Early in her career, Philisa contributed to district-wide curriculum and pacing guides supporting textbook adoption and presented at the South Carolina Education Association’s New Teacher Academy for first-year educators. She also developed an African American Literature curriculum from the ground up, creating instructional resources where none previously existed.

Her educational journey across South Carolina’s diverse school systems, including large urban schools and small rural communities, shaped her understanding of effective leadership and student engagement. These experiences, combined with professional development and instructional work in Lusaka, Zambia, broadened her perspective on educational equity.

It also demonstrated that meaningful outcomes can be achieved even with limited resources. It was through this international experience and engagement with Zambia’s national Department of Education on curriculum and instruction that Philisa recognized how a single idea can create lasting educational change.

This realization inspired the development of G.R.O.W. Time, a curriculum centered on Growth, Resilience, Optimism, and Wealth. Designed to address life skills often absent from traditional classrooms, G.R.O.W.

Time integrates financial literacy, college and career exploration, mental and emotional well-being, and practical life skills such as reading lease agreements, filing taxes, budgeting, and understanding credit and banking systems. The curriculum also incorporates social-emotional learning, helping students identify emotional triggers and develop healthier coping mechanisms through a growth mindset.

Philisa’s leadership is perhaps most evident in her work leading the FOCUS (Focused Outreach Creates Unlimited Success) program, which was recently rebranded as FLEX (Flexible Learning eXperience). Moreover, her work has received recognition across educational and community platforms. Philisa was featured by Clemson University on YouTube and in Clemson World magazine for her educational mission work in Lusaka, Zambia.

She received the Teacher Forum Award from Anderson School District 4 and was recognized by the City of Clemson, South Carolina, for her work with the Friends of the Clemson Area African American Museum, including organizing Clemson’s first Juneteenth Festival. The Seneca Journal also highlighted her community leadership, and she was named one of the 2025 Influential Women for Educational Leadership.

This recognition reflects Philisa’s commitment to creating transformative learning experiences, advancing educational innovation, and empowering students with the academic, emotional, and practical tools needed to thrive beyond the classroom.