Shawntae Minyard is a Garland native and dropped out of high school as a teenager. However, she persevered, graduated from Texans Can Academies and went on to become the director of college programs – Educational Partnerships for the Dallas Community College District at Richland College.
After dropping out of high school, Minyard found Texans Can Academies – Dallas Oak Cliff, enrolled herself and graduated in 2003. She worked as a bartender after high school graduation until she had her first child in 2007.
She then went to a temp agency and received her first job assignment at Brookhaven College which ended up being a full-time job with paid health insurance benefits, while still bartending to pay her bills. Minyard then received a promotion to Richland College.
In 2015, she received a promotion in the college’s dual credit program where she now works as director of college programs – Educational Partnerships, and serves high school students with dual credit opportunities. Minyard has now begun coordinating with Texans Can Academies to offer their students a dual credit program and has helped lead the dual credit programs at all 14 Texans Can Academies campuses across the state.
The Texans Can Academies program pays for the college textbooks and courses for all of their students while they are able to receive college credit before graduating high school.
Minyard speaks at many Texans Can Academies – Garland graduations to share her story and help students receive higher education.
She is passionate about her job.
“I think honestly because I am a Texans Can graduate that is where my passion is coming from in bringing the dual credit program to Texans Can Academies. When the world wants to shut out Texans Can students, I know they are worthy of opportunities,” Minyard said. “This role has changed my life in a lot of ways actually. I believe my purpose, on this earth, is to make a difference.”
She added that bringing this program to Texans Can Academies statewide is fulfilling that purpose and changing the lives of students.
“This role is allowing me to serve several communities across the State of Texas,” Minyard said. “I’m paying forward what a dear person did for me. As long as someone can benefit from this opportunity, our lives are both changed.”