Today we’d like to introduce you to David Tsai.
Hi David, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Teaching and working with children have always held a special place in my heart.
My passion for education has been shaped by experiences across many stages of my life: serving as a teaching assistant during graduate school at Cornell University, lecturing as an adjunct professor at La Salle University, mentoring dozens of rising young professionals at Accenture, and coaching youth soccer in Middlesex County’s recreation leagues for many years. After more than a decade in global business and technology consulting, I finally set down my suitcase and embraced the opportunity to take the reins of a Kumon Math and Reading Center in East Brunswick, New Jersey.
“The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires,” wrote American motivational author William Arthur Ward. In my Kumon classroom, I find joy in doing all of the above. These elements — telling, explaining, demonstrating, inspiring — are the threads and needles that weave together a complete learning tapestry. They reflect not only my own educational journey, but also the growth I witnessed in my son and daughter, who became outstanding college students after many years of Kumon study.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
When I began planning to take over this Kumon Center in East Brunswick, enrollment had already fallen to an all‑time low, and the surrounding area was saturated with competing tutoring organizations. Despite the risks, I made the strategic decision to relocate the center to a stronger, more visible location.
That opportunity came when I secured a lease at Legacy Place, a newly constructed luxury condo development on Tices Lane with direct access to the high‑traffic Route 18 corridor. Our new classroom officially opened its doors in April 2025, featuring expansive floor‑to‑ceiling windows, abundant parking, and a safe, welcoming residential environment.
Of course, a beautiful classroom alone does not drive enrollment. I invested heavily in community outreach — partnering with local daycares and preschools, sponsoring PTA events, and consistently showing up where families gather. These efforts helped raise awareness, but the most powerful driver of growth has been word‑of‑mouth referrals. As parents developed trust and rapport with me, the new instructor, and our exceptional teaching staff, they began recommending our center to friends, neighbors, and extended family.
Today, just 15 months after our grand opening, we are firmly on track to triple our student enrollment — a testament to strategic planning, community engagement, and the confidence families place in our work.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
The education services at our center are intentionally and radically individualized to align with each student’s unique strengths, abilities, and learning temperament. Every learner receives a customized lesson plan, thoughtfully adjusted through ongoing observation and interaction. This approach allows students to shape their own progression curves and advance at a pace that is both challenging and sustainable.
My teaching philosophy is fully aligned with Kumon’s mission: to cultivate self‑discipline through structured learning cadence, to build confidence through individualized instruction, and to develop true self‑learners whose cognitive growth extends far beyond alignment with school curriculum. My guiding motto as a Kumon instructor is simple and steadfast: “A good teacher is one who makes himself progressively unnecessary.”
If someone asks what makes our Kumon center special, my answer is always the same: we create a classroom culture where learning genuinely feels fun. Gamification has no equal when it comes to engagement. Alongside flashcards and peer grading, we host “math battles” for students working at similar levels — friendly competitions that spark excitement and reinforce mastery. Win or lose, participants earn rewards like free ice cream from Marley & Haley’s next door.
When students or parents ask about worksheet repetition patterns, I often explain them through the lens of mountaineering. Climbers use the “hike high, sleep low” strategy to acclimate to altitude — a metaphor drawn from my own experience summiting Mount Kilimanjaro, the roof of Africa and the tallest free‑standing mountain on Earth. Just like mountaineers, students strengthen their learning endurance through strategic repetition, gradually preparing themselves for higher peaks.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.kumon.com/east-brunswick-ii/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kumoneastbrunswick/#
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KumonOfEastBrunswickIi/
