All About MartyBe

Legacy Lessons: My Journey as an Educator, Creative, and Founder of MartyBeSolutions

By Jamaar Blanchard

If you’ve ever taught a classroom full of students who’ve been underestimated—then you know exactly why I do this work.

My name is Jamaar Blanchard, and I’ve spent over a decade pouring my heart, skill, and creativity into students who need more than just a textbook and a test—they need connection. They need structure. They need someone to see them.

I am the founder of MartyBeSolutions, an educational and creative consulting business built from the belief that learning should be culturally affirming, holistic, and deeply personal. The name “MartyBe” honors my late father, a man who instilled in me the values of legacy, language, and leadership. This work carries his spirit forward while answering a call I’ve felt for years—to use my gifts to uplift, engage, and transform.

From Stage to Classroom to Legacy Work

I began my journey in Jackson, Mississippi, earning a degree in Speech and Theater from Jackson State University after intensive training in musical theater at Belhaven College. I studied acting, singing, movement, and storytelling—not just as performance, but as tools of communication, healing, and identity.

That same passion followed me into the classroom. I taught middle school ELA and Dramatic Arts in Mississippi, where I didn’t just assign writing—I helped students perform their thoughts, analyze character voice, and practice real-life communication skills like conflict resolution, job readiness, and interpersonal speech. I directed school plays, created curriculum-aligned performance tasks, coached the debate and speech teams, and served as assistant basketball and track coach. I did everything I could to make learning real.

In 2018, I relocated to Georgia, joining DeKalb County Schools as a paraprofessional and later as a lead ELA teacher in a co-taught middle school setting. I collaborated with fellow educators, created individualized learning plans, implemented RTI and MTSS strategies, and supported students with IEPs. I led internal PDs, facilitated parent communication, and continued to coach track—helping our team reach championship-level performance.

Building MartyBeSolutions

Throughout my career, I’ve led workshops, facilitated trainings, and created curriculum rooted in social-emotional learning, creativity, and equity. In 2021, I made the decision to expand my impact beyond the classroom by founding MartyBeSolutions.

The mission is simple:

To provide culturally affirming, engaging, and holistic academic and creative support for young learners, especially those struggling with reading, writing, and comprehension skills.

I offer:

• Personalized tutoring (3rd–10th grade ELA, test prep, and comprehension)

• Creative coaching (poetry, dramatic writing, storytelling, and artistic mentoring)

• Workshop facilitation for parents, educators, and students

• Therapeutic theater and performance-based enrichment for healing and expression

But this business is more than services—it’s a movement.

Why I Teach the Way I Do

Every tool I use—be it a highlighter, a script, or a spoken word poem—comes from lived experience. I know what it feels like to be a creative kid with a lot to say but not enough space to say it. I know how it feels to need someone who understands you before they try to teach you.

That’s why my approach is authentic. It's student-centered. It’s grounded in the belief that learning should not strip away identity—it should empower it.

What’s Next?

MartyBeSolutions is growing. I'm currently offering private sessions, creative intensives, school-based PDs, and soon releasing eBooks, printable toolkits, and original curricula. I’m also bringing my love of poetry and storytelling to the forefront through upcoming publications and performances.

This blog—Legacy Lessons with MartyBe—will serve as a space for me to reflect, share, and offer resources to educators, parents, and anyone passionate about building up our youth. From writing tips and personal reflections to classroom-tested tools and creative strategies—you’ll find it all here.

Thank you for being part of this journey. Whether you’re a parent, an educator, or a fellow creative, I’m honored to walk this path with you.

Let’s continue to build, teach, and uplift—with purpose.

– Jamaar Blanchard Educator | Creative Coach | Founder of MartyBeSolutions