Folks We Love: Stephanie Dua, co-founder of HOMER
Today on Folks We Love we’re sitting down with the ever inspiring Stephanie Dua, who is changing the game in early education. Stephanie is the cofounder and president of HOMER, the only early learning program proven to increase reading scores with just 15 minutes a day.
Stephanie launched HOMER after struggling to find tools to help her own daughter learn to read (despite being surrounded by the top education minds in the country as the CEO of NYC Dept of Education’s Fund for Public Schools and in non-profit roles with the Carnegie Corporation, Robinhood Foundation, and as a Senior Advisor to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.)
This interview with Stephanie is equal parts educational as it is inspirational as it is relatable in so many ways, it was an absolute pleasure to chat with Stephanie and we hope you love this FWL as much as we do!! It’s over to Stephanie…
Where are you from?
It’s been a bit of a journey. I was born in Lebanon but grew up in Central California on an almond and walnut farm with my parents and younger brother. At 17, I made my way to LA where I studied at UCLA before landing in Brooklyn and living there for over 20 years. Now we’re based in Miami so when people ask where I’m from, there's not really a short answer!
Who is in your family?
My Australian husband and I have three bright, ambitious, and kind daughters along with our very relaxed puppy, Milo. A few years ago we traded pigeons for peacocks and made the big move from Brooklyn, NY to Coconut Grove, Florida so we don’t have any extended family members close by, but we do have a beautiful destination where we love hosting friends and family whenever they can spend time with us.
What challenges has the pandemic presented you as a family and on the flip side, what have been the silver linings?
There was a personal challenge that came from trying not to let my own fears and anxieties affect my family. During the early days of COVID, we didn’t know what to expect. My husband and I agreed that even if we were feeling anxious about health issues, our family, and the economy, we couldn’t bring that into our children’s lives. My husband and daughter got COVID four days before Christmas, so we decided nobody was allowed to come out of their rooms. I was the nurse, so I had to bring a tray from room to room and drop off drinks, food, and Tylenol. Fortunately, everyone was okay but it was very scary. However, I really found an outpouring of love and support around us. People would drop off meals at the door and games that the kids could play. We were new to Miami and had only been there for just one year at that point. This was a moment of really getting to know our neighbors better and it has brought friends and family closer to us, too.
Can you tell us about HOMER and how it came to life?
My oldest daughter was a really anxious reader and asked for my help with reading one day. She was also feeling a total lack of confidence. As the CEO of the NYC Fund for Public Schools, I was surrounded by experts and had access to every tool available, but I felt helpless when it came to helping my own daughter. That was the spark for creating HOMER. I wanted to start with reading because it’s the gateway to education. Parents deserve better tools when it comes to supporting their child’s learning journey, so I was determined to deliver them a solution that was fun, designed by experts and proven to work.
What sparked your passion for early childhood learning?
Learning has been a lifelong love affair for me. My own journey through the education system felt like it was the hard way. As I worked with the Robin Hood Foundation and then the NYC Fund for Public Schools, I started to realize how critically undervalued early learning really is. 85% of a child’s brain development occurs before the age of five, yet 98% of U.S. education spending occurs after age five. Then the realities of the importance of early education truly hit home when my own daughter struggled with reading. The education industry needs to come together to encourage a cultural shift and set the foundation for lifelong learning from the very beginning. I didn’t set out to be an entrepreneur but when you realize you have the power to change something for millions of families, it’s something worth fighting for.
This passion crystallized into a philosophy around giving kids intrinsically motivated early learning opportunities that is what was founded on HOMER. It was important to me that HOMER offered a comprehensive program for families with a multi-format approach. So, we make apps that help kids believe learning is fun, physical hands-on kits to support purposeful play, and classes that bring in social connections and movement. We cover all the skills that a kid needs when they are little, including math, reading, physical, and emotional skills, and deliver them using the most effective method. For example, a digital app is very effective for teaching skills that need consistent audio and visual components like reading and phonics whereas some skills are taught best through hands-on play (like pretend play) and other skills are learned in group interactions (like dance and yoga). I want the kids that use our products to have fun and grow confident in their skills while parents have the peace of mind of knowing we're constantly researching, developing and testing the best methods and techniques. On top of that, our products have to be simple, convenient and easy to use. I would compare them to gummy bear vitamins for your brain - kids love it and parents know their kids are getting everything they need without the fuss.
Your number one tip for parents when it comes to children's education?
Independent play is important work for children. It can seem like they’re just ‘messing around’ but the brain is making sense of the world around it. As great as it is when parents can play with their kids, it’s also important that kids have solo playtime. Sometimes, the best thing a parent can do is simply get out of their way without any interruptions or distractions.Kids don’t need a ton of toys or people to play with them all the time. In fact, research shows that kids with fewer toys are more creative with the toys they do have. Leaving kids to have independent play is good practice for us as parents as it translates well into school days.
I’d say the same thing about kids and homework when it comes to school aged kids. It’s important for a child to build a direct relationship with their teachers and take responsibility for what they have been asked to do. Your child's teacher won’t ask them for more than they are capable of so, if they didn’t turn it in, got it crumpled, had food all over it, or if they got everything correct or not, they’ll need to address it with their teacher. I believe it’s important that kids develop a relationship with their teachers. In addition, teachers need to get a real understanding of their students and what their individual needs are.. This wouldn't be the case if parents stepped in and helped out with homework assignments. It’s better to leave them to it and let them know they can figure problems out on their own.
How can we be more supportive as a global community of fostering learning for children?
