Get to know us.
The founders. Alyssa Newman and Deanna Lazarcheck got their start lining up their stuffed animals (and their brothers), "teaching" them anything and everything. While working down the hall from each other at a public school on the Upper East Side in Manhattan, their backgrounds and beliefs in inclusive education and childhood development bound them together. In 2014, Alyssa and Deanna launched their venture, Prime Learning Advisors, a company that has since brought supplemental educational support to families in NYC.
The tutors. The team of tutors at Prime Learning Advisors is a vetted group of certified teachers holding Master’s degrees in the educational field, in addition to a variety of speciality trainings. PLA tutors have experience working in some of the most sought after NYC schools, ensuring our work with your family is progressive and exemplary.
ALYSSA NEWMAn, founder
Alyssa attended Syracuse University's School of Education, where she obtained dual degrees in Childhood and Special Education, as well as a degree in English. Immediately after college, she received her M.A. as a Literacy Specialist from Teachers College, Columbia University. Alyssa spent the next six years working in NYC public schools serving as a classroom teacher, grade-team leader, and Special Education Teacher Support Service. Simultaneously, she obtained a coveted position training to become a Reading Recovery Certified Teacher at New York University. In the professional teaching community, Alyssa was vetted by Columbia University’s Teachers College Reading and Writing Project to present at their reunions and institutes for hundreds of teachers in NYC and across the US. She co-taught the course Methods and Materials for Reading Instruction at Teachers College and is a Supervisor for interns in the Literacy Specialist program, providing teachers-in-training with feedback on their classroom instruction. Alyssa’s best-practice work has been featured in various books, articles, websites, and blogs for teachers. Through private tutoring, Alyssa hones her expertise supporting families to better understand developing behaviors in literacy and mathematics. She works with students in Pre-K through middle school, with a focus on differentiating instruction for diverse learners. Alyssa also prepares students for the Gifted and Talented exams, as well as the NYS ELA/Math tests.
alyssa@primelearningadvisors.com
DEANNA Lazarcheck, founder
Deanna began her journey in education as an undergraduate at New York University, where she earned dual degrees in Childhood and Special Education, as well as a degree in Psychology. Eager to begin her dream job as a teacher, Deanna began teaching in a second grade ICT class after she graduated from NYU, while simultaneously pursuing her Master's Degree in Literacy from Hunter College. For the next six years, Deanna served as one of three founding teachers at PS 267 in District 2 where she taught across the primary grades in various classroom settings. She took on several leadership roles, including Lead Teacher and Mentor to first and second-year teachers. Deanna grew more interested in helping new teachers develop their practice, leading her to instruct an Introduction to Education course at her alma mater, NYU. She currently consults with schools around building robust literacy and mathematics programs accessible to all students, as well as refining pedagogy and strengthening teachers' content knowledge. Deanna develops and facilitates workshops tailored to the individual needs of schools, and coaches teachers through the instructional process of planning, delivering, and reflecting upon lessons. Working closely with families, Deanna provides private tutoring for children in Pre-K through middle school, with a focus on helping students construct deep understandings of major concepts in mathematics and literacy. Deanna also helps students prepare for the ISEE, SSAT and NYS ELA/Math tests.
deanna@primelearningadvisors.com