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Help for Parents from The Panhandle Tutor

A conversation with Karyn Scarbrough, The Panhandle Tutor

By Kate Sparrow, Publisher, Macaroni Kid Pensacola July 22, 2020

As parents wade through options for this fall, Macaroni Kid Pensacola asked Karyn Scarbrough, The Panhandle Tutor for some help! Check out her bio and thoughts below: 

I'm Karyn Scarbrough, The Panhandle Tutor. I've been an educator for over 10 years. I've taught a wide variety of subjects and grades internationally and locally. I earned my Masters in Education and Curriculum at UWF. Go Argos! 

My passion is helping students find confidence in education. I do that by helping families find what works best for them academically.

You can find me on Facebook or reach me at thepanhandletutor@gmail.com.

1. Most of our readers are parents in Escambia and Santa Rosa County Can you give us a quick and dirty overview of options for parents this fall?

Escambia and Santa Rosa County are providing three options for their families.

Santa Rosa: Homeschool, Traditional School, Virtual School

Escambia: Remote Learning, Traditional School, Virtual School

In this situation traditional school means your child would go to the brick and mortar school in person for their regularly scheduled classes. 

Virtual School is offered through the state of Florida and is 100% remote and completed at home at the student’s own pace. 

Escambia County is also offering Remote Learning in which the student is still enrolled at their district school and must log on according to the school schedule from home.

2. With these options, can you give us a sense of what parents should expect in terms of time/requirements for parents?

Time and requirements from parents are going to vary greatly depending on your student's grade and individual abilities. For the students that I work with  in a full-curriculum setting I’m dedicating about 20 hours a week to their curriculum, enrichment, and engagement. If parents choose to keep their students home but still enrolled in virtual school or remote learning then their main job will be to facilitate their student’s instruction. They will need to ensure that they are following along with the lessons and that the student knows how to interact with the curriculum that’s provided for them. The heavy use of technology might be the learning curve for most families. If a parent decides to homeschool then it’s a pretty similar situation. They spend some time choosing a curriculum that fits their student and facilitating the lessons at the student’s pace. 

3. Do you have a professional recommendation for what parents should be doing this fall? If not, what criteria for parents to use when making their decision?

There is no right or perfect answer.

Families should take into consideration their child’s abilities and who they come into contact with on a regular basis. Some parents are leaning towards virtual options because they have grandparents that might be at risk or family members with underlying conditions. 

Next, they should take into consideration their own personal strengths and how those can be used to ensure that your child continues learning through a pandemic whether they are attending traditional school or something remotely. 

Finally if your child is returning to traditional school then they should take into consideration how it will still be different than before. Prepare for the situation if the student’s teacher or classmate contracts the virus and your student needs to quarantine. 

4. What’s the biggest misconception you have seen about homeschooling?

The biggest misconception that I have seen from parents about homeschooling is that they aren’t qualified. I hear from parents that "they're not teachers" and they worry they aren't cut out for this if they keep their child at home. On one hand, yes, we absolutely need teachers and there is a reason that this is a profession in and of itself. 

On the other hand, we haven't been faced with a global pandemic in recent history and we have to take that into account.  I always tell parents to think about what they are good at and what they enjoy doing. Let this lead them in their homeschooling. Maybe that means that they spend a lot of time cooking and gardening. 

5. What can parents be doing to support teachers right now? 

Patience and flexibility. 

Parents can remember that they are working as partners with teachers to create a ‘new normal’ for this school year, so try to keep that partner mindset when things aren’t going according to plan. 

Most teachers aren’t trained to teach remotely, virtually, or with worksheets. For years we have encouraged small groups and project based learning, so be patient with your teachers as they figure out how to try to keep themselves and your children safe and still teach effectively.

If your child is going back to brick and mortar schools, parents can help by beginning to teach them what that is going to look like and what some of the new expectations are; handwashing, masks, social distancing.   

6. Tell us how your business can help parents navigate this fall.

The Panhandle Tutor helps families reach their academic goals through consulting and tutoring. 

I am helping parents dig through the options. There are so many different curriculums and virtual schools it can be overwhelming. I’ve made myself familiar or have worked with some of the most popular options. I’m a sounding board to hear about how their family and students work and what might be the best options for them. 

I provide consulting to help get parents started with homeschooling or virtual school and how to do that legally with the state and effectively in the home. As a Florida certified teacher I am also able to sign off on homeschooling portfolios or proctor official exams. 

I also provide tutoring services to help your child stay on track or if there is a particular subject that they struggle with. 


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