Today we’d like to introduce you to Melissa Leonard.
Hi Melissa, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I am 29 years old and have been an educator for over ten years. I was constantly trying to find my perfect fit. I taught in public schools, private schools, international schools, and virtually. Within these locations, I had multiple different roles. I was the lead teacher, an inclusion specialist, a reading specialist, an English as a Second Language teacher both in the US and abroad, and a private tutor both in-person and online and more.
As I bounced around different teaching jobs, I continued searching my options and I eventually found child life. I went back to school and upon passing the national exam this year, I will earn the title of a Certified Child Life Specialists. A child life specialist is an expert in child development and these specialists are able to work in many environments, however, you can traditionally find them in pediatric hospitals. I could not be more excited for this change and that I found the career that I’d been searching for all along. However, I would not change my journey at all. I feel that everything I’ve done in my past career as an educator has set me up for this moment and in doing so, I accomplished something I never thought I would; I started my own tutoring business! I started ML Tutoring after seeing and hearing about far too many students and parents struggling with virtual schooling. I wanted to facilitate a positive learning environment that is supportive, engaging, and unique to each student’s needs, an environment where students can thrive and build confidence in their own skills at a pace that is conducive to their learning. I took this idea and ran with it. I absolutely love that I can combine my knowledge of child development and my past experiences as an educator to help students reach their potential! My biggest takeaway from these experiences is to live out each and every dream you have and never give up. I definitely surprised myself and could not be happier with the outcome.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. I had a vision of how I thought starting ML Tutoring would go and it did everything but that! Everything took longer than expected- from designing the website to creating, editing, and reviewing contracts, setting up the social media, and learning the best ways to market to new students and families. I am very much learning more than I ever expected on the go as I navigate owning and running a business. I quickly realized ML Tutoring’s success relies heavily on referrals and I appreciate everyone who continues to spread the word! I couldn’t be more grateful for the support from friends and family.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
ML Tutoring is a multi-level tutoring company serving students of all ages, in any subject, across the United States both in-person and virtually. I provide personalized student matches with tutors who best fit each student’s learning style, needs, and interests. I have found that creating individualized support not only helps build positive rapport but it fosters a positive learning environment with optimal opportunities for success in a fun and engaging way. I personally specialize in curriculum design and special education and I have taught all ages, pre-K and up. Therefore, on top of creating this individualized learning environment, I support all tutors by providing curriculum and resource suggestions specific to each student’s learning goals. Tutoring sessions are 30, 60, or 90 minutes long and are completed on a schedule that works best for the student/family. I have also designed the Instagram as a free resource to support parents/caregivers in a variety of ways throughout their child’s schooling and developmental milestones!
Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
My favorite childhood memory is camping with my family and multiple friends and their families. We would go to the same campground every year for a week and it was always so much fun. The campground had dozens of activities each day for kids and adults. We played multiple sports, rode our bikes, played bingo, and more! My friends and I still talk about going back with our own children someday.
Pricing:
- Pricing varies based on each student’s developmental level and learning needs. Prices typically fall between $40-70/hour.
- I’d like to offer 20% off all sessions for San Diego Voyager readers!
Contact Info:
- Email: info@MLtutoring.net
- Website: MLtutoring.net
- Instagram: @MLtutoring
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ML-Tutoring-109902834489161
