MY BIZ: Snapology

MARION — The motto at Snapology is that play is the brain’s favorite way of learning. And at any given Snapology class or birthday party, that means a lot of playing with Legos.

“Everyone is crazy for Legos,” said Deepthi Sajja, who opened the franchise in the Corridor in 2020.

The business relies on the ever popular Lego bricks to get kids engaged in learning about STEAM topics — science, technology, engineering, arts and math. “They are having so much fun, and they don’t even realize they are learning.”

Sajja, 37, decided to open the business after spending time at home during the pandemic when her husband, Chandrachood Pothuru, an engineer, began playing Legos with their son.

“The engineer in him kicked in, and he started trying to help our son understand how to build better creations or different things with Legos,” she said.

Sajja realized she realized that combining elementary engineering lessons with teachers who knew how to work with kids could be a winning combination.

“Teachers have this authority to hold kids responsible but also let them have fun,” she said. “I thought about not only providing this experience for my son, but for all the kids in our community.”

‘Mobile business’

The business, which Sajja runs from her home in Hiawatha, partners with other organizations to offer after-school programs, workshops and summer camps since the business doesn’t have a physical location.

Snapology has hosted programs at the Hiawatha Public Library and the Lowe Park Arts & Environment Center in Marion, for example. The Snapology team also hosts in-home or off-site birthday parties for kids.

“It’s a mobile business, which I thought was a perfect fit for our community,” Sajja said. “I am excited to keep getting our name out into the community. We’ve had some great repeat customers and community partners, but I’d love for more kids to discover us.”

Activities are provided in different categories, including robotics and engineering, and Sajja said they often are inspired by the things kids are fascinated with, such as Pokemon or Super Mario Bros.

“They are playing to learn about creating the worlds they see in these things they love,” she said. “They are learning the dynamics and principles.”

Staying current

Sajja said the business works with a variety of students but that kids between ages 7 and 12 are a sweet spot for engagement.

While Sajja can teach classes, she prefers to manage the business behind the scenes.

The hiring process, she said, can take a lot of her time to ensure that teachers are the right fit for the curriculum and have passed necessary background checks and other requirements.

“I do love being around the kids in our class though because they teach me a lot,” she said. “I might be teaching a Pokemon class and showing them the technical side of it.

“But the knowledge that they give me regarding every single character, and their powers, how they were developed and what environment they developed in … it’s amazing to hear that.

“I respect their young, fresh minds and their fresh perspective,” she added. “There is excitement for them when they can share that knowledge with you. They can’t believe you don’t know these things about Pokemon.

“I love having those moments with my own son, but when I’m teaching the classes, it’s tenfold.”

Staying current keeps Sajja and her team busy.

“Their interests can change so quickly, so staying on top of what kids are into keeps me on my toes,” she said. “But there’s a positive side to it because it can be a bit like going through your childhood again.”

Know a business that should be considered for a “My Biz” feature? Let us know by emailing mary.sharp@thegazette.com.

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