Today we’d like to introduce you to Melissa Fossett.
Hi Melissa, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, you could tell our readers some of your backstories.
I have always wanted to be a teacher from a young age. I began teaching my children at home and within homeschool co-ops and found out how much of a passion I had for helping kids learn. I decided to return to school and finish the degree I had left behind years ago when I became a stay-at-home mom. I was faced with some life-altering challenges in my personal life, where I knew I would now need to provide for myself and my children. As I worked through school, I worked for Greenville County School District. In the 2019-2020 year, I taught full-time at a local elementary school. Once the Covid incident hit, I could foresee the problems this would cause in the long term. Many students would need help with basic skills once the many months of learning in a classroom were lost. With my passion for working with kids and the strong desire to help in times of need, I founded my business, Creative Minds Tutoring, in June 2020. I want to change the world one child at a time by taking a holistic approach to tutoring. We look at how a child best learns, their emotional environment, their mental health, and any physical factors that contribute to their learning abilities. We want each child to feel seen and heard and instill a love for learning in them.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has been an exciting journey, but not free of challenges. I started by researching and learning how to run a business, as well as learning how to best advertise. I started with zero students. I had a dream and a vision, and I took a giant leap of faith that this was what I was called to do. Within 2 months, I had a group of 12 students! That morphed into slowly gaining more over time. I had many struggles- one of which was figuring out how to teach and run a business, including all that would be involved. I had the battle of how to promote my business and find new students. I began my tutoring journey initially by traveling to homes, then struggled to figure out how to move into and afford 1 single, central location where students could come to us. The struggles continue with a changing student base, managing policies, figuring out what to do when people do not show up- striking a balance between teaching and entrepreneurship. Overall, it is a continual learning process. You find out what works well and doesn’t and make adjustments.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about Creative Minds Tutoring?
Creative Minds Tutoring is a small business in Greer, SC, that specializes in helping students in a 1-on-1 personalized setting. What began as a one-woman business with 12 students has grown to include up to 5 other tutors who work with me and over 40 kids who come through our studio. We work primarily with elementary students in grades K-6 for reading and math. We can help 7-12th graders in ELA.
What sets us apart is that we take a holistic approach to tutoring. We look at the child’s learning needs, learning style, emotional environment, and mental health and watch for any learning challenges. We are proponents of helping a child’s mindset by equipping them with the positive message that they are smart, capable, and worthy.
We all have a background and degree in education. We are lifelong learners. We love children and have a passion for helping them succeed academically and by being good human beings. We want every child to improve and grow in confidence and mindset. We have watched every one of our students improve drastically. I am most proud of the joy, confidence, and happiness that exudes from every student who comes through our doors. I am proud of our connections and the amazing personalities everyone expresses as they grow and learn. Every child deserves to feel seen, heard, and like they matter. That is what we at Creative Minds Tutoring aim to accomplish.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
We hope to continue to grow and expand, adding a location in the future. We want to help as many kids as possible.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://creativeminds-tutoring.com
- Instagram: creativemindstutoring
- Facebook: Creative Minds Tutoring, LLC
