Today we’d like to introduce you to Anita Sahakian.
Hi Anita, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Business has been a passion of mine since I was a kid—it’s in my blood. While studying in business school, I worked as a teacher’s assistant and realized something: I loved working with kids! I was able to naturally connect with students and help them understand material in a way that made learning enjoyable. After graduation, I went back to school to complete my multiple-subject teaching credential.
In 2013, I was hired as a 2nd grade in the Glendale Unified School District. During that time, my older brother had an idea: I should combine my two passions and turn our downstairs garage into a tutoring center! After renovation, dedication, and hard-work, I was able to grow and open different locations throughout the years. With a full-time job, and running a business after school, I was able to reach out and help more students than the ones inside my classroom. My dream was slowly becoming a reality, with a new goal in mind.
After getting married and having two children, my priorities and outlook on life had changed. In May of 2025, I made the decision to resign from my teaching position. This path gave me the opportunity to create my own schedule, spend more precious time with my own kids, and do what I love most! Now, I am able to be more present as a leader and teach at ANITA TUTOR. We have our one beautiful center nestled in Glendale, near Kenneth Village. Together, with our team of wonderful tutors, we are dedicated to creating a second home for families in our community—a place where students feel safe, confident, and inspired to learn every day.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Nothing worth having has a smooth road. Anytime I hear a question like this, the quote from the movie ‘A League of Their Own’ always comes to mind. “It’s supposed to be hard… if it were easy, everyone would do it.”
Just like teaching isn’t for everyone, neither is owning a business; you have to love it and live it. Building something great takes time, a lot of time, dedication, and more failures than you’d expect, until you finally start to see it all come together. It took me years to find what works and what does not. You need to be able to adapt and make smart choices. What made the biggest difference was creating a system, having open communication, choosing the right team, and staying close to driven, like-minded people.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about ANITA TUTOR, Inc.?
ANITA TUTOR is more than just a tutoring center; it’s a hub. We have private and group enrichment courses, movie nights, and summer camp!
We offer private tutoring K-12, that includes h0meowork help, studying for tests, and individualized materials based on goals. We also have group classes for Reading, Writing and Math for 1st – 5th grade, where the materials and strategies are built from my personal style of teaching from my classroom.
If you’re a working parent, and you need a friendly, supportive daily program, you can join our Homework Club. If you want your child to be exposed to Armenian speaking, listening, reading, and writing, we have private and group Armenian classes. In addition, we have chess and coding classes for our young thinkers and learners!
When I became a teacher, I noticed that kids don’t have the same kind of after school experiences that we used to when we were young. I wanted to make a safe place for kids, including my own, to go after school to stay productive, have fun, and learn. Parents and siblings are also able to enjoy The Playroom. It features a bright and welcoming environment, along with Mrs. Anita’s library and activity areas.
I love connecting with parents and building our own little community here at ANITA TUTOR, from all different kinds of schools; public, private, and homeschool. My own children were my main motivation to pursue this path, and along the way it has been a blessing meeting so many wonderful parents and students and being part of their journey.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
I grew up watching my older brother, who is also my role model and mentor, build and create. He inspired me early on to think like an entrepreneur. He saw potential in me from the beginning and never let me settle for less. He continues to share best practices and motivate me and everyone around him.
Having my husband, supporting my dreams has always been a very important part of my journey from the start. Now, he is also a proud member of the team, as a partner and educator.
My dad is my biggest cheerleader and instilled in me that I could be anything I wanted in life. He saw my talent and skills and wanted me to reach my full potential.
Without my amazing team of tutors, past and present, we would not flourish and grow as we have. They will always have a special place in the heart of ANITA TUTOR.
I was fortunate to work under strong and supportive principals, who shaped my leadership journey and inspired me to grow as a lifelong learner. I was encouraged to complete my master’s in educational administration, playing a key role in becoming a well-rounded business owner and effective team leader.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://anitatutorinc.com
- Instagram: @anita_tutor
Image Credits
KORKIS Photography
Makeup by Matty
Diana Biglari
