KJS ENTERPRISES, LLC
KJS ENTERPRISES, LLC
Education, Consulting, Management, Marketing, & Equine Therapy
50 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE SERVING A VARIETY OF NEEDS
Times change, opportunities change, needs change, and so we adapt or die!
DR. & MRS. FRED SNOWDEN
Fred and Judith Snowden have served as teachers and educational leaders for more than forty years, in three successful private preparatory schools in the Washington DC metropolitan area. Fred also served as a professor and president for the National Bible College & Theological Seminary, served on US Secretary of Education Riley’s commission for “America Goes Back to School”, an important Clinton initiative. He has authored three books and numerous academic articles, which are available on academia.edu and currently serves as the Chief Academic Officer for Global Cultiva, a Washington DC based consulting and management firm that serves all Virginia public universities. In 1997, Judith co-founded Virginia Academy, located in Ashburn, VA, and served as principal for 17 years. Under her leadership, the academy grew to more than 750 students. Their passion for learning and leadership development have been rewarded with graduates who attended all the US Service Academies and most Ivy League universities. In 2014, they established a prototype, K-12 international school in China and operated the school until 2018. Now, they are moving on to the next challenge, advocating for students and supporting parents who desire for their children to excel in scholarship and leadership at the LOUDOUN LEARNING CENTER
GOALS & OBJECTIVES
1. Today too little classroom time is being spent on academics, rhetoric and critical analysis. The 21st Century presents unique dynamics resulting in social education robbing precious academic time. Because academics are neglected, measures of achievement and methods of reporting have been adjusted. Homogenous academic leveling according to achievement is damaging, especially for students who do not perform well on traditional tests. The truth is American students occupy the bottom in academic performance when compared to students in other countries, making it difficult for them to compete in a global economy. Loudoun Learning Center can bring every student to his/her full academic potential by providing personalized curriculum and learning objectives.
2. In most cases, information is being substituted for understanding. Pedagogy has been evolving since Socrates developed the Socratic Method, which is still a much-preferred learning model for most student in grades 4-12. According to some educational theorists, there are as many as nine different types of intelligence and 7 distinct styles of learning. One size does not fit all, and personalized instruction is vital for success. The traditional learner thrives on auditory response and memorization, while the tactile learner is stimulated by manipulatives and visualization. Every student can learn and excel, once a skilled, caring teacher makes contact with each student’s method for processing information. This “relationship learning” thrives in environments, such as Loudoun Learning Center, where academic performance is an expectation, not an option.
3. Mediocracy is Celebrated because Excellence is Elusive. The academic philosophy that initiated the Bell Curve grading method developed by frustrated educators in the 1960s has permeated American education. The purpose for such tactics is to level the playing field for uncommitted teachers. Today the goal is to dumb-down the material until every student can make good grades, thus keeping parents happy. In larger school systems, this is done through homogenous leveling, in which each subject may be offered at as many as 3 levels. Students at the top level are getting the complete curriculum at an energetic pace, while students in lower levels are receiving less detailed, slower paced versions. Students who put in effort earn As and Bs and thus get into college. So, what’s the problem? Students who receive the diminished versions are not finishing college at all or at least not in four years. The US public university 4-year graduation rate has plummeted to 31% and many colleges view 4-year graduation as the *exception not the rule. Loudoun Learning Center can teach students the vital elements of academic perseverance necessary for on-time or early graduation.
*Washington Post, Education section, June 2, 2012, Daniel de Vise
4. Parents are wasting tens of thousands of dollars by waiting too late to invest in their children’s education. Saving money for college is wise, but if students have not been fully prepared for the rigors of college, those funds may be wasted. A one-year delay in graduation could cost $50,000. Failing to qualify for academic scholarships could cost four times as much. For these reasons, wise parents invest a little in their children’s education during their foundational years to save a lot on college later. With a quality academic foundation, students qualify for honors and AP level courses in high school, qualify for academic university scholarships and are prepared to graduate in four years, or less. The best investment for students is programs that develop comprehensive reading skills and the mastery of computational, applied mathematics. Once students master these vital skills, the sky is the limit. Thereafter, investing in project-based STEM learning programs are prudent. Finally, strategic preparation for the PSAT, SAT and Act are vital. Loudoun Learning Center can help every family maximize each dollar of educational investment.
SPECIAL 2020 SUMMER PROGRAM TO REMEDY THE COVID-19 ACADEMIC CRISIS
Being an academic advocate for your child is even more important now, with public schools closed for the year throughout Virginia. Many parents who feel unprepared to do so have been forced to home school their children, and many students are not equipped to stay on pace in the virtual classroom without professional support. Most parents recently surveyed do not think their children are making the progress they would be making in school. What no one is talking about is: How far behind could our children be by the fall? Will the curriculum for next year be more of a review of this year, rather than introducing the new academic skills necessary to keep students on grade level? It is for these reasons that we have fashioned our intensive summer program, which will focus on assisting students complete and master all the work and assignments they have been given since schools closed and to take them far beyond those expectations, so they will stay well above grade level.
The best part is that these results will be empirically measured, so parents will know exactly where their child is in each academic discipline at the start and end of the summer program. For the convenience of working parents, half day (8 AM-noon) and full day (8 AM-4 PM) options will be available. Before school (7-9 AM) and after school (4-6 PM) activities will also be provided. Social distancing guidelines established by the governor will be strictly observed, and indoor recreation breaks will be integrated into the day. In addition, students and staff will be screened by a trained healthcare professional upon entering the facility each day, which will be thoroughly disinfected several times a day. For more details contact us at 571-243-7037 or fill out the contact information on our contact page.