Meet Deedee Wills | Teacher, Online Curriculum Creator, & Staff Developer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Deedee Wills and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Deedee, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I have always created my resources to use with my students. I haved found students’ engagement ignited when they play a game or have an activity they are excited about. When I heard that I could make a little extra money by sharing these resources with other teachers, I knew I had to get started right away.

Within 48 hours, I had posted my first resource to the online marketplace and created a blog.

What should our readers know about your business?
Like most teachers, it was hard to make ends meet on my salary. I loved my profession, but I had student loan debt, and I did not feel like I was contributing much to our household expenses. There wasn’t much left over at the end of the month. I wanted a “shoe fund!” SIDENOTE: My personal bank account is now titled “shoe fund.”

When I heard about Teachers Pay Teachers, I was ALL IN. My typical day consisted of waking up at 4 am to work on my TPT business, then teaching a full day with my kindergarten students. When I got home from school, I would cook dinner, then work from 6-10 each night. The weekends were full days at my computer. I was creating products to sell and also sharing ideas on my blog. These days were before social media took off, so blogging helped me connect with my audience. These were not easy days, but I loved the work I was doing. I heard from teachers about how they had read an article on my blog or used a resource of mine and how it improved their teaching practices.

Before returning to the classroom, I had spent time as our district’s instructional coach. This position was one where I mentored teachers and taught alongside them to help them deliver instruction as effectively as possible. However, I had missed having my classroom of students, so I returned to kindergarten. After a few months, I realized I also missed mentoring teachers, so my blog filled that spot in my heart. Now I have my cake, and I can eat it too.

Along the way, I started to do staff development and conferences for teachers. Several times a month, I would find myself teaching my students, then driving to the airport (100 miles away from home at the time) and flying to a speaking event. I loved these events. I loved connecting face-to-face with teachers while helping them to not only know the research behind our “best practices” but also HOW to deliver instruction in a fun and engaging way.

Teachers I had never met said they felt like they knew me and that I was relatable. Authenticity can be challenging in public life, but if you want to sustain it, you must be real. Otherwise, you spend precious energy trying to transform yourself into someone else. Your job is hard enough, so be yourself (unless you are a jerk… then be someone else…please…LOL)

This was such fulfilling work, but it was not easy. I lived on Diet Coke and grit! I am tenacious. I do not give up easily. There were days when I was sure I had lost my marbles. But I remembered that I am capable of hard things.

When I wanted to become a teacher, I worked in the medical field. I had a great paying career, but that tap on my shoulder to become a teacher had never gone away. Because we did not have the money to pay for the night school adult university program, I joined the Navy Reserves at 33 years old! 33! I would work my medical career, then three nights a week, I would go to night school until 10 pm. Two Saturdays a month, I had school, and the other weekend, I had my Navy Reserves responsibilities. I did this for two years. We had a 3 year old at the time, so my parents helped on days my husband could not.

I share this experience because it was hard. Really hard. This is the experience that I lean into when things get hard. As I said, I remember that I am capable of hard things. I put my shoulder into it and keep moving… or as Dory says, “Just keep swimming.”

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
We love to have a lazy breakfast at Lucile’s Creole Cafe or The Denver Biscuit Company. Then, we ride our bikes along the Cherry Creek Bike Trail. We love being outdoors, so a trip to REI’s Flagship store is always fun for visitors.

We also love the many Open Spaces that Colorado has safeguarded for outdoor exploration. A nice day hike is something we always try to encourage visitors to experience.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My professional shoutout is to Deanna Jump, who inspired me. She was one of the early authors on Teachers Pay Teachers. Over the years, I have gotten to know her personally, and she has become a treasured friend and product collaborator.

My personal shoutout is to my husband. He has supported me through hours of long days and late nights. My story would have never happened if I had not had his steadfast support.

Website: https://mrswillskindergarten.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deedeewills

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/mrswillskinder

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MrsWillsKindergarten