Best in Class Staff Submission for Best in Books: Jennifer Vandergrift

We decided to ask our Best in Class team to share some of their favorite books or series that impacted them as a person or what they thought about the world. One of our teachers Jennifer Vandergrift shared her thoughts on one of her favorite book series and why it made an impact.

From Jennifer Vandergrift: 

Many stories, especially those for children and teenagers, depict a reductive view of good and evil: these people are good, and those people are evil. K. A. Applegate’s Animorphs was one of the first stories I read that had shades of gray.

The series is about a group of teenagers who fight an invasion of parasitic aliens. At first, these aliens are portrayed simplistically as purely evil. However, in the nineteenth book, The Departure, one of the teenagers, Cassie, is discovered by one of the aliens, Aftran Nine Four Two, and they begin a dialogue about the ethics of being a parasite versus being a predator. In the end, Aftran lets Cassie go free; in a later book, we learn that she has joined an underground peace movement opposing her own people.

It is easy to look at a group as a monolith, all alike. However, this book showed me as a child that even an “evil alien race” is composed of individuals. It is wrong to judge people based on the stereotypes of the groups to which they belong.

I recommend The Departure and the entire Animorphs series for its surprisingly complex study of morality.

We'd love to hear what book made an impact on your through our Best in Books contest! Visit our Facebook page or enter here!

Best in Class Encourages Reading with Best in Books Campaign and Contest

Education Enrichment Center Offers Prizes for Stories about the Book That Changed Your Life

 Best in Class Education Center (Best in Class), a top-of-the-line education enrichment center focusing on math and English, is proud to launch the “Best in Books” campaign- a social media contest to celebrate books and encourage reading during the upcoming holiday season. Readers of all ages are encouraged to share the story of the book that changed their life on the Best in Class Facebook page. Every reader who shares the story attached to his/her life-changing book will be entered for a chance to win an Amazon Kindle FireHDX and Amazon.com gift cards.

“Everyone has that one special book that really made a difference in his or her life,” Hao Lam, Founder and CEO said. “For me that book would have to be Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson. I read this book over and over again and each time I read it, I learn something new. It is inspirational, and I can always apply something from the book to my own business. We’re excited to find out what books are making an impact in your life.  We'd like to create a pathway for you to learn about books you may not have heard of before.”

Interested in participating in the “Best in Books” contest? Looking for a chance to win?

Tell us how your book changed your life!

• Submit your 200-word entry to the Best in Class Facebook page.
• Entries will be separated into three groups based on age - under 13, 13-18 and 19 and over.
• 3 people from each age category will win: 1st Prize: Amazon Kindle Fire HDX 7"; 2nd Prize: $150 Amazon Gift Card; 3rd Prize: $100 Amazon Gift Card.
• Entries must be submitted by an adult, 18 years of age or older, or with parental consent.
• Entries will be put to a vote where fans can choose the most compelling story.

Enter Best in Books Contest Here!

Best in Class Keeps Growing: Proudly Announces Newest Opening in Texas

Best in Class Education Center (Best in Class), a top-of-the-line education enrichment center focusing on math and English, announces the opening of its second location in the state of Texas at 2023 West McDermott Drive #130, Allen, TX on November 9, 2013.

Entrepreneur and owner-operator, Priya Venkat will facilitate the opening in her local community. The education center will welcome the public from 10:30 am to 4 pm on opening day so that parents can learn about the various education programs offered at Best in Class while enjoying complementary drinks and snacks. Additionally, the first 30 people in attendance will enter a chance to win one of three exciting grand prizes which include a $100 gift certificate to Adventure Landing theme park, an iPod Nano, and an Amazon Kindle.

“We’ve seen the excitement and energy here in Texas after we opened our first location in Katy earlier this year, and we’re thrilled to see the same momentum backing Best in Class in the Allen-Plano area,” Hao Lam, Founder and CEO said. “Priya is the perfect addition to the Best in Class system. With her strong appetite for scholarly success, I believe wholeheartedly that students will achieve and surpass their goals in the classroom.”

Venkat comes to Best in Class from a background in Biochemistry, but her history with the brand extends back to 2007 when she enrolled her own children into the program. While working as a clinical researcher in Seattle, WA. Venkat pursued the Best in Class program after realizing the curriculum her kids were receiving in school fell short of a challenge. After seeing her children's academic improvement as a direct result of the Best in Class teachings, Venkat decided to take it upon herself to bring the brand to the Allen-Plano area after she and her family chose to relocate to Texas.

“As one of the original ‘Best in Class moms’ I have seen firsthand the progress and triumphs achieved in their classrooms. Through my experience, I hope to inspire families here in the Allen-Plano to seize that same success,” Venkat said.  “Competition exists in the educational segment, but while other programs offer repetitive and outdated curriculum, we emphasize critical-thinking and cultivate an environment that nurtures student growth.”

