Creative Tutors of Plano

Transition to High School

It's no small task to switch from slacker summer schedules to the rigors of early wake-ups, after-school activities, and — sorry, kids — homework. The transition is hard for parents, too, but as I walked my daughter's schedule for 9th grade in a huge high school, she patted me on the back and said, "Don't stress,Mom. It's okay, I will do fine." Studies have shown that students moving into high school rely heavily on friends and are, at least at first, caught off guard by the academic workload (Letrello, T., 2002; Mizelle, N, 2000; Akos, P., 2004). This applies to students with learning problems as well as those without. Studies also reveal that students who feel they are a part of the school community are more motivated and show higher academic achievement (Isakson & Jarvis, 1999). As the new school year begins, I am hopeful that my daughter will have her friends from her confirmation class together with her involvement with swimming to help make her transition smooth from middle school to high school.

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Meet Jan Coltrain-Sapp | Owner

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.

Coltrain-Sapp graduated with honors from the University of Northern Iowa with a business education major and taught at the community college level. Subsequently, she pursued an MBA in HR and Personnel Management at Northeast Missouri University and received her law degree from the University of Iowa.