Instructor Spotlight Scott Manis

Instructor Spotlight Scott Manis Instructor Spotlight: Scott Manis Scott Manis, Instructor of Kumon Math and Reading Center of Maryland Heights From an early age, Scott knew he was destined for a future in education. As a child, he enjoyed helping his younger sister with her homework and studying for exams. Scott followed his dreams and earned a bachelor’s degree in History for Secondary Education. Upon graduating, he learned about Kumon through a friend and it immediately sparked his interest. “I loved the impact that the program had on students,” said Scott. “The fact that I was able to help develop a student over continuous years really intrigued me.” Next year, Scott Manis, Instructor of Kumon of Maryland Heights, will be celebrating his fifth anniversary with Kumon. Through the years, Scott has made an impact on the young minds in this St. Louis suburb. Kumon has ignited the dreams of this young educator and he continues to be inspired by his students. “I am proud of the reputation that we have in our community,” said Scott. “As someone who always wanted to be an educator, I feel like Kumon is the place where I can make the biggest impact on the lives of students.” What is the most valuable lesson you’ve learned as a Kumon Instructor? Patience! It’s easy to understand that patience is needed when working with students, but it takes time and practice to be patient. Students learn in different ways and at different speeds. Each student needs time to think, and as an Instructor you must be willing to adjust your approach for each individual. What is it about being an Instructor you enjoy the most? This may sound weird, but it’s when a parent comes in for a parent orientation and they are visibly upset about where their child is academically. This is my favorite part, because I know I can help and bring relief and joy to the student because learning will become so much easier for them. One parent actually comes to mind when I think of this. A mother began crying when I asked her why she came to Kumon. She explained to me that her first grader was not able to read. I assured her we could help and explained how. After six months, the same mother greeted me in the waiting room with a big smile holding her child’s improved report card. She said his teacher was so amazed by the progression of his reading skills. Can you describe an instruction moment where you made an impact on a student who may have been struggling? I had a student who was in the third grade and was struggling with subtraction. I encouraged him to use his strong addition skills to quickly solve the problems. He had an “aha!” moment and subtraction came easily to him after that. It felt good to be able to help a student with something that he had been struggling with for years. It wouldn’t have been possible if he didn’t develop strong addition skills initially from a comfortable starting point. What do you like to do in your spare time? These days I spend most of my free time with my wife and two-year-old son. Watching him grow and experience new things is the best way to spend my free time now. As a family, we also enjoy traveling to new places as often as possible. What is a fun fact about you that people may not know? I really enjoy working on and restoring classic cars. Learn more about the Kumon Franchise opportunity and discover franchisee success stories. You might also be interested in: Instructor Spotlight: Alex Tang Instructor Spotlight: Laisa Mathissen Instructor Spotlight: Laura Bubbico Instructor Spotlight: Jennifer Ju Instructor Spotlight Scott Manis Instructor Spotlight: Scott Manis Scott Manis, Instructor of Kumon Math and Reading Center of Maryland Heights From an early age, Scott knew he was destined for a future in education. As a child, he enjoyed helping his younger sister with her homework and studying for exams. Scott followed his dreams and earned a bachelor’s degree in History for Secondary Education. Upon graduating, he learned about Kumon through a friend and it immediately sparked his interest. “I loved the impact that the program had on students,” said Scott. “The fact that I was able to help develop a student over continuous years really intrigued me.” Next year, Scott Manis, Instructor of Kumon of Maryland Heights, will be celebrating his fifth anniversary with Kumon. Through the years, Scott has made an impact on the young minds in this St. Louis suburb. Kumon has ignited the dreams of this young educator and he continues to be inspired by his students. “I am proud of the reputation that we have in our community,” said Scott. “As someone who always wanted to be an educator, I feel like Kumon is the place where I can make the biggest impact on the lives of students.” What is the most valuable lesson you’ve learned as a Kumon Instructor? Patience! It’s easy to understand that patience is needed when working with students, but it takes time and practice to be patient. Students learn in different ways and at different speeds. Each student needs time to think, and as an Instructor you must be willing to adjust your approach for each individual. What is it about being an Instructor you enjoy the most? This may sound weird, but it’s when a parent comes in for a parent orientation and they are visibly upset about where their child is academically. This is my favorite part, because I know I can help and bring relief and joy to the student because learning will become so much easier for them. One parent actually comes to mind when I think of this. A mother began crying when I asked her why she came to Kumon. She explained to me that her first grader was not able to read. I assured her we could help and explained how. After six months, the same mother greeted me in the waiting room with a big smile holding her child’s improved report card. She said his teacher was so amazed by the progression of his reading skills. Can you describe an instruction moment where you made an impact on a student who may have been struggling? I had a student who was in the third grade and was struggling with subtraction. I encouraged him to use his strong addition skills to quickly solve the problems. He had an “aha!” moment and subtraction came easily to him after that. It felt good to be able to help a student with something that he had been struggling with for years. It wouldn’t have been possible if he didn’t develop strong addition skills initially from a comfortable starting point. What do you like to do in your spare time? These days I spend most of my free time with my wife and two-year-old son. Watching him grow and experience new things is the best way to spend my free time now. As a family, we also enjoy traveling to new places as often as possible. What is a fun fact about you that people may not know? I really enjoy working on and restoring classic cars. Learn more about the Kumon Franchise opportunity and discover franchisee success stories. You might also be interested in: Instructor Spotlight: Alex Tang Instructor Spotlight: Laisa Mathissen Instructor Spotlight: Laura Bubbico Instructor Spotlight: Jennifer Ju