Today we’d like to introduce you to Atlantis Frost.
Hi Atlantis, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
In August 2016, I moved from Chicago to Austin to begin a PhD in Physical Chemistry at the University of Texas, bringing my son, Lucien, with me. When the pandemic began and the university closed, I became concerned about my income, especially as a single mother. A staff member and friend suggested I reach out to Pinky Merchant for possible employment opportunities. At the time, I was unfamiliar with Kumon, but I quickly discovered that it was the most effective learning system I had encountered in my 15 years of teaching and tutoring.
Most of my career had been spent working with adults and young adults in high school and college math and science. At Kumon, however, I saw elementary-age students who demonstrated math and reading skills beyond those of many college students I had taught. Only six months after joining Pinky’s center, she asked if I was interested in opening one of my own. At first, I declined, focused on my graduate studies and teaching. When she asked again, I still said no, explaining that I disliked the Texas weather and was considering a return to Chicago.
A year later, I became Principal Investigator at the Chemistry Demonstrations Lab at UT while continuing to work with Pinky and at another Kumon center in Bee Caves. By then, I was also studying the Kumon program in depth—completing worksheets, assisting with instructor training, and helping to prepare new franchisees at Pinky’s training center. When Pinky once again asked if I had considered opening a center, I realized that I did, in fact, want to pursue this path. Together, with Pinky as my financial partner, we found a location and began the process of opening Kumon of Leander Northeast.
What followed, however, was far more challenging than either of us anticipated. We signed our lease in May 2023 for a building project we believed would be completed by October of that year. Construction delays forced us to open virtually while searching for a temporary location. With little commercial infrastructure in the area, the search was grueling—we knocked on doors, approached churches, and were repeatedly turned away. Eventually, we secured space at Larkspur Elementary School, but the cost was nearly as high as the rent for our future permanent site, despite only providing four hours per week. Later, we supplemented this with an additional location, but we remained limited to two days in person and two days virtually.
By summer 2024, we lost both temporary spaces and once again had to relocate. Fortunately, a commercial property became available, allowing us to reopen in person four days per week. Now, more than two years after signing our lease, our permanent location on Ronald Reagan is nearing completion. We expect to move in during the first quarter of 2026.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
My first real struggle began at the University of Texas. The campus was slowly reopening during the pandemic, and the chemistry department was restructuring. I had been helping set up the new demonstrations lab when I was suddenly offered the position of Principal Investigator. It was a big responsibility—supplying materials for lecture demonstrations and handling community outreach at the same time.
At first, I thought this was a big step forward for me. But some faculty weren’t happy with the changes I made. What started as disagreements turned into something much darker. It felt like they were on a crusade against me. I had to contact HR over and over again just to protect myself, but nothing ever really changed. My mental health began to unravel. I was exhausted, anxious, and my nights were filled with nightmares about work. Panic attacks became a regular part of my life.
Through all of this, Pinky was the one who stood by me. She saw what the job was doing to me and gently pushed me toward something better. She suggested opening a Kumon center. To me, it wasn’t just a new business—it was an escape. A way to take back control of my life.
We signed our lease believing we’d open in October 2023. But the delays never seemed to stop. We had no choice but to open virtually, at a time when parents wanted to get away from online learning. It felt like starting off on the wrong foot, and it was crushing. Thankfully, that fall and winter, we were able to find space at Larkspur Elementary. For a while, it felt like we might finally get some momentum. Then, out of nowhere, we learned that LISD wasn’t renting their schools out over the summer.
Once again, we scrambled. We landed at the Larkspur Amenity Center, but they would only give us one day a week. It wasn’t enough, but it was something, so we pushed forward. Just as we were adjusting, in May 2025, we lost that temporary space too.
By then, it had been two years of waiting for our permanent site. Two years of living on poverty wages, leaning on family and friends just to get by. Two years of trying to hold everything together while still being haunted by what happened at the university. Even now, I have nightmares almost every night, and panic attacks are a regular part of my life.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I love this question, and I had to choose “other” because my life has been so varied. As a teenager, I was certain I was going to be an artist. I wanted to be a journalist, a fiction writer, and a musician, and I pursued these goals with seriousness, though with minimal success.
In my late twenties, I decided to become a teacher and went back to school. After the birth of my son, Lucien, and the realization that I would be a single mother, I found the courage to become a scientist. To my surprise, I excelled at math and science, especially chemistry. At first, I was a double science major, but as a single parent this wasn’t sustainable. I chose chemistry and discovered a love of research through multiple summer research programs.
For six years, I worked as a tutor and learning assistant at the City Colleges of Chicago while excelling in my undergraduate career. One of my professors and mentors told me he wanted to groom me for applying to Northwestern University’s PhD program—he had been trying to get a student accepted for years and believed I was a strong candidate. I was flattered and taken aback. Although I was not accepted to Northwestern, I applied to 16 graduate programs, all within the U.S. top 20, and was accepted to The University of Texas at Austin, ranked 12th in the country.
What I am most proud of is my willingness to take risks and try something new. I am known for my strong work ethic and dedication to achieving goals. What sets me apart is my tenacity and grit—the drive to see a project through to the very end.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
The most important lesson I’ve learned along my journey is that resilience and adaptability matter more than a perfectly mapped-out plan. Life has taken me in directions I never imagined—from wanting to be an artist, to becoming a teacher, to ultimately discovering my passion for science and research, and now building a career as a Kumon Instructor. Each step taught me that growth happens when we take risks, embrace change, and stay open to new opportunities.
Along the way, I’ve realized that setbacks are not failures but opportunities to redirect and refine my path. What has carried me forward is grit—the determination to keep moving despite obstacles—and the courage to step into the unknown. As a Kumon Instructor, this lesson feels especially meaningful: I can now use my own experiences to guide students through challenges, helping them build confidence, persistence, and a love of learning. Supporting families in this way has shown me that the most valuable part of my journey is not just reaching my goals, but helping others reach theirs as well.
Pricing:
- $165 per subject per month Math/Reading
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.kumon.com/leander-northeast/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leandernortheast_kumon/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KumonLeanderNortheast
