Meet Yesenia Ramirez | Owner and Director of Alpha Academy #3

We had the good fortune of connecting with Yesenia Ramirez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Yesenia, what role has risk played in your life or career?
As an introvert, I am very much risk-averse. This means in order to take a risk, I either need a partner, a motivator, or an expert I can reach out to. In my case, I had a partner that helped me start my childcare business. She had experience with opening 2 other childcare centers in Houston and had been open for about 12 years when we partnered up to open Alpha Academy #3. My Bachelor degree in Business Administration and my Masters in Education Administration plus my 10 years of teaching in public schools all contributed to my skill set that I brought into this new venture. After about a year of on-the-job training, I was ready to be on my own. I bought her out of her half and owned Alpha Academy #3 on my own. I then searched for other experts so I could draw from their expertise because childcare is full of rules and regulations that must be followed. I am one of those people who likes to do everything right and by the book. I am always learning.

What should our readers know about your business?
Alpha Academy #3 is a small childcare center in Pasadena, TX. School-readiness is our goal. We are in several programs that offer teacher training and student assessment in order to help us achieve this very important goal. Even our babies have lesson plans!

Getting to where we are wasn’t easy. The first six years or so, I was at my business on a daily basis and working long hours. Eventually, I was able to reduce my hours, but it did take a while. Managing staff can sometimes be a very stressful job because they can either make your business or break your business. That’s why I visit my classrooms regularly to make connections with my staff and with my students.

Covid took a toll on our business. When parents started working from home for extended periods of time, they didn’t need childcare, which impacted our enrollment and bottom line. When you own a business where you still have to pay your rent each month, your electricity and other bills, pay your staff, etc. it is very stressful when there is a big dip like this in your business. We were fortunate that the government stepped in to offer grants because it was a very difficult time in the childcare business. Luckily, we are bouncing back!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I love living in Houston. There’s something for everyone here! My favorite spots in the city usually center around food and cocktails! Some of my favorite places to eat are Barnaby’s Cafe, La Calle Tacos, Niko Nikos, Ahi Poke, and I could go to brunch every Sunday at Xochi! We live closer to the Clear Lake/Friendswood area and we usually stay pretty local for cocktails. Our favorites are definitely Rosewater Clear Lake and The Davenport Clear Lake.

Since my husband and I are University of Houston grads and big Coogs fans, I highly recommend a U of H baseball game or football game, depending on the season. Definitely a favorite activity for my kids!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I am lucky enough to have a motivator and supporter in my corner, my husband! He is one of the smartest people I know and I always go to him when I am not quite sure how to handle a situation. My husband is the one who motivated me to open my childcare business. Even when I thought I couldn’t do it, he had faith in me. If he didn’t push me to try new things, I wouldn’t be where I am today. Alpha Academy #3 will be 10 years old this year! Not all businesses make it this far!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alphaacademytx

Image Credits
Photossbysofiaa – Sofia Martinez