Daily Inspiration: Meet Tatiana Wells

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tatiana Wells.

Hi Tatiana, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Born Aurelia Wells after my grandmother, but her name was changed to Tatiana Wells after her mom learned of a new name identified by a beautiful perfume that her mom’s twin sister admired. To carry on the legacy, Tatiana grows up to name her business, Aurelius Wells Education, LLC (AWE) in remembrance of her grandmother as well as to create a legacy for children and families coming behind Tatiana.

An East Cleveland native and proud graduate of Shaw High School, Tatiana graduated as senior class president. Living in East Cleveland, a predominantly Black community, Tatiana didn’t shy away from attending a predominantly White college institute at the prestigious Washington and Jefferson College in Washington, PA. There she found her love of working with children and majored in Child Development Education and Psychology. While at W&J, Tatiana was very active serving as Black Student Union President, a member of the dance team, and fulfilled her work-study responsibilities working part-time at an afterschool program. At the end of four years, she returned home to Cleveland with a plan to teach elementary school. After teaching 4th grade for just a year, Tatiana was recruited by her grade school’s parents to work in afterschool community partnership. With much hesitation at the young age of 23 years old, Tatiana accepted the position as a new manager of the 21st Community Learning Center at a community-based organization partnering with seven local schools.
Tatiana developed curriculum to enhance students’ academic learning and decrease suspension rates. Learning how to become a leader, she and her team built lasting relationships with the parents, creating a trusting and respectful family culture. Tatiana continue to advance her leadership by accepting the role as childcare director at the same agency. This leadership opportunity set the foundation for Tatiana’s career.
From there Tatiana established AWE to consult with other community and education programs to ensure children and families from low-income and concentrated poverty communities received quality education and opportunities to allow them to thrive.
From there Tatiana pursued and earned her doctorate in Education specializing in leadership, policy, and management P-20 continuum. While completing her degree at Walden University, Tatiana also became an author of her first book Live Like a Toddler Be the Young Explorer of Your Life. This book encourages adults to practice using their child like faith to pursue all their dreams and goals, unapologetically. Right before completing her doctorate, Tatiana was hired at the community college as program director of early childhood and teacher education. Within 5 and a half short years, Tatiana became Dr. Wells, increased student enrollment, established new pathways for early childhood students, and garnered multiple partnerships as well as managed grants to advance the department of Early Childhood Education. Tatiana earned great leadership opportunities including serving as an Interim Dean of Mathematics. She was recognized as Professional Excellence of the Year and the ECED Advisory Committee received an honor as Outstanding Advisory Committee of the Year.
Now that Dr. Wells had gained knowledge of working as a teacher, aftercare leader, childcare administrator, and college director, Dr. Wells was ready to expand early childhood education even more with an organization that has the capacity to grow exponentially. The Centers hired Dr. Wells respectfully as their new Executive Vice President of Education and Family Services. What a full circle moment! After serving alongside some of the colleagues at The Centers, and also as a former board member of The Centers, it was humbling and such an honor to accept this new position.

Alright, 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?
This story does not come with obstacles. With as many celebratory moments there were challenges and obstacles throughout my journey. At W&J orientation, I remember speaking with the college advisor who judged me from my subpar ACT and SAT scores compared to the typical affluent students. He told me to my face that I wouldn’t make it at W&J. I was determined to prove him wrong and made sure to complete the program within four years with a 3.0 or higher, which I accomplished.
Working at community agency at a young age allowed me to learn from my mistakes, like how to delegate to make sure I submit reports on time to not lose over $100K. The most important lesson I learned was how to build relationships with others as an introverted leader.
When completing my doctorate degree, the plan was to graduate in four years. I completed my coursework in a timely fashion, but after writing my first book and issues between my committee chairpersons, I requested a new dissertation committee and was instructed to delete my three of five chapters and start from the beginning. I finally finished within 7 years, three years passed my personal deadline. Also during this time, my dad died a year before COVID. Devastated he would not see me walk across the stage. He fell and hit his head at someone house and laid down to go to sleep. They later found him after having a double stroke that didn’t allow him to live long after that. I was appointed proxy to determine to remove him from the ventilator.
Years later, in 2024 my uncle asked me to keep my little cousin for a couple days. This was a life altering event that caused me to seek permeant custody of her and since have become a parent raising a six year old. Through every obstacle and challenge I preserved and overcame them through my faith in God. My church family is the best and supports me deeply. My brother and sister and my other uncle stepped up to assist me during this life transition as well. Without any of their help or trust in God I don’t know where I would be. I’m an ordained minister at my church, House of Jubilee Ministries. I also serve as my Apostle’s administrative assistant, praise dance team leader, and member of the intercessory team.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
An author of two books, Wells encourages others to “Live Like a Toddler: Be the Young Explorer of Your Life,” by applying their childlike faith to pursue their dreams and shares a heartwarming story for parents and children in the children’s book, “Mommy, When I Fall.” As a Doctor of Education, Dr. Wells’ study focuses on developing shared leadership and trust within school-community partnerships in concentrated poverty communities. Dr. Wells believes education and community service should be relational and humanistic, adhering to the South African Ubuntu philosophy of “I am because we are; therefore, I am.” Relationships enable us to construct our schools, communities, and families. Two are better than one because the other will pick them up if one falls.
Dr.Wells is well-known in Cleveland for her work with children and families. She formerly worked as an Early Learning Navigator through a collaboration between the Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland and Starting Point in Cleveland’s Central Promise Neighborhood. She received the Servant Leadership Award for six years of service to the “littlest children” by developing a high-touch relational support system to assist families in navigating high-quality early learning programs and transitioning to the K-12 school system. Dr. Wells is a passionate community educator who has guided children of all ages from early childhood to college and career pathways for over 20 years. She works tirelessly to ensure that children of color become future leaders and that families thrive as they overcome poverty-related traumas.

Dr. Wells is also no stranger to advocacy. She is a member of several boards, including East End Neighborhood House, where she is board chair, The Centers, The Cuyahoga Women’s Democratic Caucus Steering Committee, and The Black Child Development Institute of Ohio.
When out of the office, Tatiana mentors young girls ages 13 years and older helping them during the pivotal years of life’s transitions through highs school, college, and career. The girls under Dr. Wells tutelage have all been successful by earning their college degrees or rewarding careers and becoming great women in their homes with their children and husbands.

We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
All of my favorite childhood memories are moments with my grandmother during Christmas time watching her identify all the various gifts for me and my cousin that were sure to keep us warm in our robes and slippers, plenty of underwear, and our favorite requested toys.

Pricing:

• Live Like a Toddler Book $20
• Mommy When I Fall Book $15
• Speaking, consultation – Pricing varies

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.aureliuswellseducation.com/
• Instagram: @awe_aureliuswellseducation or @dr.tatianawells
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tatiana.wells.5/
• Twitter: @dr.tatianawells