Worrying. Pacing. Nail-biting. Sweating. Completely blanking out. Gasping for air. Tick-Tock. Ahhhhhhhh!

Nothing causes more stress than a test. No one knows that better than Creative Tutors, an in-home educational tutoring service. Creative Tutors help students sort through and understand tough material that will eventually be covered on a test. Often, it just takes a new approach or strategy to help a child master — and recall that information — at test time.

Whether it’s a pop quiz, six-week assessment, TAKS, EOGS or the SAT/ACT, here are some ways to help students prepare and do their best:

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Kim Ashby earned a BS in Nursing from The Catholic University of America and, when she worked outside the home, was a Certified Emergency Nurse with a special interest in trauma nursing. She lives in Raleigh, NC with her husband and three sons. The Ashbys are in their tenth plus year home educating their children. They graduated their oldest son in May 2007. He is attending UNC Wilmington. Kim continues to home school her younger boys. Her oldest son was diagnosed with ADHD when he was in the public school system in the second grade. Her second son has cerebral palsy which has resulted in multiple/global developmental delays. Her youngest son has undiagnosed, mild auditory processing issues.

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Jan Coltrain-Sapp is the owner of the Creative Tutors Plano. The role is a natural for her since she has always had a passion for education...both from a teaching and from a learning perspective. A Creative Tutors customer before she became an owner, Coltrain-Sapp calls Creative Tutors her "life preserver." When her daughter began having educational and learning difficulties at the age of three, Coltrain-Sapp became very active in her education. Through finding solutions for her daughter, she gained experience with the educational system and the law. She also developed heightened awareness of children's educational needs. Her experience as a working parent gives her particular sensitivity to other parents who work and want the best education for their child.

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David Pulsipher graduated from California State University Northridge with a BA in mathematics with an emphasis in secondary education. Following his dream inspired by a high school coach, he began his career in California teaching math and coaching basketball. After migrating to Texas, David began at Creative Tutors as a tutor and now is area manager of McKinney. He loves seeing the successes achieved by the students with their hard work and determination to succeed. He is a proud father of five children who keep him very busy. In his spare time he enjoys playing basketball and cheering for his favorite teams.

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Cheryl and Steve Chancelor, share a commitment to the education of all children. As career educators in the public school system they understand the challenges students, parents and teachers face to ensure all students receive the best education possible. Cheryl has worked with elementary students both as a classroom teacher and as a Reading Specialist. Steve teaches Advanced Placement courses at the High School level. The Chancelors' diverse experience coupled with their passion for student success provides a solid foundation that impacts the success of every student they work with from the Pre-Kindergarten level up to preparing for acceptance into College. Steve and Cheryl enjoy offering their unique perspective and experience to families through development of educational plans that best meet the individual needs of each student and providing the highest trained and qualified educators to the tutorial environment. The opportunity to support their community by working with teachers, parents and students on a more personal level has proven to be one of the best decisions they have made. "Every child should have the opportunity to overcome the educational struggles that they are faced with."

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Susan Allen graduated from the University of North Texas in 2001 with a BS in Kinesiology. She is certified in Secondary Math and K-12 Physical Education. Susan has taught 7th grade Pre-AP math, 7th grade TAKS remediation, and 8th grade math. In addition to teaching in the classroom, she has coached cross country, volleyball, basketball and track. Most recently, Susan became a certified personal trainer through the American College of Sports Medicine.

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A graduate of the University of Arkansas with an undergraduate degree in Special Education, Laurie has taught in the classroom for more than eight years serving students in first through twelfth grade and has tutored students with all need. She received her Master's degree in Special Education with a specialization in Assessment. Laurie began working as an Educational Diagnostician in 2001 and opened Diagnostic Learning Services in 2004. Laurie initially became involved with Creative Tutors as a resource for parents who were looking for help for their children outside of the school system. After seeing the success these families were having and the academic growth in the students she assessed, Laurie decided that owning a Creative Tutors franchise was a natural fit for her business.

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