Today we’d like to introduce you to Haley Taylor Schlitz.
Hi Haley, 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 was born in Los Angeles, California, but we didn’t move to Texas until I was in second grade when we got to Texas. I was in elementary school, and elementary school was when I got to intermediate school, which was fifth grade. That’s when my parents noticed that I started to lose my passion for education and learning. Because of this, my mom asked that I be tested for the gift in town to program, and the school district denied it because they said that I actually needed to be held back based on how I did on the standardized test. My mom disagreed, so she pulled me out of public school. And I did a hybrid college school. At this school, I thrived, and I graduated high school at 13 years old. I then went to Terran County Community College for my first year of undergrad, and I completed my bachelor’s assignment. University I then went on to Southern Methodist University. Deadman School of Law to get my Juris Doctor. I graduated from SMU when I was 19 years old, and I am not currently the youngest attorney in the United States. I currently teach U.S. history and social studies to 5th graders at a charter school in Fort Worth.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Like everyone, I have had trials and tribulations along the way. I’ve face discrimination because of my gender, race, and age. When I was in middle school, I was assigned as the slave girl in a school assignment. Experiences like that led to my classmates saying they would own me if we lived back then. When I got to undergrad I was taking around 21 units per semester, but there were several staff who tried to stop me. One in particular said I couldn’t handle the workload and finished off her commentary with, “You people always expect special treatment.” Another example is when I was in law school, and a professor whose class I was having a hard time with was giving me feedback on a paper I wrote. Her feedback included the comment, “This is why 16-year-olds shouldn’t be in law school.”
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I currently am a 5th-grade U.S. history teacher. I’ve very much enjoyed breaking down our history and answering the intricate questions the students ask. I love watching their minds grow and them as people become more aware and understanding each lesson each day. It is especially rewarding when they can demonstrate their understanding and add their own thoughts and words to the discussions/answers as they digest what we learned. I have gotten the highest test scores out of all of the Academy. My students over doubled the performance goals because I teach them to learn, and they enjoy the challenging and heavy subject of history.
Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
One of my favorite childhood memories is when I was on a trip to Europe with my family. I love thinking back to all the memories we made, and I would love to visit again.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.haleytaylorschlitz.com
- Instagram: Haleytaylorschlitz
