We were lucky to catch up with Claire Thomas recently and have shared our conversation below.

Claire, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

The idea for my business began to take shape during my time as a full-time educator in the classroom. After a few years of teaching, I started noticing some inconsistencies within the curriculum. On top of that, many of my students needed additional support that extended beyond what I could realistically provide during our limited time together each day. I knew that if we were going to address those needs effectively, the support couldn’t stop when the school day ended.

That’s when I began offering families personalized strategies and activities they could do at home with their children. I sent home things that aligned with what we were working on in class but went far beyond just another worksheet for homework. These were practical, engaging approaches like games, hands-on activities, and routines that fit naturally into their everyday lives.

The results were amazing. I saw real growth in my students, not just academically but also in their confidence and engagement with learning. The progress was undeniable, and it became clear to me how much of an impact this type of collaboration could have.

I knew I wanted to help more families than just those I was working with directly. So, I started sharing these strategies through social media, and the response was overwhelmingly positive. From there, my business began to grow. It wasn’t just about filling gaps in the curriculum, it was about making a real difference for families and helping them to know that can really be a support for the children.

The excitement for me came from seeing the ripple effect. I realized that so many families are trying their best and want to be and do the best they can to see their children thrive, but often don’t know where to begin. Being able to give families the tools and the confidence to see real growth in their children’s literacy skills is a game-changer. I knew I had stumbled upon something worthwhile, something that could make a real difference beyond the classroom walls.

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.

My name is Claire Thomas, and I’m an early literacy specialist, educator, and the founder of Early Intellect®, where I help families to raise confident readers and writers. I have worked within the field of education for over 12 years. I have served in many roles, from assistant teacher, lead teacher, coach and college professor. I’ve worked in various settings—from private preschool to public school classrooms—serving children from birth through early elementary grades as well as now teaching college

I’ve always been drawn to education, initially earning a bachelor’s in psychology and later a Master of Arts in Teaching. My teaching experience gave me a front-row seat to some of the challenges families face when trying to support their children’s education at home. I saw a need for more than just classroom instruction, families needed practical, easy-to-use tools to help their children thrive academically. That’s where the idea for Early Intellect® came from. I wanted to bridge that gap by providing support and resources to parents, so they feel confident guiding their children’s early academic journey.

At Early Intellect®, I focus specifically on early literacy support for children learning to read and write. We offer a range of services designed to make early literacy accessible and engaging. I work one-on-one with families to develop tailored strategies that meet their child’s specific needs. For schools and learning centers, I design literacy workshops and programs aligned with best practices. These workshops help provide parents with practical tools and strategies to nurture literacy skills at home. Trough tutoring, I work with children in kindergarten through second grade, focusing on building strong foundations in reading, writing, and phonics. I also have digital and physical products that offer solutions for busy parents who want results.

One thing I take pride in is my ability to meet families where they are. I understand that most parents want to help their kids but may not know where to start, especially in the midst of busy schedules. My goal is to make literacy support feel doable and fun, whether through hands-on activities, bite-sized learning routines, or encouraging parents to integrate learning into everyday moments.

Additionally, my certification in Special Education and Elementary Education allows me to support children with different learning needs. I also bring expertise in the science of reading, phonics, and literacy development to ensure the strategies I share are grounded in research.

I’m proud of the relationships I’ve built with families and the progress I’ve seen in children who were initially struggling to read or write. Seeing parents feel empowered, children grow in confidence, and families celebrate literacy milestones together has been incredibly rewarding. I’m also proud of how my business has evolved from supporting a few families to helping a wider audience through social media and beyond.

At Early Intellect®, I believe that parents are their child’s first teachers, and with the right tools, every parent can help their child succeed. My goal is to partner with families, equipping them with the resources and strategies they need to raise confident, joyful readers and writers. Whether you’re looking for digital products, workshops, or personalized coaching, I’m here to help make literacy feel accessible and achievable.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

How I Built My Audience on Social Media:

Across platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, I’ve grown my social media audience to about 6,800 followers. This growth has happened, in part, because I focus heavily on educational content. My goal has always been to provide value. I share practical tips, actionable strategies, and insights that help families, educators, and parents.

When I first started, I wasn’t trying to sell anything. I simply shared my knowledge, offering free information and resources to help people get to know me as an expert. To this day, I continue to provide free tips and strategies because I want my audience to feel empowered and supported, whether they decide to invest in my services or not. I believe that establishing that trust upfront is what makes people feel confident about working with me when they are ready.

Advice for Building an Audience:

If you’re just starting to build your social media presence, my biggest piece of advice is to give more than you take. Focus on providing quality information and actionable strategies, something your audience can implement right away. It’s important to show up as the expert in your niche and let your audience see that you truly care about helping them solve their challenges.

I’d also say that consistency is key. I’ll be honest, being consistent is something I’m still working on. But whenever I’ve been consistent with posting, sending emails, or engaging with my audience, I’ve noticed real growth in both my following and my sales. It doesn’t mean you have to post every day, but having a rhythm that works for you and sticking to it really makes a difference.

Building an audience takes time, patience, and intentionality, but the key is to focus on providing value, staying consistent, and building trust. When people know you’re genuinely invested in their success, they’ll be more inclined to engage with your content and become part of your community.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

Early on, when I first launched Early Intellect®, I was trying to do it all. My main goal was to ensure that parents were involved and engaged in their children’s education. But I found myself covering every topic imaginable, every subject, every part of learning and offering services related to all of them. I thought this broad approach would allow me to reach more people, but in reality, it spread me too thin, and it just didn’t work.

That’s when I realized I had to pivot and niche down. I decided to narrow my focus to early literacy, specifically for children who are just beginning to learn how to read. It was a big shift, from talking about anything and everything related to education to concentrating solely on early literacy development. At first, I worried that niching down might limit me, or that people wouldn’t see me as a resource for other areas. But what I discovered was the opposite: being specific allowed me to help more people.

With the current literacy crisis, families and schools know exactly where to turn when they need early literacy support. Focusing on this niche has given me the opportunity to make a greater impact, helping children build strong foundations in reading. Even though my expertise is now centered on early literacy, people still reach out to me for advice in other areas, and I’ve found ways to offer guidance where I can. But my main focus, and what I’m known for, is early literacy.

This pivot has opened doors I never expected. I was able to land an adjunct teaching position, leading a university literacy course, and I’ve had opportunities to partner with school districts and work with teachers all centered around my literacy expertise. The pivot has shown me that by narrowing my focus, I can go deeper in my work, make a bigger impact, and better serve those who need my support the most.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://earlyintellect.com/
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/earlyintellect
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-thomas-m-a-t-642258b1?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bing.com%2F
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@earlyintellect

Image Credits
Noemi Rosa