We had the good fortune of connecting with Breona Udofia and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Breona, any advice for those thinking about whether to keep going or to give up?
It’s definitely a lot of obstacles when it comes to owning a business that you don’t deal with when you’re working for somebody else. From the outside looking in as an employee, you would never know the daily struggles of what business owners endure while operating their business.

I’ve definitely had some points where I just felt like I couldn’t do it anymore, but what keeps me going every day is walking into my building and being able to get hugs from little ones and just seeing a smile on their face because they love coming to school.
From my background of teaching in charter and public schools, I noticed that many children don’t feel secure at home. I always wanted to create an environment where children feel secure. I am able to do just that by fostering a safe space at Caterpillar International Academy.
My students always know they get a full meal, love and care from their teachers.
Being able to just have that aspect in my building was definitely the number one goal.

What should our readers know about your business?
Caterpillar International Academy focuses on providing a unique learning opportunity for children, fusing both education and play into a safe environment to stimulate fun and a love for learning into young minds and encouraging lifelong independence for every child.

C.I.A will do this by ensuring each child has a takeaway they learn each day. While the day is full of fun, social interaction, and hands-on projects, all activities will include the daily takeaway, so that kids will feel at ease and ready to learn more. This type of learning style has become a proven model to better prepare children for school and keep their active and creative minds prepared to learn more.

Our mission at Caterpillar International Academy is to provide each child with an educational experience that promotes the independence of a child. In order to promote independence our C.I.A teachers are trained to nourish, nurture, and educate each child’s social, emotional, physical, and cognitive growth. Not only are we committed to children, but also to parents and families by providing emotional support and ongoing resources.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
When i’m not busy running my business, I do enjoy relaxing and spending time in the city. Some of my favorite locations include Ace Atlanta and VODS Lounge and Bistro ATL. I also enjoy massages at Massage Infinity.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My personal experience working in the school system has inspired me to better the world of education. At my center we are currently in the process of getting the center at its focal point of learning by incorporating more cultural education into our curriculum. We strive to ensure our children are exposed to different cultures by exploring elements such as food, cultural practices, and language.

An awesome example of that at Caterpillar International Academy is that our students learn Spanish from our infant to pre-k classes. This includes learning to identify and pronounce their colors, numbers, shapes, and days of the week in both English and Spanish.

Also, a major long term goal for me is to one day open up a non-profit school in another country.

Website: https://www.caterpillarintlacademy.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caterpillar.intl.academy/

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