Today we’d like to introduce you to Sue Athwal.
Hi Sue, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I have always been in the realm of education whether I was a preschool aide in my high school days, or a teacher in first grade. I had amazing opportunities to work with families from around the world and help their children learn to navigate the world through their natural curiosity. No matter the shift I had in my life, I always found myself back in education and working with young children. It wasn’t until I had my daughter did I find my purpose in life, what I was truly meant to do. As most parents may know, finding the “right” daycare is a task with a lengthy checklist. As I started my search, I felt as if I was conflicted between my motherly instincts and my childcare educator background. I saw so many wonderful things in different programs, and started thinking about the thought of “If I had my own daycare…” what would it look like and how it would operate.”
During the pandemic, I had the ability to spend a lot of time at home with my daughter, Kashe. She was so keen to learning! As I started to notice some remarkable qualities in her, I was then motivated in the middle of the pandemic to look into running a preschool to allow her to socialize. It was one of the riskiest choices I ever took. I was excited yet nervous at the same time.
After the lift ended, I opened my first small daycare program in Oct 2022. Roughly two years later, today–I am on the road to operating two preschool centers, one in the city of Eagle Rock and the other in the San Gabriel Valley.
As I stop and reflect, it has been an amazing accomplishment to see not only the schools become successful but parents and families seeing the value of what separates us in the childcare industry. I am excited to see what The Modern Schoolhouse future holds, and I know we are not done just yet.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Was it smooth? No. Do I wish it was? No. Have you ever heard the quote, “Nothing worth having comes easy.” Well yeah, that in a nutshell sums up what entrepreneurship is all about.
When you run a business, you need to know everything and anything about the business industry itself, plus the regulations from state and the city you operate in.
Although it hasn’t been the picture perfect smooth road we all want, I also believe that the obstacles only teach you what you need to learn to do better the next time around.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
As a premier childcare center, we understand that childcare is no longer what it was. It has evolved, and as a program, we are to evolve. The Modern Schoolhouse embodies childcare redesigned. This goes from the way we set up our classroom, the colors/aesthetics that we use, what we teach, how we teach, and why we teach. Instead of focusing on the short-term, our program is set on providing children with a solid foundation for the long term.
What I am most proud of is watching our students flourish. They are engaged here, how they learn and cultivate friendships/relationships. Half the time, it’s hard for parents to get them out the door! That tells us they feel safe and connected with us. That means we are doing our jobs as a unit.
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
Covid-19 opened the worlds eyes to something we had never seen before. We had to adjust. More than anything, it taught me when we are given adversity, how we adapt, react and move forward tells us about who we are.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.themodernschoolhouse.com
- Instagram: @the_modern_schoolhouse
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-modern-schoolhouse-san-gabriel
