Today we’d like to introduce you to Debbie Tate.
Debbie, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I started my career as an early childhood educator. After receiving my Montessori Certification I got my first teaching job at Village Montessori School. While teaching Montessori I went on to pursue Early Childhood Education. I then went on to teach preschool at River Oaks Baptist School for seven years. Then I took a turn and taught at a therapeutic school working with special needs children. This allowed me the opportunity to go to schools throughout the Houston area to help teachers with class management.
While teaching at the therapeutic school I began Memory Makers. I started teaching after school enrichment classes at several schools. I still go to several schools with my ARTtastic mobile classes including Village Montessori School where I started my teaching career along with Westside Montessori School and Happy Times Academy. I started my art program because I believe creativity is very important for young children and I believe it helps them to become eager lifelong learners! Another component of Memory Makers is all-inclusive children’s themed parties. In the beginning, I did mobile parties. I brought everything to people’s homes.
After years of teaching full time and doing my after-school enrichment classes, I retired from teaching and turned my attention to Memory Makers full time. Many people had asked me over the years if I had a place for parties and classes, but I was restricted to only being mobile. That is when I discovered a charming house in Old Katy that bubbled with potential. That was the beginning of my Memory Makers Art and Party studio!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Opening the studio did come with some challenges. Being small creative business money was tight and I had to stretch my budget to get up and running. Another obstacle is how to get people to come and support your business. Small businesses are so dependent on community support. I was blessed to have a nice group of parents who came to demo classes and then signed up for classes and told their friends. They also booked parties and got my business up and running. Business was steady and rising and I stayed extremely and happily busy.
Two years into my business I suffered a personal tragedy when my husband passed away from cancer. Going through this loss while running a business was extremely challenging, but I found great strength in my Memory Makers’ families who showed so much love and support, and of course, the beautiful young children lifted me up each day with their smiles, laughs, and hugs!
Despite the obstacles and challenges, I am so happy to have my sweet little studio in the heart of Old Katy especially when it is filled with happy children and families.
Memory Makers – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Memory Makers is a unique business. We specialize in themed classes and custom parties. We are known for our creative approach to teaching art and science and for our unique themed parties. Our art and science classes follow a theme each month. The studio is transformed into the theme which could be the Emerald City, Under the Sea or Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory. Our classes include stories, hands-on science, art and creative play. This combination facilitates learning by allowing children to make cognitive connections while having fun and exploring their own natural creativity and curiosity about the world around them.
The Memory Makers studio is a repurposed house bubbling with charm in the heart of Old Katy. The home-like environment and small class sizes really separate us from many enrichment programs. The personalized attention each child and family receives makes this much more than a business. Children feel safe and therefore achieve amazing things. We offer a homeschool program as well for ages 3 to 12. The mixture of ages is a lovely experience. Older children benefit from helping younger children and the younger children benefit from learning from the older children.
Children can spend the day participating in a variety of classes including art, science, cooking, engineering, and yoga. Classes are led by experienced teachers including Ms. Debbie who is the owner and founder of Memory Makers who has over 20 years of teaching experience. We also offer a Girls Empowerment class for girls ages 6-12.
Date-Night Drop-offs
Special Events including
Our parties are all-inclusive themed parties…any theme! Our parties are unique because we include everything and families only need to show up and enjoy! We include the venue, hostess, décor, invitations, party favors, arts and crafts, games, theme-related food, cupcakes. We set up and clean up too!
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success to me is being able to live out a dream and be excited and happy every day you get to live that dream. I personally feel most successful when I am contributing to others and my community. I am a creative person and getting to make my living expressing my creativity is a gift that I treasure.
Contact Info:
- Address: 5713 Fifth Street
Katy, Texas 77493 - Website: mymemorymakers.org
- Phone: 281-794-7147
- Email: memory-makers2008@hotmail.com
- Instagram: memorymakers67
- Facebook: Memory Makers Children’s Event Planning and Enrichment
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
