About Us

Be Greater Than Average offers the best in STEM learning, focuses on building learners into leaders. Be Greater Than Average has been offering our learners unique STEM learning opportunities since 2005. Our goal is to build skills that support learners in their overall growth, development, and leadership skills. Our learners typically start with one of our many engaging camps or classes to learn something new or to explore an interest. Many of our learners find a home at Be Greater Than Average where they will mentor and be mentored. While they came for the learning, they often stay for years to come because of their life-shaping experiences. We provide a path for learners to grow, have fun, explore, and take part in career building opportunities while building life-long skills that accelerate their path to becoming a leader. Be Greater Than Average sets itself apart by providing high-value experiences for our learners and their families by creating opportunities for both to build bonds with their peers, and extending that experience to serve and support the whole family.

We aim to build life-long leadership skills, cultivate curiosity, and further STEM education and career-building opportunities for generations to come.

While our company teaches students about the technology of building robots, 3D printers, drones, and other emerging technologies, we also emphasize critical project management skills. Those skills include working in a collaborative team environment where ideas and experiments are discussed and implemented. In addition, students learn about the Innovation and Evaluation of the Engineering Design Process and develop an understanding of the science behind the technology and how it fits into our world to make it a better place for everyone.

Students begin their journey as a learner and with our guidance and time-tested program, they quickly grow their skills and abilities, resulting in strong leadership and career skills.

Dr. Shelly Gruenig specializes in working with families to pursue excellence in emerging technologies and is co-host of the STEM Southwest Podcast and a STEM segment on CBS, KRQE. She is a speaker, author, STEM entrepreneur, award-winning robotics coach, and homeschool mother. Her passion is to help kids find their people and launch their lives. Her team, R4Robotics, is 12-time state champions, 5-time regional champions, and has won the prestigious Google Community International Award with VEX robotics. While life is consumed by her passion for STEM, spending time with her family, exploring and rafting the river keep her grounded. She graduated from Western Illinois University with a Bachelor of Arts in Recreation and Park Administration, followed by a Master of Education in College Student Personnel from Loyola University Chicago. In 2008, she completed her Ph.D. in Workforce Education at Southern Illinois University. Dr. Gruenig coaches both youth and their parents to plan and achieve their life goals and pursue their competitive advantage. In addition to working with thousands of young learners, she has worked with corporate clients including the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, Sun Microsystems, as well as the Brunswick Corporation. in 1998-1999 she led the career centers to transition workers at Levi Straus & Co into new careers and establish businesses leveraging private and public resources.

She believes that kids can do hard things and that most problems can be solved through prayer and a well-brewed cup of tea.

Before Be Greater Than Average existed, we were a group of homeschooling friends that were nerds at heart. With degrees in engineering, math, computer science, and a multitude of other STEM-related subjects, our kids were often entertained by our "experiments". Think starting a fire at the kitchen table with a battery, a three-inch bolt, and some wire, science fair experiments gone wild, or soldering jewelry and electronics just because. Our goal was for our kids to Be Greater Than Average by being a better version of themselves each and every day and striving to be more, serve more and learn more. We all mentored our award-winning competitive robotics team along with helping dozens of other schools develop their programs and volunteered at STEM events in our community. When one of our children suggested we start a business to share our experiences in STEM as a way to encourage more kids, we were hooked, and Be Greater Than Average was born! Here we are, years later, many of us now retired from homeschooling our own kids but still passionate about making a difference in the lives of families and kids through our time-tested program. We have been blessed to not only encourage and teach thousands of young learners but to journey alongside them in their launch into life as they make career decisions and learn through teaching and mentoring others.

It would be our greatest honor to welcome your family into our circle, there is room for everyone at Be Greater Than Average!