Mom Inspired By Sons To Open Sylvan Learning In Riverview Area

BLOOMINGDALE — RIVERVIEW, FL — A local mom and Air Force veteran, Vanity Barr-Little, is opening a Sylvan Learning in the Riverview area that will offer tutoring to students in 2021.

Barr-Little and her husband, Kourtney Little, have three boys, and the family moved around a lot as Barr-Little and her husband both served in the military. Relocating was sometimes a challenge for their children.

When the Littles permanently located to Florida after serving over a decade in the military, Barr-Little started looking for school support for her boys. She discovered a Sylvan Learning location more than 30 miles away from their Riverview home, and enrolled her sons.

"During our kids' time at Sylvan, I noticed such a difference in them," Barr-Little told Patch in an interview. "Academic confidence comes from mastery and those were the biggest differences that my husband and I saw from them, mastery and confidence. One day while in the car after picking up my oldest son from his session, he said to me, 'Thank you, Mommy, for bringing me here, and I feel much better 'bout the school next year.'"

She said the positive outcomes for their kids as a result of Sylvan inspired her to bring a Sylvan Center to families in the Riverview/Apollo Beach community. They look forward to offering personalized tutoring that will potentially help children improve grades, test scores and give them a boost of academic confidence.

"We will also offer in-person and virtual school support, which is crucially beneficial for virtual students," Barr-Little said.

Courtney Wells, franchise development manager in Maryland, said Sylvan is looking forward to introducing Vanity and Sylvan to Riverview and its surrounding areas so that the community can take advantage of the educational center's product offerings in a time when children are visibly suffering from a lack of direct eductational attention.

Barr-Little will also have coronavirus safety protocols in place for staff and learners. She said that students and staff will be required to wear face masks, and they will follow mandated guidelines and Centers for Disease Control guidelines.

"Rest assured kids will be able to interact with teachers and peers in a safe way," Barr-Litte said.

Barr-Little anticipates Sylvan, 7130 Big Bend Road, Gibsonton, to open March 2021.

For more information about Sylvan Learning, visit its website.