Empowering Educators: Levanna Eugenio's Tech Teach Create

In 2015, Levanna Eugenio found herself at her dining table, surrounded by teacher manuals, her laptop open, diligently planning lessons. Her infant daughter sat nearby, happily munching snacks. It was a scene many working parents recognize, but for Eugenio, it sparked a profound realization. "There has to be an easier way to do this," she remembers thinking, a sentiment that would eventually become the bedrock of her mission.

From Guam to Grading

Originally from Guam, Levanna Eugenio embarked on her career as a writer for the Pacific Daily News, a path she once envisioned for the long haul. A move to Las Vegas in 2013, however, brought a significant shift. She pursued a master’s degree in education and, by 2015, had transitioned into teaching. The classroom quickly revealed the demanding nature of the profession. Like many educators, she poured countless nights and weekends into lesson planning, grading, and creating resources from scratch, believing that working harder equated to being a better teacher. Yet, the relentless pace and the constant sacrifice of personal time soon took their toll. She realized there was no reward for being the last car in the school parking lot.

Eugenio, like many teachers, sought additional income through side jobs, but her deepest desire was more time, flexibility, and choices for her family, particularly with her daughter. It was this yearning that began to shape her entrepreneurial journey.

Building a Better System

The moment at her dining table, observing her daughter while immersed in endless lesson planning, became a defining one. She envisioned a future where she wouldn't spend decades bringing work home, sacrificing weekends, or missing precious family moments. This fueled an obsession with finding better systems, leveraging technology, and boosting efficiency without compromising the quality of her teaching. Though she didn't know it then, this quest for optimization would become the foundation of Tech Teach Create.

In 2021, Eugenio began transforming the resources and skills she developed as a teacher into digital products, launching a store on Teachers Pay Teachers. Her first $5 sale was a significant thrill, validating the potential of her idea. What began as a modest side hustle steadily grew, evolving into Tech Teach Create. Today, she uses her platform to guide educators in harnessing AI, technology, and streamlined systems, aiming to make teaching more manageable and reclaim valuable time. "At its core, Tech Teach Create is about giving teachers more of what I was looking for all those years ago: time, flexibility, and options," she explains.

The Entrepreneurial Embrace

Founding Tech Teach Create has come with its share of hard decisions. Eugenio acknowledges moments where walking away for a more traditional, higher-paying job seemed the easier path. However, she continually reaffirms her commitment to her venture, understanding that her pursuit isn't solely about financial gain. "I wasn't just chasing more money... I was chasing time, flexibility, and the freedom to have more choices," she reflects. A higher salary might offer financial security, but it wouldn't necessarily grant the lifestyle she was striving for – slow mornings with her daughter, flexibility, and the ability to be truly present.

Her definition of success has also evolved. While it encompasses helping others and improving their lives, it equally means enjoying unhurried mornings with her family, savoring breakfast together, and the freedom to spontaneously say yes to a BTS concert or a road trip for pizza. It's about experiencing life without the constant worry of bills.

Community and Connection

Looking ahead, Eugenio is eager to expand Tech Teach Create beyond its digital presence. She envisions building a local community for teachers in Las Vegas, offering experiences that go beyond traditional professional development. Her goal is to create fun, intentional opportunities for educators to decompress, connect, practice self-care, and simply enjoy themselves. "Ultimately, I’m building toward a community that supports teachers not just in the work they do, but as people outside of the classroom," she says. By empowering teachers with tools to manage their workloads, both online and through local events, Levanna Eugenio is helping educators gain back what she once yearned for most: time, choice, and a life well-lived.