We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Tania Bertolone a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Tania thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Too often the media represents innovation as something magical that only high-flying tech billionaires and upstarts engage in – but the truth is almost every business owner has to regularly innovate in small and big ways in order for their businesses to survive and thrive. Can you share a story that highlights something innovative you’ve done over the course of your career?

Thank you for allowing me to share the inspiring journey and vision behind The Learning Café. We are dedicated to reimagining education and creating a space that empowers both students and parents, and we think that is innovative in itself!

My experience in both the public and private education sectors allowed me to see first-hand the challenges and limitations of traditional systems. I’ve taken those insights and channeled them into building something unique. By offering an education program that values freedom, flexibility, and choice, I’ve given families an alternative that aligns with their unique needs and desires.

The emphasis on slowing things down, fostering student interest, and promoting hands-on learning is refreshing in a world that often seems to prioritize speed and stress. The Learning Café has become a haven where children can explore, learn, and grow at their own pace, guided by their interests and supported by a nurturing community.

At this time, we mostly serve homeschooled students.  We recognize and honor the homeschooling lifestyle and its ability to create individual rhythms and meaningful family experiences. The Learning Café is not just an educational institution but a place where families can find balance and celebrate the beauty of learning together.  We hope to inspire homeschool curious families and families who are dissatisfied with the traditional systems of education to take a look at our unique and alternative approach to learning.

We are dedicated to redefining education and continuing to be a valuable resource to homeschooling families and beyond. We feel that the world needs more innovative and compassionate learning experiences like ours in order to disrupt the status quo for the benefit of our children’s futures.

Tania, 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?

My name is Tania Bertolone. I am the owner and program director of The Learning Café located in Chardon, Ohio. I grew up in Lake County, but have fallen in love with Geauga County since opening The Learning Café in 2022. I’m a proud active member of the Chardon Chamber of Commerce and am in the Signature Adult Geauga Leadership Program for the 2023-2024 year. My husband and I have a beautiful 12-year-old daughter who is one of the most unique young ladies I know. After graduating from Miami of Ohio with a BA in Theatre, I moved to Los Angeles to explore a career in music as I had been writing and singing since I was 8 years old. After a couple years, I realized my purpose in life was not being fulfilled, and I moved back home, went back to school, and received my teaching certificate for Middle Childhood Education. While pursuing my teaching license, I substituted in many different schools for all different grade levels, which was one of the most valuable hands-on learning experiences I could have ever have imagined.

I taught in a public school for the first seven years of my career and in a private Montessori school for the next seven years. Montessori opened my eyes to a world of learning I never knew existed. I like to say it peeled back the layers that the traditional educational system had placed upon me. While I believed deeply in Montessori pedagogy, I could still see the gaps that existed in that system. After what was an amazing seven years of studying and learning Montessori, I made the decision to leave and create my own world of education.

The Learning Café is a passion project that came from a need for something that didn’t exist. People have been growing more and more weary of the education system, and I wanted to provide a learning community where parents would feel confident and comfortable with what and how their children were being taught, and students and teachers would feel engaged and to learn about all the beautiful things this world has to offer. Through many conversations with parents, teachers and students, The Learning Café was born.

We are in our second year at The Learning Café and we’ve more than tripled in our enrollment. We began serving just middle school students, but have now expanded to ages 3 to 18. Our innovative learning community is unique and breaks the mold of what any schools are currently offering. Because our programs run just one or two days a week, we mostly serve homeschool families. We believe that someday our model will be considered as an education option for all families.

I’m most proud that I took a leap of faith and started something that didn’t exist before. When I tell people what I’m doing and why I’m doing it, the response is overwhelmingly supportive. I’ve learned through this process that not only am I passionate about education, but at heart I’m an entrepreneur. Being able to create something from nothing, is one of the greatest accomplishments in life, and doing what you love to do every day for work, never feels like work.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

Social media has been a game-changer for us in growing our clientele at The Learning Café. When I initially conceptualized this idea, I decided to dip my toes into the waters of social media to gauge interest. I joined a couple of relevant Facebook groups and asked a few questions to see if there was any resonance with my idea. To my pleasant surprise, there was a resounding response – it was like a spark had been ignited.

The feedback and engagement within these Facebook groups gave me a clear signal that I was on to something special. This initial positive response was the validation I needed to proceed with confidence.

Since then, I’ve continued to leverage the power of social media, primarily Facebook and Instagram, to keep our community informed and engaged. It’s been heartening to encounter people who not only recognize The Learning Café name but have also heard positive things about our programs.

Consistency has been key to our success in this domain. I aim to post 5 to 6 times a week, and these posts typically feature images of our students engaged in meaningful activities. These visuals not only convey the quality of education we offer but also encapsulate the spirit and ethos of our institution.

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

The success of The Learning Café’s social media strategy has been a pivotal factor in our growth. As soon as I recognized the interest in our unique educational approach, I took immediate action by creating both a Facebook page and an Instagram account.

Consistency has been a cornerstone of our social media presence. I strive to maintain regular and engaging content that not only introduces our audience to The Learning Café but also delves into the benefits of home education. Education is not just our business; it’s a passion, and we want to share the advantages of this approach with others.

Another critical element of our strategy involves engaging with our audience. I take the time to personally connect with individuals who like our posts or follow our profiles. By inviting them to like and follow our page, we’re not just expanding our reach but also nurturing a sense of community and involvement among our supporters.

Sharing is a powerful tool in the world of social media, and we fully embrace it. We encourage our audience to share our content, and we do the same. This creates a ripple effect that extends far beyond our immediate network.

Moreover, I make it a point to tag organizations we collaborate with and follow those in our community. This practice fosters valuable connections and often results in reciprocal follow-backs. By building a network of like-minded and collaborative businesses, we not only promote The Learning Café but contribute to the collective growth of our community.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thelearningcafecommunity.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelearningcafecommunity/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thelearningcafecommunity/