Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Natelli.
Hi Ashley, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Six years ago, I went through several life changes at once. My husband and I graduated college in May 2019, got married two weeks later, then moved to Tennessee from Missouri a week after that. I had never lived in another state before, and was far away from my family for the first time, too.
I became a teacher that July and quickly discovered it was the hardest job I’d ever had. So many of my students struggled at home, which affected their ability to succeed in school and left them feeling defeated. With so many students in one classroom, I couldn’t give each child the individual attention they needed to truly thrive. It broke my heart watching them struggle, knowing I could help them so much more one-on-one. The limitations nearly broke me, and I knew I needed to find another way to make a difference.
I made the tough decision to leave teaching and started private tutoring on my own. Within just six months, I watched students who didn’t know all their letter sounds begin reading chapter books. Seeing their faces light up brought me such joy! I also began advising homeschooling parents on curriculum choices and helping them find the right tools for their children to succeed alongside their peers.
Many of the parents I’ve worked with have become like family. After a few years, I realized I wanted to teach others how to help their students in the same transformative way. When nGenius was looking for a Director, I applied, and I’ve been here ever since. I absolutely love it! We have the sweetest tutors, and while I don’t tutor as much now, I get to support our amazing team as they help students achieve perfect test prep scores and A’s in their classes. We’re now working to bring college test preparation sessions directly to high schools. We’re passionate about helping students reach their goals and dreams.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I think the quote “Every rose has its thorns” fits most paths, and mine is no different. After leaving teaching, I felt completely defeated. It was only with the help of my husband, church, family, and friends that I was able to get back up.
Starting private tutoring took a real leap of faith. I had no confidence left, and I needed something financially stable. But I knew in my heart that I wanted to help children. It took patience, time, and energy to build my practice, but eventually I had a full roster and was watching my students thrive! The best part of my day was seeing their faces light up when they figured out a challenging problem or learned something new.
Most importantly, I got to teach them to have grace for themselves. So many students who need tutoring struggle with confidence. They don’t think they’re capable of learning or improving. But I got to show them that they absolutely can! They just needed someone to teach them in the right way. It’s incredibly rewarding to help someone see how special they are when they don’t feel it themselves.
After a few years of private tutoring, I applied for the Director position at nGenius. It’s been exciting and wonderfully challenging, as I wear many hats in this role. I’ve embraced becoming a student again myself, diving into new areas and expanding my skillset beyond what I’d done before. This growth has stretched me in the best ways possible. Every day brings new learning opportunities, and I absolutely love my role and the families and people I get to work with.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Currently, I work as the Director at nGenius Tutoring. We specialize primarily in ACT/SAT prep for high school students, but we also offer academic tutoring for middle and high school, as well as preparation for the PSAT, ISEE, SSAT, and admissions support. In my role, I support our tutors, parents, and students, while also connecting with schools to help make their ACT prep programs more impactful.
I’m most proud of our incredible tutors! We have a special team that truly cares about our students and families. They’re experts in their craft who’ve helped many of our students achieve perfect ACT scores or break into the 30s, and have helped countless others with test-taking challenges or anxieties to face the ACT with confidence. We’ve had students increase their scores by 9 points after working with our tutors! This hasn’t just improved test scores, it’s helped our students feel confident in themselves and get into their dream schools. Our tutors are literally changing students’ futures, and it’s absolutely incredible to witness.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
The most important lesson I’ve learned is that adults aren’t so different from children in some ways. They need grace and patience too, and they have their own insecurities and struggles. While I’m used to caring for children, I’ve discovered how much I love caring for parents and tutors in my role as well.
I always want nGenius to feel like a comfortable, safe space where both students and adults can find support. Academics can be a sore subject for many people, whether they’re students struggling with a subject or parents worried about their child’s future. I want everyone to know that nGenius is a place where we’re here to lighten that burden, not add to it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ngeniustutoring.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ngeniustutoring/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ngeniustutoring&testprep-franklin,tn
