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1/ This is how I went from classroom teacher to CEO. 
It's one my favorite stories to tell.
Back in the day (aka 2012), I was a teacher in Oakland and I mostly taught AP World History.
It's one my favorite stories to tell.
Back in the day (aka 2012), I was a teacher in Oakland and I mostly taught AP World History.
2/ When I was in high school, I felt like AP classes were for the "smart kids," so as a teacher, I had the same lack of confidence.
And I saw this same fear of AP in my own students when they would choose classes.
And I saw this same fear of AP in my own students when they would choose classes.
3/ This fear was especially true for students of color, which made AP a segregated track. 
And there were even more obvious barriers of black/brown students in how we enrolled students.
It was time to flip the script.
And there were even more obvious barriers of black/brown students in how we enrolled students.
It was time to flip the script.
4/ The more time I spent with the AP World exam, the more I realized it was SO DOABLE.
If I could break down the key concepts and demystify the rubric, students would pass.
And if I made the class fun, students would take it.
If I could break down the key concepts and demystify the rubric, students would pass.
And if I made the class fun, students would take it.
5/ In just 5 years, we had 4x as many AP World enrolling because we intentionally invited all students.
And we bumped that pass rate from 15% to 70%
It was just a matter of creating an actually inclusive & supportive space.
And we bumped that pass rate from 15% to 70%
It was just a matter of creating an actually inclusive & supportive space.
6/ We changed the narrative, APs didn't have to be this big, scary thing.
It was possible for any student to be successful, they just had to be supported.
It was possible for any student to be successful, they just had to be supported.
7/ 
Fun fact: I once went head to head with Trevor Packer fighting for inclusive AP curriculum.
Fun fact: I once went head to head with Trevor Packer fighting for inclusive AP curriculum.
8/ I loved my students and everything that happened in portable 104, but our school was a truly toxic work environment.
I had 5 principals and 15 assistant principals in 5 years. Turn over made it impossible to build change.
I was totally burnt out and left after year 5.
I had 5 principals and 15 assistant principals in 5 years. Turn over made it impossible to build change.
I was totally burnt out and left after year 5.
9/ I spent three months solo traveling, then worked on a congressional campaign, and found myself thinking about all new career tracks.
10/ But then, an email from a former student pulled me right back in:
"Ms. D, you HAVE to help us pleaseeee, we're all gonna fail APUSH. Our teacher isn't teaching like you were. PLEASE 
"
"Ms. D, you HAVE to help us pleaseeee, we're all gonna fail APUSH. Our teacher isn't teaching like you were. PLEASE "
11/ So I started live streaming review sessions.
Word spread quickly of the cram reviews and next thing I know, my "classroom" included 2k+ students from across the world.
I moved back home with my mom ( @juliedoamaral) and we started jamming on what would become Fiveable.
Word spread quickly of the cram reviews and next thing I know, my "classroom" included 2k+ students from across the world.
I moved back home with my mom ( @juliedoamaral) and we started jamming on what would become Fiveable.
12/ Three years later, @thinkfiveable has grown a ton
Just last month we supported ~450k students (!) across every AP subject.
But despite the growth, we've held steady with a 92% pass rate. The national average is like 65%.
Just last month we supported ~450k students (!) across every AP subject.
But despite the growth, we've held steady with a 92% pass rate. The national average is like 65%.
13/ Scores are just scores though.
Although we're called "Fiveable" because of the 5s students work toward, it's not about that.
It's about seeing a hard academic challenge and thinking, "I could do that. I can totally learn that. It's Fiveable."
Although we're called "Fiveable" because of the 5s students work toward, it's not about that.
It's about seeing a hard academic challenge and thinking, "I could do that. I can totally learn that. It's Fiveable."
14/ That was the beginning of Fiveable. It was always about creating accessible supports for students, just like my mission as a teacher.
Today, we launched a brand new updated Fiveable to continue this work.
Check it out! https://fiveable.me/
Today, we launched a brand new updated Fiveable to continue this work.
Check it out! https://fiveable.me/
