Today we’d like to introduce you to Sophia Walters
Hi Sophia, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I hail from a lineage of exceptionally intelligent educators and pioneering entrepreneurial women. My grandmother, Virgie Dowden, established Windsor Hills Preschool, one of the first Black-owned preschools in Los Angeles, which was subsequently managed by my mother, Elayne Walters. My aunt, Rita Walters, made history as the first Black woman to serve on the Los Angeles City Council and was a formidable advocate for educational reform within LAUSD. My family boasts an impressive array of primary, secondary, and collegiate professors. I regard the creation of a school not merely as a professional aspiration but as a divinely ordained mission integral to my life’s purpose.
I’ve been working with children since I was a teenager. And as long as I can remember, I’ve been engulfed in adolescent psychology. When I was a little girl, I didn’t have the vocabulary to articulate it, but I sensed that the way my mind was mapped felt unique. As I entered my teenage years, I became curious if other kids felt the same way.
When I went to college, I started my first small business working with children. I collaborated with a group of moms who were close friends. Each purchased a certain number of hours from me, and we managed a monthly calendar – it was a subscription. I took on various tasks, including tutoring their kids, taking them to school, helping with birthday parties, organizing activities, etc. What I loved most was have conversation with the kids and looking at the world from their eyes. After graduating college, I began working full-time with Bozoma Saint John, continuing similar work. Over the years, my clientele grew.
During the pandemic, I worked for an international family, traveling, homeschooling their kids, and teaching in different cities. When the family decided to relocate to one of their other homes out of state, I realized it was time for me to move in a new direction and start my own academy.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has been far from seamless, and in all candor, it remains a work in progress—but growth often emerges from moments of discomfort. Is it better than when I first began? Without question. Yet, I believe the paradox of being a business owner—and an exceptionally ambitious entrepreneur—is the perpetual space for improvement. I strive to take each day as it comes, but my nature compels me to constantly seek advancement, greater efficiency, and innovative solutions. That’s simply who I am.
One of the most significant challenges I’ve faced is mastering the infrastructure necessary to operate a successful business. My journey began with a profound ability to connect with children in a meaningful way—fostering their academic growth and, hopefully, their development as well-rounded individuals. Transitioning into the multifaceted role of a business owner required me to juggle responsibilities I had little prior experience with, resulting in a steep but rewarding learning curve. Fortunately, I am deeply passionate about learning.
While I dedicate myself to teaching daily, I am equally committed to acquiring strategies for continuous improvement. I prioritize maintaining open, transparent communication with my team and my clients—not only the parents but also the students. This dynamic exchange is, to me, the hallmark of an ever-evolving and forward-thinking institution.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Wilbur Academy?
Wilbur Academy is revolutionizing personalized education. We are a bespoke academic institution that offers a wide range of concierge-based enrichment services. We are known for our ability to personalize a student’s educational journey based on a host of individual metrics. We are not a one-size-fits-all school.
All of our programming is completely customizable for each student. We don’t just homeschool—we offer supplemental learning, executive functioning support, academic management, and our newest offering, creative caregiving for students as young as 18 months.
One of the unique advantages of being a Wilbur Academy student is that, if we don’t already have an educator specializing in a subject a parent is seeking, we will go out and find a highly qualified instructor. This commitment has allowed us to maintain a 100% retention rate because parents trust us to meet all of their child’s academic needs with the utmost care. Truly, this type of educational concierge service is unique to Wilbur Academy, and to my knowledge, it doesn’t exist elsewhere.
I’m incredibly proud of our ability to grow with our students. I have young scholars I’ve worked with since the day we opened, and they are still with Wilbur. My students often joke that I’ll have to follow them to college! In the coming years, we plan to offer college-level instruction as well, as our students grow. Our ability to evolve with them is a key component of what I call an educational ecosystem. To think that one day my own students might become Wilbur Academy instructors, and teach others the SJT (Sophia Jeanne Teaching Method) methodology they were taught honestly brings tears to my eyes. I truly hope that’s a story I’ll be able to share one day.
My overarching goal is to bring accessibility to academic resources for minorities and disenfranchised communities. In all transparency, I was a student who was often overlooked. I lacked the resources to navigate my neurodivergent mind. Had someone studied the way I learned best and cultivated an atmosphere for me to thrive, it would have been an invaluable asset. That’s exactly what we aim to provide for our students.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I am profoundly disheartened by the pervasive pollution, litter, and debris that mar our streets. Equally heartbreaking is the growing number of unhoused individuals—a visible reminder of systemic challenges we have yet to address. Los Angeles has become overwhelmingly congested, and the hours lost to traffic detract from the moments that truly enrich our lives. For me, those moments include spending meaningful time with loved ones, enjoying the outdoors, gardening, and experimenting with new culinary creations.
What makes Los Angeles truly extraordinary for me is my community. Being close to my family is of paramount importance, and I am fortunate to have an incredible circle of friends whom I deeply cherish. Naturally, as a California native I hold immense appreciation for the weather and the natural beauty. This city is my home—a place where I feel deeply rooted and authentically connected.
Pricing:
- Complementary 30-min consultation
Contact Info:
- Website: https://wilbur.academy
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wilburacademy/?locale=bz-hans&hl=am-et
