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

Tanya, appreciate you joining us today. So, let’s start with a hypothetical – what would you change about the educational system?

I will start by shinning a super bright light on social emotional learning. As a kindergarten teacher I have seen the struggles that many of my students face as they navigate the social and academic expectations that are placed upon their young shoulders. I would love to see a more robust and intentional movement towards incorporating comprehensive Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) programs into our early childhood education programs.

I will also like to see early childhood programs find a healthier balance with academic rigor and play-based learning. We know that play is a child’s natural way of learning, and that it fosters creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork, yet, more and more programs are eliminating time for play to push in academic content. As a classroom teacher, I have seen the magic that happens when young children are allowed to explore, investigate, and take an active role in their learning. A multidisciplinary curriculum that is integrated and incorporates outdoor education is a great recipe for success.

Tanya, 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 an author and entrepreneur with a strong entrepreneurial spirit ingrained in my DNA. I am one of seven. I grew up in the Dominican Republic under extreme poverty. My parents run a farm and we ate what we grew. During draughts or a poor harvest, there were times when food was scarce. It was during those challenging periods that I watched my mother embark in numerous business ideas as a way to make ends meet.

So you see, my journey as an entrepreneur began early in life, as I am the daughter of a determined and hardworking woman who ran multiple businesses, from selling vegetables in the market, to selling arepas on the street corner, she always managed to make that little extra cash to feed us and clothe us. Growing up, I witnessed the dedication and resiliency required to succeed in the world of entrepreneurship, and these experiences have shaped who I am today. With a relentless drive to create and innovate, I have never been afraid of hard work.

I am the proud owner of Miserere Press, a venture that encompasses various facets of my creative endeavors. This includes my Teachers Pay Teachers (TPT) store, my work as a published author, and my coaching services. Under the overarching theme of “Sparking Creativity,” which is also the name of my TPT store, I am dedicated to providing children with resources that nurture and ignite their creativity. Drawing from my upbringing and the lessons learned from my mother, I am committed to empowering the next generation with the tools and inspiration they need to flourish and succeed in their own unique ways.

Giving back to my community is at the heart of my personal brand. I am the co-founder of Las Margaritas Foundation http://www.lasmargaritasfoundation.org, a non-profit organization working to educate underserved children in the Dominican Republic. One of our biggest programs in the foundation is “send a girl to college”. With this initiative we have been able to provide full college scholarships to over forty young women in the community of San Cristobal, Dominican Republic. In additional to that, our community center serves over 100 school age children every day by providing academic support. We our reading program !Vamos a leer! we have taught dozens of young children to read and write.

How’d you think through whether to sell directly on your own site or through a platform like Amazon, Etsy, Cratejoy, etc.

I’m an adventurous person. This character trait shows up in various aspects of my life including my business. I am always exploring ways to get my resources out there and to impact more people. I attend a few book fairs a year where I get to meet people from the local community and establish a personal connection with them.

I well my products through both my personal website and on platforms like Amazon, Face Book, Teachers Pay Teachers, and Etsy. I just recently began to write a blog as a way to connect with a wider audience and to direct traffic to my website. I have not found the MAGIC platform nor do I think one exist. I know some business friends who are doing great on Tik Tok and Instagram, but I don’t have the confort level to be on video all the time, plus managing all of that posting and tracking is not on my area of genius. And that is fine.

I like selling on my website. It allows me to maintain full control over my branding, customer experiences, and profit. This, however brings its own challenges. I am a solopreneur so managing updates, marketing and overall maintenance is tough. On the other hand, using a platform like Amazon and Etsy allows me to have immediate access to their customer base. There is also the added benefit of the know and trust factor. People buy from places they know and trust and these well known market places provide that.

How’d you meet your business partner?

Let’s see… The story of how I met my Tutoring With A Twist co-founder and business partner, Lauren, is one that perfectly illustrates the serendipitous nature of entrepreneurial journeys. It all began about a decade ago when I embarked on my first business venture- a unique summer tutoring program. My vision was to create an educational experience where learning would take place outdoors through integrated curricular activities. I envisioned students becoming readers, scientists, and mathematicians through hands-on outdoor projects. While I was incredibly excited about this idea, I also recognized the need for a business partner to bring it to life fully.

The pivotal moment occurred during a curriculum planning meeting with a group of kindergarten teachers from my district. I had just met this group of educators for the first time, and on the very fist day of the workshop as I was walking out the door during our lunch break, I heard my name being calle. It was Lauren, extending a warm invitation, “tanya, do you want to grab lunch?” Those simple words were more than just an invitation; they were a turning point in my journey. Prior to that moment, I had never felt truly included or invited by my peers at educator meetings like this. Excitedly, I returned home and told my husband, “I found my business partner!” and I did! Lauren joined me on the Tutoring With a Twist adventure, we’ve turned our shared vision into a thriving reality, and our journey continues to inspire and drive us forward.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.tanyaparis.com/
• Instagram: @growingreadersnow, @sparkingcreativitynow, @author_tanyaparis
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TanyaMParis/
• Linkedin: Tanya Montás Paris (She/Her) Business Owner at Sparking Creativity Press
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjQRgQscCSc
• Other: TPT: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Sparking-Creativity-Now https://tanya-paris.com/ https://www.amazon.com/stores/Tanya-Mont%C3%A1s-Paris/author/B07L2HKZ2Y?ref=ap_rdr&store_ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true