Business & Tech

Trio of Sudbury Educators Forms 'Educational Journey' Business

The business isn't meant to be a tutoring service, but much more, according to one of the founders.

Education is intended to go far beyond the classroom. And that's where one new Sudbury business believes it comes in.

Janice Donahue, Tracey Mara Putz, and Ann Donahue are combining their skill sets to form Educational Journey, a group whose goal is to provide support and enrichment for students along with school year and summer support for groups and individuals.

Putz is a former assistant principal at Peter Noyes School in Sudbury, Ann Donahue is a current first grade teacher with experience at the preschool and second grade level, and Janice Donahue, who has no relation to Ann, taught for more than 30 years in Sudbury, Natick, Northbridge, and the United States Department of Defense School in Germany.

Janice Donahue's departure from Sudbury Public Schools made headlines in 2012 when she was dismissed from her job for reasons she said were never discussed with her.

The district claimed Donahue pushed a child during a scuffle between two students, though according to previous coverage of the incident, the Department of Children and Families said there was no proof she abused the children.

Since leaving Sudbury Public Schools, Donahue has taken time away from education, until the opportunity came up for Educational Journey.

"We think it's going to be something totally different," said Donahue. "I think we are going to have some fun with it."

According to Donahue, the group is open to any ideas that go far beyond tutoring. She said they could assist students in leading book groups, putting on performances, helping children prepare in specific learning areas, and a variety of other methods that would help students expand on what they're already learning in school.

"I just enjoy working with children and encouraging what they are interested in," said Donahue. "We want things to come to us, because it truly will be an educational journey."

Because Ann Donahue is currently a teacher in Sudbury Public Schools, Janice Donahue said it's her understanding that she would not be able to help any child who is enrolled in her classroom. But aside from that, there are no limitations to how the group can assist in the community.

While the three founders are the nucleus of the business, Janice Donahue said they won't be the only ones involved. Thanks to their backgrounds in education, the trio can lean on others they have crossed path with as resources for children who seek assistance.

For more information on Educational Journey, visit the group's website.

"The three of us are pretty strong and our names speak for ourselves," said Donahue. "If we see something that the children haven't been exposed to, we are going to do our best to help them with that."


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