When Dr. Shikha Gill, an experienced teacher with over a decade in education, began searching for a new career direction, she wasn’t looking to step away from education entirely. Instead, she wanted a way to stay connected to the industry while gaining more flexibility for her family. That search led her to Kumon and today, as the proud Instructor of the Kumon Castleknock Study Centre, she’s proud of both her growing business and the impact she’s making on her students’ lives.
After 11 years teaching in Ireland, much of it supporting children with autism as well as in mainstream classrooms, Shikha felt the need for a role that fulfilled her love of teaching but also allowed her far greater independence.
“I wanted to do something of my own in and around education. The main driving force was that my children were getting older and they had to start school. Doing the school run, dropping them off, while also arriving at a different school for my work was very demanding and it was getting very tight in the mornings. I needed something that gave me more flexibility while also delivering the same professional satisfaction.”
Kumon stood out to her not only because of its strong presence in Ireland but also because of its focus on core subjects. Just as importantly, the Kumon Method also supports learners of every level: from children who need extra help to those who are already excelling and eager for greater challenges.
“Maths and English have always been my strengths,” Shikha told us, “and I also liked how it catered to children with different needs. I have worked a lot with children with special needs who need a little extra help to push them forwards and I am able to give them that. The best thing about Kumon though is that, even if the child is advanced already, then we can take them to a more advanced level.”
Shikha took over the Castleknock centre in 2023. While the centre had been established for more than a decade, enrolment was low at the time. With steady marketing and word-of-mouth, she has since grown the student base from just under 40 students to over 180 students.
While working directly with and guiding students is an integral and large part of being a Kumon Instructor, owning your own centre also brings other challenges and rewards to franchisees.
“It’s not only about knowledge of maths and English. You need to be good at marketing your centre, communicating with parents, and managing a team. It’s your own business, that you own, so you are responsible for it and you need to promote and present yourself to parents so that they will want to enrol their children with you.
“I didn’t anticipate it when I first opened my centre, but the business management part has become one of my favourites parts of being an Instructor! I enjoy planning and keeping track of the different marketing I’ve done, the people I’ve spoken to, and watching my numbers go up every month is very rewarding, both emotionally and financially. I’m providing a quality service, with many students studying at three years ahead of their school grade level, and parents have responded to this success through word-of-mouth referrals.”
That response has been vast growth for the Kumon Castleknock Study Centre! While Shikha expected Kumon to be fulfilling emotionally, she is pleased to benefit from the other advantages of running a successful business.
“I’m only running classes three days a week. Yes, there is a lot of planning that goes into them, and business management too, but with the work that I’ve put in to grow the centre, things are going very well, far in advance of the business plan that I created when I opened the centre. That was the most surprising part for me!”
For those considering a Kumon franchise, Shikha offers a strong perspective:
“It gives you flexibility, independence, good financial rewards, and most importantly, the chance to make a difference in children’s lives.”
If this sounds like an exciting career path that appeals to you too, click here to book an information session and take the first step to opening your own Kumon centre.