Meet Zlata Stankovic-Ramirez of Designed to Succeed in North Dallas

Today we’d like to introduce you to Zlata Stankovic-Ramirez.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My name is Zlata Stankovic-Ramirez and I am an early childhood education professional. I have always had a passion for education of young children ages 0-8. I have been a preschool teacher, a preschool director, an instructor of early childhood education. I have mentored, coached, trained in all things related to educating young children. I will be completing my Doctorate from TWU in Early Child Development and Education in May of 2020. My passion really stems from my own childhood. I have always had an incredible thirst for learning, curiosity in the world around me, and truly enjoyed reading, math, writing, painting, and experimenting as a young learner.

I have a strong sense and need for order in the environment in which I focus, learn, and grow. I have always carried that with me as a young child in Bosnia, as a teen growing up in Dallas, TX, in my 20s as college student, and in my now 30s as an environment specialist. My business, Designed to Succeed is extremely unique. I combine my strong organizational skills and design skills with my early childhood education background and provide consultations, plans, and remodels of spaces in which children learn, grown, and thrive. I have provided services to preschools serving children ages 0-12 and families with children ages 0-18. I genuinely believe that spaces designed specifically with children in mind help them thrive in life.

Great, 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?
The challenge I have faced with starting my new business is that it’s extremely unique and many preschools are lacking the funds for these types of services or don’t truly recognize the need for this type of holistic approach to classroom design. It has been a challenge to help potential customers see the value in having an expert design their classrooms following their curriculum and the needs of the children they serve. The service is a combination of using strong ECE (early childhood education) expertise with classroom design elements and good practices from interior design to truly prepare the environment for young children in which they are set up for success. This type of service or business is new and does not exist in the DFW market, so it’s been a challenge to help get the word out and to have preschools invest in their programs utilizing this type of service. Environments matter!

With families, the challenge is that they solely use interior designers to design spaces for their children (bedrooms and playrooms). Families want a design expert to make their children’s spaces beautiful, but don’t recognize the need for the spaces to be developmentally appropriate and stimulating as a learning environment for their children. Families often have a false sense of comfort in knowing that children learn in school, so investing in spaces in their homes seems like an extra cost that is unnecessary. However, children learn everywhere, especially at home. Having stimulating spaces at home is key to young children thriving and succeeding in the future. Environments matter!

Please tell us about Designed to Succeed.
Designed to Succeed is a consultative business that offers professional consultations, collaborative planning, and transformation of spaces for young children: early childhood classrooms (ages 0-5) and private homes (bedrooms and playrooms, multi-purpose rooms).

Designed to Succeed specializes in decluttering/organizing, designing, transforming, and creating beautiful, educational, and developmentally appropriate spaces in which children learn, grow, develop, and thrive.

Designed to Succeed is mostly proud of the integrity and unique customization we offer to our customers. Each customer has unique and specific needs. We work with our customers to ensure they are satisfied and we are relentless in that pursuit. We do not comprise best practices (developmentally appropriate practices) or what we know is best in an environment designed specifically for young children. We stand behind our work and we know that satisfaction from preschool directors, teachers, parents, and children is our greatest achievement. Tears of joy have been present at many of our sites where we have transformed classrooms and spaces for children in collaboration with directors, teachers, children, and families, and that is always our goals. Transforming spaces transforms lives.

Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
My favorite memory from childhood is being outside with my mother playing on two blankets with our picnic set, our dolls, our backpacks with coloring pencils and papers by our side. We played “neighbors”. We would invite each other over for coffee or tea with sweet delicacies and we would just talk. It allowed me to pretend to be a grown-up, which I was so eager to become.

I would tell her about my children and she would tell me about hers. We would talk about our plans for the week or the future, we would feel the breeze on our cheeks and simply bond. I will always remember the flowers, the dandelions, and the warm embrace of my Mama. She would take the time to play with me and that meant the world to me.

Pricing:

• Rate per hour is $100.
• This includes consultations, planning, ordering/purchasing materials, and hours for the transformations.
• Large projects with multiple hours and multiple spaces can be packaged and negotiated.

Contact Info:

• Address: 7919 Royal Lane #203
  Dallas TX 75230
• Website: Facebook: Designed to Succeed
• Phone: 214-207-0122
• Email: zlatastankovic@yahoo.com

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