Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Janis Modeste.
Hi Dr. Janis, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Finding My Path
I was born in St. Croix, US Virgin Islands, a place of vibrant colors and warm breezes. But for me, the world was a bit out of focus. From a young age, I was different. My parents didn’t know it, and neither did I, but I was neurodivergent. School was a struggle, and I started cutting classes from kindergarten. By second grade, my teachers and parents realized something was wrong; I was missing a lot of school.
As I got older, the challenges grew. In sixth grade, I was consistently two hours late for class, not out of defiance, but because of a frantic morning search for my shoes, a pencil, or my books. This was a classic symptom of my undiagnosed neurodivergence: difficulty with planning and losing items. My brain worked differently, making everyday tasks a puzzle I couldn’t solve on time. In class, I would speak my mind without a filter, often interrupting or blurting out thoughts. I was often reprimanded, but I didn’t know how to stop. Now I understand this was a lack of self-regulation, another hallmark of my neurotype.
When I was seven, my family moved to St. Thomas. As I grew up, I discovered a surprising passion while teaching Sabbath school at my father’s church. I loved connecting with the kids, explaining things in ways they could understand, and seeing their eyes light up. This experience planted a seed in my heart. After I earned my undergraduate degree in Business and Information Systems, I decided to follow my true calling. I went back to school and earned a Master’s degree in Special Education. This later led to a Doctorate of Education degree as I researched further the impact of neurodivergence in early childhood education.
That’s when I found my niche. I discovered my purpose in helping students just like me—those with neurodivergence, ADHD, and challenges with self-regulation and executive function. My own struggles gave me a deep empathy and understanding for what they were going through. My personal journey became my professional mission, a lifelong passion that my husband and I turned into action. Together, we founded the Masters Educational Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to serving our community.
Our most recent projects, VIBES Behavior Coaching and Tutoring Lab and the VIBES Learning Academy, are the culmination of this dream. VIBES stands for Varying Interventions for Behavior and Emotional Supports. We’re committed to meeting the wellness and educational needs of children in Minneola, Florida, where we now live. My husband, Dr. Philip Modeste and I are also the founders and leaders of Kehilat Hesed-Grace Church. My journey from a little girl struggling to find her way to a woman helping others find theirs has been long and full of unexpected turns, but I wouldn’t change a thing. Every challenge was a lesson, and every lesson led me to where I am today.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I specialize in helping others, especially children, understand their emotions, name their emotions, and self regulate using their unique coping skills. Because of my gift of strategy and vision, I am able to help women realize how recognize how their struggle is a major key to finding their passion and life long calling. One of the ways I inspire women is through our annual No Limits Women’s Conference. This year’s 13th annual conference will be held in Clermont, FL on November 15, 2025. You can find more information on my Website at www.JanisModeste.com
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
I wish I understood my unique gifts and how to turn my pain into my passion from an early age. However, I feel as if the journey was intended to lead me where I am today. Because of this journey, I am able to empathize and help others along their journey.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.vibesnetwork.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vibes.learning
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vibeslearning
- Other: https://www.JanisModeste.com
Image Credits
All images taken on my personal cell phone. All images belong to me.
