We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kari Workman. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kari below.
Alright, Kari thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
Just as most great ideas do, my journey to start my business has been an evolution! I did not start out to create a business. It evolved because I wanted to offer a free service. As the 2021 school year came to a close, there was a great deal of conversation about students and learning loss due to the pandemic. Parents were expressing concern that their children were “falling behind.” As a certified teacher, I knew I had skills that could be helpful. So, I created a Facebook group to share fun learning ideas for parents to do with their kids over the summer. And if they needed help with other school-related subjects, I could help with that too! People seemed to enjoy my perspective and my ideas but the intention was to be a free service to families, not a business.
Until…
I learned that my nephew’s math teacher quit the day before school started. After searching for a teacher and not finding success, the school opted to teach the students using a computer program and a proctor. I was stunned but honestly, I understood. The pandemic intensified the teacher shortage. The computer is a great tool but it is no substitute for a qualified teacher. I was frustrated for my nephew and his classmates. They deserved better. This plan was not ideal.
Then it dawned on me…I could help in this situation, not just for my nephew and his classmates but for other schools too. My nephew’s school is not unique for being in survival mode.
I decided that our modern times required a different type of tutoring.
If there are “gaps” in a student’s learning, the one-hour, one-time-a-week session might not be adequate or timely. What do students do when they encounter a hurdle between sessions?
What if they need help in more than one subject? What do they do if they need a quick review before a test or a proofreader for an essay?
Traditional tutoring is very effective for “deep dives” into a single subject but if you are a parent, you know that when a student is stumbling over a homework problem, they need help right then. Frustration and tension can spill over into a child’s self-confidence in school as a whole, leading to a cycle of more frustration. The resulting stress can impact the entire family.
What if the student could contact their tutor at the moment of frustration and for any subject?
I developed a monthly membership program where students could “drop in” on our online sessions for unlimited help with any of their core subjects. In this way, our tutoring is really tailored to students’ immediate needs and is relevant to what they are working on in class.
At the time I started designing my business, I was working with student teachers at Arizona State University. I knew they would be a great resource as tutors and considered it a natural fit. The virtual format allowed me to recruit tutors from anywhere in the country and we have been blessed with some great ones! Our students seem to relate to the tutors in a way they might not to someone older.
What I did not anticipate is that most of our students “drop in” every night, even when they don’t need help. But I realize now how much sense that makes. They like the routine we have created, the accountability we provide, and the relationships we have built with them. We have students who were in danger of failing when they joined The Study Coaches. Today, they are earning A’s and B’s. They have improved their study habits, their organizational and academic skills, and their attitudes about school. Most importantly, they have gained confidence and self-respect.
An additional bonus is that we take the burden off the parent. Many parents have, for years, nagged and prodded their children to do their work. It is exhausting and confrontational. Surrendering that responsibility to The Study Coaches brings peace back to the home. We did not anticipate this response but they are some of the most rewarding aspects of my business.
Kari, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I can hardly remember a time when I wasn’t a teacher. I like to say that I have taught students from cradle to college and beyond. My first job in high school was teaching gymnastics. That’s where I caught the bug. I loved seeing the kids work hard and light up when they recognized how much they could do. It was so much fun and I realized that teaching was my calling. I graduated from Arizona State University with a degree in Elementary Education and later, from Northern Arizona University with a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership. Over the years, I have continued my dedication to education by supporting the local school district and the state in a variety of ways through volunteerism, advocacy, and part-time work. I found my way to Arizona State University where I have worked with students in teacher preparation programs online and in person.
Have you ever had to pivot?
We all had to pivot during the pandemic and I was no exception. At the time I was working with ASU students who were in their student teaching semester. Suddenly, overnight, they could no longer be in their classrooms. Many school districts could no longer support our student teachers. We have to pivot. How do you create a meaningful experience for people who are expecting to and need to do hands-on work? Arizona State created programs for student teachers who had to leave their placements. Many of them were enlisted to tutor K-12 students online. Others we able to work virtually with the students from their placement classrooms. We brought our university work online. Where student teachers were expecting to be coached by us on the lessons they delivered, we had to learn what content they truly needed. We began by teaching them about online instructional methods and quickly found what they really needed was to talk. We discussed their fears and their triumphs. They took advice from us and offered suggestions to each other. The benefit we found was that we were able to have some very real conversations about what the future teachers were going through. They were scared. Their students were scared. We all were. What did this all mean for the fall? Would they be prepared? What would the students be like when they returned? I think what we all learned is that we need to be equipped for the unexpected. Being able to modify and adjust is a key component of any successful classroom. But ultimately, teaching is about relationships and this time of uncertainty opened our capacity for compassion and understanding. I believe that it made our student teachers and us, as instructors, better practitioners. I know that this time has impacted my work and my tolerance. After all who wants to learn about polynomials from someone that does not see the person you are? Emphasizing the humanity in our learners comes first.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
When I was younger I was proud that I chose teaching as my profession. It felt noble. I guess, in my mind, being underpaid was somehow part of what made teaching honorable. Teachers sacrifice a great deal to make sure their students succeed. They work during off hours, nights, weekends, and lunch breaks. They buy classroom supplies and genuinely give of themselves freely. I know this because I lived it.
After I left the classroom, I personally spent countless unpaid hours on non-profits and advocacy groups. I have had to learn that I do not have to give my skills away. It is an instinct that I still fight. My heart breaks when there is a need and I know I can make a difference. What I had to unlearn is that I deserve to be paid for my work. I will always volunteer my time for causes that I care about but now I realize that, for my profession, I can do noble work and be paid for it too. Being underpaid is not what makes the work honorable. What is honorable is the work.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thestudycoaches.
com - Instagram: @thestudycoaches
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheStudyCoaches/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kariworkman/
Image Credits
Stephanie Heyman