Crystal Clear Tutoring, LLC

Our 3 year - 3 month old reader got a new book for Christmas and he was so excited to start last weekend! 1st sentence in and he already learned a few new words. We’ll add these to our practice bank, but chances are, Tre will know them the next time he sees them.

Trainin’ Tre, taught at 11 months old to read by his big sister, loves reading and readily accepts the challenge of new words. While his fluency is superb, we also take time later to discuss the context of vocabulary. Also, he loves a good toddler cardboard book, too. Don’t play with him!

Readers are leaders and Tre Tre says he’s got next!

Enroll in our TWOteReign & Trainin’ Tre peer tutoring programs (or traditional tutoring) to discover the world of LITERACY with us!

Cctutoring.org/enrollnow

Crystal Clear Tutoring, LLC congratulates Miles Nixon on completing his last year of high school football!!! Playing both OT and DE, Miles is a versatile and skilled athlete, ready to take on the next level!!!!

Miles has been a part of the CCT family since 2016 - referred and tutored by Ms. Brittany, until 2 years ago, when she began pursuing clinical counseling full-time.

Anytime students have spent the majority of their time with the same tutor, we understand the transition can be hard… so I usually take those students, myself! The past 2 years tutoring Miles has been a blessing and I’ve gotten to see exactly how smart, kind, and special Miles is.

Not only that, but he comes from a God-fearing family. I’ve been blessed to pray with and have the support of Miles’ mom throughout the past decade, as well!!!

Miles, your CCT family is beyond proud of you and EXCITED for what’s coming for you at the next level. You have our boundless support in all your endeavors and we can’t WAIT to celebrate you as a 2026 grad!!!!

I’m often asked if it’s hard to say “goodbye” when sending my students off to college.

Graduation and matriculation to the “next level” is an emotional time for most educators, I imagine.

However, it’s not often that I’m saying “goodbye” to students I met earlier that school year or even the year before! lol Often, I’ve walked with with students I send off to college for half+ of their lives.

The usual answer is that I try not to let emotions get the best of me. I’m so focused on my students’ goals, I really don’t have time for all that! Besides, there’s nothing to be sad about when I KNOW I poured into these babies with everything I had and everything I gained while teaching them.

I say all that to say that such was not the case with the class of 2025. This time, I had to say “goodbye” to my “3rd graders”, who are now off to college. To students who knew me 10 years ago as simply a “homework helper”. When I was an observer of the school system, not one of its most sought out resources.

This time, I sent several (both pictured and not) of MY BEST to over a dozen universities throughout the nation, and to esteemed elementary and high school programs in my city.

I’ve watched many of these babies grow up, and though it’s emotional for me, I also realized that it’s never really been “goodbye”. Just the next time I see their names, they’ll be in LIGHTS.

I love you, babies! You know who you are! Go out and SHOW THIS WORLD that CCT kids don’t come to play! You’ve got this. Your village stands behind you - especially your forever tutor.

Wishing my students, both pictured and not, as well as my Auntie Valandra - CCT’s honorary 2025 EdD grad, a Happy New School Year!

Crystal Clear Tutoring, LLC congratulates Ms. Maisha on completing her 1st in-person summer internship with CCT!

A Crystal Clear alum from 2018-2024, Ms. Maisha brought a wealth of knowledge about the rigor needed to be academically successful, especially in Selective Enrollment programs. Having served in the curriculum development team as a virtual intern years ago, she was able to articulate new concepts for students, yielding up to 60% score increases in math proficiency!

Ms. Maisha began her summer serving students grades 1-8 at Aldridge Elementary School. She then traveled to students throughout the city and suburbs for our private Summer Intensive Program, serving students ages 2-14 in both our traditional tutoring program, as well as a TA for our Traveling Preschool!

I’m grateful for Ms. Maisha’s patience this summer - with both our students and me. Anytime we host summer interns (or any team members, for that matter), they offer useful advice and suggestions that make us a stronger company. Ms. Maisha had on-the-job training in a plethora of areas, including the following:

-Classroom Management
-Accurate Data Reporting for Student Development
-Early Childhood Education
-Foundational Skill Building
-Common Core, as well as standard techniques

We’re grateful for Ms. Maisha & thank and for sponsoring her work with our students this summer!

Wishing Ms. Maisha a blessed and successful sophomore year of college and hoping she’s able to apply much of her experiences this summer to continuing to pursue her degree in EDUCATION!!!!

Girls Inc. - Part 2 (of many)

This summer, Crystal Clear Tutoring, LLC was contracted by Girls Inc. of Chicago (est. 1864) to teach ACT & SAT prep, professional development, life & soft skills, and How Sis DID THAT! in an 8 week intensive course.

Though CCT has been providing ACT prep privately to 6th graders since 2018, this was the very 1st school/organizational contract where it was asked to do so. Words can’t express the gratitude I have for Girls Inc. for recognizing that our young girls CAN when given the opportunity and exposure.

I started by sharing my personal overall reaction to our Summer 2025 program. However, people understand metrics, so let me give you some:

91% of students in the Summer 2025 Middle School Cohort of Girls Inc. of Chicago who completed comparative assessments increased either their overall ACT/SAT scores, specific scores within each test, or both, throughout the program. The following are highlighted ACT/SAT performance results:

Max of 11 point increase in ACT English Score!

Max of 9 point increase in ACT Math Score!

Max of 6 point increase in ACT Reading Score!

