Sawyer partners with hundreds of educators who are stars in their communities. From inspiring class content to engaging teaching styles, these educators are known for their enriching activities that empower both children and parents alike.

We got the opportunity to chat with Phyllis Frick, Owner and Instructor at Frick Kids Art, where K–12 students in Illinois are encouraged to explore their curiosity and imagination through process-focused classes and camps that blend art with math, science, and inspiration from contemporary and master artists. We spoke about inspiring young makers, creating a strong community, and how Sawyer helps them manage their programs and connect with new families.

Thank you for taking the time to chat with us! I’d love to hear a bit more about you and why you started your business.

When I retired from my public school teaching career, I began teaching art to children at our local art league. After a few years, the art league cancelled the children’s programming. Parents turned to me as a resource to send their children to for fine arts. I repurposed my large, newly built four season sun porch at home into an art studio and my business was born. My method of teaching, in which I give children the freedom to create in their own style, was and is very unique. Many art programs in the area send children home with “look alike” projects. Every piece my students make in our program is unique and fully customized.

Can you describe an inspiring moment you’ve had as an educator? 

After becoming a middle school science teacher, art oozed into all of my science classes from collaging microscopic organisms in biology, to designing book covers for science fiction novels, to making paper mache animals in their habitats. 

What’s the most rewarding thing about teaching children? 

The smiles on children’s faces and the pride they show in their creativity.

What’s one time a child surprised you and made your day? 

One of our hesitant learners doesn’t always go quickly into participating– but one day, we leapt into collage and he made the most wonderful one of his dogs. It was such a delight!

Why is after school/extracurricular enrichment and camp so important for children? 

Extracurricular programs give children an exploratory opportunity to try new things in a risk free environment for short periods of time that they wouldn’t otherwise consider.

How do you think children can discover their passions when they’re not in school or your programs? 

A box of any art supplies and some dedicated space to work can make a world of difference in a child’s creative endeavors. Allowing them to follow their instincts and work on their own ideas rather than buying them kits is key.  

What is your favorite Sawyer feature? 

I like the ease of registration and navigation. The streamlined interface to create a listing with our own pictures and descriptions is so easy to use and looks so professional. 

What's one trick you learned from another educator that you still practice? 

I realized early in my teaching career that hands-on activities reinforce concepts taught by any other method. 

Have you discovered new customers on the Sawyer Marketplace? 

Absolutely!

How do you balance your time between running your business (from an operational perspective) and teaching/connecting with parents and students? 

I carefully choose and hire incredible, creative staff with strong passions for art, teaching, learning, and children. I empower my staff to create their own lesson plans based on original projects and ideas they bring to the table. The excitement my staff has when their projects come to reality flows over to the children. I constantly get positive feedback about how original our projects are and hear about not just one or two pieces parents have hung in their homes, but entire galleries in hallways or living room walls in their houses filled with framed artwork their children have completed in our classes. 

 How has Sawyer helped your business? 

Sawyer has made registration so much easier – I can’t emphasize that enough. The widgets that enable me to load clickable class calendars onto my personal website are invaluable. The ability to list, post, and edit my classes in a professional manner is revolutionary. Everything is so adaptable from transferring students between classes, refunding parents and offering free trials. An added bonus is the learning webinars and forms such as summer camp planning guides, scheduling and staff feedback. I love that Sawyer is dedicated to children’s programming. It is the most reliable, easy to use scheduling software out there.