With many issues ailing the American public school system some families have had to rely on tutors as a necessity instead of as a luxury to supplement their children’s education. One of the most successful tutoring services in the nation is Tutor Doctor, which provides instruction in ESL, math, reading, standardized tests and more. Janice M. Williams is owner of the first Tutor Doctor franchise in New York City. With her background handling marketing, management and business development in the healthcare sector she has transferred key skills to improving the academic success rates of families within her community.
Rolling Out learned a few things from Williams as she talked how her company is addressing the education needs within New York City.
What are the main myths you have to address concerning your industry?
Most people think that we are just another tutoring agency like a talent scout or that we will pile canned materials onto the desk of a student. Tutor Doctor Education Consultants oversee the entire tutoring experience, from the tutor match, to meetings with teachers, to progress reports that gauge how well we are doing. Parents who are entrusting us with their most precious gift, their child, deserve nothing less.
How has the public school system crisis within America impacted the work you do?
Classrooms are overcrowded, curriculums are rigid, more emphasis is placed on standardized test scores than learning and social promotion is rampant. Families who have never considered a tutor before are doing so now. So helping our clients understand that every tutor/tutoring service is not created equal is a core part of my job. I recently had a client try to negotiate her way out of a 12-hour commitment. But I will not devalue my offering by compromising a system that has been proven to work consistently throughout a 10-year period.
How do you address the needs of lower-income children who can benefit from this service?
The majority of my clients are in the lower middle-to-middle income socioeconomic bracket. When a paid tutoring service is truly out of reach, we direct contacts to free organizations. We support these organizations as well by becoming sponsors and volunteers. For example, I conduct tutor training seminars and student workshops on topics like Getting Organized for the tutoring program offered through my church.
