Around Alpharetta/Milton/Windward
T he first day of school is always a memorable event. For the parent, it's often apprehensive and exciting all at the same time; for the child, it can be frightening or the beginning a great new adventure. Life is a process of growth – from infancy throughout adulthood, we're always learning, always changing, and sometimes, it's just not that easy. Sometimes, we need help.
Huntington Learning Center of Alpharetta is committed to helping people become successful students. Connie Ramey, owner and director, says, "We get our satisfaction from seeing our students grow; it's a lot of work, labor intensive, and it keeps us very busy, but it's very rewarding." From basic skills improvement to SAT preparation, from learning to read to writing a Master's thesis, Huntington is committed to getting you and/or your child to a place of confidence and competence on your educational journey.
Huntington Learning Centers have been around for more than 30 years, serving their local schools and communities by providing quality support to students through their various academic programs. Connie Ramey retired from teaching after almost 30 years but soon realized she had more time on her hands than she expected. "My husband and I looked into the franchise and decided it would be a good fit. Huntington had been recommended to us because of the longevity of the service, and we know others who have been involved with the franchise; they seemed to enjoy the job they were doing with the students and it seemed like a pretty solid investment." So, in 2005, they embarked upon this new adventure and haven't looked back. They love it!
The Huntington Learning Center experience is personalized and specific. Each student who comes to the Center for help has different needs and skills. "We have all different ages and all different learning levels of students who come here. Some have special needs issues before starting kindergarten. We have adult learners, students who haven't graduated from high school, who come to us to brush up or study up for their exit exams that they failed in order to graduate, and everything in between. The most exciting part of our job is probably when we encounter a student who is failing, very discouraged, and has little or no self-confidence; we evaluate their individual needs, partner with their parents, and we help get them back so that they are motivated about school and their grades. We have actually seen several lives of students who've come to us dramatically changed."
From the moment a student comes in the door, the goal of the Huntington Learning Center is to create a program that will meet the student at the point of their need, assess their skills, goals, and particular difficulties, and then get them on the road to long-term success. "It's not just about putting a band-aid on the problem or getting them through a specific test for which they are studying; it's about building a strong foundation that will last a lifetime."
Every student learns in different ways and is motivated by different goals. Huntington has programs and learning techniques that will meet a student's needs in a way that works best for them personally. There is one-on-one and small group instruction that enables learning to happen in a variety of ways. There are pre- and post-test procedures that continue to monitor a student's progress throughout their program. Hunting Learning Center offers a comprehensive program which is focused on study skills, reading comprehension, spelling, and vocabulary. It will also often include math. Connie says, "The comprehensive program is what drives our business. That is when a parent calls and says, 'my child is struggling and has been for years; it is just getting worse and I don't know what to do.' We evaluate the situation in order to determine at what level they are functioning. It is a lot easier when the child is younger because they do not have so many skill gaps. You may have a failing tenth grader and the intervention is harder, but it can be done. We have seen students move from failing to the most improved in their class by the end of the year; again, it takes commitment and understanding that something that's going to change the child's life isn't a quick fix."
Your children's education is one of the most important aspects of their formative years, and not building a strong foundation can affect the rest of their lives. Huntington Learning Centers want to help you help your children be the best they can be and enjoy learning as a lifetime habit. Just ask their former students; they will tell you it made all the difference.
Huntington Learning Centers of Alpharetta is located at 5530 Windward Parkway and is open during the school year
Monday — Thursday, 10 a.m. — 8 p.m. and 9 a.m. — 1 p.m. on Saturdays (closed on Fridays). During the summer, the hours are Monday — Thursday, 9 a.m. — 7 p.m and Fridays 9 a.m. — 1 p.m. For more information, please contact Connie Ramey at (678) 240-9221.