We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kelly Dibble Kerner. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kelly below.
Kelly, appreciate you joining us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?
My past experience as a public school teacher has shaped the overall mission of my small educational business immensely. In teaching many young faces year after year, it’s clear there is no mold for the “typical” student. Each comes with unique strengths and weaknesses, internal motivations, and past experiences that shape their mindset for learning.
At Dibbs On It Creative Learning, we design our educational experiences with all learners in mind. Through the incorporation of a variety of activity types, unique materials, and purposeful connection, students gain confidence in their own educational journey all while having fun! From STEAM science experiments and foreign language lessons, to mindful breathwork and outdoor education, we have a little bit of everything! Plus, all Dibbs On It experiences have a creative art project beautifully intertwined with the educational objective for even more hands-on value.
As a teacher, curriculum developer, and perpetual student myself, I take pride in curating each learning experience to spark curiosity and creative expression. I want to plant a seed for lifelong learning in families, schools, communities, and beyond!
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 Kelly Dibble Kerner and I am the owner and founder of Dibbs On It Creative Learning, a small business offering innovative educational opportunities uniquely-designed to spark creativity and curiosity. My mission is to provide fun and engaging experiences that plant a seed for lifelong learning at any age. Programs cover a variety of topics including STEAM science, foreign language, mindfulness, creative reading and writing, and nature. One-of-a-kind art projects are intertwined into every lesson to allow students creative expression while internalizing class content.
As a former public school teacher, something I take pride in is the educational content I develop into community offerings. Designed with all learners in mind, my workshops are curated with a variety of activity types including visuals, games, movement, discussion, collaboration, and art. They’re all-around learning experiences! Since starting, I have been able to connect with students in different settings like schools, homeschool co-ops, public libraries, parks and recreation departments, and day camps, which has allowed me to share my content on a larger scale.
I’ve always loved learning, whether it be an academic concept, practical skill, or fun new game. How fulfilling it is to move towards the answer to a question or grow through experiencing something for the first time. I want to pass on this curiosity to my students, along with the ability to gain confidence in their own educational journey. Stay tuned for what’s to come!
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
In 2022, I made the decision to leave my job and dive into entrepreneurship full-time. It was such a big risk, sometimes I look back and still can’t believe I actually did it! But, I had grown restless devoting my efforts elsewhere when what I really wanted to do was focus on growing my budding business, Dibbs On It Creative Learning.
At the beginning it was tough! Wearing the many hats of owning a business, and being new to it, made time management a challenge. Should I spend more time developing resources? But, I need to make community connections in order to expand. Or, maybe I should be devoting more time to my digital audience. There is so much to do day-to-day as a business owner, sometimes it’s difficult knowing where to start!
Thankfully I can say now I’m much stronger in that department and feeling more confident than ever. It’s amazing to (finally) feel like I’m on the right professional path and witness that what I’m offering is well-received and valued in a variety of settings.
I look back at the beginning of this journey fondly. Although scary at times, it was so exciting to trust my intuition and take a leap. In 2024 I’ve seen more growth than ever, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds!
Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?
My company, Dibbs On It Creative Learning, provides custom-designed educational workshops and resources in a variety of educational settings. I typically charge a registration fee per student, which is broken down into payment for my time (as the teacher and developer) as well as reimbursement for physical materials used in class (students take home a creative art project each class as part of the objective).
As an incentive to schedule and get my foot in the door at a new establishment, I will offer a discounted “intro” event where I may only ask for reimbursement of physical materials and forego payment for my time. This would be for the first event only, and I have found that this is a less risky, easier commitment for this establishment to get to know me, my business, and overall mission.
This practice has really paved the way for some strong foundational business relationships, and I continue it to this day! In my opinion, the time invested during the first event is well-worth it.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dibbs.on.it
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dibbs.On.It/
Image Credits
Kelly Dibble Kerner