Tanisha is not just a Pawsperity Grooming School Instructor but also a graduate from the very first Pawsperity class of 2016. Inspired to give back to the program that helped give her a new life, she decided to come back to Pawsperity two years ago—this time to teach. With smaller cohorts of 8-12 brand new students starting every five weeks, Tanisha still cries each time she sees a student graduate. She says, “I just have such a joyful feeling and am so proud. I know as a graduate what it means. They now have a skill that nobody can ever take away.”
After Tanisha graduated, she went to work for a retail salon for a year. She then moved to a smaller grooming shop for seven years—and she credits the owner of that salon with taking her under her wing and giving her a chance. This owner was the President of the local Poodle Club and passed along those intricate poodle grooming skills to Tanisha, which is her specialty today.
Pawsperity’s curriculum is extensive, spanning seven months in total with over 800 hours of hands-on learning, plus nearly 100 hours of life skills, or what we call Power Skills. Power Skills range from parenting to budgeting to emotion regulation and so much more. The intent of this structured training is to best prepare students for not only the grooming industry, but also for life in general. Just like any school, fulfilling expectations is also a critical part of a student’s success, including attendance and passing grooming tests before moving on to each phase of the program.
When asked what Tanisha loves the most about teaching, she says, “Seeing confidence change. The students sometimes second guess themselves and can be unsure of the best way to talk with clients. It makes me work with them even harder. Once it clicks for them though, it clicks. They transition into a whole new person. That’s the real joy in it for me.” She pauses and reflects, “It is a blessing to be part of their journey.”
Tanisha’s dedication is clear not only to the students she teaches, but to her colleagues, as well. Director of Grooming, Amber Mabrey, says, “Tanisha is awesome! Her students love her because she pushes them to do their best and keeps them on track, but always with kindness. We’re so glad she’s part of the team.”
A recent graduate, Teania, says, “Tanisha is so good. She is a very passionate person and motivated me every day that I was at Pawsperity. Even more of a plus—she knows what it feels like to go through the program.”
Tanisha is no stranger to how Pawsperity’s school can change lives. “I was able to be there for my three kids, including one of my sons who went into the Army. I am proud to say all of them went to college. Grooming changed everything for me.”
Like all Pawsperity instructors, Tanisha is invested in the ultimate mission of Pawsperity. She lives and breathes purpose in her work. She has taken the skills she has learned over the years, along with her own personal experience, to help transform the lives of her students for the better. Thanks, Tanisha, for all you do!
