a refuge to “thrive” academically, socially and spiritually.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I am an Army Reserve Chaplain and was serving as a youth pastor when I opened T.H.R.I.V.E. Christian Academy (TCA) in 2013 and began the 2013/14 school year with only two first-grade students.

Eleven school years later, TCA serves K-12 students and we are located in Tucker, GA, near Stone Mountain. We are the best-kept secret of education in Atlanta, eclipsing an enrollment of 300 plus students. We specialize in doing primary and secondary education in excellence and the “HBCU” way! We incorporate enrichment trips, technology, and project-based learning to ensure our curriculum remains relevant with real-world application and testimonies of success to match. This fall we’re adding JROTC and vocational certifications through HBI and Home Depot to our list of offerings. We have a a brand new eSports arena, premiere broadcasting studio, Apple computer lab and two state-of-the-art STEM labs.

T.H.R.I.V.E. Christian Academy is fully accredited (with Highest Quality) and we presented our first high school graduating class in 2020 and each subsequent class has set a legacy of excellence already! Most recently, 100% of the junior and senior classes received acceptance and scholarships from both Claflin University and SC State. We accept transfer students and applicants who have struggled academically, as well as scholars who are looking to be challenged academically. Despite our diverse student population, we still have an 100% high school graduation rate and 100% college acceptance rate. Our students participate in dual enrollment and have the opportunity to earn their Associate degree along with their high school diploma. We also offer Pre-Apprenticeship Certificate Training in 9 areas ranging from plumbing, to HVAC, to painting and finishing for those vocational students who desire to hop straight into the job field post-graduation. Over 80% of our graduates matriculate into college, 5% into the military, and the remainder are serving their communities in a variety of field; several as EMTs, realtors, entrepreneurs and medical assistants.

At TCA we prove that ANY student who adopts the pillars of T.H.R.I.V.E., namely truth, humility, respect, integrity, victory and excellence – has the ability to be highly successful! We produce scholars and good Samaritans.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
You gotta love the A! So much to do on any given day of the week. A week long itinerary would definitely involve catching midweek comedy at Oak Atlanta or BQE for sure! We have to catch the live band over blackened salmon and oxtails at Negril ATL. Cheering at State Farm or the Dome for the home team is a must! We’re definitely grabbing lunch at Pappadaeux off Jimmy Carter before getting massages at Empress Massage in Duluth. We’ll shop the vendors at Atlantic Station before hitting the theatre down there and sealing the night with some Cold Stone ice cream. We have to give God praise on Sunday at First Saint Paul AME Church in Lithonia or Total Victory Worship Center in Forest Park (depending on your old school versus new school preference). Sunday brunch at Virgil’s Gullah Kitchen downtown then we’re headed to Ponce City Market for pics from my favorite photographer @ZiglorPhotos and capping the evening off with live music at City Winery.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I shoutout all the educators and school support staff who labor daily behind the scenes.

I remember growing up and people saying, “Open a funeral home or a cemetery and you’ll never go out of business because people are always going to be dying.” I never heard anyone say, “Become a teacher because people are always going to be learning.” The COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 that deemed educators as “essential workers” may have been one of the first Nationwide recognitions and acknowledgements of the importance and vital role that teachers play in our society. The school counselors, administrators, classroom teachers and school support staff have been under-rated while being overworked for generations! The labor and selflessness required to invest, pour into and love on children on the daily basis is nothing short of a gift and true calling.

I salute the educators who spend their own funds to prepare their classrooms. I shoutout the school staff that stay past closing hours with the student who is on the steps still awaiting their guardian’s arrival. I acknowledge the school coach who mentors beyond the call of duty and I celebrate the custodian who ensures our children not only have a clean school, but also shares their life lessons full of wisdom and humility with our young men and women.

The labor of school faculty and staff encourages me to go big in creating a space for them to see the fruits of their labor on the consistent basis. There is nothing more rewarding than seeing a student “finally get it!” Those lightbulb moments in the classroom, coupled with moments where a student displays character in a way that you know you modeled for them – are irreplaceable! T.H.R.I.V.E. Christian Academy has not only been a refuge for students, but also a revitalization ground for educators who have grown weary of the weight and the politics of mainstream education. Here at T.H.R.I.V.E. their passions are renewed and their purpose fulfilled. Salute to the individuals that make “school” happen #thethriveway.

Website: https://www.theTHRIVEway.org

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