Rising Stars: Meet Zarie Baker

Today we’d like to introduce you to Zarie Baker.

Hi Zarie, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
Growing up, I always said I did not want to be a teacher. Honestly, I wanted to become an optometrist. In my last year of high school, I was a part of Teacher Cadet & we were assigned the task of creating a weekly lesson plan to complete with the kindergarten students at the local elementary school. Surprisingly, I enjoyed the activities and the interactions with the kids. It felt natural.

In 2018, I graduated from NC Central with my degree in Early Childhood Education. From my years of classes, clinics, and observations, I gained much knowledge and expertise on what children should know as they enter traditional school as kindergarteners. Children are expected to know way more before entering school now than in the times before. One of my church mentors asked me to help prepare her daughter for kindergarten. I prepared a binder of literacy and math activities that we’d work on during each session along with other hands-on activities and learning games. 

From there, I started researching how to turn my binder into a book; everything was way out of my budget. My lead teacher/colleague/professional mentor, Ms. Williams, connected me with someone she knew who had also just published her book, Mrs. Therese Daye. Mrs. Daye guided me in finding an illustrator and an editor and going through the Amazon self-publishing process. I worked full-time during the day and worked on my book at night. At one point, I didn’t have WiFi at my apartment, so I would drive down the road to Denny’s and set up my laptop to get work done. Some nights I was there until 12 and 1 am because they stayed open 24/7. I wanted my book to be in English and Spanish, so I placed a hiring ad on Facebook for translators. This was my first time being the interviewer in an interview. I interviewed about seven different people before selecting a translator for my book.

I published my first book, Miss Baker’s Accelerated Pre-K Learning Guide: Preparing 3-, 4-, & 5-Year-Olds for School, in August 2019. In addition to that, I started promoting my tutoring services to bring in some extra income. In the summer of 2020, I officially launched Miss Baker’s Kindergarten Prep LLC. offering virtual and in-person tutoring services for pre-K and kindergarten-aged learners. As the years have passed, I have expanded my services to work with learners from pre-K up to 5th grade in literacy and math assistance. In March 2021, I self-published my second dual language book, Brick’s Book of What-Ifs, featuring one of my crayon characters, Brick. This book puts a fun twist on introducing opposites while tapping into the reader’s imagination through ‘what if’ scenarios. The process for this book was much easier because I knew what to do. I used the same editor and translator but a different illustrator. I’ve been working steadily to build my business through attending vendor events, book festivals, author visits, and my social media presence. I just attended my first educator’s conference at the NAEYC’s annual conference. I am now full-time in my business, gaining more tutor students. I also have more books, projects, and learning materials coming up.

Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
As I stated before, Miss Baker’s Kindergarten Prep LLC is an educational support service that offers tutoring services to children in grades pre-K through 5th. I am working on multiple projects, including my third book, finding a location for my business, and potentially adding more tutors to the team. I also have a Digital Discounts booklet highlighting businesses by posting the deals and discounts they offer. I will host my 2nd Annual Plant and Paint in the Park event this summer here in the RDU area and in my hometown, Rowland, NC. I also offer Author’s Visits. Yes! We travel and are available to schools, community centers, after-school programs, and childcare centers; you name it! My best friend and I also have a radio show on WDRBMedia called 3Es with the Bestieees, where we spotlight independent artists, small businesses, and educators in the field. I am in pre-production for a new web series about teachers and educators. 

I am most proud of my business in general. From where it started to now, it’s just so intriguing to witness. I can’t wait to see what it looks like one, two, or five years from now.

What sets me apart is that I do what I say I will do. I don’t always have a timeline for my plans, but I know it will get done. When working with children, the effort is just so natural. My mom always says my sister and I have this aura that attracts attention to kids.

Who else deserves credit for your story?
God deserves credit first because he is the playmaker. My family for supporting me, spreading the word, and promoting my business. My mom Renee, my sister Sadara, and my best friend/sister Kya for being supportive and traveling with me to different events. My mentors at church and in my various workplaces for keeping me spiritually grounded and for their guidance in helping me gain experience in my career. I am greatly appreciative of my students and families. I call them my MBKP Family for choosing to work with me and my business. One special NCCU college professor, Ms. K. Chavis, for her support of me and my business. Ms. Williams and Mrs. Daye for helping me at the beginning of my author journey. I am thankful for my colleagues and friends, who are always there when I need advice, a venting session, and a word of encouragement. Lastly, anyone who has ever promoted me and my business in any way. Thank you all so much for your love and support! It does not go unnoticed!

Pricing:

• Tutoring Sessions $25/hr
• Book Bundle 1 for $10; 2 for $15

Contact Info:

• Website:missbakerskprep.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/missbakerskindergartenprep/?hl=en
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/missbakerskindergartenprep/
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/zarie-baker-314832123/
• Other: www.linktr.ee/missbakerskprep