Today we’d like to introduce you to Ezinne Offordile.
Ezinne, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
My name “EZINNE” in igbo means “good mother” in English. As the oldest of three girls, I have always been a mother figure to my sisters. I took up the responsibility of caring for my young nieces and nephews at a young age; because I love kids. So when I moved to the United States in 2007 with my family, I wanted to pursue a degree in either healthcare or nursing.
I enrolled in Houston Community College where I took prerequisite courses for the nursing program, but in my last semester, I realized that my true calling was not in Nursing like I had earlier thought but rather in Education. I took the bold step of switching my major to Education, barely a week to my graduation. Nonetheless, in the spring of 2010, I transferred to Texas A & M University-Kingsville where I obtained both my bachelor’s and Master’s degree in education and Early Childhood education.
There, I fell in love more with my major because I started with my observations and my student teaching. I had the opportunity to work with one of the best teachers in the King Ranch School, and this was the icing on the cake for me. I graduated at the top of my class with a 3.8 GPA (Summa Cum Laude) and won several awards like Distinguished student for the College of Education, Who’s Who among students in American Universities & Colleges 2012 and 2013 among many other awards.
At this point in my life, I knew that I was in the right place and God had truly placed me on this earth to be a teacher – to nurture and love these babies. Upon graduating with my masters, I moved back home to Houston with the intention of securing a job. I got a job at a Christian pre-school in Houston, where I worked as an assistant teacher for two years. With the knowledge and experience gained so far, I decided to take yet another leap of faith to open up my very own school.
This is how the birth of Zinnie’s Home School came into existence. I got with a realtor and started house hunting because I needed the best location that would be safe and equipped with good schools for my children to transition to. At the same time, I attended different workshops and certification seminars that prepared me to become a licensed home childcare provider. I do not believe in doing the bare minimum for my kids, I believe in providing the best care and service that every child needs for his/her all-round development.
Looking back at what started off as a small project three years ago, I can only thank God for giving me the strength to take that risk when I changed my major in 2007. With each failure or major setback that I have experienced, comes a success story greater than I would have imagined. I have 12 beautiful souls walk through my door every morning and spend 12 hours with me Monday through Friday.
My satisfaction is not in the tuition they pay, but in the smiles, the growth and most of all the gratitude I get from their parents. I would not have asked for a better job because these kids make me complete.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
At a young age, my mother taught me how to celebrate the little victories and also the failures I encounter along this journey called Life. My road to success has definitely not been a smooth one, but I was determined not to give up. Prior to my first job after graduation, I was unemployed for over a year.
I struggled with depression quite a lot, but I persevered with the love and support from my family. Even after opening up my school, my first child was not enrolled up until the second month of my opening. Nonetheless, I continued to network with other teachers and parents in the neighborhood, who eventually started recommending other parents to me.
In six months, I had five kids enrolled in my school. Today, I have 12 kids currently enrolled with a waiting list for the next school year. At this point in my career, my biggest challenge is turning parents away due to unavailability of spots.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Zinnie’s Home School – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
My business is a licensed home-based childcare program, and we are located in the Richmond area. My goal is to educate, nurture and provide a stimulating environment using a hands-on age appropriate and developmental approach to learning for children ages six weeks to five years. It is a small mixed age classroom, so children get the opportunity to learn from one another.
I am mostly proud of the growth of my school, my kids and the quality of service that I provide daily. The quality of service is definitely what sets me apart from other home-based childcare programs in the area. I go above and beyond for my kids because teaching is not just my passion, but it is my calling. In my program, every child is respected and has a voice. The love each child feels as they walk through my door every morning is reflected in the smiles on their faces
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
In the next few years, I plan on expanding this program to a bigger space. I am definitely considering opening up a day care center to be able to accommodate more families that want to be a part of the program. My goal is to make Zinnie’s Home School a household name that continues to make a positive impact in the lives of every child.
Moving forward I intend to build this brand and branch out to more exciting adventures. I have more plans in the child care industry and I am excited to grow my brand.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.zinnieshomeschooltx.com
- Phone: 8324951187
- Email: zinnieshomeschool@gmail.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/zinnieshomeschool/
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/Zinneshomeschool
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.
