We were lucky to catch up with Zarie Baker recently and have shared our conversation below.

Zarie, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Are you happier as a business owner? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job?

Being a business owner is not for the faint of heart! It takes a lot to build and maintain a business. I’m proud to say that on July 29, 2024, I will celebrate five years in business. Woohoo! For the past year, I’ve been working full-time as an entrepreneur. There were many times I considered scaling back and returning to a regular job for financial stability. At the beginning of 2024, I faced months of piling bills, low funds, and the threat of car repossession. However, I reminded myself of the benefits of self-employment, such as flexibility and working directly with my students and their families. I don’t have to deal with toxic workplaces or tasks I dislike. These reflections motivate me to continue my entrepreneurial journey and enhance my networking by attending events to showcase my services and products. To maintain cash flow while keeping my business a priority, I decided to take on part-time jobs that allow me to stay flexible.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

During the pandemic, when everything was so uncertain, many parents considered sending their children back into the traditional classroom setting, a decision that I was also grappling with. I had already been providing tutoring to a few children in my church and community, but it was just a side gig for me. I still worked as a full-time school teacher.

As a classroom teacher, I noticed that many students entered school barely comprehending the foundational concepts of letters, numbers, and other introductory knowledge that could be introduced at home. As a result, they were automatically labeled “high risk” for intervention. For some, once they acclimated to the learning environment, they could break away from the label and meet grade-level expectations, but that wasn’t the case for all.

Feeling unfulfilled while trying to stay afloat with the many tasks assigned to my position, I was also disappointed in the lack of time I had to support my struggling “high-risk” students.

In response to my dissatisfaction and the barriers my students were encountering, I opted for a different role to be part of the solution. I decided to leave the classroom and focus more on offering instructional intervention support to students who need it. The traditional classroom does not always allow the time needed for some students to grasp and grow in their learning. This disconnect is where my business serves as a bridge between instructional comprehension and academic success.

Brainiaire Academy is an academic support service that provides educational intervention and enrichment to students. We reach a vast age range of students starting as early as 3 years of age up to the 8th grade. Our services include one-on-one and small-group support in the subjects of literacy and math. Families can access our services virtually and in person. Our services are not “one-size-fits-all.” We personalize the lessons to meet the unique needs, interests, and progress of the students that we assist. I am more fulfilled in my role, and I can see how my services positively impact my students and their families.

Additionally, we develop and provide diverse educational materials for beginning learners for supplemental practice. Our most popular product is Miss Baker’s Accelerated Dual Language Learning Guide. It’s a learning guide that features 22 engaging activities in English and Spanish for early learners to practice foundational phonics, literacy, writing, and math skills.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

The best source of new clients for me is word of mouth. Many of my students are referred by former and current clients, as well as family, friends, and colleagues.

If you have multiple revenue streams in your business, would you mind opening up about what those streams are and how they fit together?

Yes, in addition to my tutoring services, I create and host engaging events for children, such as Plant & Paint during the spring and summer months, and school author visits during the fall and winter. These events provide enriching, hands-on experiences that inspire creativity and a love for learning.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://brainiaireacademyllc.square.site/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brainiaireacademyllc/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brainiaireacademyllc/?paipv=0&eav=AfZhtNq2c7zkPQ82jDoxEVqu36qbXuqBxyicslMEcVjZh7cUm8b5Lt6y_W4pIPsGnzw&_rdr
• Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brainiaireacademyllc