Today we’d like to introduce you to Tonkia Bridges (Coach Tee)
Tonkia, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I want to start by saying NERDS was not something I was in the lab cooking up. It was more like something that just happen. Like God was like here is your purpose. After college, I worked at the Procter and Gamble Company as a researcher in research and development on consumer products. I started coaching high school basketball and was the team’s academic advisor. I saw there was a need and a chance to be made in early education. Originally, I planned to open an early learning center (NERDS), but couldn’t afford the early learning center. I put that dream on the self.
I decided to focus on where I could make a difference, so I enter the field of education. At one point and time I in addition to teaching and coaching basketball, I became the academic advisor for all the student-athletes in my school and facilitate a number of school tech clubs. I noticed that very few (2 out of 245) of my middle school students were attending the tech clubs. So, I surveyed my middle school students and they expressed a lot of interest but were fearful of working with the high school students. So, I created separate opportunities for the middle schoolers that I funded myself. The clubs began to flourish and participation skyrocketed. As the after-school clubs started to grow in attendance, I realized she wouldn’t be able to supply the funds alone anymore.
I started fundraising and as it proved successful, I realized she had something special – NERDS! I often tell people; I had planned a pregnancy that I decided not to go through with and when I had this unexpected pregnancy, I kept the baby and gave it the first baby’s name. She decided it was time to make things official and register NERDS as a non-profit. Using my background in STEM education, I started the NERDLIFE learning opportunity. This included learning opportunities such as book club, garden club, robotics club, and the birth of CHEM FUN kits. Creativity, literacy, and fun were infused in all of these clubs. NERDS continues to fulfill the same mission we’ve had from the beginning – to inspire the inner nerd to learn for life. Everyone is a nerd in my eyes. Being a nerd means having a passion for anything. We want to help students find their passions and gifts and share them with the world, and we are now looking into plans for an early learning center.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Definitely not a smooth road. The impact we’ve seen is amazing. And honestly, I feel that the reason we see the impact we see is because this is truly a God thing. Only through God’s grace could we have done the things that we have done with the very limited resources in personnel and funding. It was been many sleepless nights, working a full-time job, caring for elderly loved ones, constantly looking to develop my own skills in the field and in business.
The life of an entrepreneur is hard. Add an entrepreneur who was kind of thrown into the fire, with little business experience, offering free services with limited resources. I literally go to work so that I can have a NERDLIFE.
There have been times when I’ve thought to myself that it’s too hard, I should quit. Yet quitting just isn’t in me. And when those times come, my students are always there to remind me that the work is not in vain. Trying to build something out of nothing, is a challenge. The journey at times has been lonely and heartbreaking. Many times, I’ve wondered if I am doing the right thing. Yet though it has been hard, and honestly still is. I believe that it is worth it. And even if NERDS never becomes the global entity, I hope it will be, I am grateful for the experience and honor to have worked with the volunteers and students I’ve had the pleasure of working with through NERDS.
We’ve been impressed with NERDS (Nurturing Educational Readiness and Development from the Start), but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
NERDS is a nonprofit inspiring the inner nerd to learn for Life through engaging hands-on learning activities for K-12 students. Our NERDLIFE program aims to develop students socially, educationally, and financially. Our mission is to inspire the inner nerd to learn for Life through engaging hands-on learning activities, defining a NERD as anyone who desires to learn. Our NERDLIFE program aims to develop students socially, educationally, and financially through four core principles: Social Development, Leadership Development, Self-Care, and Financial Literacy.
NERDS isn’t focused on improving the academic performance of students, yet I believe it is a by-product of our goal of helping students discover their passions while developing as human beings. We are focused on providing a safe space for students to gain exposure and access to experiences that help them become better people. Being kind, compassionate, and selfless with their unique gift to make the world a better place. STEM and robotics just happen to be the tools we use to accomplish our goal of developing confidence, self-esteem, and compassion in students while they discover their passion.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I like that our city is big, yet small. Having the feeling of a big city with sporting teams and attractions, yet it’s small with the opportunity for so much collaboration and opportunity for growth. I don’t like that we have a history of being very conservative. Everyone kind of lives in their bubbles. There are individuals that never travel to the westside or eastside. We have so many beautiful neighborhoods and hidden gems, yet many are not aware of them.
Pricing:
- Robotics Kits $500
- CHEM Fun Kits $75
- Transportation $100
- Snacks and Meals $250
- College Student Stipend $750
Contact Info:
- Email: coachtee@nerdnation.org
- Website: www.nerdnation.org
- Instagram: @inspiringtheinnernerd
