Today we’d like to introduce you to Athirai Baskaran.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
When I moved to the United States with my family in 1998, I didn’t know my passion for education would lead me to help transform the lives of so many around me. My father is a living legacy, a prominent professor in Botany in India and following his footsteps, my brother and sisters are also educators in colleges and universities. Though I came from a family of educators, I initially chose a different path in the field of Computer career. Later, after witnessing my first child’s not so good experience in a Montessori school and volunteering as a parent, I decided to pursue teacher certification from Dallas Montessori Academy. In 2003, I began a classroom in my home’s dining room with one student—her son.
My passion for the Montessori philosophy, coupled with my love of education and desire to help others succeed, led me to offer others in my community a free education for their children in my home. In a short time, I was registered, licensed, and offering everything a private preschool would, including uniforms and lunch programs. The parents were impressed with my commitment and the effect my homeschool was having on their children and insisted on paying me.
By 2006, news of my program spread that I had a wait list of parents to enroll in my home school and with the help of a small business loan from the SBA I opened Children’s Garden Montessori Academy — named after the excellent school I attended in India as a child. I worked with architects to create a school that captured my vision, not of a colorful, kid-themed building but a sophisticated design that would help parents and children see preschool education from a different perspective.
Grateful I’ve been given an opportunity to execute my vision, my hope was to give other women employment opportunities within my organization. Eleven years and four schools later, I’ve done just that; my schools employ over 100 women, many of them single moms who’ve been offered careers they might not have otherwise had. In 2015, thanks to my mentors James and Dina Paulik, I began the Dallas Montessori Training Academy to train educators in the Montessori Method; now the school enrolls between 50 and 100 teachers per year.
I am is dedicated to true Montessori education, created by the first Italian women doctor and educator, Dr. Maria Montessori. Sadly, “Montessori” has become a buzz word in society and many facilities climbing to use the philosophy or not. If educators are focused on your child’s issues (hasty ADD or ADHD diagnoses, etc.), rather than their own insufficient teaching methods, consider it a red flag. I hope every parent will research their education choices, as I knows the vast difference between true Montessori and those that have been over commercialized.
In my schools, students are given as much time as needed to master a skill and teacher are taught to identify the child’s inner need and create in individualized solutions most conducive to learning. All students who graduated from my schools are now achieving great success in high school.
I emphasize the need for parents, teachers and children to work together in order for any education experience to be successful. My logo is a constant reminder of the commitment shared by all three, as it displays a child in the middle with the parent and teacher on their side. I truly believe “The parent, the teacher and the child should have input in the child’s education. It must be an equal partnership.”
I am an active philanthropist spending my time away from schools in serving the community. I have served on the board for Frisco council of PTAs, Liberty High school PTSA, and volunteered for American Montessori Society, Montessori Accreditation council, Young men’s service league, Habitat for Humanity, Shoes for Orphan souls, Frisco family services, VIBHA, Metroplex Tamil Association, Texas Montessori Association, Women Entrepreneurs of DFW and Hindu Temple of North Texas.
I am honored to receive ‘Inspiring Women Entrepreneur of North Texas’ award at the TEF Talk convention hosted by FeTNA at Dr Pepper Arena on June 29th 2018.
It is my dream to create a non-profit organization for women to empower them through career training and skills needed for their independent and safe lives. I am currently working to structure this organization with the vision to start it in 2019.
Has it been a smooth road?
It had never been a smooth road. I had come across many obstacles in fulfilling my dream to create an organization where women are empowered with better career opportunities and children are served with purposeful education. My business partners saw my vision as an obstacle to make profit by selling my services without quality and standards. That took me in to legal conflicts for 5 years when I was forced to sell the organization that started in my own living room to my partners. The struggle was real each day working towards my goal but not knowing if I will get to keep my dream schools or will I lose them. With lot of support from my family and persistence, in 2018 I acquired my companies back from my partners.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Children’s Garden Montessori Academy – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
My companies Children’s Garden Montessori Academy and West Plano Montessori Academy serves as Montessori private schools in three locations serving authentic education and care for children from Infant to 3rd grade. The company Dallas Montessori Teacher Education program operates as Teacher training college that provides career training for teachers through certification and diploma courses that is recognized worldwide. Through my company Texas institute of Montessori Education and consulting, I offer consultation and counseling services schools in the community to perform better. I am known for my outgoing attitude to help others achieve their dreams. Though, private schools in DFW is a very competitive industry, the owners of other schools seek guidance and mentor-ship from me. My intention to share my business success model to others who are starting upsets me apart from others.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I have been living in DFW for 20 years and I thoroughly enjoy the diversity. So far, I only experienced mutual respect, appreciation and support from the community I live in. I do not have anything that I like least in the community!
Contact Info:
- Address: Children’s Garden Montessori Academy
8565 Gratitude Tr Plano TX 75024 - Website: www.cgmacademy.com
- Phone: 972-334-0980
- Email: director@cgmacademy.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Childrens-Garden-Montessori-Academy-105136196193217/
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
