Tonya Brinkley Wright, mother of five, wife, sister, daughter and Hillsborough County Public School Educator for 20 years.  Born and raised in Miami, Florida, decided to venture away from down south to the Tampa Bay area in 1996.  Graduate of University of South Florida, Bachelor degree in Special Education with a specialization in Specific Learning Disabilities and Emotional Disorders and a Masters degree in Elementary Education from Nova Southeastern University.  Creator of The Phoenix Financial Literacy Services, in June 2020 after teaching less than 6 months as an AVID Teacher at the largest Middle School in Hillsborough County serving over 1900 students.  It was there where the phrase “preparing students for life” took on a personal new meaning. Statistics show two-thirds of American adults cannot pass a basic financial literacy test.  Students are graduating without the proper knowledge and skills to manage their personal finances.  You ask why?  Mainly because it is not being taught in the school setting and we are left to figure it out as we go or learn from others who had not been adequately taught.  According to Forbes, overall, “people want to make good financial decisions that set them up for success both today and in the future, but most never had the opportunity to learn how to do it.”  Just by that alone, The Phoenix Financial Literacy Services was born to pour financial literacy into our community starting with our youth, starting at the age of 9.  It is never too early to begin learning how to make, save, and invest money.  It is time that we, as a community, understand how a checking account works, what using a credit card really means, and how to avoid debt.  Financial literacy impacts the daily issues an average family makes when trying to budget, buy a home, fund education and ensure adequate finances for retirement.  It is time we rise to family financial empowerment.  Let’s get educated!  Knowledge is Power!