Meet Tracy Arnell | Master Educator, Author and Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tracy Arnell and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tracy, is there something you can share with us that those outside of the industry might not be aware of?

One of the things about the Driver Education & Safety Industry that outsiders probably are unaware of is the fact that teens 15-19 make up just 6% of all licensed drivers, yet they made up 16% of all drivers involved in traffic crashes.  (Males) Car wreck fatalities were almost 2 times that of females in a 2017 survey. Most of these accidents involved teens who were taught to drive by their parents or non-certified driver instructors.  Crash risks are extremely high during the first few months of initial driving or licensure.  In 2021, there were 2,116 young driver fatalities, 1,065 fatalities among passengers of young drivers.

 Driver’s Education provides an understanding of road laws and good driving practices for new drivers. Driver’s Education provides an opportunity to gain driving experience through working with experienced professional licensed instructors. Driving is a responsibility. Drivers must understand the risk, obligations, and possible consequences associated with the privilege.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?

One of the things that I believe sets me apart from others is that I am a true people person who rarely meets a stranger. I truly love meeting new people.   My proudest accomplishment is seeing my son, whom I raised as a single mother graduate from college. My son graduated from college with an engineering degree from North Carolina A& T state University. Society has tried to make me and other single mother’s feel like we “can’t and those children of singles mother’s “can’t either”.  Well, I am here to dispel that myth.

I was raised by a single mother that made me know that I could do anything that I put my mind to. She sacrificed so that I could best the best version of me,

I went to college and graduated as my mother instructed me to do, I worked in my degreed field as an adult parole officer and a juvenile probation officer after graduating from college. I knew in my spirit that I was destined for greatness.  I was born to be an entrepreneur. I have always wanted to be a hairstylist and salon owner. My family felt as though I should obtain a college degree first. When I could no longer suppress the desire to own my own salon, I enrolled in cosmetology school.  Upon graduation from beauty college, I opened Salon 1700. Having a natural desire to empower and develop others, I sought out to become a certified HS cosmetology teacher. I have been teaching for approximately 10 years.  I am now a TEA Master level certified career & technical education teacher.

I started teaching teen drivers education during my breaks, to make extra money to help offset the cost of out of state college tuition. Being that I had experience with teens in the classroom and with the juvenile justice system.

 The natural progression was to open my own school, which would allow me to satisfy my entrepreneur desires as well as continue to develop and empower teens.

 Smart Wheels was established for the purpose of providing quality teen and adult drivers education training to an underserved community in southern Dallas County.

 My journey was not and still is not without challenges.  I am presently, juggling being an only child who is caring for a mother with Alzheimer’s Disease, a full-time master HS educator and owning and operating a small business. I will continually be presented with daily challenges.

  I have learned that to whom much is given much is required, I live by the lessons that my mother taught me. Never give up, pray daily, and faith without works is dead.

  You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take, so I wake up every day with the thought that I must keep shooting my best shots.

I want the world to know that I have a desire to positively impact anyone that crosses my path either in the classroom or in life period. I want anyone that encounters me to be better because we crossed paths. I want them to know that anything worth having will not come without challenges, but you can overcome the challenges. “If it was easy then everyone would be doing it”

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?

I would take my best friend to Spa Castle for a relaxing day at the spa.  We both enjoy shopping we would visit some of the unique boutiques around the city such as “My mother’s closet” and “A friend’s closet” from there we would go to Tru Kitchen and Kocktails for dinner and drinks. Unfortunately, I feel as though Dallas is lacking fun and exciting places for single African American over 50 years of age to mix and mingle So, if anyone has ideas, I am surely open to them.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?

The person or persons who deserves credit and recognition would be my entire family and village, starting with my maternal grandmother. My grandmother was the matriarch of our family. She taught me and my family to work hard and pray harder. She instilled work ethics and moral character in all her offspring’s. She raised my mother, who raised me to know that I could achieve and have anything that I wanted in life if I worked hard, stayed the course and treated people the way I wanted to be treated. My son also deserves credit because he allowed me to pursue my entrepreneurial dreams by being the best son a mother could hope for. He allowed me to be his mother, without giving me any problems as a child and now as a young adult living on his own. My best friend who has been riding with me and for me since the second grade. She supports my ideas whether good or bad. She is there to laugh and celebrate or help dry my tears.  Lastly my uncle who I refer to as “Uncle Daddy” He has been one of my biggest cheerleaders and supporters. Everyone needs someone that they can depend on when times are tough. He has been there every step of my journey to lend a helping hand, give constructive criticism and needed advice solicited and unsolicited 

Website: smartwheelsda.com

Instagram: Swda_dfw

Facebook: smart wheels driving academy