Episode 4 - December 9th, 2025

Mrs. Chelsea Sanchez-Gonzalez, host of No Food for Living podcast, shares her vision for Rye UCC Growth Ed LLC. She discusses frustrations in the education system, lack of support for students, families, and teachers. She aims to bridge the gap and provide advocacy, support, and guidance for all stakeholders. The company focuses on student support, family advocacy, and educator support. Chelsea's Tiny Bookshop funds the mission. The long-term dream includes expanding services and community events. Hi everyone, and welcome back to No Food for Living with Mrs. G. I'm your host, Mrs. Chelsea Sanchez-Gonzalez. Most folks just call me Mrs. G. Educator, advocate, and founder of Rye UCC Growth Ed LLC. If you've been listening for a while, you know this podcast is where we talk about education, advocacy, and all the messy, honest parts of standing up for our kids. Today's episode is a little different. Today, I want to invite you into my vision for this company. What Rye UCC Growth Ed is, where I believe we're going, and why I'm looking for districts, companies, and individuals who are willing to take a chance on us and help us in our mission. This episode is for district leaders who know the system is stretched and students are falling through the cracks, businesses and donors who want their support to actually change lives and not just sit on a brochure, individuals, families, teachers, community members who feel that tug on their heart and think, I want to help. I just don't know how. This is my open letter to you. This is me saying, here's what I've seen. Here's what I'm building. Will you plant these seeds with me? One, the why. Why I couldn't just stay quiet. Let me start with the truth. I did not wake up one day and say, I want to start a company because that sounds fun. Rye UCC Growth Ed was born out of frustration, heartbreak, and love. I sat in classes and meetings where students who needed intensive support were getting the bare minimum. Families were overwhelmed with acronyms and paperwork, nodding along but completely lost. Teachers were exhausted, under-resourced and told to do more with less over and over. I've seen children go without evaluations and services they were legally entitled to. Parents to me feel like they were too much or causing problems for advocating. Educators who wanted to do right but simply didn't have the training, time, or backup to do it. And more recently, I've experienced what happens when you speak up loudly and refuse to look away. Some of you already know from my statement from this podcast that when I tried to help fill in the gaps, it wasn't always welcomed. On top of my own story, I keep seeing reminders online of what teachers are going through. I found a post on LinkedIn that really stuck with me. It was a message to teachers saying, before you apply anywhere, investigate the management like you're solving a mystery case. It talked about how schools look perfect on Instagram, but real life can feel like the blooper reel. Promises disappearing after you're hired, workloads piling up, and teachers being tossed aside like they were never eligible in the first place. Reading that, I thought, this, this is exactly why I want to give teachers their freedom back. Because here's the thing, a lot of teachers want to stay in the classroom. That's all they've ever known. That's where their heart is. But they're having a hard time finding a position that's truly right for them. They've been burned by leadership or toxic work cultures, or they want to get their feet wet with the district and see how it feels without immediately locking themselves into a full contract. And the system doesn't always make space for that. It's very all in or all out. Part of what I want Rye City Growth Ed to be is a bridge for those teachers. A place where they can still work with students, still use their gifts, still stay close to the classroom. A way to contract with me and our company while they heal, explore, or figure out their next steps. And then when the right opening comes up and they're ready, they can transition into a permanent district position with more clarity and confidence. All of that, the kids, the families, the teachers, that post, my own story, did something important. It confirmed what I already knew in my gut. There's a huge space between what kids need and what systems are currently able or willing to provide. And I realized I can either keep trying to squeeze this vision into systems that are resisting it, or I can build something new, rooted in the values I refuse to compromise on. That's how Rye City Growth Ed came to life. It's my way of saying our kids deserve more, our families deserve guidance and advocacy, and our teachers deserve support, trust, and their freedom back, not just another agenda and a pat on the back. And I can't build that alone. Two, what Rye City Growth Ed is right now. Let's talk about what this company actually is today, what we do, who we serve, and what makes us different. First, the name. Rye-sis means roots. Our culture, our stories, our language, where we come from. Growth is what we want for our kids, academically, emotionally, socially, as whole human beings who know they matter. Rye City Growth Ed is built on this idea. When students are rooted in who they are, they can grow into who they're meant to be. Right now, our work lives in a few main pillars. One, student support. We support students who are not getting the services or accommodations they need, are behind in reading or writing, are struggling with confidence, motivation, or feeling less at school. This can look like one-on-one or small group academic support, strategy building, how to study, stay organized, and self-advocate, helping students understand you're not broken. Your brain learns differently, and that's okay. Two, family advocacy and guidance. We also work with families because no one should have to navigate the system alone. That looks like helping parents understand their child's rights and options, preparing them for school meetings, what to ask, what to bring, what phrases to use, breaking down documents and reports into plain language, serving as a guide so they aren't gaslit, ignored, or intimidated into silence. I want families to walk away feeling, I'm not crazy, I'm not alone, and I have a plan. Number three, support for educators coming into the year. I will always have a soft spot for teachers. I've been in those classrooms. I know what it feels like to be handed a stack of expectations