Learning Resource Center of Polk County, Inc. – Youth Tutoring & Enrichment Programs
Learning Resource Center of Polk County, Inc., 1628 Florida Ave S., Lakeland, FL 33803
About
Learning Resource Center of Polk County, Inc. – Youth Tutoring & Enrichment Programs offers 1-to-1 Tutoring along with group options such as ACT Prep, SAT Prep, and Study Habits of Successful Students. The program also includes a variety of camps and workshops, including Camp READY!, MidMath Camp, PEP Magical Reading Camp, PEP Super Summer Science Camp, Summer Coding Workshop, and Super Summer Success.
• 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, and all fees are based on gross annual household income and 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 its name changed in 1977 as it expanded services to help all students maximize their learning potential. 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 a community-based organization.
LRC has over 500 highly qualified educational professionals, including many tutors who are currently certified teachers, as well as retired teachers, substitute teachers, some paraprofessionals, and college students in their last year of an education major. Several tutors have expertise in specific subject areas such as upper level math and business/accounting. The Learning Resource Center offers an individualized, customized approach to learning, uses activity-based lesson plans with multisensory strategies, offers countywide services to more than 3,500 students ages 5 through adult, does not require parents to sign a contractual agreement for a set number of instructional hours, and does not allow tutoring to take place at the student’s home. All fees are based on gross annual household income and are offered on a sliding-fee scale.
The leadership team includes Executive Director Pamela Craven, Ph.D.; Director of Education Cathie Wright; Program Managers Beth Verplanck, Beverly Mansfield, and Emily Paul; Program Assistants Grace Vallier and Lynne Roberts; Program Manager Cathie Wright; Bookkeeper Sherry Rambali; Program Intern Summer Petrac; and the 2024–2025 Executive Committee of 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, and 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.
LRC is accredited by Cognia (AdvancED) and in 2023 received Cognia’s School of Distinction Award. Parent and caregiver comments include reports of children attending Camp READY! before kindergarten, participating in Super Summer Success for multiple summers, and taking part in SAT Prep classes that changed test scores, as well as positive feedback about LRC tutoring, summer camps, and program staff.
Last updated February 16, 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, and all fees are based on gross annual household income and 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 its name changed in 1977 as it expanded services to help all students maximize their learning potential. 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 a community-based organization.
LRC has over 500 highly qualified educational professionals, including many tutors who are currently certified teachers, as well as retired teachers, substitute teachers, some paraprofessionals, and college students in their last year of an education major. Several tutors have expertise in specific subject areas such as upper level math and business/accounting. The Learning Resource Center offers an individualized, customized approach to learning, uses activity-based lesson plans with multisensory strategies, offers countywide services to more than 3,500 students ages 5 through adult, does not require parents to sign a contractual agreement for a set number of instructional hours, and does not allow tutoring to take place at the student’s home. All fees are based on gross annual household income and are offered on a sliding-fee scale.
The leadership team includes Executive Director Pamela Craven, Ph.D.; Director of Education Cathie Wright; Program Managers Beth Verplanck, Beverly Mansfield, and Emily Paul; Program Assistants Grace Vallier and Lynne Roberts; Program Manager Cathie Wright; Bookkeeper Sherry Rambali; Program Intern Summer Petrac; and the 2024–2025 Executive Committee of 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, and 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.
LRC is accredited by Cognia (AdvancED) and in 2023 received Cognia’s School of Distinction Award. Parent and caregiver comments include reports of children attending Camp READY! before kindergarten, participating in Super Summer Success for multiple summers, and taking part in SAT Prep classes that changed test scores, as well as positive feedback about LRC tutoring, summer camps, and program staff.
Last updated February 16, 2026.
Is this your business? There is no cost, but you will be asked to sign up or log in.