Passionate educator Theresa Alcasabas knows firsthand the transformative power of Kumon; she has seen her own young children flourish in English and maths.
“My eldest is 10, and just got into an opportunity class,” she reveals.
Now as the owner of the Kumon Oran Park Education Centre, Theresa is bringing her extensive education skills to the local Sydney community.
While her business ownership is relatively new, her passion for education has been lifelong.
“I was a school principal in a private school in the Philippines, and also a volunteer with EdConnect, working with students who needed help with literacy,” Theresa explains.
When she arrived in Australia in 2019 she continued to work remotely with the same school, and then got involved in volunteering.
So when she was looking to invest in a business, an educational brand was an obvious choice.
“I knew Kumon well, it’s a household name in the Philippines. It’s a reputable global brand, with a track record of laying foundations in maths and English,” she says.
“And the Kumon model works well for me as a mum; I have the flexibility to do the school drop off and pick up.”
Kumon supports new franchisees
Well-versed in the educational skills required to run a Kumon centre, Theresa was glad to have the franchisor’s support in establishing her business.
The team’s expertise eased the challenge of finding the right venue for her brand-new Kumon Education Centre.
“The centre site we chose is near two public schools, so I have lots of students from there; the location is really good.”
Kumon support extends to helping with set up – from feedback on preliminary financial projections, to prepping a classroom and preparing monthly reports.
Theresa loved the Kumon franchisee start-up kit which included furniture, worksheets and stationery in the package.
The franchisor’s expertise also proved beneficial in marketing the business and driving leads.
Theresa praises the franchisor for its ongoing support and feedback on educational issues and business operations and development.
“When you start out Kumon provides upfront training and it continues with follow-up learning for instructors. Some are Zoom monthly meetings and there’s a new meeting where we can network with new instructors, it’s an opportunity to exchange ideas,” she says.
And with the help of the support team, she’s achieving strong business growth.
Theresa started her business with about 13 students; less than a year later that number has risen to more than 100.
Referrals have driven business growth
“I really put my heart into my business and I’ve been able to achieve strong growth through referrals and word of mouth.
“I also think my background as an educator helps; I know the importance of curriculum and what I want the kids to learn.”
And if a student is not progressing, Theresa seeks advice from the Kumon team.
“My field development consultant is just a call away and visits twice a month, more if I need it. She can offer suggestions on how to improve my instruction, and how to handle educational concerns.”
Theresa is rigorous when she recruits qualified assistants who help her prep classwork and work with students.
“It’s important to me to hire assistants who will care for the kids, be patient and responsible, it’s not just about the education.
“When I have new staff I try to overstaff so I can focus on the new assistant and train them in the class. The investment pays off,” she says.
Now with an established client base, Theresa wants to focus on increasing the number of advanced students, and students who complete all levels of the Kumon education program.
She loves to see success rewarded so is always keen to organise her centre’s awards night at the end of the year to celebrate how students have progressed.
“I work alongside local schools too to build a strong foundation for children,” she says. Last December most of her students received year-end school awards for their education, which thrilled their parents, and Theresa.
“As an educator, my passion is assisting students in developing their skills and capabilities, and helping the families as well. I see myself in a classroom, seeing kids learn to read and write. Advising them on their studies is very fulfilling,” she says. “Kumon has exceeded my expectations.”