Inspiring Conversations with Evan Huang of TECC Academy

Today we’d like to introduce you to Evan Huang.

Hi Evan, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I was born and raised in the San Gabriel Valley and had a very active childhood. I grew up playing Little League baseball, volunteering as an AYSO soccer referee, participating in Scouting, earning the rank of Eagle Scout by the age of 15, and served as a law enforcement explorer with the Sheriff’s Department throughout high school. These early experiences instilled in me a strong foundation of discipline, leadership, and service.

I went on to study Criminal Justice and Criminology at Cal State Long Beach, graduating in 2017, and later earned my Master’s degree in Law from the University of Southern California in 2019. After completing my education, I began my professional career as a background investigator, conducting federal background investigations for the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security.

But alongside all those experiences, there was always TECC. I first attended TECC as a student in the early 2000s while growing up in Temple City. Later, I returned as a part-time teacher’s aide during high school. TECC wasn’t just an afterschool program to me, it was a place which shaped my academic foundation and work ethics.

My parents, immigrants from Taiwan, purchased the business from its founder, Dr. Rae, in 2015 who established TECC in 1990. They continued operating the main office in San Gabriel and the school site at Emperor Elementary in Temple City. Years later, during a Christmas dinner conversation, my parents shared their plans to retire and potentially sell the business. That moment caused me to pause and reflect on what TECC had meant to me personally and what it meant to the community. In early 2023, I made the decision to step away from my investigations career and return to TECC to gradually take over operations and continue building on its legacy. It wasn’t just a career change, but a decision rooted in purpose.

Today, TECC serves hundreds of K–8 students throughout the San Gabriel Valley as a premier afterschool and summer program. As an Eagle Scout, I firmly believe leadership, teamwork, and character development should begin at a young age. That belief is woven into our program; In addition to strong academic support, we incorporate public speaking, survival skills, first aid, team-building activities, and practical life skills, especially during the summer months, to ensure students grow not only academically, but personally. Being able to now lead this program is both humbling and deeply meaningful.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There definitely has been challenges and not been a completely smooth road. Like many small businesses, we’ve faced significant challenges over the years, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The pandemic was one of the most difficult periods in our company’s history. We had to quickly pivot into virtual learning, which was entirely new territory for us. At the same time, demand for afterschool care and summer programs declined dramatically as many parents began working remotely and no longer needed traditional childcare. That shift had a direct impact on enrollment and operations.

Even today, we continue to feel some of those long-term effects. With remote and hybrid work still common, fewer families require full-time afterschool care. In addition, many school districts we serve have since introduced free or government subsidized childcare programs. These programs are able to offer services at little to no cost to families, which makes it challenging for a small, privately operated business like TECC to compete purely on price.

However, those challenges have pushed us to refine what makes TECC different. We do not simply provide supervision, we provide structured academic support, enrichment, and character development in a way free programs often cannot. We choose to focus on maintaining a higher standard of academic quality, personalized attention, and meaningful enrichment opportunities.

While the road has not always been easy, these obstacles continue to strengthen our resilience, improve our operations, and reinforce our commitment to delivering exceptional value to our students and their families.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about TECC Academy?
TECC is a comprehensive afterschool and summer program serving K–8 students throughout the San Gabriel Valley. At our core, we specialize in structured academic support combined with meaningful enrichment. While many programs focus primarily on supervision, we are intentionally academic driven. Our students receive guided homework assistance, supplemental practice in core school subjects, and enrichment classes which help them stay ahead and build confidence, not only in the in the classroom, but in life.

What truly sets us apart is the balance we maintain between academic rigor and character development. As an Eagle Scout, I believe deeply in leadership, character, and service. Those values influence how we run our program. We are not simply a childcare provider, but an extension of a student’s journey. We want our students to walk away not only stronger academically, but more confident, more resilient, and more prepared for life. Whether it’s through public speaking, teamwork activities, or simply learning how to take responsibility for their work. We are constantly helping them build life skills that extend far beyond the classroom.

Brand wise, I am most proud of our reputation and remaining so rooted in the community. Established in 1990, TECC is considered to be the pioneer in afterschool programs which have served multiple generations of families; Some parents today were once TECC students themselves. This continuity speaks to the trust families in the community have placed in us for over three decades.

We continue to strive to provide the highest level of academic instruction and structure for the families we serve. We may not be the largest program, but we are deeply committed to quality, consistency, and community impact. What I want readers to know is that TECC is more than an afterschool program, it is a place where students build strong academic foundations, develop leadership skills, and grow into confident, well-rounded citizens.

Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
There are so many people who deserve credit for both my personal journey and the continued success of TECC.

First and foremost, TECC founder, Dr. Rae, deserves tremendous recognition. She and her husband had the original vision in 1990 to provide quality afterschool and summer programs for families in the San Gabriel Valley. Through decades of dedication and hard work, she grew and expanded the program across multiple cities, building the strong foundation and reputation we continue to stand on today. Without her vision and commitment to excellence, TECC simply would not exist.

My parents also deserve enormous credit. As immigrants from Taiwan, they took a leap of faith in 2015 by purchasing the business and continuing its mission. They led the organization through many challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, and remained committed to serving families even during uncertain times. Their resilience, work ethic, and belief in education deeply influenced me and ultimately inspired my decision to step in and carry the business forward.

I’m also incredibly grateful for the administrators, teachers, and staff within Temple City Unified School District who have supported our partnership over the years. Their trust in allowing us to operate on school campuses and maintain a strong, collaborative relationship has been vital to our success.

And of course, none of this would be possible without the families we serve. The parents who entrust us with their children each day are the heart of our organization. Many have supported us for years, and some are even former students themselves. That level of trust and loyalty is something we never take for granted.

TECC has always been more than one person’s effort; It is the result of vision, partnership, resilience, and a community who believes in what we do.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.teccacademy.org/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tecc_academy
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/teccacademy