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SANDRA BOCKRATH
BLUE OWL TUTORING
THE BLUE OWL HISTORY - COAST TO COAST!
2002-2005: I worked for Advantage Testing, Inc. in Houston, TX, where I learned from the very BEST in test prep (Mr. Jay Resh) how to connect with students, communicate with parents, and most importantly how to effectively TEACH the math material on the college entrance exams. As well, I learned ways to motivate students, ease their test anxiety, and build confidence in mathematical ability. Advantage Testing is where I fell in love with test prep and re-discovered something I that already knew about myself: I really loved to teach and work with students one-on-one! I moved back to Tampa in the summer of 2005.
2006: I reconnected with Margaret Gandy (PHS) and spent several afternoons brainstorming with her regarding the potential for a successful math tutoring company in Tampa, FL. Margaret definitely gave me a huge amount of inspiration, and I will always be grateful for her confidence in my ability to turn a hobby I loved into a real career. Thanks to my friend Elise (Gres) Ippolito, I also met Mary Schroeder and we teamed up to discuss how to provide a college test prep service to Tampa that would combine my expertise in math with Mary's successful Reading/Writing test prep program.
2007: In April, I left the recruiting firm in downtown Tampa where I was working full-time, and I officially created the company Blue Owl Tutoring, Inc. in September of 2007.
2008-2011: The first three amazing math tutors were added to the Blue Owl Team early in 2008: Danielle McDonald-Leffler, Brandie Waid, and Emily LeBlanc-Perrone. I honestly attribute much of our success in Tampa to these 3 incredibly effective and patient teachers! Later on, a few more tutors were hired (Corey Perich, Jessica Diaz, Stephanie Branham, Chris Adamo) and we were an unstoppable team! I am still so very proud of the number of students we were able to help during these years.
2008-2011: I got engaged and married in this same span of time, and then Tom and I had our first daughter in March of 2011. We simultaneously found out that the Air Force was sending us to the west coast for his second assignment.
2011-2014: Blue Owl Tutoring (Tampa) was closed in June of 2011 due to our relocation to Southern California. I joined Wyzant.com and continued to work with nearly 40 students in California through the Spring of 2014.
2014-2018: After California, we had a quick 5 month TDY to Oklahoma, our second child was born, and then we landed in Delaware at Dover AFB. I had the opportunity to work with over 50 students during our stay in Delaware and expanded my tutoring reach to online teaching through Wyzant and Zoom.
2018-2020: Air Force and pilot life had the moving trucks in front of our house again, and this time we headed south! The Bockrath family relocated to Waxhaw, North Carolina during the summer of 2018.
2020-2021: The Covid-19 Pandemic has been a roller-coaster for the field of education. Almost 100% of my math tutoring was done online this past year, though I am so happy that some students will be returning to in-person lessons this fall! If you are looking for a math tutor in person or still on ZOOM, please reach out to me!
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