A teacher turned entrepreneur, Scott Groza naturally gravitated to the industry with which he was most familiar: Education. As the co-founder of the Groza Learning Center, Mr. Groza has created a successful business endeavor that allows him to continue sharing his incredible passion for learning with others.
An accredited day school, Groza Learning Center features comprehensive service offerings in a diverse array of subjects along with tutoring, test preparation, academic management and so much more. As an entrepreneur, Mr. Groza has focused his efforts on creating a business that is able to provide exceptionally valuable and necessary services, and this focus is clearly evident inside the walls of the Groza Learning Center.
Mr. Groza founded the Groza Learning Center after spending more than a decade as a teacher. Recognizing that the traditional classroom environment is not always equally suited for students of varied learning styles, Mr. Groza felt that there was a tremendous need to create a learning center in which students could benefit from personalized learning programs delivered in one-on-one or small group settings. Since its founding, the Groza Learning Center has accomplished these goals and more, as countless students have demonstrated consistent academic improvement and have been able to enjoy continued success in future academic endeavors.
The Groza Learning Center initially began in a different building and location, but the demand for the learning center’s services grew so quickly that Mr. Groza realized he would have to find a larger facility in order to continue to meet the needs of students. Established in 2012, the new 2,400-square-foot facility immediately evokes a sense of wonder through its many unique design elements, and there are varied learning areas located throughout the building that include small classrooms, dedicated testing rooms and educational “retreat” rooms. With a fireplace and a boat inside a building that looks out to scenic views of a vast meadow, Mr. Groza has intentionally cultivated an atmosphere in which it is quite evident that learning is an enjoyable and enriching experience.
What was your best/favorite subject in school?
I have felt strongly about the value of education my entire life, so I always did quite well as a student because I didn’t want to take any learning opportunities for granted. There were certainly courses I enjoyed more than others, but it seems like my academic interests constantly change over the years. I recall loving anything having to do with math when I was very young, but once I reached high school I became more enamored with the humanities. Now, I find myself fascinated by physics and have been reading up on the subject more than I ever have in the past.
What was your first job?
My first real job was as a teacher, and while I loved the work and looked forward to every school day, I felt that the environment was not necessarily ideal for all of my students. Ultimately, I founded Groza Learning Center for the students who needed a different environment in which they could benefit from a highly personalized approach.
Where and how did you first get into the industry you currently work in?
I knew very early on that I wanted to be involved in teaching in some way, so I studied education as part of my undergraduate work and entered the field teaching in a traditional classroom. I knew that I wanted to start a business venture of my own but did not want to leave the teaching profession, so creating the Groza Learning Center was the most natural option.
How have those jobs prepared you for what you do now?
Teaching in traditional classrooms allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of the limitations of that environment while also developing a greater insight into the teaching styles that work best for different types of learners. Everything we do is based on ensuring we are utilizing the most efficient and productive approach to education.
Describe the best day of work you’ve ever had.
Every day is really great because I get to spend time with students who are excited about what they are learning and are discovering just how much fun education can be. To say that any one workday has been better than another would be somewhat unfair.
How do you keep yourself motivated?
My students keep me motivated for the most part, and I have always felt that there is this energy exchange that occurs in classrooms: When a teacher is passionate about a subject, the students become energized to learn, and when students are passionate about learning, teachers become energized to share their knowledge. It’s sort of like this fantastic perpetual motion machine in that way.
What kind of business ideas excite you most?
All ideas have value to me, but I am often most excited about those ideas that seek to benefit entire communities of people or represent an opportunity to generate a tremendously positive and long-lasting outcome for people in need.
Have you ever tried any unorthodox techniques to attract attention to your business?
We have never really had much of a need to attract a lot of attention to the learning center, but there have been a few times in which our students have created projects that could easily be considered a marketing effort. They have mostly been for fun, and some of the projects even generated a lot of attention on our Facebook and Instagramaccounts.
What personal achievement are you most proud of?
The success of the learning center is a serious source of pride for me. It really represents just how much can be achieved through education and I cannot begin to express how much it means that I have been able to help students develop a passion for learning that will last a lifetime.
What wisdom you would have liked to share with yourself when you first started out?
I would have screamed at myself to select a larger location right from day one. Our new location is great and I could not be happier with the atmosphere we created, but I just wish we had identified this location right from the start to avoid the stress of having to move and get set up all over again. It was a lot of work, but of course, it has proved entirely worthwhile.