Retired teacher launches business tutoring

Even retirement hasn’t stopped Thomas Strewler from teaching. After educating students for 32 years in the Superior School District, he’s back at it. In May, Strewler opened his own tutoring business, Enduring Achievement LLC.

“I think there’s a lack of tutoring opportunities, especially in Superior,” he said. “That’s the niche I was trying to fill.”

In particular, Strewler hopes to tutor students with dyslexia, a language-based learning disability. It’s a mission close to his heart, as he himself has dyslexia.

“I worked with a tutor in high school through my freshman year of college,” the retired teacher said, and he credits the skills he learned for his successful college career.

His desire to tutor was so strong that Strewler went back to the classroom himself, taking a business development class at the University of Wisconsin-Superior. Even with the training, he admitted, launching a new business was “nerve-wracking.”

Strewler holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and masters’ degrees in special education and educational administration. Along with his teachers’ training, he recently completed specific training geared toward working with dyslexic students. Enduring Achievement provides tutoring for individuals and small groups who are dyslexic or in need of academic tutoring to achieve at their greatest potential. Although the business is geared more toward elementary age students, pupils of all ages are accepted.

“If parents have any suspicions about their child’s ability to read, write or spell,” Strewler said, he has instructional strategies to tackle them. The Orton-Gillingham approach he uses helps build on the components of language from sounds to words, then to fluency, comprehension, spelling and writing skills. The method, Strewler said, can work for anybody. Academic tutoring is also available.

Tutoring should not be confused with homework help. Separate lessons can be devoted to study skills, organizational skills and how to write or develop a project, but not toward completing a certain piece of homework. And lessons are individualized for each pupil.

Tutoring is available 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and by appointment Saturdays. Lessons can be held at the Enduring Achievement office, 1608 Tower Ave., or in the client’s home. Strewler suggested that students set up a couple sessions a week to provide continuity.

Enduring Achievement can also provide assessment services for identifying specific strengths and weaknesses as well as consulting and speaking opportunities.

Strewler said his rates are competitive, and he offers the bonus of being based in Superior. Enduring Achievement is currently offering a 10 percent new student discount on the first nine lessons.

“I’m happy to consult with anybody for free and talk about what their needs are,” he said.

For more information, call (715) 399-0979, (218) 348-5089, email learn@enduringachievement.com or go to www.enduringachievement.com.

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