Founder Akiya Maston is helping girls ages 10 to 14 reclaim confidence through education, mentorship, and a proven navigation system.
Middle school is often described as a difficult season, filled with uncertainty, self doubt, and social pressure. For many girls, those years become a turning point that shapes how they see themselves long into adulthood. For Akiya Maston, that reality became impossible to ignore after spending more than two decades working directly with students and families inside America’s schools.
As a K to 8 principal, award winning author, and founder of Girls Pursuing Success, Maston has dedicated her career to helping girls navigate one of the most formative stages of life with clarity and confidence. Her mission is rooted in a simple but transformative belief: middle school should not be a survival period. It should be a success period.
That belief became the foundation for Girls Pursuing Success, also known as GPS, a movement designed to bridge the gap between home and school while empowering girls ages 10 to 14 to reclaim their uniqueness, recognize their worth, and lead with confidence.
According to Maston, too many adults dismiss middle school behavior without looking deeper. “I don’t just see the behavior,” she explains. “I see the potential.”
Her perspective comes from experience that stretches far beyond theory. Although Maston began her academic journey with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in human resources, she discovered her true calling in the classroom. After ten years as a teacher and another decade in school administration, she saw a consistent pattern emerging among young girls who struggled with identity, confidence, and belonging during the middle school years.
Rather than accepting those struggles as inevitable, Maston developed a trademarked methodology that gives girls what she calls a “navigation system” for life. Through Girls Pursuing Success, she partners with parents, schools, and organizations to create practical pathways for emotional growth, self awareness, and leadership development.
What makes GPS stand out is its ability to connect the worlds of education and family support. While many youth development programs focus on motivation alone, GPS provides structured guidance rooted in years of direct educational leadership. Maston’s approach is designed not only to inspire girls but also to equip them with tools that help them thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.
The impact of that work extends through multiple educational resources and publications created by Maston. She is the author of The Wonder Years of Middle School, The Sleepover That Went Oh, So Terribly Wrong!, and The GPS Code, a book that gives girls practical strategies for building confidence and embracing their individuality. Her educational platform also includes Music to Mastery, a geography program for elementary students that blends learning with creativity through music based instruction.
As a four time award winning author, Maston continues to use storytelling and education to create meaningful change. However, her greatest accomplishment may be the way she reframes the middle school experience itself. Instead of treating adolescence as a period of chaos, she encourages families to see it as a defining opportunity for growth and self discovery.
That shift in perspective is especially important in today’s world, where social pressure and digital influence often shape how young girls define their value. Maston believes confidence should not be left to chance. It should be intentionally cultivated.
At the heart of GPS is the idea that confidence is not a personality trait reserved for a select few. It is a destination that girls can reach when they are given the right guidance, encouragement, and environment. GPS simply provides the roadmap.
Parents and educators who work with the organization often find themselves becoming part of a larger mission focused on restoring confidence before outside pressures begin to shape a girl’s identity. Through workshops, mentorship, educational resources, and family centered support, Girls Pursuing Success creates a community where girls are encouraged to own their brilliance instead of shrinking to fit expectations.
For Maston, education has never been just a profession. It is a lifelong purpose centered on helping the next generation navigate the world with worth and wonder. Every book, program, and conversation reflects that commitment.
As conversations around youth development continue to evolve in 2026, Girls Pursuing Success is emerging as a powerful voice in helping families rethink how they support girls during the middle school years. By combining educational expertise with emotional insight and practical strategies, Akiya Maston is building more than a program. She is building a movement designed to help girls confidently become who they were created to be.
Families, schools, and organizations interested in learning more about Girls Pursuing Success can explore the organization’s mission and resources through GPSGirls.com. Readers can also discover more about Akiya Maston’s educational work and publications through AkiyaMaston.com. To contact Akiya Maston directly, email her at [email protected].
To purchase digital copies of Maston’s award winning books, The Wonder Years of Middle School, The Sleepover That Went Oh, So Terribly Wrong!, and The GPS Code, visit GPSGirls.com. To purchase hard copies of her books, visit Amazon.com.
