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Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save This article is brought to you by Shell. Dr. Channing Parfait knows the value of good mentorship.
He credits it with guiding his own education. After earning his PhD at Louisiana State University in Educational Leadership, he wanted to give back. So, he created Propel Learning, LLC, an educational company designed to empower students with the kinds of mentoring services they so often need.
Propel Learning is committed to making quality tutoring accessible to all students. The company offers comprehensive tutoring services for students from pre-K through 12th grade, covering everything from phonics to physics. The team includes a diverse mix of experienced educators, such as retired teachers, current teachers, and college students studying fields like education and speech language pathology.
That approach helps students to receive tailored support, particularly younger learners who often benefit from more specialized attention. To make his company sustainable, however, Dr. Parfait knew his business model would have to evolve.
That’s when he joined Shell LiveWire; a bid to streamline his operations, so that he could focus more on strategic growth and the quality of his services. Scaling for Success As Propel Learning gained momentum, Dr. Parfait recognized that scaling operations would require a dedicated and skilled team to offer more individualized attention.
With a larger, more efficient team, the company would be able to serve a broader geographic area – and ultimately reach more communities in need. That organizational growth strategy also allowed him to concentrate on planning and long-term goals, while solidifying the company’s reputation as a reliable, high-impact organization, committed to educational excellence. Empowering Communities Through Funding & Mentorship Propel Learning’s acceptance into the Steve Carter Tutoring Program further boosted its services to students, ranging from kindergarten through fifth grade.
The state-funded initiative offered families $1,500 in vouchers for tutoring services. Propel Learning’s accreditation, meanwhile, allowed the company to extend its reach and provide affordable tutoring to families in need, while further expanding its impact across the community. As the company matured, Propel Learning was also able to reinvest profits to both broaden and enhance the quality of its offerings.
By focusing on personalized, one-on-one mentorship and tutoring, Propel Learning quickly became a trusted partner, addressing educational inequities and fostering academic achievement. Since then, the company has grown into a transformative community asset, and a model for educational entrepreneurship. Through its innovative approach and dedication to serving underserved communities, Propel Learning continues to inspire and create lasting change in the field of education, while empowering the next generation of dreamers and doers through mentorship.
“Shell LiveWire is a free business accelerator program to help entrepreneurs and small business owners sustain and grow,” explains Becky Cooper, US Social Investment Advisor. Cooper went on to say, “Shell LiveWire participants benefit from an eight-week intensive training program, networking opportunities, and a range of resources provided by the programs implementing partner, Louisiana Small Business Development Center. The Accelerator’s objective is to empower businesses from various fields and welcomes applicants from diverse sectors.
A wide range of businesses can lead to a more vibrant and thriving community, offering residents a variety of goods and services. By extending the program to different sectors, you promote community development that fosters an environment that allows entrepreneurship to thrive.” Applications for the 2025 Shell LiveWire Louisiana program will be accepted through January 31, 2025.
Application forms and more information can be found on: www.shell.us/livewire .
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