Shawn Coats, M. Ed.
Franchise Owner/College Admissions Advisor
Shawn is the owner of Class 101 Mesa-Gilbert, part of a top-ranked national organization (Class 101) offering proven, highly-skilled and very affordable assistance to high school students in making decisions on college and careers. A former high school Administrator, Shawn has assisted many students in setting goals and coaching them to realize their full potential. With her deep knowledge of the full college planning process – from raising current grades and test scores to identifying colleges that fit a student’s interests and a family’s budget, Shawn is an invaluable leader in the industry. She is a certified college planner with a B.A. in Political Science and a minor in Educational Leadership from the University of San Diego. Additionally, she has an M.A. in Educational Leadership from Grand Canyon University. Prior to successfully launching Class 101’s Mesa/Gilbert franchise in 2016, Shawn spent seven years as an Administrator for one of Arizona’s largest charter school systems; she specialized in working with high school students on individualized career action plans (ECAP) to assist them in planning their futures and mentoring them to achieve those goals. Shawn is genuinely committed to helping each student excel and provides the metrics and support to guide them in the right direction. She seamlessly parlayed her high school and post-secondary planning expertise into one of the fastest- growing Class 101 franchises by sharing her comprehensive professional knowledge and approachable demeanor with hundreds of Arizona students and their families throughout the state. Using data-driven results from each student’s customized online portal page, Shawn and her team specifically address areas of needed improvement, thereby enhancing their college and career marketability. Through this proven one-on-one mentoring process, the student learns the importance of accountability both for college and life in general. Not only does mentoring the student help families maintain a healthy relationship with their teen, it also saves them money by increasing opportunities (E.g., including scholarship awards and improved test scores) and avoiding decisions that may have a negative impact on the student/family (E.g., selecting a school that isn’t a good fit, given the student’s interest/major/career goals). Shawn’s a Professional Member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association, Mesa Chamber of Commerce, Arizona School Counselors Association, Arizona College Access Network, Rocky Mountain Association for College Admission Counseling, and National Association for College Admissions Counseling.
Lisa Sweet, M.C.
College Advisor / Senior Specialist
In the early part of her career, Lisa worked as a vocational rehabilitation specialist and evaluator, helping adults and teens, through testing/counseling, assess their skills/interests and connect them with corresponding school programs/careers. Realizing how much she loved working with teens, she earned her Master’s in Counseling. Lisa’s spent the last nine years as guidance counselor at Red Mountain High School following twelve years as a counselor at Poston Junior High School. She is especially passionate about helping students in all aspects of the college planning process, from helping them connect their interests to extracurricular/leadership opportunities and prospective majors/careers, college exploration/fit, the college application process, navigating the complexities of financial aid and more! In her free time, she loves to travel, read, hike and spend time with her two daughters! Lisa’s a member of the Arizona School Counselors Association, Arizona College Access Network, Rocky Mountain Association for College Admission Counseling, and National Association for College Admissions Counseling.
Carmen Copu
College Advisor & Essay Specialist
Carmen was born in the U.S., raised in Romania, and later lived in Taiwan for most of her twenties. She has taught English and writing for 6 years to all levels, online, in-person, and to anywhere from 1-70 students at a time. She has tutored the IELTS, TOEFL, SAT, GRE, and GMAT, as well as CLEPs and DSSTs. She most notably co-founded an experimental English class based in Taipei with a small team, saw it become successful within 3 years, and also spearheaded several essay and resumé writing workshops at National Taiwan University, the country's most prestigious institution. For 3 admission cycles, she has coached undergraduate and graduate students through the admissions’ process and edited application essays. Having studied Communications for undergrad and as a current counseling grad student herself, she fully understands the stress and demands of writing a college application and wants to empower students to achieve their full potential by telling their own stories.Michelle Mushkin, M. Ed.
SAT/ACT Prep Teacher, Educational Consultant
Michelle possesses extensive experience as an Educational Consultant for educational publishing firms, credentials to teach all grade levels (K-12), and nineteen years of teaching English, the majority of which were spent at the high school level. Michelle is also highly-versed in the editing of nationwide assessments for content and alignment to standards. She is currently working to create a wide range of online courseware, from remedial to Advanced Placement (AP), for grades 3-12. She provides innovative curricula with enriched student engagement to deliver effective, fun and meaningful outcomes. Michelle holds a degree in English from Ohio State University in addition to a Master’s degree in Curriculum & Instruction from the University of Phoenix. Her broad knowledge of education, assessments, and high-stakes testing (E.g., SAT, ACT) for college-bound teens enables her to apply practical and successful testing strategies while simultaneously relieving test-related anxieties and helping students achieve increased test scores. Michelle also specializes in working with special needs children and differentiated learning for students. Her portfolio includes teaching English online to people from around the world, as well as housewives, college students, doctors, and others whom are learning English as a second language. She has two teenaged sons, one attending Saint Louis University and the other Corona Del Sol High School, who keep her very busy. During football season, Michelle can be found relentlessly cheering on her beloved Buckeyes!
Helene Clairis-Gauthier
SAT/ACT Prep Teacher, Educational Consultant
Helene was born and raised in France where she earned a M.A in French Modern Literature and an M.A in Education. She taught in the French system for over 10 years before relocating to the US. Following her move to Phoenix, Helene seized the opportunity to become fluent in English, a language that she studied since 6th grade. After years of volunteering in middle school and high school to familiarize herself with the American education system, she started tutoring students. Her experience as an educator helped her connect with students in the college application process. In the past 5 years, Helene actively coached her children and their friends through the undergraduate admission process. She has also helped students navigate the subtlety of the personal statement essay, providing insightful commentary that ultimately allowed her students’ personalities to shine through their words. She enjoys teaching practical testing strategies and empowering students. Her ultimate goal is to raise their scores, but also lower their anxiety regarding the often dreaded test-taking experience. Now that her three sons have all attended their dream colleges, Helene is excited about helping more students achieve their potential. Therefore, she is thrilled to be part of Shawn’s team to help expand an outstanding program. In her spare time, she loves to paint in her studio but she is also a Suns fan who enjoys cheering on her favorite team. When she is not doing either, she takes great pleasure in preparing elaborate dishes for family and friends.Tammika Banks.
Test Prep Instructor & College Planner
Hi, my name is Tammika Banks. I have BA in Psychology MA in Mental Health Counseling. I am a former case manager in the social services field, where I helped support foster youth through the college admissions process. I believe you don't have to be defined by your life's circumstances. My favorite phrase is "Each One Teach One," my mother taught me that education is a great equalizer.
Owner
Shawn Coats, M. Ed.
Phone
(480) 428-0101
Address
Power Road Suite 101 - C4, Mesa, AZ 85215
Kimberly Halloran, Parent
Shawn was instrumental in Drew’s college application process. She helped him find the best fit for his personality and academic goals. She set him on the right path to succeed!
She’s amazing!
Drew Halloran
My experiences at Class 101 have all been outstanding! Shawn Coats, the owner of Class 101, has always gone above and beyond to help me succeed. Between help perfecting essays for scholarships to polishing my resume and CV, the advice and tips I’ve gotten from Class 101 have made my applications stand out amongst others. Shawn always has the end goals of her students in mind, and knows exactly how to answer all of my questions. I highly recommend Class 101 if you need help with scholarship and/or college applications, as well as any other general academic questions.
Alyssa Kelley Inorio
University of Arizona
I highly recommend Class 101 Mesa Gilbert. Everyone there helped me so much. I wouldn’t be where I’m at today without them.
RJ Jennings
Brigham Young University
