Lessons in Education from GAP Founder Eva-Marie Edukonis, MLIS
- Gulfcoast Academic Partners
- Mar 26
- 5 min read
Allow me to introduce myself...
Welcome to Gulfcoast Academic Partners! My name is Eva and I am the Founder of Gulfcoast Academic Partners (GAP), a new kind of educational experience for those who
are dissatisfied with the traditional classroom experience or just want more flexibility without losing the benefits that an experienced teacher you trust can provide. Offering academic support for home-based learners (and their parents), I fill in the gaps students and parents experience when they leave the traditional classroom setting.
Consistently recognized as highly-effective; I am a Florida state certified educator, who supports all learners! I look forward to bringing my experience to the homebased learning community of North Port, FL! Through GAP, I offer more than just tutoring services - I am a partner in your learner's academic journey. Offering support with the struggles of academic accountability, executive functioning development, and time management; my investment in your student's success stretches beyond a few hours of my time.
Lessons in Education: I have always loved learning and I strive to instill that same love of learning within my students.
My careers as both a student and an educator have taught me many lessons in life. All of which have shaped my approach to education and the expectations that I have for Gulfcoast Academic Partners.
Growing up in South Buffalo, NY my first learning experiences took place at our local elementary school, Lorraine Academy. This was the same elementary school that my mother attended as a student and today, my niece attends as a First Grader. Thanks to that support I received early on, my first lesson in education was that it starts with community, a sense of belonging, and a warm welcome when you walk in the door.
For 6th grade, I was lucky enough to be accepted to Buffalo's magnet school for the arts, Buffalo Academy for the Visual and Performing Arts, as an instrumental music major. My educational and social center until graduation, BAVPA taught me my second lesson in education; not every student learns in the same ways or enjoys the same academic experiences. A public school that attracts students who are creatively gifted, from all over the world, introduced me to worlds and life experiences beyond my small bubble of South Buffalo. Due to our natural talents, or despite them, Arts Academy was a hub of neurodivergent learners, before it was even a thing! We were blessed with teachers who recognized this and used all of their passion and creativity to make sure every student "got it", no matter the method!
As your academic partner I take the time to understand how your student learns; collaborate on an individualized plan of support; and promote the higher-order skill sets that contribute to student success beyond the classroom. For parents and families, I alleviate the added stress that home-based learning can create on the parent-child bond and support both during their educational journey together.
My college years at SUNY at Buffalo taught me my third lesson in education - setting short-term goals leads to long-term success. My mother always told me that I would go to college someday and, if you knew my background you would know, I already had more than my share of obstacles standing in the way. As long as I kept good grades, stayed out of trouble, and kept my eye on the goal post; success was ensured. Senior year I was accepted to SUNY at Buffalo and success was declared - the BIG goal was achieved! Unfortunately, I was sorely prepared for what I faced, both academically and socially, at university. UB, as the crowned jewel of the NYS public education system, is rigorous and I went from 20 students per classroom in my high school to 250 in the SOC101 lecture hall. I failed my first semester with less than a 1.0 GPA and quietly accepted failure.
After a few years of building a career out of jobs that led nowhere I gained the perspective and maturity needed to succeed my second time around. The problem wasn't with my intellect, it was with my preparation. I re-enrolled at UB and set small goals for myself. First, attend my classes every day. Second, stop being afraid to ask for help when I needed it. Third, give it 100%. If I failed this time, at least it wouldn't be for lack of effort. It took three years, and a lot of hard work, to come back from that .68 GPA but it was achievable, in small steps. I graduated within four years with my B.A. in Sociology and completed my teaching requirements. The small goals built on each other and gave me the skills I needed to graduate with a 3.72 GPA and serve as an officer in student government.
Those small successes of confidence and asking for help led me to my fourth lesson in education - success may not always look the way you envisioned it. Convinced that I was going to be a veterinarian, I started as a biology major but fell in love with Sociology and quickly realized that my natural love of history and skill set suited me for a career in education. After my first student teaching experience, I knew I had found what I was meant to do with my life - to educate and be a guiding hand to our next generations of leaders.
The Next Chapter: Filling in those gaps that are often left behind when learning is taken outside of a traditional classroom.
Twenty-five years later, I am on the verge of opening the doors to Gulfcoast Academic Partners and anticipate more lessons to come as I work towards this greater mission of creating a community resource for non-traditional students and their families.
"Unschoolers" are on the rise and many families are choosing home-based learning for their student's educational journey. Whether homeschooled or attending courses virtually, I aim to support students, and their families, by filling in those gaps that are often left behind when learning is taken outside of a traditional classroom. In the traditional classroom, my efforts were often limited due to time, class sizes, limited resources, and an institutionalized focus on a test rather than the student.
Through GAP, I provide routine and accountability, easing the strain placed on parents. I collaborate with students, parents, and other education providers to provide individualized academic coaching and support. Using The GAP Approach, we work to develop and master the skills that virtual learning assumes: organization, time management, comprehension, and critical thinking. If I am being perfectly honest, most traditional schools make this mistake too and don't treat them like learnable skills past the elementary grades. While some students have natural abilities, these cognitive skill sets are not innate for most. They are skills that must be taught, developed and practiced in order to become lifelong advantages.
Let's take this journey together!
I am excited to invite you to join me for the next chapter of my own educational journey! As I prepare to open the doors to Gulfcoast Academic Partners and bring much needed academic support to the learning community in North Port and surrounding areas. There will be nothing "micro" about this "school", other than the class sizes!
Subscribe to my blog and follow on Facebook and Instagram to watch as I work to turn GAP from a concept to reality; with a brick and mortar learning center that offers learning hubs, enrichment courses, and social learning for home-based learners, and their families.
Comments