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 Taniya Das, the founder and CEO of KiteSteam, which provides STEAM classes and camps to children in New Jersey. Their programs use a unique curriculum integrating STEAM principles with activities that allow children to collaborate and practice communication skills and critical thinking. We spoke about about inspiring moments in and out of the classroom, the importance of out-of-school education, and how Sawyer helps them grow.

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. I’d love to hear a bit more about you and why you started your business.

I am an engineer and tinkerer by profession. I am a mom of two daughters who love to create, build and explore. During the COVID times, these two personalities fused together with my urge to build a business, leading to the first KiteSteam classes in my backyard.

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

Engineering can be daunting and sometimes the explanations are hard to wrap your brain around. I think I can simplify the complex into something my audience can understand. Seeing that understanding in their eyes is my aha moment.

What’s the most rewarding thing about teaching children?  

Kids' minds are like a blank slate, with no pre-programmed notions. These creative minds can come up with questions and solutions, which are unique and worth pursuing. I love to explore and nurture a child’s ideas in all of our offerings.

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

LEGO Robotics Free builds are always the best surprise I can expect. The ideas are mostly what's in season like football games/fields, beach ball tournaments, summer forests with waterfalls or carnival games. The process of abstract thoughts, sketching ideas to 3D builds, is an absolute wonder to watch!

On a similar note, what’s the funniest thing a child has done in your class? 

Little tiny kids acting like adults and having a full blown conversation about the “67” or “Skibidy” trend is funny and confusing to me at the same time.

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

After school or extracurricular enrichment gives a space for children to explore their interests, stretch their imagination, and just try out “a new thing”.

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

Building a creative and explorative mind is the basic building block of our program. Once you develop this skill as a muscle memory, you look for creative solutions for anything life throws at you.

What is your favorite Sawyer feature? 

All my classes are visible and easy to see in the Calendar View, which makes it my favorite and most useful feature.

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

This trick is not inspired from an educator, but how another parent treats my child. Engage with the child genuinely, by treating them as equal and participating in the conversation. 

Have you discovered new customers on the Sawyer Marketplace?  

The Sawyer Marketplace is what sets Sawyer apart from competitors. I am starting to see the trickle...

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

Small business is synonymous with doing it all, I juggle, I hustle, some days I enjoy the flexibility and some days I put out fires. In the beginning, an Excel sheet, Notes App on your phone, or many times a running list in your brain is enough.

As the business grows, having the right systems help tremendously, that’s where Sawyer comes into picture. Sawyer in the backend will help with the operations logistics. The Sawyer customer facing interface is a great tool to communicate quickly to customers about class updates, reminders and student progress. Creating and teaching new classes, meeting students and talking to parents, gives me the direction for building and expanding my business.

‍‍How has Sawyer helped your business? 

I am invested in Sawyer, for the big ticket item, which for me is the Scheduling and Payment portal and the small yet powerful add ons are the communication with parents on class updates, reminders, and student progress, all through Sawyer. 

The more I discover the small features which make me smile, the more I know I made the right choice. I like the idea of Sawyer Marketplace and I feel it has the potential to give my business the exposure it needs.