We can all recognize the value of investing in the early years as opposed to the current global standard of education from age 5. There are some great studies that show that bigger investments into early childhood education can have substantial impacts on life outcomes and predictors. There is so much development happening in children before the age of 5 that determines how kids process and comprehend new knowledge and their pathways to mastery of skills which last a lifetime. It's so worthwhile to give the brain the best start possible. Norway spends almost 2% of its GDP on early childhood education, which is far greater than what we spend here in the US. There’s so much we can learn from the global community and in return, become a global advocate for allocating more funding to early childhood education.
Parent burnout has been higher than ever due to the pandemic, what can you speak to regarding self care being child care and how do you practice self care?
We often put so much energy into our children that by the end of the day, we have nothing to give ourselves. No matter how busy your kids keep you, it’s important to take the time you need to recharge. Arrange a baby-sitting swap with a fellow mom, giving you both every other Saturday AM off or having an agreement with your partner that Sunday mornings are theirs to manage which allows you to sleep in. Set boundaries as you’re the best person to decide what’s right for you. Most importantly, prioritize yourself and your own needs. Every person is different and their needs differ too but the heart of self-care is recognizing that the best thing you can do for your kids is to take great care of yourself. Your love for your children is not measured by how much you manage to do but more about meaningful connection when you are together. It's hard to feel like parenting is a special blessing when you're exhausted and overwhelmed.
What does a typical day look like for you?
I’m naturally an early riser (probably too early) so I like to get up, make coffee, and meditate. I also try to fit in some type of exercise, if possible, before getting my girls to school. Milo, my puppy, loves to ride in the car as we do school drop-offs. It’s probably his favorite time of the day. I work from home, so the commute is a quick walk and I start my day. I try to do a few meetings while I walk so I don’t spend my whole day on video calls but it can be tough. Our family tries to eat dinner together every weeknight. It has been a tradition since they were little and one of the best ways we hear about the girls’ days. They are also responsible for dishes, so it gives my husband and I a few moments to catch up and talk about the day. Since I wake up early, I don’t last long at nighttime but usually when I’m checking out seems to be the time that the girls want to climb into bed and have extended conversations...I try not to fall asleep but I’m mostly not successful!
What do you love most about being a mama?
I thought being a mom was a single role but doing it for 18 years, I have to say that you are a different mom to each child. Each of my girls are unique, special individuals and I enjoy a different connection with them. I love that I get to bring different parts of myself to every one of our relationships and in turn, they individually teach me something new and different about myself.
What do you find most challenging about being a mama?
The most challenging thing is that the role is constantly changing. You feel like you master a new stage and then you turn around and your kids have changed. I’m still learning everyday, even as a mom of teens. So, I’ve come to accept that being a mama will be a challenge for all time. Even once they are adults, they will still be changing and growing and I will need to keep thinking about what they need from me as a mom in that particular moment in time.
How do you balance work and family and what have you learnt that you can share across both realms to ensure you're showing up as the best mama and professional each and every day?
It’s been a journey for me. For most of my life, I was keeping work and family separate but I have been working on integrating them together. We’re human so we label ourselves and while these identities can serve us they also isolate us. For me, I certainly have an identity as a mom and entrepreneur, but I try to strip those away. Challenge yourself to say you’re a normal human, you’re not going to be able to do all of it. I’ve had to really cut back and say if I can’t do all the to-do lists, that’s okay.
The best advice you have ever received?
My mom once said “Own your own life and choices” and I think that has many meanings. Often for me it is about not allowing what others think of me or my work to control how I feel about my life and rather developing a deep sense of self that governs my life’s choices. “The Untethered Soul” by Michael Singer has helped me build on these ideas.
What is your go-to family dinner?
Tacos because they are so simple and easy to create variations on different themes!
What do you love doing most as a family?
We love to play cards together. We get super competitive and always have a good laugh. Our go-to game is kind of a family passed down version of Progressive Rummy.
How do you unwind? Do you have any mindfulness practices?
I’ve tried a lot of different things but it feels like I’m adding to my overwhelming to-do list and then I end up feeling guilty when it fails so I’ve learned to keep it simple. The most effective thing for me is a combination of being aware and breathing.. It can be as simple as just focusing on my breathing when I need to give myself a little space. I highly recommend it because you can’t fail at breathing! I also love Insight Timer - Tara Brach’s Smile Meditation.
What's currently on your watch list?
I love Schitts Creek. The oddball humor and the purity of storytelling makes for addictive Netflix binge watching. It's a great story of love and acceptance.
What's currently on your playlist?
Who doesn’t love the honesty of Adele’s new album? Not many women are prepared to be that open about their experiences and how that impacts being a mother so while I’m not a die-hard fan, I’ve found it exceptionally refreshing.
What is your all time favorite book?
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. It is a beautifully written, both heartbreaking and heartwarming, story of a young girl, Francie, coming of age in a Brooklyn tenement in the early 1900s. The themes are enduring - loss of childhood innocence, toll of poverty, family sacrifices, and tests of faith. However, what I love most is that the book is now also my daughter's favorite book of all time.
Since moving to Miami, what do you miss most about NYC?
We miss our friends in NY! Leaving them was the most difficult thing about moving. We were based in NY for over 20 years, so when it comes to the city, we had well and truly ‘been there, done that’ but in those 20 years we made lifelong friendships and it's been hard to know we are so far away.
I also miss the leaves changing and the first snow. There is something special about the dramatic change of seasons that helps us marvel at time and nature.
4 things you can't live without?
(besides my human and fur family members)
My Nespresso coffee maker each morning
Soft sweaters (aka mom sweaters)
Notes app
Nature