Learning Resource Center of Polk County, Inc. – Tutoring, Classes & Camps
Learning Resource Center of Polk County, Inc., 1628 Florida Ave S., Lakeland, FL 33803
About
Learning Resource Center of Polk County, Inc. – Tutoring, Classes & Camps offers 1-to-1 tutoring, classes and courses, and year-round and summer programs. Students can take part in ACT Prep, SAT Prep, GED Prep, Study Habits of Successful Students, Camp READY!, Super Summer Success, MidMath Camp, PEP Magical Reading Camp, PEP Super Summer Science Camp, Summer Coding Workshop, and other summer camps. Some programs have included Zoom meetings and science experiments at home.
• 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., with tutoring purchased in four-week blocks paid in advance
• Price: LRC can offer grade-level assessments such as the BASIS for a small fee, and all fees are based on gross, annual household income and offered on a sliding-fee scale, with four weeks of tutoring required to be paid in advance before tutoring begins
The Learning Resource Center of Polk County, Inc. was founded by the Junior League of Greater Lakeland, Inc. in 1975, was originally known as the Learning Disabilities Center, and changed its name in 1977. In December 2025, it celebrated 50 years of learning, growth, and impact in Polk County. Its 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 accredited by Cognia (AdvancED), and in 2023 it received Cognia’s School of Distinction Award. The organization reports having over 500 highly qualified educational professionals and serves more than 3,500 students, ages 5 through adult, across Polk County with countywide services. Many LRC 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 tutors with expertise in specific subject areas such as upper level math and business/accounting.
The program uses an individualized approach to learning with services customized to meet each child’s needs and offers personalized supplemental education programs and consulting services for parents. LRC uses activity-based lesson plans that incorporate multisensory strategies to address visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and tactile learning styles, along with a research-based library of curriculum available for tutors and a multi-sensory, hands-on approach to learning. It is a community-based organization that holds tutoring sessions at public locations rather than in the student’s home and does not require a contractual agreement for a set number of instructional hours.
LRC is a nonprofit, United Way educational provider with community partners and provides countywide services. An anonymous donor is matching every gift to Learning Resource Center dollar for dollar, up to $25,000, between now and May 1, 2026, as part of the “For the Love of Learning Match Campaign.”
The 2024–2025 Executive Committee includes Jason Wyatt, President; Kevin Kelley, Vice President; Lydia Boyd, Secretary; Sara Oppenheimer, Treasurer; and Trey Harden, Past President. The Board of Directors includes 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, Program Assistant; Lynne Roberts, Program Assistant; Sherry Rambali, Bookkeeper; and Summer Petrac, Program Intern.
Parent and student feedback includes comments about Camp READY!, ACT Prep, SAT Prep, Super Summer Success, and summer camps. One parent reported that Camp READY! made their child’s first weeks in kindergarten “smooth sailing” and recommended it for rising or repeating kindergarten students. Another parent shared that ACT tutoring gave their daughter tips for testing and classwork and that she felt she learned more math in six weeks than in the rest of the year. A parent named V. Valentin noted that their child received extra support through the Learning Resource Center in a way that met him where he was. Other parents described Camp READY! as “amazing,” said LRC “can always be trusted to provide quality, age appropriate and targeted services,” and shared that a grandson “thoroughly enjoyed” three summers of Super Summer Success. Additional comments mention weekly 1-to-1 tutoring, SAT Prep leading to an increase from a 1270 to a 1510 superscore, enjoyment of Zoom meetings and science experiments at home during the pandemic, and satisfaction with a child’s journal and accomplishments in the Lakeland Super Summer Success program.
Last updated June 1, 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., with tutoring purchased in four-week blocks paid in advance
• Price: LRC can offer grade-level assessments such as the BASIS for a small fee, and all fees are based on gross, annual household income and offered on a sliding-fee scale, with four weeks of tutoring required to be paid in advance before tutoring begins
The Learning Resource Center of Polk County, Inc. was founded by the Junior League of Greater Lakeland, Inc. in 1975, was originally known as the Learning Disabilities Center, and changed its name in 1977. In December 2025, it celebrated 50 years of learning, growth, and impact in Polk County. Its 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 accredited by Cognia (AdvancED), and in 2023 it received Cognia’s School of Distinction Award. The organization reports having over 500 highly qualified educational professionals and serves more than 3,500 students, ages 5 through adult, across Polk County with countywide services. Many LRC 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 tutors with expertise in specific subject areas such as upper level math and business/accounting.
The program uses an individualized approach to learning with services customized to meet each child’s needs and offers personalized supplemental education programs and consulting services for parents. LRC uses activity-based lesson plans that incorporate multisensory strategies to address visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and tactile learning styles, along with a research-based library of curriculum available for tutors and a multi-sensory, hands-on approach to learning. It is a community-based organization that holds tutoring sessions at public locations rather than in the student’s home and does not require a contractual agreement for a set number of instructional hours.
LRC is a nonprofit, United Way educational provider with community partners and provides countywide services. An anonymous donor is matching every gift to Learning Resource Center dollar for dollar, up to $25,000, between now and May 1, 2026, as part of the “For the Love of Learning Match Campaign.”
The 2024–2025 Executive Committee includes Jason Wyatt, President; Kevin Kelley, Vice President; Lydia Boyd, Secretary; Sara Oppenheimer, Treasurer; and Trey Harden, Past President. The Board of Directors includes 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, Program Assistant; Lynne Roberts, Program Assistant; Sherry Rambali, Bookkeeper; and Summer Petrac, Program Intern.
Parent and student feedback includes comments about Camp READY!, ACT Prep, SAT Prep, Super Summer Success, and summer camps. One parent reported that Camp READY! made their child’s first weeks in kindergarten “smooth sailing” and recommended it for rising or repeating kindergarten students. Another parent shared that ACT tutoring gave their daughter tips for testing and classwork and that she felt she learned more math in six weeks than in the rest of the year. A parent named V. Valentin noted that their child received extra support through the Learning Resource Center in a way that met him where he was. Other parents described Camp READY! as “amazing,” said LRC “can always be trusted to provide quality, age appropriate and targeted services,” and shared that a grandson “thoroughly enjoyed” three summers of Super Summer Success. Additional comments mention weekly 1-to-1 tutoring, SAT Prep leading to an increase from a 1270 to a 1510 superscore, enjoyment of Zoom meetings and science experiments at home during the pandemic, and satisfaction with a child’s journal and accomplishments in the Lakeland Super Summer Success program.
Last updated June 1, 2026.
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