with very little support and even less trust. That LinkedIn post I mentioned earlier, it wasn't just one person's story. It was a reflection of what so many teachers are living, micromanaged, scripted, second guessed, and then blamed when things fall apart. Starting in the new year, one of the next big phases for our e-physique growth ed is to intentionally grow our educator support arm. That will mean professional development that is real and usable, not just another slideshow, training that centers student dignity, equity, practical strategies for students with learning differences, mentoring and coaching for new alternative certification teachers so they feel prepared before they burn out. And underneath all of that is this belief. Teachers deserve their freedom back, the freedom to teach like humans to human students, not robots to test scores. I also see Rye e-physique growth ed as a safe landing place and launch pad for teachers, a space where teachers who want to stay close to the classroom aren't ready to sign a district contract, can contract with me instead. They can get their feet wet working with districts and families through our programs. And when a position that truly fits them opens up, they can transition into that permanent goal with more information and more power. I see this as a bridge between districts and teachers, between teachers and families, between what we say we care about in education and what's actually happening on campuses. Right now, we're laying the groundwork and relationships. In the new year, we'll be stepping more fully into this phase. Number four, community events and experiences. Education does not only happen inside a classroom. We've started to host and dream up art classes for kids, markets and community events, info sessions for families where they can learn, ask questions, and feel welcome instead of judged. These events create spaces where kids can express themselves, families can connect with resources. The community, you can see, what we write in the growth ed is about inaction, not just in a logo or mission statement, and where we're able to build teams to help us and that are willing and wanting to help us build and fight for the reform we know education needs. Three, Chelsea's Tiny Bookshop and how it ties in. Now I want to talk about something very close to my heart, Chelsea's Tiny Bookshop. If Rayuczy's Growth Ed is the engine of this mission, Chelsea's Tiny Bookshop is a heartbeat that keeps the love of reading, culture, and story alive. The bookshop brings diverse, meaningful books into our communities, shows kids themselves in the pages they read, helps families see reading as something joyful and not just another school assignment. And here's the important part. What we make through Chelsea's Tiny Bookshop helps fund Rayuczy's Growth Ed. So when someone buys a book, they're not just supporting a small business. They're helping keep tutoring, advocacy, and community events possible for students who might otherwise go without. The bookshop also shows up at markets, community events, school and family nights. It's a mobile reminder that literacy and representation matter, that books can be a gateway to healing, connection, and growth. This part of the bigger plan, this is part of the bigger plan, to weave together business and mission so that one sustains the other. Four, the full plan, where we're going. Now I want to walk you through the bigger picture, the plan. I think of it in phases. What we're doing now, what's next, and the long-term dream. Phase one, the building foundation, which is now. Right now, Rayuczy's Growth Ed is focused on working directly with students and families who need advocacy and support, forming relationships with local schools, districts, and community organizations, using Chelsea's Tiny Bookshop and community markets to raise funds and awareness, growing this podcast and our online presence so families know they are not alone. And we have launched a GoFundMe to help cover start-up costs, student sponsorships, and event expenses. We've also built an Amazon wish list so we can have supporters who want to help and purchase supplies for our markets and student experiences. This is the planting seed stage. We're getting our roots deep into the community, showing up, serving, listening, and inviting people to invest in the groundwork. Phase two is expanding services and partnerships. The next season of growth looks like more consistent tutoring and support programs, which will have structured small groups, reading interventions, writing labs, and skill-building support. We are also hoping to roll out our educator support arm, which will consist of professional development that is practical, trauma-informed, and equity-centered. Mentoring and coaching for new and soon-to-be teachers, especially those in alternative certification programs. Contract opportunities for teachers who want to serve kids now while they discern their long-term fit with districts. Formal partnerships with districts and schools, which will also look like family engagement nights, campus-based consulting, and bridge work around student support and retention. We also are doing regular community events, art classes. We're hoping to add in literacy nights, and we will soon be starting workshops where families can learn about special education, accommodations, and navigating the system. And we're also hoping to strengthen Chelsea's Tiny Bookshop with more events and visibility, curated book lists for schools, families, and community organizations. In this phase, I want Rye East's eGrowth Ed to be a known name, the group people think of when they say, we need support that is culturally rooted, student-centered, honest, and respectful of teachers as professionals. Three, the long-term dream, a physical home, and wider impact. Long-term, the vision is bigger than me. I see a physical space, a center that houses tutoring rooms, a small library or reading nook, space for art classes and workshops, and a home base for Chelsea's Tiny Bookshop, a place where students can come after school and feel safe being supported. Families can drop in for help with forms, letters, preparing for meetings. Teachers can attend training, support, circles where they're treated like humans, not just test score machines. I see scholarships and sponsored services so students can get support, even if their family cannot afford it. Funded partnerships and donors and a portion of bookshop and event proceeds. Regional and eventually broader