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Spotlight on Canterbury Schools

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For many of us, life is too focused on juggling multiple commitments and conflicting family schedules. It seems that things are wildly out of control, maximizing your stress and minimizing your enjoyment of life.

When it comes to impressive life juggling, Sarah Vore of Leawood, Kansas, appears to have written the book, and she’s as passionate about education and business as she is about horseback riding. She runs several successful Kansas City metro businesses and manages to keep her family of five kids, 16 years old and younger, and her husband on track without driving herself crazy.

“Humor helps. If you can’t laugh at yourself and what’s going on, you’re taking things too seriously,” she shared. “Humility is also at the top of the list for me. After managing thousands of employees and tens of thousands of parents, I find that listening is important. No matter if it’s a parent or an employee, I’m focused on understanding the situation, asking questions and together figuring out a solution.”

 

OPPORTUNITIES FOR Learning

Sarah has had plenty of experience to build her expertise. She’s the owner of Canterbury Schools, which is made up of six academies in Kansas and Missouri for students ages two weeks to third grade. The primary objective at the Canterbury Schools is to provide the most enriching environment to facilitate a child’s development. At Canterbury, every child has the ability to learn and to teach, and a child who enjoys learning will always seek challenges in life. The program is based upon the Montessori principles of self-direction and experiential education. Sarah and her staff of 150 educational providers promote a thoughtful and sensitive demeanor in the classrooms and support cooperation among children as they learn from one another.

In addition, Sarah also runs Skore Academy, a professional and progressive level-based horseback riding academy that provides instruction in the basics of the American Forward Riding System. Skore Academy is for everyone, from a child’s very first riding lesson to those who want to sharpen their skills for competition at national horse shows.

 

Business Success Strategies

“When you’re running a business, you learn every day and the minute you think you know it all, watch out! No matter what, your learning should keep coming. I always say, just do your research. I also recommend that you find out city codes and statutes, and follow what others are doing in your industry. Thoroughly read any contract you’re signing. If you can’t understand it, find someone who can,” she stated. “In addition, it’s important that you actually seek feedback. Also, don’t burn bridges, because you’ll rarely be able to repair them. Try to understand things about others you work with, treat them like people and appreciate their goals. Not everything has to be so challenging.”

 

Listening & Understanding

While she’s managing her multi-faceted businesses, Sarah is also focused on her family: Elizabeth, 16; Claudia, 14; Mitchell, 11; Audrey, 8; and Francesca, 5. She and her husband, Brandon, have been married more than 18 years. “I work to keep in mind that my time with my family is limited, and I only have a certain amount to devote to them,” noted Sarah. “Just as I do in my business, I work hard on understanding them. I say to them that we should talk about what’s going on when they’re troubled because the real issue may be about something else. I can’t assume that you’ve got a B on a test or have just broken your favorite toy. But I always take the time and give their issues my full attention, rather than making it go away for a moment with an easy solution.”

 

Sarah’s focus is on teaching her kids how to cope with their issues, ensuring a well-rounded person, ready to take on the world on their own. “I try to help my kids solve the real cause of the problem and give them coping strategies to use when they’re upset, frustrated or fighting with their siblings. When they’re having a meltdown, I tell them to take a reset moment,” she stated. “But ultimately, they will have to come up with strategies on how to deal with people. For me, the goal is having a happy, engaged and functioning child who is not living in your basement as an adult.”

 

Strategize for Stress Relief

Sarah also adds that when issues arise, it’s fine to reshuffle priorities depending on the situation at hand. She advises that a solid coping strategy is forgiveness for others, but most importantly for you. “When you’re juggling so many things, it’s easy to drop the ball, but let yourself off the hook. You’re a mom and you love your child,” she remarked. “Pat yourself on the back for your efforts, and take the pressure off because it doesn’t help anyone when you overextend yourself. Being in a frenzy of activities doesn’t mean you’re going to enjoy the outcome. By slowing down, you can be more effective and balanced as an adult and a parent.”