Small Business Q&A: East Cobb Math Tutoring

Most everyone who has gone to college in the United States remembers filling in ovals on the SAT during high school.

The SAT is the most common U.S. college enterance exam, created and administered by the College Board.

SAT also is offered in subject specific tests.

Tuesday is the deadline for regular registration for the SAT and SAT subject tests being given June 2. May 22 is the late-registration deadline.

All and also offer the College Board's AP courses, which teach college-level material. Students take AP exams this month and can earn college credit for good scores, usually a 4 or 5 on the 1-to-5 scale.

This is where Allison Barchichat of East Cobb Math Tutoring (Facebook page) comes in.

Barchichat is a Georgia-certified teacher with a passion for math. Working out of her East Cobb home, she tutors clients in AP and regular high school math courses.

Barchichat said AP classes usually include summer packets—work to be completed during the summer break.

"The idea behind the packets is that the work is a review of the previous school year so that the class is ready to learn new material the first day back," she said.

Barchichat is a mother of three sons ages 4 and younger. She has a master's in teaching and an undergraduate degree in math from Emory University.

Q. What's the best thing about your job?
A. I love working with high school kids. They're at an interesting place in their lives, in between being kids and grown-ups.

Q. What is the best thing about East Cobb?
A. I love working in the same community that I live in. I was born in Marietta. My family moved away, and then I came back to go to college and stayed. I think it is important to give service to the community you live in.

Q. Why did you pick this kind of business?
A. Tutoring provides flexibility to be able to work and be with my kids. I specialize in math because I've always loved math, as a student and as a teacher.

Q. What are some of the services you offer that people may not know about?
A. Buddy sessions. I teach two clients at the same time at a discount. I can help with test prep, summer packets, students who need to catch up or kids who want to get ahead.

Q. When did you start your business?
A. 2009.

Q. How did your business get started?
A. I've been teaching since 2002. I have taught at and in DeKalb schools. After my second son was born, I wanted to spend time at home with my children. Tutoring allows me to do that and stay active professionally. Even when I was a full-time teacher, I tutored.

I get a lot of referrals from former students and colleagues. The name of my website helps; when people Google math tutors in East Cobb, they find me. I also get repeat business from siblings and teach the same student year after year.

Q. Do you have advice for anyone who'd like to start a small business in this area?
A. You have to enjoy it. If you're putting all your energy into a business, you need to enjoy what you're doing.

Q. Is there anything else you'd like our readers to know?
A. Don't wait for the last minute to do yur summer packet. (Big smile.)