Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Alisha Hayes.
Hi Dr. Alisha, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’m Dr. Alisha Hayes, Ed.D., Ed.S., M.Ed. — an Educational Diagnostician, Educational Therapist, Licensed Reading Specialist, educational leader, entrepreneur, wife, mother, and founder of Dr. Hayes Educates Learning Center, Dr. Hayes Educates Academy of Innovation, and the nonprofit organization Dr. Hayes Educates Inc. in Nashville, Tennessee. I’ve had the pleasure of calling Nashville home my entire life.
For more than 20 years, I’ve worked across public schools, independent schools, higher education, and private educational settings, with a focus on creating personalized, relationship-driven learning experiences that support the whole person — not just academics. Through both my educational organizations and nonprofit work, my mission has always centered around increasing access to equitable, innovative, and meaningful learning opportunities for individuals and families across the lifespan.
I earned my degrees in education, instructional leadership, administration, and curriculum development and assessment while working directly with students, families, and educators. Throughout my career, I’ve served as a teacher, curriculum coordinator, assistant principal, instructional leader, reading specialist, university instructor, diagnostician, educational consultant, and intervention specialist. My work has centered around literacy, executive functioning, learning differences, educational assessment, and helping individuals build both academic skills and confidence in themselves.
At the same time, I was also building a creative business of my own. What started as designing custom shirts and gifts for family and friends eventually grew into Hayes Custom Creations in 2015, where I combined art, design, embroidery, sewing, printing, and personalization into a full creative brand. Creativity has always been a huge part of who I am, so it naturally became connected to the way I teach and lead.
Over time, I realized I wanted to create something beyond traditional tutoring or franchise-style learning models. I wanted to build spaces where people felt known, supported, challenged, and genuinely valued as individuals. That vision led me to launch Dr. Hayes Educates Learning Center and later Dr. Hayes Educates Academy of Innovation, a Tennessee Category IV non-public school offering K–8 hybrid learning, hands-on personalized instruction, non-denominational faith-infused education, and K–12 umbrella coverage and support for homeschooling families through a relationship-driven, holistic educational approach.
Today, my work blends literacy, executive functioning support, creativity, relationship-based teaching, and personalized learning experiences through what I developed as the HAYES Method. I work with children, adolescents, college students, adult learners, educators, and families — including individuals with dyslexia, ADHD, learning differences, giftedness, and those who simply need a more individualized, holistic, and non-traditional approach to learning, growth, and support.
I’m also incredibly grateful to have recently received two literacy grants through the Dollar General Literacy Foundation, including a Summer Literacy Grant supporting at-risk students and an Adult Literacy Grant focused on expanding reading support for adult learners. In previous years, I’ve also been honored to receive grants and educational support through organizations such as VELA and Reflex Math, which have helped strengthen innovative programming and student learning opportunities within my organizations.
The journey definitely hasn’t been linear. I’ve balanced entrepreneurship, education, marriage, motherhood, health challenges, and rebuilding parts of my life more than once. But every experience shaped the way I connect with people and the kind of environments I want to create. What began as a passion for helping others learn has evolved into multiple businesses, educational programs, creative ventures, nonprofit initiatives, and a mission centered around helping people feel seen, empowered, and capable of thriving in ways that honor who they truly are.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely has not been a completely smooth road. Building something personalized and relationship-driven in a world that often pushes standardized systems, quick fixes, and franchise-style models comes with challenges. There were times I questioned myself, especially while balancing entrepreneurship, marriage, motherhood, health struggles, financial pressure, and the realities of trying to grow multiple businesses from the ground up.
One of the biggest struggles has been learning how to trust my own vision, even when it looked different from what people expected. I’ve had moments where I felt underestimated, overwhelmed, or stretched too thin trying to be everything to everyone at once — wife, mother, educator, leader, creator, business owner, mentor, and caregiver. Learning how to balance all of those roles while still protecting my creativity, passion, and sense of self has been a journey in itself.
