Today we’d like to introduce you to Debbie Rogers Siegel.
Hi Debbie, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I started my Lake Grove Kumon Math and Reading Center in 2003 to help my own kids study math and reading concepts in a way that assured mastery. My oldest daughter, lianne, was very excited about math and was a fast learner. She felt school was slow in moving her forward and wasn’t teaching her math that would lead to calculus. She started at the center in Bend at the time and when we moved to the Portland area I opened the center so she could continue. She and her sister, Caroline, were able to do both the math and reading programs and we were excited about the new preschool and kindergarten materials.
Fast forward and Lianne is now a professor of biostatistics and her sister, Caroline, is a project manager for an environmental engineering firm.
I have worked with more than 3,000 kids over the years and I love it more than anything. Each child has their own special way of doing things and no two are alike. I have gained so much in having such a unique career that allows me to work closely with children and their parents. It is really uplifting to be with my students and encourage them to try things they didn’t think they could do. I am very lucky.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Owning a small business is not for the faint of heart. You never know what is around the next corner and you have to constantly adapt your systems and methods to survive. The recession in 2008 was quite challenging and COVID wasn’t something I would ever want to repeat. Those were the hardest by far. The effects are readily apparent when families are under economic threat. I am really hoping for some nice boring economic news that is trending in the right direction.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Kumon specializes in helping kids master the concepts of math and reading from a senior high school level to preschool. It’s top down approach means that we only teach concepts that will lead to a mastery of calculus and senior high school reading comprehension and critique. Kumon originally started almost 70 years ago in Japan. It is now in 55 countries and is well-regarded as a program that guarantees students will have a solid foundation and understanding that lasts.
We offer class times after school and on Saturdays, and students are expected to practice from 15 to 30 minutes a day depending on their level in the curriculum. This consistency of practice makes our students incredibly fast and agile in their ability to read and calculate. I am most proud of our ability to be able to offer pencil and paper work in a world that is almost entirely on screens. I personally monitor and lesson plan for every student. We recently added the option of being able to do study on a tablet, but I think we are special because we offer both methods of study. We never use AI to grade or lesson plan work for our students.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
I am happiest when I feel like I am making an impact. I like being helpful and seeing kids meet their goals. They do the work and I coach them along on their journey. It is incredibly gratifying. I love being able to grow and adapt to new challenges and seeing where it takes me. My little learning center has become a second home for me and I have poured my heart and soul into making it thrive.
When I’m not working I enjoy knitting sweaters, working in the pottery studio, dancing and traveling. Coaxing plants to life in the garden is another joy and I am never tired when I’m doing things that I love. Creating and spending time with my friends and family makes life very sweet.
Pricing:
- Monthly tuition for math or reading is $180.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.kumon.com/lake-grove
- Instagram: kumonoflakegrove
- Facebook: kumon.com/lake-grove
