Sangeeta celebrates a decade of making a difference
Sangeeta Kumar is celebrating her 10-year anniversary as Instructor of the Kumon Ipswich Central Study Centre! Still as enthusiastic and passionate as she was a decade ago, Sangeeta shares with us her celebratory plans, and how it feels to make a difference as a local educator within her community.
“It doesn't feel like it’s been 10 years since I became a Kumon Instructor!” Sangeeta told us. “I do feel I have grown in that time though, and the experience of working with children has taught me so much. But at the same time, it feels like there is so much I still need to know. With Kumon, you’re always learning.
“I’m planning to have a small, outdoor celebration with all my Kumon students and families: a joint celebration of their hard work and achievements as well as the centre’s anniversary. There’ll be Kumon cupcakes, special gift bags, certificates and medals….plus a bubble machine and a fancy dress theme! Let’s hope for a sunny day.”
Before joining Kumon, Sangeeta had spent 18 years working in Electronics as a Design Engineer, often for projects with the military. Redundancy prompted her to consider something different; something more rewarding and flexible that she could fit around family life. Having always had a strong interest in education, Sangeeta jumped at the chance to take on the Ipswich Central Kumon centre when she discovered that the Instructor there was looking to retire.
She said, “I knew about Kumon as my son was a Kumon student at the time, making great progress. I love maths and had actually wanted to become a teacher after I graduated. Becoming an Instructor has given me the chance to make a real difference in my local community. It’s very rewarding to watch my students improve their mental maths, their vocabulary, and ultimately their confidence in themselves and their abilities. This prepares them for high school, university and beyond.”
Having grown the centre from 44 students to now over 100, Sangeeta has become well-known within her local community and has a good relationship with her Kumon families. Sanjeev, whose two sons have been studying Kumon with Sangeeta for a number of years, said,
“Over the years, Sangeeta has managed Kumon at Ipswich Central with admirable professionalism and commendable care for her students. She has always been approachable, and the success of her Kumon centre is attributable to her personal touch with each pupil and dedicating time to their individual development.”
Alongside the opportunity to develop children into confident, independent learners, Sangeeta also enjoys the freedom that comes with being her own boss.
“Running my own business means I have flexibility and can plan my day around my family which is a big advantage when you have young children. I like the idea that I am my own boss. It does come with huge responsibility but it also means I can work when it suits me – I often choose the evenings, after my children are in bed.”
So, what are Sangeeta’s future aspirations for her study centre?
“I’ve had a number of students reach completion of the entire Kumon English Programme over the years, but I’ve not yet had a maths completer. That’s something I hope will happen this year, as I have a student who’s currently approaching the most advanced maths level.
“I would also love to increase my student numbers further, and for myself and my Kumon team to continue to be known for our professionalism and approachability.”
Good luck, Sangeeta – here’s to another ten years at Kumon!
If you’re interested in finding out more about starting your own business as a Kumon Instructor, you can check your suitability and submit an enquiry form here.
