tega cay Center
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1157 Stonecrest Blvd. Suite 104
Tega Cay, SC 29708
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Tutoring & Test Prep in Tega Cay, SC
Our professional educators are here to help your child build confidence and knowledge. Each session:
Your child works with the same tutor who provides individualized instruction based on their needs.
Your child's homework is completed and checked for accuracy.
We review and reteach daily classwork and/or learning objectives.
You are informed of progress, homework, upcoming assessments from your child's tutor.
Upcoming projects and exams have been discussed, and assigned a timeline for studying or completion.
Center Gallery
Our Tega Cay Team
Christina Lazar
FOUNDER & DIRECTOR
Christina Lazar is an honor graduate from the University of North Carolina College of Education. Originally from NY, she has worked as a mentor, teacher, coach, and advocate for children for over 20 years. With the support of her former school, parents of students, and colleagues, Christina opened The Lazar Center of Charlotte in 2007. Since then, she has supported hundreds of students as they grow equally in confidence and academic achievement. Her favorite thing about her work is finding that unique key that allows her team to unlock each student’s potential.
Kelli Wooten
Assistant director
Kelli Wooten graduated from Appalachian State with a Bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a Master’s in reading education, with a concentration in autism studies and a minor in psychology. Throughout her college experience, she worked in various daycares, acting as a head teacher in early education programs. She also completed multiple internships in a variety of elementary-aged classrooms and took the opportunity to substitute teach as well. Kelli loves getting to know each student she works with so that she can craft a curriculum that reflects their interests and feels meaningful to them!
Alicia Malpiedi
TUTOR
Alicia graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Science in Education and certification in Middle School Math. She moved to Charlotte in 2011 and secured a position as a math teacher at Southwest Middle School. During her time at SWMS, she pioneered the Builder’s Club, a community service organization for middle school students. Alicia’s favorite thing about teaching is the opportunity to be part of her student’s lives forever. While she no longer teaches in the traditional classroom, she enjoys working at The Lazar Center.
Alexandra Yurkowski
TUTOR
Born and raised in Westchester, New York, she graduated from Liberty University with a Bachelors of Science in Elementary Education. Alexandra taught in Virginia before moving down to Charlotte. Here, Alexandra taught for eight more years and has experience in every grade level from kindergarten through fifth grade. While Alexandra is definitely a “math” person, she also enjoys teaching students how to take pleasure in reading. Alexandra is really excited to get to know each of the students she gets to work with at the Lazar Center and find their strengths to help them succeed not only in the classroom but in life.
Debbie Soltisz
TUTOR
Debbie received her degree from The Ohio State University in Management Information Systems. After working as a systems engineer and raising her four children, Debbie switched career paths to focus on education. She served on her local school board for six years and then became an elementary school tutor and found her calling! She has over eight years of teaching experience with a focus on K-5 literacy. Debbie enjoys working with students to find their strengths and unlock their learning potential! She joined the Lazar Center to help equip students with skills that will help them to succeed!
Emily Reece
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
Emily is a 2022 graduate of the University of North Carolina with a Bachelor’s in Mathematics. She was a high school math teacher at Invest Collegiate Transform Charter School and has been with the Lazar Center as a tutor for over seven years. Emily loves seeing students have that “Aha” moment! She enjoys watching them grow more and more confident in their skills and learnings. Emily has a knack for the Spanish and English languages and grammar as well. She’s well-liked by all her students for her outgoing personality and great sense of humor.
Frances Banning
TUTOR
Frances holds a Bachelor’s degree from the College of Wooster, as well as a Master’s Degree from Northern Arizona University. She is a passionate educator committed to inspiring students. With over 10 years of experience as a classroom teacher, Frances brings creativity, joy, and a love for learning to every session with her students in grades K-6 at Lazar.
Melva Pinckney
Tutor
Melva Pinckney obtained her Special Education Teacher licensure from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and her School Administration Licensure from Gardner Webb University. She has worked as a Special Education Teacher for over 20 years, five of which were spent teaching in the Fort Mill School District. She continues to enjoy working within the Fort Mill community this year to support students of all ages in their academic endeavors.
Mercy Yarnes
TUTOR
Mercy is a graduate of Columbia International University. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. Since graduation, she has worked as a tutor, a teacher’s assistant, and a classroom teacher. Last year she taught 6th-grade science at Comenius School for Creative Leadership. At Lazar, Mercy loves helping students build executive functioning skills and confidence, especially with high-level math and science.
Jimmy McSweeney
Tutor
Jimmy is a 3rd year student at UNC Charlotte studying Pure Mathematics, while pursuing a career in education. Outside of teaching, he is a high school baseball coach and active player. At Lazar, Jimmy excels at supporting high school students in math, and believes everyone has a mathematician within them waiting to be revealed.
Stefano Belmonte
TUTOR
Stefano graduated from the University of South Carolina with a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health, and also earned his Master’s from Wake Forest University School of Medicine in Biomedical Research. Having worked in various labs throughout his college years, Stefano is looking forward to applying some real-world skills and techniques back to academia in hopes of inspiring the next generation of young scientists at Lazar.
Madison McCormack
Tutor
Madison is a student at Western Governors University attending the Teachers College. She is an instructional assistant for special education in the Fort Mill School District. Madison has also been a substitute teacher for all grades, a classroom teacher, and a nanny. She has a passion for teaching children and creating lasting bonds that help them grow academically, and she looks forward to sharing that passion with the students at Lazar!
Schedule a Consultation
Getting Started
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Want more information about our tutoring services? Schedule a meeting with our center director for an assessment of your child's needs. Our team will determine the best way to support your child.