Meet Angelica Vega-Foley of StrongMind in Chandler

Today we’d like to introduce you to Angelica Vega-Foley.

Angelica, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Currently, I serve as the Vice President of Partner Success & Solutions with StrongMind. In my role, I have the pleasure and responsibility of ensuring that our users have the best experience(s) as they onboard, implement and use our product. My journey to now began in a classroom. Back in 2009, I began my MPA program at ASU. This was also the same day that my eldest daughter, Kaya Mae began kindergarten and I became a Pre-K classroom aide. It was almost instantly that I fell in love with the classroom and knew I wanted to become a teacher, but I had already begun my program of study in Public Administration.

I continued on, with a focus on education policy. I looked for alternative pathways to becoming certified and pursued an opportunity with a non-profit organization. In 2010, I became a 3rd-grade teacher, I was not prepared for the immense joy and pressure that would accompany that title, but nonetheless, I spent the next four years in the classroom, working with students and families. To date, those years remain some of my most rewarding and challenging experiences. I still keep in touch with many of my students today!

After my fifth year of teaching, I was eager to understand how I could expand my impact beyond my classroom! I took a chance and left the classroom to become a teacher coach. This experience really illuminated for me the inequities that exist all over the nation as a result of a system designed to perpetuate them. I spent my time working hard to help expand the impact of remarkable teachers, it was not always easy or successful, but it restored a lot of my faith in what is possible for students.

I am a firm believer in growing alongside the company or organization you work with. When I felt as though my time of growth was coming to an end, I took a chance to pursue a new realm in education technology. Again, I instantly fell in love and felt even more fortunate that I was able to work with companies that would allow me to use my values and interests to serve students and families on a wider scale.

Today at StrongMind, I am motivated to serve all of our schools with the variety of digital solutions and products we offer. The heart of what I do is simple: I help reinvent the learning experience by helping schools use technology to elevate strong teaching and learning. I am so grateful that I am still connected to students and teachers everyday, although it looks different than it did 11 years ago, the joy of service remains the same.

Great, 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?
Of course! But I have been incredibly fortunate to have the unwavering support and love of my family and friends along the way. Without their active participation and care, I would not have been able to turn these seemingly insurmountable obstacles into stepping stones. Over the years, I have experienced it all: got a new job, lost a job, studied hard for an important test and failed, ended relationships, started new ones, bought a home, built a home, got married, had another child and so much more.

No matter the obstacle or challenge, I was intentional about what I was meant to learn from each trial and tribulation and I set forth to change it for myself and my family moving forward. My eldest daughter was born six weeks before I returned full-time for sophomore year of college. The responsibility of being a single parent, full-time student and part-time employee was really tough! But again, my incredible family and friends helped me so much along the way. Without them it would not have been possible. 

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the StrongMind Story. Tell us more about your work.
StrongMind is a great place to work and grow! I think what sets us apart is our truly incredible curriculum. It is high-quality, creative and immersive. Schools around the nation are scrambling to figure out how they can meaningfully engage and instruct students in an online environment. StrongMind has the products and expertise to do this and do this well.

Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
I am incredibly tenacious. When I have set a goal, I hustle hard to achieve it! This has been so important to my success because I am not someone who is content waiting for the next opportunity to find me. I am constantly seeking new ways to learn, grow, and level-up. I would also be remiss if I failed to mention that the keys to my success besides familial support have been great mentors! I encourage everyone to find a few solid mentors and to be a solid mentor to others.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.strongmind.com/
• Email: angelica.vega-foley@strongmind.com
• Other: https://www.strongmind.com/about-strongmind/who-we-are/#meetOurTeams

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