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.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
I cannot recommend Class 101 enough! I started freshman year and over the past 4 years I got to become part of the Class 101
family and truly appreciate all the hard work and dedication Shawn and her team had put into not only myself, but every student they worked with. Once Senior year rolled around and it was time to start applying to colleges, Shawn went through everything step by step with me and made the seemingly overwhelming process so easy, I truly couldn’t have done it on my own. She helped me through all of the ups and downs of the college decision process and was always just a phone call or email away with any and all questions, ultimately leading me to where I am now as a freshman at TCU. I’m sad to be finished with my Class 101 journey, but could not be happier now in my new home thanks to Shawn!! Thank you Class 101 for everything, I couldn’t have done without you!
Kailey Schein
Texas Christian University
PJ Palmer
Loyola Marymount University
Shawn with Class101 is literally amazing. As we started our journey down the maze that is college scholarships we quickly realized we were in over our heads. Somehow we found Shawn and set up a meeting. Her confidence and knowledge of the system instantly put us at ease and immediately after our first meeting we signed our daughter up. Shawn guided her in the right direction of what scholarships exist, which ones to apply for and which ones would be a waste of her time. I think she ended up getting 90% of the scholarships she applied for and far exceeded the cost of Class101. It’s the best money we’ve spent and will be signing our younger daughter up as soon as Junior year starts. Many times we thought we’d missed a deadline and Shawn assured us we hadn’t. The waters that lead to scholarships are muddy and rough, Shawn was an excellent guide for us and our family and we truly can not recommend her strongly enough
Parent of Camryn Long
National Merit Finalist Attending the University of Alabama
