Our business: Learning Laboratory
Nancy DiPaola, left, and Polly Scott are the owners of the Learning Laboratory in Madison. (Photo courtesy of the Learning Laboratory)
Compiled by MadisonChatham This Week
Why did you start the business?
Polly Scott: This is a dream I've had for many years — a really full-service learning center, where students are viewed as individuals, and the services provided are comprehensive. As I worked toward my master's and my LDTC certification, I knew this was what I wanted to do. As not only an educator, but also a parent, I know what it is like to run from one center to another, trying to get your child what he needs and then trying to come up with a way to pay for it all!
Nancy DiPaoli: One of our services is the kindergarten-enrichment program. We saw a need in this area. So many of our local kindergarten programs are still half-day programs. It's hard to fit a lot of learning into such a short day when the students are capable of so much more. We really want our kindergarten-enrichment programs to be a special opportunity for children to extend learning.
How did you two meet?
Polly: We met at Baskin Robbins in Madison many years ago, and our sons hit it off immediately. As they became friends, we became friends and eventually coworkers at Rainbow Montessori School.
Nancy: Polly and I also cofounded the Special Needs Parent Resource Group in Madison. The group was extremely successful and ran for more than seven years.
If you could do it again, what would you do differently?
Polly: We looked at so many spaces locally, and this is really the largest and nicest space we saw. We have lots of room. But the more you have, the more you want! I'd love to have even more space to offer more services.
Nancy: Stop shopping! Polly and I have so much in the way of instructional materials, yet we continue to see things we really want to have at the center. You cannot say no to good teaching materials.
What's the best business advice your have ever received?
Polly: Know your product. Or, in this case, our service. As educators, I believe it's our job to make sure that we keep learning, too. There is always new research and information popping up and we need to stay current.
Nancy: If you put your heart in what you do, you will be successful.
What personality trait helps you the most?
Polly: I think we both have a good amount of perseverance and determination, which is helpful. Also, as much as we are similar, Nancy and I have very different approaches and personalities. This works well for us because I think it helps us to have a well-rounded and comprehensive approach to the business as well as our classes.
What's the most difficult part of the job?
Polly: The planning and the prep work. It's well worth it, but when you focus on the individual needs of each student, it requires a lot of advanced prep and planning.
Nancy: We want to serve as many students as possible but still keep our class sizes very small, so scheduling has required a lot of thought and planning, too.
The easiest?
Nancy: Watching children learn and grow and knowing that you are a part of that.
Polly: When you see the light go on — they get it! They understand. That's very rewarding.
What's your least expensive product or service?
Polly: Our goal is to keep all of our services affordable. Our basic services are all pretty comparably priced. Analyzed per session, I guess our kindergarten enrichment program is the least expensive service. It works out to be about $25 per day.
Nancy: But our tutoring and skill labs are pretty close. Skill labs work out to be about $30 per session.
The most expensive?
Polly: Diagnostic testing, because to provide comprehensive educational assessment, you have to do a lot of data collection and observation, in addition to the actual testing. But still, I think we are more than competitive.
When you leave the business, what will you do?
Nancy: I would still want to work with children and families in some way.
Polly: I don't think I'll leave this business!
What is coming up in the near future at the Learning Lab?
Polly: We are offering an abbreviated kindergarten enrichment program for the spring, but next fall our program will expand to a full four-day-per-week session. We also have skill labs in reading, math and writing available this spring. Next fall we will be offering skill labs and subject-area minicourses for grades K-12.
In one sentence, tell us why parents should bring their children here.
Nancy: We are offering quality educational services by licensed professionals at an affordable price.
Polly: I think we are the right choice in educational centers because in addition to knowing our craft, Nancy and I really, really love teaching.
THE LEARNING LABORATORY LLC
TYPE OF BUSINESS: Full-service learning center featuring tutoring, basic-skill labs, subject-area minicourses for grades kindergarten to 12, half-day kindergarten enrichment, school consultation and diagnostic testing and advocacy
OWNERS: Polly Scott, Nancy DiPaola
ADDRESS: 36 Main St. (second floor), Madison
TELEPHONE NUMBER: 973-520-8245
WEB SITE: http://www.thelearninglabllc.com
FOLLOW US ON: We have a blog on Merchant Circle and N.J. Tourism
HOURS OF OPERATION: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Friday; 9 a.m. to noon Saturday
FOUNDED: 2010