Best in Class was founded on the simple goal of providing the best education possible to each student entering its classroom doors.  The brand’s reputation as the leader in supplemental education has held true through Lam’s tailored curriculum and the centers’ emphasis on cognitive learning. Materials used in class highlight reasoning, critical thinking, and problem solving, allowing students to retain information well beyond their adolescent academic years. This all-inclusive approach has elevated Best in Class to be the parents’ brand of choice when looking for high quality complementary education.

“Our ability to grow nationally is a direct result of the success we’ve seen in each child, in each classroom, across each state,” Lam said. “With the opening of our Allen-Plano location, we hope to inspire the minds of those who come into our centers and we take great pride in knowing that one day, these students will have the potential to achieve great things.”  

Best in Class currently has 25 centers operating in California, Maryland, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, and Washington. The brand is looking to open additional high-caliber education centers throughout the U.S.  

Katy, Texas Grand Opening

Many thanks to everyone who joined us for the Katy, Texas Grand Opening celebration! The beautiful center was filled with families, children, food, drinks, and door prizes.  Everyone was excited to see the new center and enjoy the festive atmosphere. Parents and students were very impressed by our Math and English curriculum and homework packets. We had the opportunity to meet local families and share our passion for education.  We are very happy to be helping the families in this thriving community!

Ira Giri, location owner and manager, is excited to welcome new students to her center! The Katy center is open on Mondays from 4:15-8:00pm and on Saturdays from 9:30am-1:15pm. We also offer two FREE trial lessons during our grand opening period. Please contact the center or visit our website for more details.

For more information, you can reach Ira on the center phone at (832) 437-7934.

Best in Class Opens Its First Location in Texas, Bringing Top Rate Education to New Markets

Software Programmer and Entrepreneur, Ira Giri, Opens Center Doors in Katy

KATY, TX – Best in Class Education Center (Best in Class), a top-of-the-line education enrichment center focusing on math and English, is proud to announce its expansion toTexas with the opening of its newest center in Katy, led by local resident Ira Giri.

The center located at 3750 S. Mason Rd. Suite 600 Katy, TX 77450, will warmly open its doors from 10 am to 4 pm on October 26, 2013 to parents and students. To celebrate, snacks and drinks will be served while parents take advantage of free registration, free placement tests and two free lessons for their children. Guests who attend will also be entered to win three grand prizes, including iPhone dock, iPod Nano and Amazon Kindle.

“Seeing results with the curriculum Best in Class provides is wonderful, and seeing it spread across to new states has been a point of great pride for our family of franchisees,” Hao Lam, Founder and CEO said. “Our aim to bring the best teaching tools to more communities is a passionate project for everyone at Best in Class and we’re very excited to celebratethe future achievements of our students in Katy.”

Behind the operations at Best in Class of Katy is proficient computer programmer Giri, who holds a bachelors in science and is an avid proponent of childhood education. Giri began volunteering in her son’s kindergarten classroom in New Jersey prior to moving to Katy in 2010. Giri found herself drawn to elementary instruction and tutoring. To fulfill her desire to teach professionally, she sidestepped her previous career in computers and pursued her early childhood education certification –a decision that allowed her to follow her passion and work in education fulltime.

“I’m so positive about the opening and I’m looking forward to providing something entirely unique to the area,” Giri said. “Despite there being tutoring centers in surrounding communities, Best in Class is able to provide a refreshing and comprehensive approach to long-term retention with strong curriculum. Everyone at the Katy location mirrors Lam’s and my passion for teaching.”

Lam’s ultimate vision for Best in Class is to provide the best education possible and the brand’s extension to Texas is reflective of its recognizable achievements in the classroom. Tailored curriculum emphasizes cognitive understanding, allowing students to take the information and continue utilizing skills well into the future. This attention to detail has helped Best in Class position itself as the industry’s leading provider of complementary education to elementary, middle and high school students.

“I believe wholeheartedly in the work we do at Best in Class and bringing the center to Texas will allow more students to experience the rich benefits of our critical-thinking curriculum,” Lam said. “Knowledge isn’t only a professional pursuit, but a personal one, and with this enthusiasm, we hope to continue advocating for strong education.” 

Best in Class currently operates in California, Maryland, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, and Washington and has 24 centers in operation. The brand hopes to extend its educational reach in California, New Jersey and New York.

ABOUT BEST IN CLASS EDUCATION CENTER

Based in Seattle, Best in Class ensures that it can “Give the Gift of a Lifetime,” and is dedicated to providing superior supplemental education to guarantee students’ individual success. The brand’s thoughtful methods, quality instructors and customizable approach have garnered great attention and traction in the educational market. Best in Class’ unique approach begins with CEO Hao Lam’s passion for teaching and his steadfast commitment to programs of the highest quality that produce results. With emphasis on closely monitored progress of well-designed curriculum and materials, students engage in critical thinking and gain skills that are vital for future professional and developmental achievement. The brand is looking for franchisees in 46 states, allowing the gift of education to spread into new markets. To learn more about the leading education franchise, please visit http://bestinclasseducation.com/. 