Another challenge has been creating educational spaces that truly honor individuality while navigating systems that are often built around conformity. I care deeply about people feeling seen, supported, and valued, so I’ve always wanted my programs to feel human, creative, and relationship-centered rather than transactional.
At the same time, those challenges shaped me. They pushed me to become more innovative, intentional, and connected to my purpose. Looking back, even the difficult seasons helped build the foundation for the work I’m doing now.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Dr. Hayes Educates Learning Center is a personalized educational organization based in Nashville, Tennessee that provides literacy support, executive functioning coaching, educational assessments, academic intervention, enrichment programs, and individualized learning services for children, adolescents, college students, adult learners, and families. Alongside the learning center, Dr. Hayes Educates Academy of Innovation is a Tennessee Category IV non-public school offering K–8 hybrid learning and K–12 umbrella coverage and support for homeschooling families.
What makes our organization different is that we are intentionally relationship-driven, holistic, and highly personalized. We are not a franchise model, a one-size-fits-all tutoring program, or a rigid educational environment. Every learner is approached as an individual with unique strengths, challenges, interests, and goals. We focus heavily on confidence, connection, creativity, critical thinking, and helping people feel truly seen and supported throughout their learning journey.
Our approach is rooted in what I developed as the HAYES Method — a framework centered around hands-on learning, meaningful relationships, active engagement, creativity, executive functioning support, and personalized instruction that supports the whole person, not just academics. We work with a wide range of learners, including individuals with dyslexia, ADHD, learning differences, giftedness, and students who simply thrive in more flexible and innovative educational environments.
One thing I’m especially proud of is that our programs have grown largely through relationships, trust, and word of mouth within the community. Families often tell us that they finally feel heard, understood, and supported after struggling to find the right fit elsewhere. Creating spaces where learners feel safe to grow, ask questions, think differently, and build confidence in themselves is something that means a great deal to me.
I’m also proud that the organization blends education, creativity, and innovation in a way that feels authentic. Whether we are working on literacy, project-based learning, executive functioning, enrichment programs, hands-on STEM experiences, or supporting homeschooling families, the goal is always to create meaningful learning experiences that feel human, engaging, and empowering.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
One thing I’d love readers to know is that learning does not have to look the same for everyone in order to be meaningful, successful, or powerful. Some of the most brilliant, creative, and capable individuals simply need environments that honor how they think, learn, create, and connect with the world.
I also want people to know that it is okay to build a life and career that does not fit perfectly inside traditional boxes. A large part of my journey has been learning how to embrace both the educational and creative sides of who I am instead of feeling like I had to choose just one path. Education, innovation, creativity, leadership, entrepreneurship, and community can all coexist.
Most importantly, I hope people walk away understanding that relationships matter. Whether in education, business, leadership, or life, people thrive when they feel seen, valued, supported, and believed in. That philosophy is at the heart of everything I create.
To visit, schedule a consultation, or learn more about us, our information is listed below:
Dr. Hayes Educates Learning Center is located in Donelson-Nashville, TN 37214
Our Address is 211 Donelson Pike Suite #1, Nashville, TN 37214
Visit our website: drhayeseducates.com
Email Us or Call/Text Us Your Questions: info@drhayeseducates.com and (615) 997-4194
Pricing:
- Dr. Hayes Educates Learning Center offers personalized educational services, with pricing varying based on the type of support, frequency, and individualized learning plan.
- Services include literacy support, executive functioning coaching, academic intervention, educational assessments, enrichment classes, and homeschool support.
- Most 1:1 educational sessions are customized and scheduled by consultation to ensure the best fit for each learner and family.
- Dr. Hayes Educates Academy of Innovation offers K–8 hybrid learning and K–12 umbrella coverage/support for homeschooling families.
- Families interested in services or enrollment begin with a consultation and/or academic snapshot process to determine individualized recommendations and placement. Additional information about programs, enrollment, and services can be found through Dr. Hayes Educates directly.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.drhayeseducates.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drhayeseducates
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/drhayeseducates
- Other: https://www.hayescustomcreations.com
