Today we’d like to introduce you to Tesha Robinson.
Hi Tesha, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My life has prepared me to found Friendly Academy. Looking back, I can see that every part of my journey was shaping me for this work.
I grew up in a single-parent household in East St. Louis, Illinois. We were low-income. My stepfather was incarcerated for selling drugs, and my biological father’s involvement in my life was inconsistent. I was exposed early to violence and family instability, circumstances that often narrow a child’s sense of possibility.
But at a young age, I began to look at my surroundings and want more than what I saw. I didn’t want to be defined by my environment or live a life shaped only by survival. I wanted purpose. I wanted impact. That quiet but determined decision to create a life beyond what was modeled for me became the turning point in my story.
School was not a place where I naturally thrived. Some years I struggled to read, some years I excelled, and many years I was simply average and overlooked. I skipped classes, got into fights, and often felt I didn’t belong. Yet even in that tension, I carried a desire to earn good grades and graduate. I wanted more for myself, even when I didn’t yet know how to reach it.
During my junior year of high school, my father passed away. The night before he died, I told him I wanted to earn a Ph.D. Looking back, I still wonder how a teenager with no academic role models could dream that boldly. I believe now that the answer was faith and an internal drive placed within me long before I understood it.
I kept that promise. I became a first-generation college graduate, earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology, a master’s in social work, and a Ph.D. in education at age twenty-six.
I began my career as a school social worker, where I developed a passion for students who were overlooked or disengaged, because I had once been one of them. That commitment led to leadership roles including summer school principal, district crisis leader, and founder of an evening school program. I later served as an assistant principal and principal, including in my former high school community.
Throughout my career, I have created new pathways where none existed. When I saw unmet needs, I built programs. When systems left students behind, I designed solutions. I believe God designed my journey to align with my calling, to create schools rooted in love and high expectations.
Friendly Academy exists because St. Louis families deserve exceptional options, schools that see children fully and push them toward their highest potential.
Our model is simple. Love Yourself. Love Others. Love Learning.
Founding Friendly Academy is the fulfillment of a lifelong calling shaped by faith, resilience, and vision.
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?
It has not been a smooth road. Every stage of this journey has felt like an opportunity for a miracle.
The planning and charter approval process alone took nearly two years, which some would even consider accelerated. Charter schools are not always welcomed by everyone, so I had to demonstrate clear demand for our school. Our families showed exactly that. Their voices and commitment made it undeniable that Friendly Academy was needed.
At one point, we were told we would have to move heaven and earth to open in 2025 because of declining population trends in North St. Louis. Yet that is exactly what happened. We received approval and met our enrollment goals, even as our community was recovering from the devastating tornado that impacted families across North City.
Our first semester was not for the faint of heart. Leading Friendly Academy has been one of the hardest things I have ever done. But that reality makes sense to me. Building something that lasts, something that changes lives and creates legacy, is never easy work.
What keeps me going is actually one of our greatest strengths: love. At Friendly Academy, we truly see people. We see their gifts, and we also see their hurt and their stories. We serve with care and belief. That culture of love empowers our faculty, students, and families to give their very best, because they feel valued and capable.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
As the Founder and CEO of Friendly Academy, my work centers on creating a school model that expands opportunity and transforms outcomes for children and families. I specialize in building schools and programs that serve students who have historically been overlooked, disengaged, or underestimated. My leadership is rooted in the belief that every child deserves to be seen, valued, and challenged to reach their highest potential.
I am most proud of pushing through significant barriers to fulfill a dream and a calling that is already changing lives. Opening Friendly Academy required perseverance, faith, and community belief, and today we see the impact daily in our classrooms and relationships.
One of my greatest strengths is empowering others to dream bigger than their circumstances. Many of the barriers our communities face, including violence and instability, are rooted in disconnection and hopelessness. I believe one of the most powerful ways to counter violence is through love, belonging, and opportunity. That philosophy shapes everything we do at Friendly Academy.
What sets me apart is my ability to lead with both urgency and deep care. The moments I am most proud of are often the simplest. Seeing joy on our students’ faces. Hearing children say they love their school. Watching them grow in confidence and possibility. Those moments affirm that our model of love is not just a philosophy. It is changing how children experience education and how they see themselves.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://friendlyacademy.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovefriendlyacademy/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Friendly-Academy-STL-61564513773007/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/friendlyacademystl
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@friendlyacademystl
