Alysia Shaw, a native of San Diego, a graduate of Point Loma High School
and San Diego State University is the Principal of Holly Drive Leadership Academy and the
Mother of three wonderful daughters.
While attending San Diego State, Alysia showed what a resourceful person she was by working
at the Girls Club of San Diego, UPS, and Sea Port Village Ice Cream & Eatery – all while
carrying a full college course load. Her working career began at a very young age when she became a
program aide at the Girls Club when she was 14 years old. For 12 years she worked at the Girls
Club in many different capacities, first as a tap instructor, a gymnastic coach and eventually serving as Program Director.
About Alysia Shaw Smith
Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
I have three daughters; Sierra who is 21 and will graduate from SDSU in June with a degree in Business and Rhetoric Writing, Shyanne is a Part 107 Commercial Drone Pilot and is 19 years old and will graduate from UCSD with a degree in Communications and a minor in American Sign Language, and Chanel who is 15 is a freshman at Health Sciences High and Middle College.
Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?
I worked at The Girls Club of San Diego, then worked at UPS for eight years, and then with the San Diego County Probation Department for two years before embarking on a career in education. My first full-time teaching position was with Nubia Academy. At the inception of the Holly Drive Leadership Academy, I accepted a position as a Reading Recovery Specialist. continued at Holly Drive as Vice Principal and then was appointed Principal, a position I have held for the past twenty-four years.
My opportunities in the educational field are many, including IPT Assessment Training, Recipient of “Hats Off to Teachers” Award, nominee “Teacher of the Year”, completion of a Master’s Degree and Teaching Credential requirements at National University, Graduate of the “Principal Executive Program” at UCSD, Reading Recovery graduate, recognition by the Southeast San Diego Rotary Club, and just recently the recipient of the San Diego Teachers Academia Award. During my tenure, Holly Drive Leadership Academy was selected as a “Best Practice School” in San Diego County. I believe strongly in community and pray I have served as a role model for young people; especially for girls and young women.
I have served on the Board of Directors for the Girls Club of San Diego, the United Way of San Diego County Speakers’ Bureau, currently serve on A New Path Advisory Committee, The Executive Board of Holly Drive Leadership Academy, and the Education Advisory Committee for San Diego Unified School District. I have been an active participant in the Soroptimist Club of San Diego’s annual fashion show fundraisers, a member of the “Sepia Silhouettes” modeling group, a U.S. Gymnastic Federation Coach, and represented San Diego at the Pan Am Games held in Indianapolis, Indiana. I was an integral part of the Junior League of San Diego’s “Career Awareness for Girls” Program and coordinated many musical revues where the girls I taught performed at convalescent centers in San Diego. As a young girl, I enjoyed gymnastics, tap dance, and ballet, and was voted “Girl of the Year” at the Girls Club of San Diego, competed on the gymnastics team and girls’ track and field team at Pt. Loma High School and pole vaulted on the boys’ track team, the first girl in California to accomplish such a feat.
But I have to say I absolutely love Holly Drive Leadership Academy. I love my staff, many whom have worked there for over twenty years, my students, families, and the community who have entrusted me with the education of their children. I love planning workshops, assemblies, and field trips for students. I believe in “classrooms without walls,” so we take students out into the community whenever possible; not just for information, but for inspiration and ultimately transformation.
Q: What advice would you give to people?
Seek a life of walking with Jesus, be intentional about spending time with loved ones, learn all you can, be present in whatever you are doing, and travel whenever you can.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
I expect to retire from HDLA in 10 years and hopefully travel the world for a little bit. I hope to do a world cruise. I want to travel specifically to the Great Wall of China, Valley of King and Queens, and the Taj Majal.
Alysia Shaw Smith & Our Community
Q: What are a few of your favorite restaurants in our community?
I like the Thai Joint, Taco Salsa, Cheesecake Factory and California Pizza Kitchen.
Q: How long have you lived or worked in our community?
52 years, I am a native San Diegan.
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in our community?
Bishop Roy Dixon, Etta Keeler, Orlando Coons, and Pastor Grant Todd.
Q: What current or former local business makes you the most nostalgic about our community?
Simpsons which was a cool garden that had pigs and classic cars, memorabilia from days past, and even an apple when you purchased your items.
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community?
Growing up in San Diego near Lincoln High School, I have always felt a sense of community. So much support and acceptance. I made a life decision to always work and serve in the Southeast San Diego area. Especially children.
Q: If you could choose anyone alive today and not a relative, with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would you meet for this lunch?
LL Cool J or Barack Obama as I am secretly a rapper and Obama is my celebrity crush. I would want to charter a yacht and have lunch on the bay or at Hotel Del Coronado or The Grand Del Mar.
For Fun
Q: What is one of your favorite movies? TV shows?
There are a lot of movies that I like: Haunted Mansion (both of them), Cast Away, A Few Good Men, Bad Boys, Philadelphia, and all the Fast and Furious Movies
Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
I love to spend a day completely alone and I love to eat alone. I was a track runner and a gymnast and at 52 years old can still walk on my hands, do a cartwheel and front walk over.
Q: What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
La Costa Resort in Carlsbad is my absolute favorite place to go for a staycation
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
I desire to honor, serve, and be like Jesus. He inspires me to be my very best and when I am not, the Jesus in me signals a sin radar that makes me recalibrate to do better the next day
Q: What community organizations and/or local nonprofits do you admire/support?
Holly Drive Leadership Academy of course for the opportunities we give to so many students, the Burn Institute, and St Judes.
Q: What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
Laziness is nothing more than the habit of resting before you are tired. Suit up, Show up and strive to do your very best each day. That old lady or old man inside of you is counting on you to make wise decisions while you are young, Throw some money forward to the old lady or old man inside of you, they will thank you!
Q: What Neighborhood do you live in?
I Live in Rancho San Diego but grew up and work in Southeast San Diego.
What I love about my Neighborhood:
I love my neighborhood because of the rural areas and golf courses. Love the open spaces and horses.
Please describe your ideal San Diego weekend:
Get up early, have breakfast at The Henry’s in Coronado, go on a walk at Cabrillo National Monument or Mount Soledad, grab an iced coffee and Mandarin Pistachio Croissant at Wayfarer Bread in La Jolla and read a travel magazine.
Q: Finally, what three words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
Safety, Love, and Restoration.
