Community Corner: Huntington Learning Center of Barrington

BARRINGTON – Huntington Learning Center of Barrington director Heloise Pechan told Barrington Suburban Life reporter Tarah Thorne about her background in education. She has taught high school English and now works alongside Huntington Barrington owner Beth Meier and many other trained individuals to offer local, private tutoring.

Pechan said Huntington Barrington staff members become especially attached to their students, whether they have come for years of academic enrichment or only for a few months.
 
Q.  How would you describe Huntington Learning Center of Barrington? What impact has this learning center had on the community?

The Huntington Learning Center of Barrington is a tutoring center that provides a wide spectrum of tutoring services to all learners in the Barrington area. We are a quiet little place where families come when children need extra help in school, or when somebody in the family is getting ready to take an important test, such as the ACT or the SAT.

Q. Who can attend Huntington? What services do you offer?

Families usually start a relationship with us when a child is younger, although anybody can attend Huntington. We serve children who are struggling in their academics, or who are looking for enrichment. We serve teens taking the ACT, college students taking the GRE or GMAT, adults taking nursing or TAP tests, even GED exams. We see older students who might need some extra help as they navigate difficult math, biology, chemistry or advanced placement exams. We've even worked with adults who are taking GED exams.

Q.  How has the center most evolved and spread in its 15 years?

We have partnered with Barrington Children's Charities to help with a book drive and a Blessings in a Backpack drive. We go out and visit the schools that our children attend so we can see how we can best help, and be an ally to the teacher as the student gains confidence in their new-found abilities. Our roots in the Barrington community are very deep.

Q.  What are your plans for the future?  Any upcoming events or programs?

We are hosting an Open house from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 10, so that we can celebrate some of our ACT students who took the Sept. 21 exam. We invite you to come and hear their stories. We are just so proud of them, and a little sad to see them moving on.