This Family Business Sees Opportunity Solving a Big Problem in Education

I'm a huge fan of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education. There are STEM education advocates in non-profit organizations and school systems, but what about leveraging business to promote it? Gary and Shaun Tuch own and operate Professor Egghead, a family business and STEM education franchise. They provide real, and sometimes messy, learning experiences as a way to teach science and engineering. Their franchise model is just as creative as the services they offer.

STEM on wheels.

From day one, the brothers wanted to create franchises across the country around their idea. Instructors don't need a storefront to operate a Professor Egghead Science Academy. Instructors run the curriculum provided and travel to different locations to run science and engineering programs.
Being mobile allows everyone involved to bring a new culture directly to schools where STEM may not be a priority. Parents, not schools, pay for the program. This franchise model is a creative solution to enable more instructors and families to participate.

 Family businesses can provide educational solutions.

"We don't have traditional teaching backgrounds. I think that's how we were able to make this thing work," said Shaun.
Gary and Shaun participated in after-school programs when they were growing up. They noticed that much of what is still being offered is daycare. They wanted to offer something more.
"It's not just about a one-off class that we want to give them. Part of our business model is to have someone come in week in and week out for three-and-a-half years," explained Gary.
It would be easy to leave it to school officials to catch the vision of STEM education and implement a curriculum. Taking an entrepreneurial approach to creating a positive change in students' lives is thinking outside of the box, and it's a great example of what family business can do for communities.
Read more about this family business