Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Counter.
Jennifer, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I worked in the business world, in a variety of industries while earning my Bachelor’s Degree from Houston Baptist University. After graduating I began my teaching career. I was an Elementary teacher for 10 years. I taught many different grades and all subjects. I’ve always loved kids and had a passion for helping others but I’ve also always enjoyed the idea of owning my own company.
The entrepreneurial spirit is definitely something I’ve always carried with me. Three years ago I took a huge leap of faith and resigned from my teaching position in Katy to pursue those dreams. I began my own tutoring business with a handful of students and I have now grown to over 300 students in the past 3 years. The response from the community and my tutoring clients has been amazing. We are truly blessed to work with amazing families in the Katy community and surrounding areas.
Right now the majority of our students come to us from the Katy area but we also work with students from Fulshear, Bookshire, Lamar Consolidated, Fort Bend, Cy Fair, and Alief ISDs. Knowing that our tutoring families are willing to make the drive for us; so we can work with their students, says a lot about their faith in our program and our tutors! That is an honor we do not take lightly. We are committed to our students and their success. We are committed to meeting our students where they are academically and helping them grow and improve. Our company motto is: Empower. Educate. Excel. That is our standard. Those are our goals. We treat every student as an individual and offer them a unique tailored learning plan; based on their strengths, weaknesses, and learning objectives.
I started tutoring at the public library and local coffee shops and restaurants in the Katy area. Within the first year we grew to 4 employees. I now 3 years later, employ over 15 certified tutors, an Administrative Assistant, Business Assistant, and a Marketing Intern. We are set to open our first tutoring center November 15th, 2017 close to Katy Mills Mall. My team and I are very excited to transition into our own space and offer extended tutoring hours and unique summer camps and programs.
Our 1,300 sq. foot building will house individual tutoring rooms, technology work spaces, and group tutoring rooms. We provide one on one and small group tutoring sessions for students in Pre-K though College in all academic areas, including Math, Reading, Writing, Science, Social Studies, Foreign Languages, English As A Second Language, Special Education, Dyslexia, and Gifted in Talented. In the summer we will offer specialized programs by grade level. For instance: Math Camp, Science Camp, Kindergarten Ready Camp, Handwriting Camp, Writing Camp and Book Clubs etc.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Building a business from the ground up is not an easy task. There have been many learning curves along the way, but I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything! It has taught me so much about my own perseverance and abilities to learn while I grow. Running your own business means you will make mistakes but the beauty for me is, I can face my students and say, “I know the challenges you are facing, I’m facing my own. I’m figuring things out too. We can learn and grow together.” They see how far I’ve come as a tutor and an employer and they share in that victory and they know they are as much a part of my success as I am theirs. That’s a great feeling.
Counter’s Tutoring Connection – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I think what we are most known for us the connection we make with our students as tutors. That’s why I put that word in my company name. I believe it’s about the connection we make with our students that sets you apart from our competition.
I was a classroom teacher for 10 years and my experience has taught me that the most successful teachers are the ones that know how to connect with their students. Children and youth crave what we all do- someone who will listen to us, someone who will help us when we don’t understand, and someone who will believe in us. For years, I was a mentor teacher, working with student teachers from The University of Houston, and I would always tell those young eager college students “You can be the most knowledgeable teacher, but if these kids don’t know you care for them, they will never learn anything from you. But if you connect with them, they will learn everything from you.”
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
The proudest moment of my career has been opening my own tutoring center. I am single Mom and I’ve had to work really hard to get to where I am. My daughter Lauren, is now a teenager. To see the pride in her face when she tells people what her Mom does and about our tutoring center, really makes my heart smile, because I know all the sacrifice and late nights and early mornings have been worth it. I’ve been able to show her that when you want something, you fight for it, you put in the time and effort, and you believe in yourself enough to see it through.
Contact Info:
- Address: 24662 Kingsland Blvd.
Katy, Texas 77494 - Website: www.counterstutoring.com
- Phone:(832) 341-6621
- Email:info@counterstutoring.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/counterstutoringconnection/
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