BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich. (WXYZ) — There is one job that is especially in demand right now. If you look online you will find numerous listings for tutors as parents seek support to help them keep their children caught up in school, despite the impact of COVID-19.
Some schools have announced they will only offer virtual learning. Others are giving parents a choice. Virtual learning or in-person learning. Either way, it leaves parents making hard decisions.
“I do feel that in-person learning is very important. I am concerned. My son is 6 about to be 7. I am concerned about what the mask situation is and what the school situation is going to be like,” said Natalie Reisin, Mom.
Reisin says she doesn’t know what she will choose for her 6-year-old son if there is a choice. She knows trying to help him keep up with virtual learning while doing her own work did not work last school year.
“I felt overwhelmed at times because I was balancing my work with his school and I was worried about him not keeping up,” she said.
Her solution right now is giving him the stability she can with a tutor at Academy Learning Center in Bloomfield Hills.
“I can't find more people to work for me because everyone is so busy,” said Julie Hines, Founder of Academy Learning Center. “Parents are scrambling to find some extra help.”
Julie Hines worked as a teacher and reading specialist before founding the Academy Learning Center. She says she is changing programs offered to help meet the demand. She will offer not only one-on-one tutoring but programs for 4 to 5 students at a time that last 2 hours and 50 minutes each morning and afternoon.
“The response was overwhelming. The number of people that were interested and I get that. The concerns, if my child doesn’t have in-person schooling what will that look like, the learning didn’t work for all the children and that is how this came to be,” said Hines.
It is a trend you will find at many tutoring businesses. Some are offering tutors to support children in-person during virtual classes, longer small-group sessions, and most are hiring.
Additional Coronavirus information and resources:
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