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Huntington Learning Center
Getting Students Back on Track for Success
Many students struggle with their
schoolwork under normal circumstances.
When parents factor in the
upheaval of schools closing early or
transitioning to virtual learning at the
end of last school year and the continued
inconsistency so far this year, it is
no surprise that more and more students
are falling behind. For parents in the
Dr. Phillips and Windermere areas,
Huntington Learning Center can
help.
Executive Director Aziz Kabani
explained the problem facing students
today is they are trying to play catch up
while already at a disadvantage. There
is a known learning regression that happens
every summer. When parents take
into consideration that this past summer
was even longer due to COVID-19,
children aren’t retaining the information
they learned as well and are struggling
as a result.
“What’s happening is there’s no continuity
with the learning environment right
now,” Kabani said. “It’s hard to be able
to learn the same amount of skill when
half the class is online, the other half is
in person. The goal for us is to be able
to give them those specific skills that
they’re missing.”
Staying One Step Ahead
Huntington Learning Center is committed
to helping students, not just get
back on track, but continue to progress.
“Our goal is to always have students
working one grade level ahead,”
Kabani said. “We identify where their
skill level is and build all the way up.”
Huntington Learning Center does this
through thorough evaluation of what
each student needs and one-on-one
instruction customized to each child.
It also offers a virtual option for those
who aren’t comfortable coming to the
center in person. Virtual students get the
exact same learning experience online,
as well as access to the same 3,000
pieces of curriculum that is available in
Although Arya (left) and Ziya are identical twins, Huntington Learning Center
creates a program tailored to each one’s specific needs.
the center. Whether it’s reading, writing
or math, the teachers are able to continue
one-on-one instruction online at no
extra charge.
“The first thing we do is give the
student an assessment to see exactly
where they fall with their skill level,”
Kabani said. “Our goal is to be able
to identify any setback or any gaps in
their foundational skills. From there, we
develop a program for each individual
child. There are no two students in our
program that are working on the same
curriculum. It’s all based on specific
needs.”
The dedication to each child’s success
and willingness to go above and
beyond is what truly sets Huntington
Learning Center apart. The teachers
work in partnership with parents and
schools. They have progress meetings
with the child’s parents every few weeks,
so they are informed of what skills their
child is working on and how he or she is
progressing. They may reach out to the
student’s teachers at school to collaborate
on the best way to help the student
progress, and they are happy to attend
IEP or 504 meetings to advocate for the
student.
All teachers at Huntington Learning
Center are required to hold a minimum
four-year degree and must be
PROMOTIONAL FEATURE
trained specifically in the subject matter
they are teaching. The center has
been helping students for more than 20
years and is accredited by the Middle
States Association. It is also accredited
as a private school by the Florida
Department of Education.
With the largest SAT program in the
state, their average test score increases
are impressive. A Huntington student’s
SAT test score will on average increase
by 250 points or more, and their ACT
test score will on average increase by
6 points.
“For some people, it’s the difference
between even going to college and not
going to college,” Kabani said.
Building
Confidence in Academics
Confidence-building is a key element
in helping students excel. All the teachers
at Huntington Learning Center aim
to encourage the students and boost
their confidence. Parents who come to
Huntington Learning Center are often
in a contentious relationship with their
kids. They feel frustrated and discouraged
at having to fight over homework
every night and not being able to help.
And, the kids are doing what Kabani
tonyrappa@capturevideo-photo.com
All students receive exceptional test
preparation from the team at Huntington
Learning Center.
calls delayed avoidance. They want to
do everything else except their homework,
because it’s hard. They want to
save the hardest thing for last, and then
it doesn’t get done.
“We want to let students know that
they can do the work,” Kabani said.
“The biggest complaint we get from
the parents is, ‘I cannot sit with my
child and do homework. My daughter
and I get into a fight every single night
about doing this, because it’s too hard
for her and she doesn’t want to listen
to me.’ When we’re able to build these
skills, the student is able to work independently,
and it changes the whole
relationship between the parent and
the child, because they’re able to get
back to being Mom and Dad and the
child instead of the teacher and the
student.”
After studying at Huntington Learning
Center, the same children who struggled
to read when they started at the center
are now reading two or three grade
levels ahead. And, they like it, because
they’ve become good at it. Huntington
Learning Center builds those skills and
the confidence to tackle learning challenges
and excel at them.
For more information, call 407-290-1111 or visit
huntingtonhelps.com/center/dr-phillips. ª