An Alternate Route For A Career Related To Engineering Education: A Kumon Franchise

Kumon North America, Inc. (KNA) is North America’s largest supplemental education provider. In studying the relation between KNA and engineering, it has been found that nearly ten percent of all Kumon mathematics instructors have left successful engineering positions to run their own Kumon franchises. These franchisees work either full or part time with pre-K and K-12 students to ensure their students’ success in mathematics. The engineering background appears to serve as optimal background in guiding Kumon students towards potential careers in mathematics, science, and the technology fields. Simultaneously, by moving from engineering to entrepreneurship, these instructor/engineers find themselves in an excellent, independent job position. This paper discusses the flow of practicing engineer from a regular salaried position to independent entrepreneurship involving the K-12 supplemental education environment. It also provides information about the benefits and disadvantages of the career change, based on interviews with Kumon franchisees.