Inspiring Conversations with Marney Sobel of MARNEY’S

Today we’d like to introduce you to Marney Sobel.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I graduated from McGill University with degrees in Education and Special Education, and began my career as a teacher working in both special education and gifted education. Teaching always came very naturally to me because I genuinely loved connecting with students and understanding how each child learned best. After taking time away from the classroom to raise my three children, I returned to education as an ESL teacher at a wonderful all-girls private school in Montreal, Canada.

In 2019, my family and I made the big move from Montreal to Los Angeles. Leaving the only home I had ever known was exciting, but also incredibly difficult and isolating at first. Then COVID happened, and like so many parents, I suddenly found myself navigating online learning with my own children at home. I started a small learning pod for my daughter and her friends, and shortly after, I began hosting backyard book clubs for kids of different ages. What started very casually grew much faster than I ever expected. Parents were looking for meaningful, personalized support for their children, and the kids genuinely wanted to come back.

That was really the beginning of MARNEY’S. What started as a small, home-based learning environment evolved into a full educational space offering tutoring, enrichment, book clubs, language programs, day-off school events, and summer camps for students ranging from preschool through high school. My vision was always to create something that felt different from traditional tutoring — a place where children felt safe, seen, supported, challenged, and excited to learn.

One of the things I’m most proud of is that we truly personalize learning for every child who walks through our doors. Some students come to us struggling with confidence, others need enrichment or organizational support, and some simply need someone to believe in them and teach them differently. Watching students grow academically while also becoming more confident in themselves is the most rewarding part of what I do.

The journey has not been without challenges. The January 7, 2025 Palisades wildfires deeply impacted us and forced us to rebuild in many ways. The support I received from the community during that time — including help from people and organizations like Paris Hilton, 1:1 Media, the Women of Pasadena group, and our GoFundMe supporters — reminded me how much this work truly matters to families and to the community. We were able to reopen our space in Santa Monica, and that experience made me even more motivated to continue growing MARNEY’S and reaching more students.

At the end of the day, I still see myself as a teacher first. Everything we do is rooted in connection, trust, and helping children feel capable. That has always been the heart of MARNEY’S, and it continues to guide me every day.

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?
No, it definitely has not been a smooth road — but I think a lot of growth comes from navigating difficult periods and continuing forward anyway.

Moving to Los Angeles from my small hometown of Montreal, Canada was a huge adjustment for me and my family. I had lived in Montreal my entire life, so leaving the only place I had ever really known as home was emotional and overwhelming at times. Less than six months after we moved, COVID-19 hit, and suddenly I was trying to help three children adjust to three different schools while navigating an entirely new city during an incredibly uncertain time. It was chaotic for so many families, including ours.

Ironically, that challenging period was also what led to the beginning of MARNEY’S. What started as something very small — a learning pod and backyard book clubs — grew almost overnight. While I was incredibly grateful for the support and trust from families, the growth happened so quickly that it became overwhelming at times. I went from helping a small group of children to suddenly having people constantly coming in and out of my home, and I realized very quickly that if I wanted to continue growing in a healthy way, I needed to find a dedicated space as soon as possible.

Eventually, I found what felt like the perfect home for MARNEY’S in the heart of the Palisades. It became a place filled with learning, laughter, community, and so many meaningful memories. Then, in January 2025, the Palisades wildfires changed everything overnight. Losing that space was devastating, both personally and professionally.

But through all of the challenges, I learned so much. I learned that health, safety, family, and community are truly everything. I learned the importance of resilience and adaptability, but also the importance of loyalty and genuine support. Difficult moments have a way of showing you who is really there for you. More than anything, those experiences reminded me how deeply I care about this work, these students, and the families who trust me with their children.

So no, it has not been smooth — but every challenge shaped MARNEY’S into what it is today and shaped me into a stronger person and educator.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
MARNEY’S was built on the idea that learning should feel personal, meaningful, and supportive — not one-size-fits-all. What started as small backyard book clubs and learning pods during COVID eventually grew into a full educational space offering tutoring, enrichment, book clubs, language programs, day-off school events, summer camps, and personalized academic support for students ranging from preschool through high school.

What sets MARNEY’S apart is that we truly see and teach the whole child. Every student learns differently, and we take the time to understand not only where a child is academically, but also how they learn best emotionally, socially, and intellectually. Some students come to us struggling with confidence, organization, reading, or school anxiety. Others are advanced learners who simply need to be challenged in a more thoughtful way. We personalize everything to the individual child, and I think families feel that difference immediately.

Looking back to when my own children were younger, I know I would have loved having a place like MARNEY’S to bring them to. A place that genuinely cared not only about academic success, but also about confidence, emotional well-being, happiness, and helping children enjoy learning again. That feeling is becoming harder and harder to find today. We truly care about our students and families, and I think that level of personal investment is something people feel when they walk through our doors.

