We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Tiarrah Kent. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Tiarrah below.

Tiarrah, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

The story behind the mission starts at the early age of 12 years old. In 1999, my mother passed away. She had no life insurance, she did not own her home, nor did she have a college savings plan set up for her six children. Fast forward to 2016, when I became a mother, I had no help, I did not own my home, and I had no idea where to start. Since having my daughter, I have been able to At A Better Day Academy, we bridge gaps of support for our families and their children. We offer educational services for infants to age 12 years old, something I did not have as a single mother. Also, our nonprofit organization, ForeverMom Legacy, provides services such as life insurance, childcare, first-time home buying opportunities, college-savings plans, and more.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I have a bachelor’s degree from the University of Akron by way of Grambling State University. My undergraduate degree in business allowed me to pursue my passion for becoming an entrepreneur. After my mother passed, my grandparents adopted my siblings and me, allowing us to continue growing up in the same household, otherwise, we would have been awarded to the state. My grandparents owned 5 McDonalds growing up, allowing me the opportunity to gain valuable work ethic. I thought after graduation I’d own a McDonald’s; however, that was not in the plans for me, as many African American families face challenges and often do not know how to continue the family legacy. I began working as an administrator in the school district, and 10 years later, I decided to live life on my terms. I resigned from my position as the Dean of Student Engagement to open my first brick & mortar servicing 83 children. I service working middle-class families that are essential workers, including healthcare workers, educators, and entrepreneurs. Our establishment is different from others because with my background in education, we can prepare our children for kindergarten. Our parents work long days and therefore, we can ensure that their children have access to quality care and education. We are mostly proud that in 2 years of being open, we have been able to enroll our families with a 90% retention rate. I want our clients to know that A Better Day Academy isn’t just childcare; it’s “where learning meets love.” A Better Day Academy is taking childcare back to the basics by being a part of the village that some families do not have.

Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?

I met Christa working in education at the school district. We first met during Covid, working online and then hybrid. Christa was the Assistant Principal, and we worked closely together supporting our families and helping with discipline. Once Covid was over and we returned to work, we worked closely on committees and as colleagues.

One day, in my office, I received a call from my realtor, who told me to meet her after work to see an educational space that was once a child care center. Ms. Christa volunteered to go with me, and at that point, we decided we would become business partners.

Fast forward, we have become like Ching and Chong. Ms. Christa runs the educational component, and I run the business. We bring over 30 years of educational experience and a love for children.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

Managing a team is tough, however, the best advice I could give is empowerment. Empowering your team to do things they would normally not do unless empowered to do so. As supervisors, it’s our responsibility to find out their strengths and weaknesses. The same goes for having high morale. High morale comes from staff meetings, team-building opportunities, open communication, Employee of the Month, staff outings, and keeping an open door for staff to come and vent, laugh, cry, and ask questions.

I would also say that managing a team consists of listening and being slow to respond or react. As supervisors, our reactions have to be strategic, and we must think of the entire team and the business. A word of advice: Be slow to hire and quick to fire. Anyone who does not contribute to a positive atmosphere may want to rethink their role and position and if they are a good fit for your company.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.abetterdayacademy.org
• Instagram: abetterdayacademy
• Linkedin: Tiarrah Kent

Image Credits

Adornpro