Max of 250 point full SAT Score Increase!

Max of 6 point full ACT Score Increase!

Please keep in mind that these are just a few results from rising 6th-9th GRADERS and that many results were attained after week 5 of 8 of our program! I impressed upon these young ladies how these are dream results for most high school students - how much more fortunate are they that they have ample time on their side to do MORE?!?

Though I spent my summer amazed at the academic progress I was seeing in each session with the girls, these results pale in comparison to their holistic growth throughout the program. Their academic growth is simply a fraction of the light that shines within them!

Photo Credit: One of our talented students designed this piece as a reflection of her summer with Girls Inc. this year!

Girls Inc. - Part 1 (of like 82)

This summer, I had a life-changing experience & I’m ready to share it!

Crystal Clear Tutoring, LLC was contracted by Girls Inc. of Chicago (est. 1864) to teach ACT & SAT prep, professional development, life & soft skills, and How Sis DID THAT! in an 8 week intensive course.

This summer, I had the opportunity to stand in front of… myself.

Except I didn’t realize that, at first.

My tutors and I have been hired at 40 schools and non-profit organizations. I can walk into any classroom (or space) on any side of the city and just start talking to kids. I find out their interests, gauge their personalities, get an idea for the subjects they’re most comfortable with academically - as well as those I can help strengthen. I introduce myself, but that’s much less important to them than why I’m there and what I’m asking them to do. I tell them my expectations. I somehow relay to them that I don’t force kids to work. And If we are going to accomplish something as a team, they need to be willing participants. If you notice, I don’t ask about grades because I don’t care about them - definitely not in the way most of you do.

…Which is why it took a few days for me to discover that I was in a room surrounded by *mostly* straight A students that just happened to be beautiful Black girls. And, in that moment, I understood. This wouldn’t be like any contract I’d executed before. This summer, I poured into the highest version of middle school me. And I promise, through my incredible students, she poured back.

*Pictured: Brooklyn Martin & her family 🩷💚 @ CCT’s 2025 Juneteenth Graduation & 10 Year Homecoming Celebration - CCT: 2021-Present & 2025 8th Grade Grad

Brooklyn was one of several current/past CCT students who I discovered is also involved with Girls Inc. It meant so much to have her bright, wiling eyes beaming - with her ready to WORK this summer! It was amazing to have some of my own in a new room. Wishing her a happy 1st year of high school & a happy and blessed birthday!!! 🩷

TOMORROW is the last informational for P2P Corps’ 2025-2026 Informational!

Be sure to sign up for this incredible program that CCT will be conducting academic enrichment for!

For 12+ years, I’ve told you that I’m a tutor.

But what I really meant was that I’m a magician!

I take what already sparkles & ensure it shines.

The hardest part about selling something intangible, yet personal, like tutoring, is that people have to take your word for it.

The only evidence would’ve been if I whipped out my phone EVERY TIME y’all’s kids did something magical in a session, & ew, how unprofessional!

When I share my children’s academics, it’s a culmination of everything I’ve been wanting to show you - things I’ve never been able to put into words!

I share a reflection of the magic I’ve been seeing in living rooms across my city & my screen for over 12 years, in YOUR babies.

…but this time, a lil BTS access to the magic of CCT has been granted by the mama: ME.

Enjoy & Enroll 🩷

Link in Bio

Crystal Clear Tutoring, LLC CONGRATULATES 2025 Clark Atlanta University graduates Andrew & Elijah Stewart on earning their FULL-TIME post-grad jobs at CAU!!!

Words can’t express how PROUD I am of Andrew & Elijah. I remember being granted permission to meet with them at their school for our test prep sessions. Never could I have imagined being stationed in that same room as a Kenwood Vendor, years later. The 3 of us went through countless practice questions & problem sets together and I promise I never saw one eye roll! They were ALWAYS diligent and hard workers - their current success is no surprise!

The Stewart Family has been such a blessing to me - from being so loving and accepting of me as a high school student, to seeing Mr. & Mrs. Stewart at every Kenwood report card pick up as I started CCT… to eventually tutoring all 3 of their children - I’m appreciative that they made me part of their journey and just overjoyed at their accomplishments!!!

Congratulations, Andrew & Elijah!!!

Crystal Clear Tutoring, LLC is ECSTATIC to announce its 40TH school/organization partnership!

Introducing P2P Corp, an organization whose mission is creating equitable career pathways for high school students - via networking, field training, & tutoring. CCT is honored and proud to have been tapped to facilitate the academic enrichment activities for P2P’s premier class!

Although we’re privileged to be hired by EVERY institution we’ve served, this one is heartfelt. Before/while becoming an esteemed attorney and the Chairman of P2P Corp, Damilola lent his time to help build CCT. Starting as a curriculum writer, he shared uplifting stories of his endurance throughout his journey. He went on to become a tutor, serving students virtually during the pivotal summer of 2020. Years later, he continued paying it forward by sponsoring test prep services. With all “Mr. Dami” has contributed to CCT, we are delighted to have the opportunity to pour into the vision of this organization.

Action Items:

VISIT p2pcorp.org to find out more about P2P’s mission for high school students in Chicago!

SIGN UP for P2P’s informational session on 8/4 or 8/11 to see how your child (or one you love) can benefit from enrollment into the program!

SPREAD THE WORD about how P2P is offering a holistic student experience that will prepare them for successful academic journeys AND set them up to be competitive in their careers!