Houston families place a high value on education. Whether your child needs a little boost on his resume or report card, Firat Education may be an option worth considering.We had the opportunity to sit down with founder Josephine Firat to find out what motivates her…and how she continues to dedicate her career to helping our kids succeed.
Tell us a little about your background…
I was born in San Antonio but moved to Houston when I was two-years-old and have been here ever since. I went to school in Cy-Fair ISD, and then received my Bachelor’s in Business Administration, my Master of Business Administration in Marketing and Finance and a second Masters in International Business all from the University of St. Thomas here in Houston.
How do you describe yourself?
I am very driven and competitive. When I am set on achieving something, I work hard to do so. I have realized as an adult that it is not about the winning, it is about the process of competing. I also seek opportunities to be innovative, creative and do things differently than they have always been done. However, my love and compassion for my family and friends transcend everything.
What was your defining moment?
I have always been in the environment of education. I have been teaching as a college professor since 2006, and now I own an education company. My defining moment was meeting my husband Ibrahim Firat in graduate school, where he was a tutor at the university.
When was Firat Education founded?
Firat Education was founded in April of 2008. It started with Ibrahim tutoring students in a variety of subjects in their homes, while I worked on the business side of our new venture. We then brought on a couple more tutors who would drive to homes as well. We were growing fast, and we needed the students to come to us so we could see more. Today, we operate with more than 20 consultants, tutors and team members.
Do you have a goal or mission statement?
Our mission at Firat Education is to educate families of the importance of identifying goals before making academic decisions for their students.
What services do you offer at Firat Education?
For students preschool-aged through graduate school, Firat Education offers one-on-one college admissions counseling, standardized test preparation, academic tutoring and school placement. Firat Education’s approach is that we help identify your goals, provide you with a strategy and solutions to achieve results.
What are some of the most common educational issues or struggles students face?
Most commonly we see performance anxiety and stress caused by pressure from parents, schools or systems. Everyone on the team works together. The Chief Educational Consultant helps identify the goals and develops a strategy. Our Student Success Director works with the tutors to make sure the plan is implemented. We work with families on identification of anxiety and stress and create solutions to ensure we achieve the set goals.
Do you have any educational tips for young kids, high schoolers and college students?
For young kids, social emotional development is just as important as academic skills in reading, writing and math. For high schoolers, their path to college starts as soon as they finish eighth grade. College students should be careful with their choice of school, location, major and balance out academics and social life.
What are your biggest accomplishments?
Instead of having a few big accomplishments, I have many small ones. At Firat Education, we have worked with over 650 accomplishments who are students over 10 years, having a small yet significant impact on their future. As an entrepreneur, business consultant and business professor, I have worked with more than 500 small business owners across the country. My favorite is when I can combine my two passions – business and education. I mentor young people who are middle and high school-aged students on how to start businesses. I am proud to say that I have seen at least 15 small businesses created by my students.
Do you have any advice you would like to share with parents?
Every student is different and unique. Just because something works for one student does not mean it will work for yours. Our advice is always to consult with a professional when making big decisions for your children academically.
