Today we’d like to introduce you to Teresa Kwant
Hi Teresa, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I graduated from the University of Utah in 2009 with a degree in elementary education and spent five years teaching 6th grade in the Granite School District. During my time in the classroom, I discovered Teachers Pay Teachers (TPT), an online marketplace where educators can create storefronts to sell their lesson plans, resources, and teaching materials to teachers worldwide.
After five years of teaching, I made the decision to stay home with my toddler and growing family. At the same time, I shifted my focus to building my TPT store, initially hoping to make enough to cover our grocery bill. What started as a side project quickly turned into something much bigger. I found a niche in Escape Room Games and other engaging, game-based learning activities that teachers loved. My store grew rapidly, and before I knew it, I had become a top seller, earning a six-figure income that far surpassed my teaching salary.
Now, with over 12 years of experience selling on TPT, I’ve expanded my work beyond just creating resources—I also mentor and teach other educators how to turn their lesson plans into a source of income. Through my membership, Teacher-Author Brilliance, I guide teachers through the process of designing and selling educational materials using tools like Canva and PowerPoint. My goal is to help teachers leverage their expertise and create an additional income stream, whether it’s to supplement their salary or build a thriving business of their own.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It hasn’t always been a smooth road—far from it! There’s definitely an ebb and flow to running your own business and selling online. The marketplace is constantly evolving, with trends coming and going each year. One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned as an entrepreneur is the importance of staying adaptable—keeping up with trends and not being afraid to pivot when needed.
There have been times when it’s nerve-racking, especially if a particular year doesn’t perform as well as the one before. But instead of letting that discourage me, I use it as motivation to push forward, experiment with new ideas, and find fresh ways to serve my audience.
My favorite part of being an entrepreneur is the creation process. I never run out of lesson ideas, and I genuinely love sharing my work with other teachers. Of course, not everything goes as planned—sometimes, a resource I think will be a massive hit flops, while something unexpected takes off and resonates with my audience in ways I never anticipated.
At the end of the day, being an entrepreneur is about moving forward, taking risks, and embracing those golden moments when your audience truly connects with what you’ve created. It’s a journey of learning, adapting, and continuously evolving—and I wouldn’t have it any other way!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am an educator-turned-entrepreneur who helps teachers bring engagement and creativity into their classrooms through game-based learning and interactive lesson materials. I specialize in designing escape room games, collaborative learning activities, and engaging classroom resources that make learning fun and memorable for students. Beyond creating resources, I also mentor and teach educators how to design and sell their own materials through my Teacher-Author Brilliance membership and online courses. In the spring, I will also officially be an author! My book, Level Up Your Lesson Plans, will be released on May 13th.
I am best known for my escape room games, which turn learning into an adventure, and my collaborative canvas posters, which promote teamwork while reinforcing key academic skills. As a top 1% seller on TPT and a platinum seller, I share my knowledge with other educators, helping them turn their expertise into profitable resources. I am also passionate about teaching educators how to use Canva to create lesson plans, classroom materials, and digital resources, making lesson design faster and more efficient.
What sets me apart is my hands-on classroom experience and deep understanding of what works for both teachers and students. My focus on game-based learning and interactive experiences keeps students engaged and motivated while ensuring that lessons remain meaningful and educational. I have built a six-figure business through my TPT store, proving that teachers can create additional income while doing what they love. More than just selling resources, I am dedicated to mentoring and training educators, helping them transform their knowledge into impactful and profitable teaching materials. My work combines creativity, education, and entrepreneurship, allowing me to empower teachers, engage students, and redefine classroom learning in a dynamic and meaningful way.
I am most proud of the fact that I have done this from the ground up, by myself, with the determination to help classrooms all over the world, all while raising my family! I never imagined I would be able to stay home with my kids as they were growing up, and I am forever grateful that I have had this opportunity. While my career path is quite unconventional for most teachers, it is one I am very happy to have created.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Growing up I always knew I wanted to be a teacher. I would set up my dolls and barbies in classrooms and pretend to teach them. I would often even pretend to grade papers! I have always been very goal-oriented, and when I make a decision, I work until I reach my desired end result.
Growing up, I was also very creative and social. I have always loved creating things, learning new skills, and collaborating with others. Being a teacher was a no-brainer. There really was no other path for me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://teresakwant.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teresakwant/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@teresakwant
- Other: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/teresa-kwant
