Learning Resource Center of Polk County Programs
Floral Avenue Elementary, 1628 Florida Ave S, Lakeland, FL 33803
About
Learning Resource Center of Polk County Programs offers 1-to-1 tutoring, classes and courses, and a range of summer programs. Students can take part in ACT Prep, SAT Prep, GED Prep, the interactive “Study Habits of Successful Students” program, Camp READY!, MidMath Camp, PEP Magical Reading Camp, PEP Super Summer Science Camp, a Summer Coding Workshop, and Super Summer Success. Activity-based lesson plans use multisensory strategies to support visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and tactile learning styles, and the program uses an individualized approach to learning.
• Ages: 5–18 years old
• Schedule: Office hours Monday–Thursday 7:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. and Friday 7:30 a.m.–4 p.m.
• Price: LRC can offer grade-level assessments, such as the BASIS, for a small fee; four weeks of tutoring must be paid in advance before tutoring begins; all fees are based on gross, annual, household income and are offered on a sliding-fee scale.
The Learning Resource Center of Polk County, Inc. was founded by the Junior League of Greater Lakeland, Inc. in 1975 and was first known as the Learning Disabilities Center; the name changed in 1977 as public school programs for students with learning disabilities grew and LRC expanded its services. The organization’s mission is to help students maximize their learning potential by providing personalized educational programs, consultative services for parents, and programs to accommodate community needs. LRC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit United Way educational provider and is accredited by Cognia (AdvancED); in 2023, it received Cognia’s School of Distinction Award.
LRC has over 500 highly qualified educational professionals who provide countywide services to more than 3,500 students, ages 5 through adult. Many tutors are currently certified teachers, and LRC also employs retired teachers, substitute teachers, some paraprofessionals, college students in their last year of an education major, and several tutors with expertise in specific subject areas such as upper level math and business/accounting. Tutoring may take place at LRC, a library, a school with permission from the principal, a local business, a church, or another public location, and tutoring may not take place at the student’s home. LRC does not require parents to sign a contractual agreement for a set number of instructional hours, and all fees are based on gross, annual, household income and are offered on a sliding-fee scale.
Parents and caregivers have shared that their children and grandchildren have participated in Camp READY!, Super Summer Success, summer camps, and tutoring, and have described these experiences in testimonials from AK, B. Ramsey, P. Borgia, P. Ziegenfuss, C. Dean, V. Moore, and T. Nunes. One parent reported that an SAT Prep class was followed by an increase in their child’s SAT score from 1270 to a super score of 1510. Another caregiver noted that a child attended Camp READY! before kindergarten and has continued in LRC summer camps each year, including during the pandemic through Zoom meetings and at-home science experiments.
The 2024–2025 Executive Committee includes Jason Wyatt (President), Kevin Kelley (Vice President), Lydia Boyd (Secretary), Sara Oppenheimer (Treasurer), and Trey Harden (Past President). Board members are Audrey Nettlow, Lyle Phillipson, Coleen Pizzuti, and Susan Sartain. The 2024–2025 Advisory Board includes Joyce Barclay, Jon Brock, Jean Bunch, Matthew Cantrall, Michael Carter, Walt Engle, John Fitzwater, Dr. Lynn Grady, Randy Hollen, Karen Kovach, Frank Lansford, Beth Miller, Bill Mutz, Elsa Nail, Dr. Larry Ross, Dr. Louis Saco, Jessica Shaw, Mark Thompson, Dr. Sandy Hightower, Richard Pellegrini, and Kelly Williams-Puccio. Staff members include Pamela Craven, Ph.D., Executive Director; Cathie Wright, Director of Education and Program Manager; Beth Verplanck, Program Manager; Beverly Mansfield, Program Manager; Emily Paul, Program Manager; Grace Vallier and Lynne Roberts, Program Assistants; Sherry Rambali, Bookkeeper; and Summer Petrac, Program Intern.
Last updated February 12, 2026.
• Ages: 5–18 years old
• Schedule: Office hours Monday–Thursday 7:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. and Friday 7:30 a.m.–4 p.m.
• Price: LRC can offer grade-level assessments, such as the BASIS, for a small fee; four weeks of tutoring must be paid in advance before tutoring begins; all fees are based on gross, annual, household income and are offered on a sliding-fee scale.
The Learning Resource Center of Polk County, Inc. was founded by the Junior League of Greater Lakeland, Inc. in 1975 and was first known as the Learning Disabilities Center; the name changed in 1977 as public school programs for students with learning disabilities grew and LRC expanded its services. The organization’s mission is to help students maximize their learning potential by providing personalized educational programs, consultative services for parents, and programs to accommodate community needs. LRC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit United Way educational provider and is accredited by Cognia (AdvancED); in 2023, it received Cognia’s School of Distinction Award.
LRC has over 500 highly qualified educational professionals who provide countywide services to more than 3,500 students, ages 5 through adult. Many tutors are currently certified teachers, and LRC also employs retired teachers, substitute teachers, some paraprofessionals, college students in their last year of an education major, and several tutors with expertise in specific subject areas such as upper level math and business/accounting. Tutoring may take place at LRC, a library, a school with permission from the principal, a local business, a church, or another public location, and tutoring may not take place at the student’s home. LRC does not require parents to sign a contractual agreement for a set number of instructional hours, and all fees are based on gross, annual, household income and are offered on a sliding-fee scale.
Parents and caregivers have shared that their children and grandchildren have participated in Camp READY!, Super Summer Success, summer camps, and tutoring, and have described these experiences in testimonials from AK, B. Ramsey, P. Borgia, P. Ziegenfuss, C. Dean, V. Moore, and T. Nunes. One parent reported that an SAT Prep class was followed by an increase in their child’s SAT score from 1270 to a super score of 1510. Another caregiver noted that a child attended Camp READY! before kindergarten and has continued in LRC summer camps each year, including during the pandemic through Zoom meetings and at-home science experiments.
The 2024–2025 Executive Committee includes Jason Wyatt (President), Kevin Kelley (Vice President), Lydia Boyd (Secretary), Sara Oppenheimer (Treasurer), and Trey Harden (Past President). Board members are Audrey Nettlow, Lyle Phillipson, Coleen Pizzuti, and Susan Sartain. The 2024–2025 Advisory Board includes Joyce Barclay, Jon Brock, Jean Bunch, Matthew Cantrall, Michael Carter, Walt Engle, John Fitzwater, Dr. Lynn Grady, Randy Hollen, Karen Kovach, Frank Lansford, Beth Miller, Bill Mutz, Elsa Nail, Dr. Larry Ross, Dr. Louis Saco, Jessica Shaw, Mark Thompson, Dr. Sandy Hightower, Richard Pellegrini, and Kelly Williams-Puccio. Staff members include Pamela Craven, Ph.D., Executive Director; Cathie Wright, Director of Education and Program Manager; Beth Verplanck, Program Manager; Beverly Mansfield, Program Manager; Emily Paul, Program Manager; Grace Vallier and Lynne Roberts, Program Assistants; Sherry Rambali, Bookkeeper; and Summer Petrac, Program Intern.
Last updated February 12, 2026.
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