How I traded the classroom for the Mahjong table
Hi, I'm Sue — the teacher turned Mahjong instructor behind Mahj with Sue. A year ago, if you had told me I'd retire from teaching to teach Mahjong full-time, I would have laughed. But sometimes the best stories are the ones you never see coming.
The Start
One lesson was all it took
Last summer, while spending time on Cape Cod, my sister-in-law asked if I'd like to join a Mahjong class she was putting together. I'd never even heard of American Mahjong, but I never pass up a chance to spend time with a great group of women.
I completely fell in love with the game and played every chance I got that summer. Then I went home to Franklin, excited to keep playing — only to realize I couldn't find anyone to teach my neighbors or play with.
So I did what teachers do.
The First Class
I built a slideshow and invited my neighbors over
I built a slideshow, invited a few neighbors over, and taught them myself. That little Tuesday game quickly became something we all looked forward to every week. We laughed, learned together, celebrated every winning hand, and before long we were all completely hooked.
The Growth
A kitchen table became something much bigger
In February 2026, I started Mahj with Sue. What began as a small passion project has grown faster than I ever imagined. Every class has reminded me that Mahjong is so much more than a game — it's about confidence, connection, community, and bringing people together.
"Thank you for being such a fantastic Mahjong instructor. Your patience and clear teaching made the experience so fun and approachable. I learned so much and truly enjoyed it!"
The Leap
Leaving a career I loved
After spending my career as a special education teacher, I made one of the biggest — and most bittersweet — decisions of my life. I retired from the public schools to take a leap of faith and build Mahj with Sue full-time alongside my daughter Abby.
Leaving a career I loved wasn't easy. Teaching has always been part of who I am.
The Surprise
My classroom simply became a Mahjong table
The beautiful surprise is that I never really stopped being a teacher. Today, I still get to watch people learn something new, build confidence, laugh through mistakes, and leave with new friendships.
That's the magic that filled my classroom for so many years, and it's the same magic I get to experience every day through Mahjong.
The Future
Pull up a chair
Thank you for being here and for being part of this incredible journey. I truly can't wait to see where it leads next.
Pull up a chair. There's always room at my table.