We recently connected with Karen Lossing and have shared our conversation below.
Karen, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
My path to education started with one child – my son. He had learning challenges while younger and many of his earliest teachers were quick to say they couldn’t help him. My shock inspired me to do all I could to make sure he had the same tools as the other children to be successful in school.
A few years went by, I’m in my 30s, and reevaluating “what makes Karen happy?” I realized the impact teaching had on me and began to substitute. While rewarding, I wanted to see academic growth over time so I earned my teaching credential and educating 25 kids at a time. Experiencing imposter syndrome, I went on to get my Masters and became a campus administrator so I could help shape hundreds of kids. Roles on a math curriculum writing team led to helping thousands of kids. I couldn’t stop! Using my years of experience and weighing the pros and cons of our educational system, I took the leap to focus exclusively on helping kids with math by opening a Mathnasium Math Learning Center!
As a small business owner, I now happily serves hundreds of students a year with their math progress. I am able to truly differentiate learning for every single child. Some are struggling and need remediation, others are starving for a challenge or preparing for advanced classes. We help them all in a comfortable, safe and friendly environment. We provide frequent, timely feedback on student progress to their parents. I love going to work every day!
As for my son, he’s a rockstar! He took his own educational life experience and opened a Mathnasium himself in Texas. He, too, wants to change as many lives as he can through math.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
Mathnasium is a math learning center where we help students in K-12 catch up, keep up and get ahead in math through customized learning plans. Many students experienced disrupted learning during the height of COVID-19. There is unfinished learning from previous grades directly impacting current progress. This leads to frustration, math anxiety, and weakened confidence. We target the areas needing strength and move the student forward. Summer is an excellent time to finally close those gaps once and for all! Rather than experience a Summer Slide, a scientifically proven slip in educational performance due to the summer break, kids head back to school at the top of their game!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
For me, I wasn’t afraid to change my path even in my 30s and 40s. I was a pharmaceutical rep in my 20s. I didn’t enjoy that at all, but was locked in because it was lucrative. I realized I could do that for a few more decades or pursue something new. That educational spark I felt years earlier! I researched what it took to become a teacher and put it in action! I enrolled in a Masters program. Then in my 40s, I started looking at all the things I loved about my work experiences and that led me to becoming a small business owner focusing on education. I 100% believe if you love what you do you never work a day in your life!
Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?
The Pumpkin Plan is a great book. At it’s core it is about growing a business but there are many life lessons you can use in other areas of life or work. The analogy of your growth is compared to nurturing a colossal pumpkin. How things are watered, trimmed, groomed, nurtured all lead to growth or success. Too much water isn’t good, neither is too little. I reread it ever couple of years and something different will resonate.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.mathnasium.com
- Instagram: @mathhelp4kids
