Dr. Wycondia West – Gulf Coast Gladiators Who’s Who Spotlight
Dr. Wycondia West, a native of Kushla, Alabama, has dedicated more than 24 years to education, leadership, and student success. A 1994 graduate of C. F. Vigor High School, she went on to earn both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Spring Hill College. For 16 years, she served in the Mobile County Public School System as a first-grade teacher, reading specialist, and testing coordinator before stepping out to reach students on a larger scale.
In 2013, Dr. West founded West Instructional Services, an education company focused on ACT preparation and college planning. She later earned her Doctor of Education in Teacher Leadership from Walden University, publishing her dissertation, A Program Evaluation of the Comprehensive School Reform Model Making Middle Grades Work Model, on ProQuest in 2016.
Her ACT preparation programs have helped students across the nation secure full academic and athletic scholarships. Among her former students are current NFL players Neil Farrell Jr., Roger McCreary, Eric Garror, and Nehemiah Pritchett, along with MLB player Jeremiah Jackson. A mentee of Mobile Sports Hall of Famer Mark Barron, Dr. West continues to build on her mission of guiding the next generation of leaders.
Over the past 12 years, she has worked with more than 18 school systems and 32 high schools, helping schools develop consistent ACT improvement plans, launch incentive programs, and raise their state report card scores. Her work also supports Upward Bound programs in Greenville, South Carolina, and Coastal Alabama. She is the author of three books, ACT Crack the Code, ACT Crack the Code Study Journal, and ACT Curriculum Calendar. Her book ACT Crack the Code alone has sold over 7,000 copies. She also created “ACT Hacks” and is credited with coining the phrase “ACT Up.”
Dr. West’s impact extends beyond the classroom. She partners with nonprofits such as Mobile Kappa League, Omega Lamplighters, Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Alabama, City of Mobile Parks and Recreation, and Distinguished Young Women. Her expertise has been featured on ABC’s Talk of Alabama, NBC15, 92 ZEW radio, podcasts, and speaking engagements nationwide. She also runs the private Facebook group ACT and College Ready, where she shares resources, college information, and scholarship opportunities with parents.
Her company additionally provides preparation for PRAXIS, ASVAB, and TABE exams, as well as EMT registry support for firefighters.
Dr. West is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, the Mobile Chamber of Commerce, and the Mobile Area Black Chamber of Commerce. She serves as Chairperson of the Human Rights Committee for Life Care Services, LLC, and as Executive Secretary at Redemption Church of God. Above all, she is proud to be the mother of two children, Wynter and Alvin III
