About the owner…

I’m Ashly Johnston — educator, mom, coach, and the heart behind Test Prep Alabama. Education runs in my blood, but if I’m being honest, this business began with that boy right up there.

Seventeen years ago, I made the decision to stay home and raise my son. While I was rocking him and dreaming about how to support our little family, I also made a choice that would change the course of my career: I jumped into test prep.

And the rest? History. (And by the way — he’s now at Mississippi State on a full ride with an amazing ACT score. Not bad for the kid who inspired this whole thing.)

Before Test Prep Alabama existed, my path had already been shaped by helping students overcome barriers. While earning my Bachelor’s in Public Relations at the University of Oklahoma, I worked full-time at Advanced Academics in Oklahoma City, supporting students pursuing online diplomas. That experience showed me how powerful individualized instruction and flexible pathways can be.

While completing my Master’s in Secondary Education, I began working for a local tutoring company — doing one-on-one instruction, writing curriculum for workshops, and eventually earning a promotion to Premier Tutor. I became the company’s first (and only) dedicated test prep instructor, and that’s where I truly fell in love with ACT coaching.

From there, the classroom called, and I spent 13 years teaching in public schools, eventually moving into my current role as an Instructional Partner. Alongside that work, I continued tutoring, teaching, coaching, and designing programs as an educational consultant. Seventeen years later, I’ve helped thousands of students grow their skills, raise their scores, and unlock opportunities they never thought possible.

But this work is personal for another reason, too.

As a high school student, I didn’t have the financial ability to take prep courses — and I felt the weight of that disadvantage. I promised myself that one day I would create something different: a dependable, affordable, high-quality test preparation service that families could trust.

That promise became the foundation of Test Prep Alabama — and the inspiration behind my motto:

“Making ‘Cents’ of the ACT.”

Because every child deserves access. Every family deserves honesty.
And every student deserves a chance to improve without breaking the bank.

Test Prep Alabama was built from my experience, my family, my students, and my heart. It blends everything I’ve learned across nearly two decades as an educator, coach, and advocate. It’s a place where clarity builds confidence, where progress feels possible, and where Alabama students discover what they’re truly capable of.

This isn’t just my profession, it’s my purpose.
I’m honored to be a part of each student’s journey.

-Ashly Johnston