A successful business model

Yesterday I took a quick trip to Winston-Salem to visit a successful private tutoring academy.  Boy was I blown away by their professionalism and desire to impact students in a positive way.  The director and I hit it off immediately and it was evident from the get-go that our philosophies are very much alike.  I was inspired by the academic center and was thrilled to have found a successful business model that shares the same vision that I have for High Country Academy.  I left with a lot of great ideas and can't wait to implement them here at HCA!

A parent's excitement is contagious and validating

Today I met with a new client, a fifteen year old homeschooler who is hoping to transfer into Watauga High School next year.  I love meeting new clients and creating a plan to help them be successful.  But I also really enjoyed getting to know this mom a little better.  She is so excited about High Country Academy.  And I have to admit that her excitement was contagious.  She kept saying over and over that there is such a need for this kind of service.  Wow!  Thank you so much.  Validation is a great thing.  Oh, and did I mention that I have a meeting with a potential new client tomorrow?  Yes, that's two this week!  And one more thing, today's new student is going to start reading The Hunger Games.  Yay!  I've had so much success with that book turning reluctant middle school readers into avid middle school readers.  And that my friend makes a teacher's heart smile.

The starting of a business

High Country Academy is officially up and running.  And I might add that business is booming.  So you might be asking yourself, what is High Country Academy???  We are a private tutoring academy in Boone, NC serving students in the high country area.  Some of our students are traditional public school children who need a little extra support.  Some of our students are home school students who desire a quality education by a certified teacher.

So how did High Country Academy start???  As a former public school teacher and administrator, I decided to take the year off to work on my doctorate in Educational Leadership & Policy Analysis.  But word quickly spread that I wasn't working and a few parents asked if I would be interested in tutoring.  At first I was hesitant because I was looking forward to spending more time with my family and having enough time to focus on my own studies.  But  I decided to take them up on their offer.  Before I knew it, I had several clients.  And I quickly began to realize there was an underground network of parents looking for help with their child's education.  Through word of mouth I began getting inquiries from additional parents about the services I was offering.  The funny thing though is that I wasn't really offering services.  But what I was doing was working beautifully and I was experiencing a lot of success.  But even more than that, my students were experiencing a lot of success.  So after a lot of consideration (not to mention a lot of prodding from my dear friend Kelly), I decided to make this "job" of mine official and I applied to the Secretary of State to start a business.  Hence, High Country Academy was formed.

So what services do we offer at High Country Academy???

• Academic instruction in grades K-8 (all core subject areas)
• Professional tutoring
• Enrichment and acceleration
• Remediation and intervention supports
• Study and organizational skills
• Curriculum consulting

My intention is to use this blog to keep you updated about the happenings at High Country Academy.  The future is exciting as we continue to grow by helping students reach their fullest academic potential.  All instruction is personalized and one-one-one to provide the best education possible for your child.  If you want more information about High Country Academy, then visit our website, www.highcountryacademync.com, or like us on Facebook, www.facebook.com/highcountryacademy.