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San Francisco Parents Are Turning To Supplemental Education For Their Children

With a continuing shortage of qualified teachers in San Francisco and the rest of the Bay Area, many parents are turning to supplemental education for academic success for their children. One successful program is Best in Class Education, with multiple locations, including two in San Francisco. One of the San Francisco centers is owned by entrepreneur Kevin Lee, who worked as a tutor throughout his college years at UC Berkeley and also runs another in Oakland and has a third Bay Area location planned later this year.

SF-Edu
(Photo Courtesy of Kevin Lee)

What is your background and education?

"Before I opened Best in Class Education Center in the Bay Area, I attended UC Berkeley where I studied math and statistics. While I was in college I had multiple jobs as a waiter, a writer, at the post office, and most importantly I found time to tutor. After graduation I entered the corporate world and worked in banking, but continued to tutor on the weekends because I have a great appreciation for education and helping others achieve their goals, which ultimately led me to Best in Class."

What type of services does Best in Class Education provide?

"Best in Class is a supplemental education center focusing on English and math enrichment and test preparation/college preparation. We have a proprietary curriculum for our enrichment courses and focus on building an understanding of the subjects through critical thought, and provide one-on-one attention to our students to make sure they receive the help they need in any areas of their education where they may be struggling."

What career advice can you share with people interested in a career in education?

"To work in education, first, you need to ask yourself if you are passionate about it. If you don't love it you won't succeed. Second, choose the most suitable setting for you, whether it is an education franchise opportunity, public school teaching, etc. For me I wanted to combine education and business ownership and through research I learned every franchise has its own core values, which played a huge role in my decision. Last, know how much time you can dedicate to your students and teaching staff; this field requires lots of time and patience. You need to have time to teach as well as monitor everyone's progress."

Randy Yagi is a freelance writer covering all things San Francisco. In 2012, he was awarded a Media Fellowship from Stanford University. His work can be found on Examiner.com Examiner.com.

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