Former School Official Looks to Solving Educational Problems for Families

Stacy Costa of Matawan imagined a place where parents could come get answers, and she could provide help to children without beaurocratic or financial burdens.

So the former Monmouth and Ocean County Assistant Superintendent turned to School Answers, a franchise academic success center, which she opened in Colts Neck this September.

"It's nice to not have to say 'I'm sorry, I can't help you,'" Costa said. "It's nice not to have to say 'I'm sorry, there's no funding available.' That's a very disconcerting thing to have to do. When you get to such a high position, you get there to try to help people, and it seems the higher you get the less you can do."

The center, located on Route 34, offers services for young children to adults, looking not to make kids smart, but to make kids "smarter."

"We consider ourselves all-inclusive," Costa said. "And these kids literally come here wanting to get smarter. Because they know the academic environment they are in at school, they know they have to be able to keep up."

School Answers provides diagnostic testing for students, whether it be IQ testing or grade placement testing. Beyond testing, School Answers has one-on-one instruction options for students as well as small classroom settings.

But the most impressive thing about the Colts Neck business may be its accomplished instructors. 

"It covers the spectrum. From child study team testing to related services, to a virtual program to direct academic instruction...to college prep, helping them with the essays for those college applications. You're not bringing them to a facility that is going to have high school or college tutors, there are multi-degreed, multi-certified people. I'm proud of that."

Costa herself is using her decades of experience in education and classroom instruction to bring educational support to the masses. Creating School Answers gave Costa a way to enhance the education she has loved for years.

"There are so many resources we offer these parents, and they can come to me and say 'What can you do for me?' I finally have an answer," Costa said.

School Answers offers both physical and occupational therapy, whether it be tied to education or sports, in an in-facility therapy room complete with exercise equipment and a rock climbing wall. Both physical and occupational therapists are fully licensed. Student athletes can even stay in shape in the off season.

The success center provides test-specific training as well, from SAT's all the way to the LSAT and the MKAT. College students can even find subject-specific help.

The center also has all the latest technology, which the kids can use and learn in an educational manner.

"We are really teaching them different resources, so if one day there isn't somebody around or they can't get here, they know how to find the answers."

Costa said the biggest reason to visit School Answers is the environment, which she said provides a team atmosphere wrapped in green and purple that the kids are already embracing.

"The kids want to be here, and the parents want to bring them here. It's not a fight every day," Costa said. "I'm constantly thinking about what else I can do to help these families."

Students are also learning personal responsibility, Costa said. She has some young students who call her when they can't make an appointment.

"That never happens, it's usually the parents that call. But this place means something to the kids, enough that they feel they should make the call."

School Answers offers a full range of school supplies for projects and daily use, and will soon feature a cafe for after school snacks. Students pay for the goods with a School Answers swipe card.

Soon, Costa will expand the success center and create a college lounge atmosphere for older students looking to enhance or aid curriculum instruction with online classes. Costa said it's the environment that gets them to focus, and creates an atmosphere easier than "the kitchen table."

Beginning Nov. 1, parents can get a School Answers membership that is similar to a gym membership: a monthly fee for unlimited visits. Parents can get packages like $199 per month for unlimited instruction, a fee Costa said is about a third of what other centers would charge. All School Answers asks is that parents give the staff a heads up before dropping students off.

Services and membership information can be found online at the School Answers website.