Laura Berkowitz M. Ed. (Director of Options in Learning)

As the world of education changes, Options In Learning continues to provide expert instruction ~ personalized and customized to meet the needs of one student at a time.

About Our Tutors

As I write this in 2020, Options In Learning tutors have provided expert tutoring for nearly 500 local students.  Options In Learning employs a diverse network of tutors with literally 100’s of hours of combined teaching experience.  With careful matching of tutors to students we’ve successfully taught young children with extreme behaviors that made it impossible for them to learn in the classroom.  We have taught teenagers preparing to enter exclusive private schools.  We have taught high-achieving students with test anxiety as well as members of gangs and of glee clubs.  We have taught adults entering nursing school and students preparing for SAT’s.

We have advanced degrees in education, and expertise that we share with one another.  We have adapted to the COVID-19 pandemic by becoming proficient at using remote platforms such as Zoom, Google Meet and others  to reach students both locally and across the country.  Last Spring, just like the dedicated school-based educators, our tutors put in countless hours learning new skills to communicate with clients of all ages.  We have adapted our materials and strategies and created new ones to insure that students stay engaged and continue improving their skills during these unprecedented times.

About Laura Berkowitz 

I took the helm of Options In Learning in 2004 from the wonderful educational therapist, Jane Soulos.  Her compassion and expertise made Options In Learning “the Cadillac of tutorial services” and I am proud to maintain this same standard of excellence.  Directing Options In Learning gives me the opportunity to put to use all of my life’s training and experience to help students in unique and varied learning situations.

My passion for helping students overcome learning challenges developed early as I watched a good friend struggle through elementary and middle school before receiving appropriate instruction.  When illness struck in high school, I had direct experience with 1:1 instruction and learned what a powerful positive impact it could have. I pursued my passion all the way to a Masters’ Degree at Lesley College (now University) where I was chosen to represent the entire student body on the Board of Trustees.  Next, I spent 15 years in a K-12 public school in Vermont teaching special needs students in kindergarten through 12^th grade, as well as supervising other educators in delivering services in all subject areas. Since 1999, I have been tutoring students 1:1 and working with families to help their students succeed.

Options in Learning is based on a few basic principles:  Putting the needs of the students first, accommodating families, and recognizing the uniqueness of every student and every situation.  This is the secret of our success!