About Us
The Full Story
The Busy Bee Crafting and Learning Center launched as "Anne's Boutique Unique" in Fall 2025 to serve the Hazard, KY community and provide opportunities for community members to come and learn how to craft, meet new people, forge friendships, and gain technical skills in reading, learning, and studying. The Busy Bee holds arts-and-crafts classes to teach people how to make jewelry, bracelets, scrapbooks, sewing, and more. We hold "Story Hours" every week for parents and educators to come and read educational and entertaining books to children in our store. We also provide specialized tutoring for kids and students who are struggling academically, and sell materials for homeschooling parents to use in teaching their children.
Our Team
Alison Dwyer
Alison Dwyer, M.Ed., MNO, is an educator, nonprofit manager, and homeschooling mom who has a heart for homeschooling parents who strive to meet the educational needs of their children. While homeschooling her own children, and balancing their different learning styles, and abilities, Alison faced the challenges of meaningfully engaging her two children in educational studies.
Alison received her elementary education major from Wittenberg University in Springfield, OH. Her certifications include K-8th grade plus K-12th grade study skills certification. She taught in public and private schools in addition to homeschooling her two children. Alison received her master’s degree in education, specializing in literacy development from John Carroll University in Cleveland, Ohio. She also earned her Masters of Nonprofit Organizations Management (MNO) from Case Western Reserve University. She managed Youth Philanthropy and Service out of the Mandel Center for Nonprofit Management and was Director of Operations for Boston Partners in Education in Boston, MA which recruits and trains tutors for the Boston Public Schools.
The Busy Bee Crafting and Learning Center is a culmination of Alison’s heart for teaching, coupled with her expertise from her own educational training, classroom teaching, continuing education, and homeschooling experience, where she provides supportive educational materials, video trainings, and helpful tips for working with children of all ages and stages.
Contact us at busybeecenterky@gmail.com if you are interested in exploring private tutoring for your child or student(s).
Anne White
Anne White is a co-founder of the Busy Bee Crafting and Learning Center. She runs crafting workshops in-store, including jewelry making and painting classes. She has been making art and designing wearable artisan necklaces, rings, and bracelets for around ten years. She also helps manage the store. Anne has designed and painted the furniture and paintings in the store, and architected the theme of many store items.
Carol Riley
Carol Riley is a co-founding member of the Busy Bee Crafting and Learning Center, where she wears many hats including product designer, business consultant, social media marketing, and visionary.
Carol runs the Busy Bee's Facebook and Instagram, designs the Bee's advertisements in the Hazard Herald with Alison, and establishes personal and professional connections on behalf of the Busy Bee around the city of Hazard, KY. She has powered the vision and strategy of the Busy Bee, connecting parents, teachers, and kids to tutoring services and crafting workshops in town.
Carol also makes many of the crafts sold in store and online, including artisan-made bags, chapstick holders, beanies, and more. She holds workshops on scrapbooking, sewing, and yarn-work, which are open to all ages and experience levels.
Carol is also a wife, mother and homemaker. She enjoys spending time in her sewing room, where she makes quilts, bags, and other hand-made items. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends, and is very involved in her local church.
If you have any questions or would like to get in touch with Carol, you can email busybeecenterky@gmail.com or call (606) 551-1172.
Lee Dwyer
Lee Dwyer is a master's student in journalism at Boston University. He designed the Busy Bee Center's website from scratch, made the advertising posters, and took over the graphic design for the store in January 2025. He also teaches the online Latin classes (a new addition!) for the Busy Bee. He is learning 6 languages and has been learning Latin for about 15 years. Lee currently works multiple jobs, including part-time tutor, ESPN graphics operator, and web designer. Lee is also Alison Dwyer's son!