We were lucky to catch up with Kathy Dahdal recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Kathy thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Being a business owner can be really hard sometimes. It’s rewarding, but most business owners we’ve spoken sometimes think about what it would have been like to have had a regular job instead. Have you ever wondered that yourself? Maybe you can talk to us about a time when you felt this way?

I absolutely love being a business owner—even while working full time as a high school assistant principal. Building my own business has been one of the most empowering and fulfilling experiences of my life. There is something incredibly meaningful about creating something from your own ideas, effort, and vision. I love the freedom to work when and how I want, to bring my ideas to life without being told how they should look, and to trust my own instincts as a creator. There is no one hovering over me, no box I have to fit into. Every product I create reflects my values, my creativity, and my lived experience in education. Knowing that my work helps teachers and students beyond the walls of my own school makes all the long nights worth it.

Owning a business has also taught me confidence. It has shown me that my ideas have value, that my voice matters, and that hard work paired with purpose can turn into something real and impactful. Watching my business grow from something I built with my own hands and mind is deeply satisfying in a way that’s hard to describe unless you’ve lived it.

That said, the hardest part isn’t the work itself—it’s the balance. As an assistant principal, I care deeply about my students. Their struggles don’t stop at dismissal, and neither does my concern for their well-being. There are nights when I leave the building physically, but mentally I’m still there—thinking about a student who was struggling emotionally, a difficult parent conversation, or a situation that didn’t sit right with me. On those nights, the weight of responsibility can feel heavy.

The last time I seriously thought about what it might be like to “just” have a regular job was during one of those evenings. I remember sitting at my laptop late at night, exhausted, toggling between school emails and business work, feeling pulled in two directions. I thought, What would it feel like to clock out and truly be done? To not carry so much emotional weight? To not be responsible for so many people at once?

But even in that moment, the answer became clear. I realized I don’t actually want less purpose—I just want more alignment. I don’t want a job that asks less of me; I want work that reflects who I am. Both my role in education and my business do that in different ways. One serves students directly in the moment; the other allows me to extend my impact far beyond my school.

The insight I came to is this: I’m not choosing between stability and passion. I’m living both. It’s not always easy, and it requires constant reflection and boundaries, but I wouldn’t trade this life for something simpler if it meant giving up the freedom, creativity, and meaning I’ve built. Being a business owner hasn’t made my life easier—but it has made it fuller, more intentional, and more me.

Kathy, 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 am the owner of two businesses: Queen’s Educational Resources and Queen’s Clipart Gallery. I am an educational content creator and clipart seller who develops digital resources used by educators and creators across platforms such as Teachers Pay Teachers, Made By Teachers, Classful, Teach Share, Etsy, and Shopify.

Queen’s Educational Resources was created to provide practical, easy-to-use classroom materials. My focus is on social-emotional learning and life-skills resources for middle and high school students, including topics such as decision-making, communication skills, social skills, self-management, empathy, self-esteem, identity, conflict resolution, emotional regulation, collaboration and teamwork, etc. The materials are designed to be clear, age-appropriate, and flexible so educators can easily integrate them into their existing lessons. The goal is to support meaningful student reflection while also saving educators time.

As I developed my own educational resources, I became more aware of how effective visuals can improve instructional materials. Remembering how clipart enhanced the presentation and clarity of my own work led to the creation of Queen’s Clipart Gallery.

Queen’s Clipart Gallery offers original clipart and illustrations for both personal and commercial use. Over time, I began collaborating with artists from across the country by sharing design ideas and concepts. Once artwork is completed, I obtain full copyright ownership and publish the illustrations exclusively through my stores. I am the sole copyright owner and authorized seller of all artwork sold through Queen’s Clipart Gallery and Queen’s Educational Resources.

What distinguishes my work is an emphasis on originality, clear licensing, and usability. The artwork and resources are created to be versatile and accessible, allowing educators and creators to confidently use them in their own projects. The collections are designed to support a range of educational and creative needs while maintaining consistency and quality.

I am proud to have built two businesses that provide dependable resources for educators and creators. My focus remains on continuing to develop materials that are practical, well-designed, and easy to use, while maintaining transparency and consistency across my work.

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

As I built my businesses, I gradually realized that being personable and approachable is an important part of growing an audience on social media. People are more likely to engage when they feel a sense of familiarity and connection. Over time, I saw that in order for people to truly connect with my work, they also needed to know who was behind Queen’s Educational Resources and Queen’s Clipart Gallery.

That realization led me to be more visible online. I wanted people to see that I’m a regular woman with big goals and an active, creative mind. By showing up as myself, my hope was not only to build trust, but also to show others that success doesn’t require being perfect or having everything figured out. If I can build something meaningful from my ideas and effort, others can too.

On social media, I don’t focus solely on product promotion. While I do share my educational resources and clipart, I also post small, everyday parts of my life—things like cooking, eating out, spending time with my dog, cozy evenings at home watching TV, fashion, and simple moments that reflect who I am outside of work. Sharing these moments helps humanize my brand and makes my content feel more relatable rather than purely transactional.

I’ve found that this balance—combining product content with personal, everyday moments—has helped create genuine interest in my pages. It allows people to connect with me as a person first, which naturally leads them to want to learn more about my work.

For anyone trying to build a social media presence, my advice is to focus on authenticity and consistency. People connect with people, not just products. Showing up regularly, being yourself, and allowing your audience to see the person behind the brand can go a long way in building trust and meaningful engagement over time.

How do you keep in touch with clients and foster brand loyalty?

Staying connected with customers and building brand loyalty is very important to me, and I do this in several intentional ways. One of the main ways I keep in touch with clients is by actively responding to feedback and reviews. Whenever a customer leaves a review or sends feedback on a product, I make it a point to respond. If there is a question or concern—such as a download issue or clarification about how to use a resource—I respond as quickly as possible so the customer has what they need to use the product successfully.

Timely communication helps build trust. Customers know that if they reach out, they will receive support rather than being left without answers. When I respond, I also try to use the customer’s name, which helps make the interaction feel more personal and shows that their message matters.

Social media is another important way I foster connection. I respond to comments, engage in conversations, and interact with followers’ content when appropriate. This creates a two-way relationship rather than a one-sided exchange and helps people feel more connected to the brand.

Email communication is also an important part of staying in touch. I use email to answer questions, provide support, and help resolve any issues customers may encounter. Overall, my approach is centered on being accessible, responsive, and supportive, which helps build long-term trust and encourages customers to return.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/queens-educational-resources
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/queens_educational_resources/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/QueensEducationalResources
• Other: https://www.queensclipartgallery.com/
  https://www.pinterest.com/queenseducationalresources/pins/
  https://www.teachshare.com/profile/queens-educational-resources