school news
American Center for Learning
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alking into the American Center for Learning feels like walking into a well organized, clean and tidy classroom. An academic air fills the facility and is reinforced by the documents hanging on the walls including the Best of San Diego 2008 Reading Improvement Instruction award presented to this Chula Vista business by the U.S. Local Business Association. But once one meets the members of the staff who teach in this environment, it becomes quite evident what this center is all about. “We’ve always been blessed with special people,” Executive Director Honore Fila said. “They have a teacher’s heart and care about the children they work with. When we went to the one-onone instruction model, it was a big financial decision, but it was based on how to best serve the children we see. The most important goal is for the child to be successful.” The American Center for Learning counts 89 teachers as part of their staff, all part-time. The teachers here use a collaborative approach to assist the students with building academic skills, enhancing social skills and addressing family issues as needed. The emphasis is on math, reading and writing programs, but students can also receive college entrance test preparation assistance, scholarship application guidance and homework help. The center has been approved by the state to work with 10 school districts – providing services for students who wouldn’t be able to afford a private learning center. According to the center’s director, Marilyn Mesina, during the initial stages, the staff works with the student, the student’s school
and the parents to determine the appropriate program design and duration. “In order to arrive at a suitable program for the child, we have to investigate all factors affecting the child’s learning, “ Mesina said. “Typically, we always start with a parent conference. We want to get to know the child – what does the child do in their spare time, what are relationships like at home, what are the child’s particular interests. All of these areas factor into the child’s program. Usually the students come here with the capabilities to do well, but they do not have the motivation.” Mesina, whose mom was a teacher, added that the center does not work solely with school-age children. Their programs also attract adults looking to improve their educational standing. She shared that she has been working with a successful businessman who had a goal of going to law school and becoming a lawyer. Mesina worked with the gentleman and says he was constantly listening and applying the lessons he was being taught. He completed his G.E.D., went on to college and now is preparing to take the LSAT for his law school application. “Watching my mom work as a teacher, I swore I would never go into it,” Mesina said. “Once I stepped in the classroom, I would never do anything else.” my. American Center for Learning, 1415 Ridgeback Road, Suite 1, Chula Vista, 91910, (619) 656-6026; www.americancenterforlearning.com
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