reach, collaborating with districts beyond our immediate area, sharing resources, trainings, and frameworks that can be adapted to other communities. In my heart, I see Rye East's eGrowth Ed as a movement, not just a company. A movement that says our kids deserve support before they're in crisis. Our families deserve guidance and respect. Our teachers deserve real training, trust, and creative freedom. Our communities deserve spaces that honor both Rye East's and growth. And that vision is bigger than me on purpose because it's not meant to be carried alone. Five, take a chance on us. What partnership can look like. Now I want to speak directly to the different people who might be listening. To district leaders and campus administrators. You are carrying a lot. Burnout, legal requirements, community pressure collide all at once. I'm not here to shame you. I'm here to say I see the gaps. I also see the possibilities. Partnership with Rye East's eGrowth Ed can look like contracted professional development that is grounded in real classroom experience. Focus on students with learning differences, trauma, and equity. Practical, not just theoretical. Family engagement nights that translate the jargon into plain language. Build trust with families who have felt ignored. Help parents understand how to support their child at home. Consultation and coaching. Routines navigating complex student situations. Mentoring teachers, meaning mentoring around SPED accommodations and equity. There can also be a talent bridge, a way for passionate educators to work with your students through Rye East's eGrowth Ed while they explore, sit, heal from past experiences, and eventually move into district roles when the right openings arise. If you're a leader who knows your campus can't do everything alone, but you want to do better for your kids, I'm asking you to take a chance on us. Let us come alongside you. Let us help carry some of the weight. We're also actively looking for individuals who can help us get approved as a vendor with TEA and with districts across Texas so that partnering with us is easier on your end and more accessible for campuses statewide. Now, to businesses, donors, and community organizations. You might be thinking, we want to give back. We want our dollars to matter. We just don't know where to plug in. Here's what partnership can look like with us. Sponsoring student services, underwriting hours of tutoring, advocacy, or groups for students' families whose families can't afford it, supporting our GoFundMe, helping cover startup costs, community events, and scholarships for services so no child is turned away purely for financial reasons, providing special needs through my Amazon wish list, which consists of supplies for our art classes and any other classes we will hold in the near future, in-kind support, donating space for events, providing food, supplies, printing, and materials that remove barriers for families. We are also looking for individuals and organizations who can help us take the next big step, getting ready to be GoFed approved as a vendor with TEA and districts across Texas. If you understand that process, work in those spaces, or have connections who do, your guidance and support would be huge in helping us bring this work into more schools. When you partner with us, you're not just putting your logo on a flyer. You're helping a child sit down with a tutor who understands them, a family walk into a school meeting feeling prepared instead of powerless, a teacher receive training opportunities that can change the trajectory of their career. You get to say, we didn't just talk about supporting education. We helped build something real to individuals and families and everyday supporters. Maybe you're listening and thinking, I'm not a big company. I'm not a district. I'm just one person. Movements are built on just one person over and over again. Ways you can plant seeds with us are support our GoFundMe, even small amounts, add up and help us keep serving students and families, help fund our Amazon wish list that has materials that help us bring our markets and classes to life for our kids, volunteer at events, markets, bookshop pop-ups, or behind the scenes, share our work, send this podcast, our posts, or our website to someone who needs it. And if you're someone who understands the vendor approval process with TEA, how districts build their approved vendor lists, or have contacts who do, we would be incredibly grateful for help in navigating that world to right use of the growth ed, can serve more campuses across Texas. Every share, every donation, every introduction, every piece of advice is a seed, and seeds add up. Six, planting seeds together. As we wrap up, I want to say this. Our ECC growth ed is still small. We are still scrapping. We don't have a giant budget or 100 employees. What we do have is a clear vision, a deep love for our students and families, a commitment to telling the truth even when it's uncomfortable, and a belief that community can do what systems alone cannot. I'm not asking you to invest in something perfect. I'm asking you to invest in something real. Because our kids can't wait until everything is polished and easy. They need support now while they're still forming beliefs about who they are and what they're capable of. If you're listening and thinking, this is what I've been looking for. This is the type of work I want to support. I wish something like this existed when I was a kid. Then I'm inviting you. Plant a seed with us. Take a chance on us. Take a chance on them. If you're a district or organization interested in partnering, if you're a business or donor wanting your support to mean something, if you're a teacher looking for a safer way to stay close to students, or if you're an individual who wants to help in any way, you can learn more and reach out through my website, www.MrsGManyPhotos.com. Again, that is www.MrsGManyPhotos.com. You'll also find links to our GoFundMe and our Amazon wish list and ways to connect. Let's build something together that our students and our teachers will fill for years. Thank you for listening. Thank you for caring. Thank you for believing that our kids deserve more than the bare minimum and that our teachers deserve their freedom back, too. This has been Planting Seeds Together. Join the RISE ACC Growth Admission on No Filter Living with Mrs. G. Remember, we advocate for better. We protect our students. We remind the world what education is supposed to be. Con amor, Mrs. G.