Franchisee Spotlight: Priya Venkat, Plano, Texas

Priya Venkat, 41, moved to Seattle, Washington at the age of 24 and received her bachelors and master’s in biochemistry. She has been involved in the healthcare industry for 14 years, seven of which were spent at the University of Washington Medical Center as a researcher in the field of fertility and clinical lab work. Post her involvement with the University of Washington, she also spent seven years with Seattle Reproductive Medicine managing multiple labs in the IVF-In vitro fertilization field.  

Venkat considers herself as “the original Best in Class mom,” because she first heard about the program six years ago when looking for tutoring options for her own children. After toting around parent-teacher conferences and checking her children’s homework, she became alarmingly aware that the education her children were receiving in school fell short. Searching for more advanced classes for her kids, she began researching programs in Seattle and it was clear that Best in Class was the superior option.

After visiting Kumon and other “household name” centers, Venkat was convinced that their curriculums were outdated, repetitive and didn’t offer the necessary strength to uphold advanced lessons. In 2007, she brought her four-year-old to Best in Class and has never doubted her decision since. It was her first-person experience as a mother that inspired her to open her own center in Plano-Allen, TX, a mere four months after relocating to the state for her husband’s job.  Venkat notes the material, style of teaching, length of classroom time and overall dedication that Best in Class offers is unbeatable.

Currently in the United States, there is a rising concern among employers seeking qualified workers that the job pool is coming up short. To address this issue, the United States government created the Skills for America’s Future because the U.S Jobs Council saw a glaring need for employees to demonstrate more advanced skills, specifically in the math, engineering and science fields.

“About 40 years ago, only one in four jobs required more than a high school education, but now about two in three jobs require more training. And workers now really need to think of learning as a lifelong task. That's a huge shift from the days when you did one job that never changed for one employer and then you retired.” (The Atlantic 8/13) http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2013/08/why-jobs-go-unfilled-even-in-times-of-high-unemployment/278801/

Venkat hopes to tackle this problem at the local level and get kids passionate, interested and ready to learn at a young age. After doing market research in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, it was clear that Venkat had an opportunity to bring something new to the area. She visited school districts, reviewed classroom curriculum and vetted enrichment programs – nothing matched the teaching style of Best in Class. Best in Class emphasizes critical thinking while others focus on repetitive learning.

Venkat is confident that parents will notice the leaping triumphs their kids will achieve with Best in Class and has decided to take a permanent detour in her career in biotechnology to pursue this project full-time, “I’ve seen this work with my own children. I wouldn’t be doing this if I didn’t see their mental abilities grow with Best in Class. I am a mother first, a business owner second,” she said. Both of Venkat’s children have benefited from Best in Class Education; her song has been part of the gifted program in Seattle and has been accepted to the gifted program in Texas as well. They will continue supplementing their classroom education with Best in Class curriculum. 

Franchisee Spotlight: Ira Giri, Katy, Texas

Ira Giri has her bachelors in science and is a swift and competent software programmer with extensive knowledge in C and C++. The birth of her two children (now 15 and 11) created a shift in Giri’s priorities and she chose to put her career on hold as her family moved from their native India to New Jersey. The Giri family moved to Katy, TX in 2010 following her husband’s promotion and the growing town will be the location of her first Best in Class location.  

While staying at home raising her children, Giri’s mind kept moving and she wanted to be more involved with her children’s school and community. She began volunteering at her son’s kindergarten classroom. She had never previously taught before nor spent any time teaching, but learned to love the hours she spent with the children. Despite her background in computer programming, Giri sidestepped her previous passion and pursued her early childhood certificate and pre-kindergarten certificate and received it in 2005.

Giri’s thirst for education led her to start tutoring at her son’s day care. She discovered her intense love of early childhood education and wanted to pursue something of her own and make a career out of this new chosen path. She began looking extensively into different center options and through internet searches and devout research she discovered Best in Class and the fantastic curriculum they offered.

Giri was looking for something different than the Kumons and Gideons in the area. The Best in Class material provided something unique and exclusive and Giri notes it was the material she was sold on, claiming she would use it on her own kids and wanted to share with the rest of the community. She is very hopeful and positive about the opening, especially with the large influx of Indian Americans and Asian Americans in Katy due to the strong school systems present in the district. Katy is growing community with a median income for households around $51,111, and with large companies like BP, Shell, Chevron and Exxon Mobil in the area, many engineers and those in the science and math field come to live in Katy. 

Giri’s center is distinctive because she will be offering software programming as a class, which she herself will teach. Additionally Giri will be hosting Hindi classes. With a surge of Indian Americans in the area, parents previously had to drive their children out of Katy to take language classes. She will provide Hindi classes and hopes that offering languages will spark more foreign language options in the future. It’s these refreshingly unique offerings that will uphold the center’s success despite the seven Kumon center’s already in the market.