We are known for creating an environment where children genuinely want to come and learn. That is something I am incredibly proud of. At MARNEY’S, students are supported, encouraged, challenged, and cared for. We work hard to make learning engaging while still maintaining strong academic expectations. There is structure, but there is also warmth. Many children walk through our doors feeling discouraged academically, and over time, you watch them become more confident not only in school, but in themselves. That transformation is the most rewarding part of what we do.

Reading and literacy are also a huge part of our identity. Our book clubs are one of the things families know us best for because they become so much more than just reading a book. Students learn how to think critically, express opinions respectfully, build vocabulary, analyze themes, and connect literature to the world around them. At a time when so much of childhood revolves around screens, I’m very proud that we have created spaces where children still get excited about books, conversation, creativity, and human connection.

Another thing that makes MARNEY’S different is the atmosphere we have created. Families often describe it as feeling like a “home away from home,” and that means a lot to me because it was always intentional. I never wanted it to feel cold, corporate, or transactional. I wanted children to feel safe walking through the door — safe to ask questions, make mistakes, grow, and be themselves.

Brand-wise, what I’m most proud of is the trust we have built within the community. Most of our growth has happened through word of mouth from families who have seen real progress in their children, whether academically, socially, emotionally, or all three. To me, that says everything.

At the heart of MARNEY’S is connection. Yes, we care deeply about academic growth and helping students succeed, but we also care about building confidence, independence, curiosity, and kindness. I want readers to know that MARNEY’S is not just tutoring. It is a community-centered educational space built with intention, heart, and a genuine love for children and learning.

I do not have a huge team, but I truly believe I have the right team — people who genuinely care about MARNEY’S, our students, and the families who trust us. That matters far more to me than simply having a large staff. I really treasure the people who work alongside me because their dedication, loyalty, and care are a huge part of what makes MARNEY’S feel special.

I also love involving high school students who naturally connect well with younger children. We often bring in teenagers to volunteer, help them earn community service hours, and sometimes even hire them when needed. I think it creates such a positive environment because younger students look up to them, and it also gives teenagers valuable experience, responsibility, and confidence.

One thing I have learned through building a business is that you can never stop learning. Some of the most surprising and inspiring ideas come from younger people, including my own children. Teenagers today are incredibly smart, creative, and resourceful. They think differently, they think quickly, and they are often far more innovative than adults give them credit for. I actually love listening to their perspectives and learning from them because it keeps me open-minded and constantly evolving.

At the end of the day, MARNEY’S works because it is built on genuine relationships. The people around me care deeply about what we are creating, and I never take that for granted.

What were you like growing up?
Honestly, I love this question because people are often surprised by the answer. I was not an academic star at all growing up. School did not come naturally to me, and if I’m being completely honest, I didn’t enjoy it very much either. The part I loved most was the social aspect — being around people, connecting, talking, making people laugh. I cared far more about that than I did about grades at the time.

I was definitely one of the “cool kids,” but I was also always kind and friendly to everyone. My high school friends laugh now at reunions seeing me as an educator and business owner because it probably was not the path anyone would have predicted for me back then. But I actually think that experience shaped me into the type of educator I am today. I understand what it feels like when school does not come easily, when you feel disconnected from what is being taught, or when you are intelligent but simply not learning in a way that speaks to you. That understanding gives me a real sense of empathy for students who struggle academically or feel discouraged.

The funny thing is, when I actually applied myself to something I genuinely liked, I realized I was capable. I just had never really connected to the way I was being taught.

When I got to college and eventually university at McGill University, everything started to shift. I originally went into psychology because it seemed interesting, but very quickly I realized it did not feel like the right fit for me. The irony is that I almost casually chose education afterward — not because I thought it was my passion, but because I thought, “Okay, this seems manageable.” Then something unexpected happened. The minute I started taking education classes, I genuinely loved what I was learning for the first time in my life.

Everything came full circle during my first student teaching experience. I remember being terrified standing in front of a 7th grade classroom. It felt incredibly intimidating. But once I started teaching, something clicked almost instantly. I realized the students actually wanted to hear what I had to say. I could hold their attention, connect with them, and make them engaged in the lesson.

That experience completely changed me. I became obsessed with creating lesson plans that felt interesting, relatable, and different from the way I had been taught growing up. I remember one of my very first evaluations was on teaching irony, and instead of approaching it traditionally, I taught it through Alanis Morissette’s song “Ironic.” The students loved it, and my supervisor was shocked by how engaged the class was. That was a huge turning point for me because I realized learning did not have to feel dry or disconnected.

From that point on, teaching became creative for me. It almost became a game — how can I make this lesson memorable? How can I make students care? How can I teach in the way I wish someone had taught me?

Ironically, the kid who did not love school ended up building a life and career around helping children enjoy learning. I think that is a huge part of why students connect with me now. They know I genuinely understand that not every child learns the same way, and that struggling in school does not define someone’s intelligence or potential.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Marneys.us
• Instagram: Marney__s

Image Credits
I will send these in this week