Meet our Founders
Rina Collins
CEO, Founder and Head of Education
As an elementary teacher, Rina saw the gaps in learning that kids were working through. With today’s class sizes and curriculum, it was difficult for many kids to keep up – or give them extra challenges if they were already excelling. When kids aren’t given the space to learn to love reading, it feels like a chore.
That’s why we opened Book Nook in 2012. As a Reading Specialist with my Masters in Literacy, I developed the Book Nook curriculum that has changed the lives of our students – and made reading fun for everyone.
Andy Collins
COO and Founder
Having in-depth experience in Operations & Business development, Andy came on board to help systemize Rina's ideas and help put all the systems in place for an NYC locality expansion. These systems have been refined to ensure a smooth business operation for any future Wise Wonder studios, no matter where the location!
- As educators, we are deeply passionate about how our work can make a real difference in children's lives
- We provide a ‘Wow’ experience for our customers little and large
- We have fun - we laugh, we sing, we dance - positivity is infectious
Our Staff Values
We believe a foundation in literacy can help children become incredible success stories
We are excited to share our passion in the communities we serve
Our entire team, from owners to staff, is passionate about literacy
2012
1st Studio Opens
Our first studio opens on the Upper West Side of Manhattan on 81st Street, with a lot of help from friends and family who were roped into helping with painting and decorating!
Within 2 years we are at capacity and we start an ongoing love affair with the local community that exists to this day.
2017
2nd Studio Opens
Our second studio opens in Tribeca.
This was designed to be our flagship studio (and model design) - we learned a lot in this process, good & bad!
We also set up our main office (and franchising HQ here)
2020
COVID impacts operations
Covid was a huge distribution globally, with New York City being particularly hard hit initially. We developed and launched new online programs that Spring when children could not be in our studios
By fall, our 2020-2021 school year was back up and running with virtual & in-person options demonstrating the market need for our services
We reopened post-covid / running hybrid (in person & virtual)
2021
3rd Studio Opens
Our Studio at West 59th Street in Manhattan opens and quickly becomes a local hit! Even with Covid restrictions, we see a large demand for our latest location
2022
10 Year Anniversary!
10 years already, wow! At this stage, we are regularly receiving new location requests regularly! Time to get the franchise development wheels in motion!
2022-11-01
4th Location in Brooklyn
Hello Brooklyn! We found the perfect location for our first expansion outside Manhattan into the leafy neighborhood of Park Slope
2023-09-01
5th Location in NJ
We venture to the suburbs of NJ with a partnership with a member of staff - to date we have had a tremendous local reception!
2023
Wise Wonder Expands...
After a long legal wait, we are Franchising!! We are excited to offer ownership opportunities that are available in NY and all non-registration states!