Here is what some of our parents and former students have to say! If you would like to personally speak to any of our parents, please contact Eva Goldstein-Meola at eva@opententacademy.com and she would be happy to make arrangements for you!
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Thank you for providing this amazing “cafeteria plan” this summer. There was a wide variety of classes to choose from, and from my parental perspective, the best part was the ability to sign up for one class and not to have to commit to several weeks. Summertime for us makes it difficult to make a long-term commitment, so having the ability to do one or two classes was wonderful.
The other piece that made it easy for my kids to try a class was the fact that other than reading a book, there was no prep needed for the class and no mandatory homework. This made it extremely easy for me to get them to sign up in the first place. Keeping them signed up is always easy – both of you, Jonathan and Eva, are fabulous teachers and present your material in an engaging way.
Thank you for this wonderful resource you have created!!
~J.H., Virginia
Open Tent Academy is just what I needed to encourage my thirteen-year-old son to engage in a Literature Class. In the course, Strong Males: Two Newbury Honor Novels, students covered two novels over a 10-week period. As a parent, I loved watching our son, who hates to read, engage in these books on his own. Additionally, the assignments were easy to follow, yet challenging enough for him to really think back on what he read, allowing him to step into character, to complete his homework and special projects. Our son has learned more about literature this semester through open discussion, writing reading responses, and his “thinking outside the box” projects. We are grateful to Mrs. Eva for instilling and offering her love of learning, which is overflowing onto our children.
~T.C., Florida
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Brittany,
Caroline is absolutely LOVING your (Brittany Robbins) Science Fair 2.0 class. She said you are the BEST teacher she has had so far in any online class. Thank you so much – because of you, she’s identified what really works for her in online classes and I’m so grateful! She really enjoys the instruction, discussion, interaction, and topic. It’s the perfect storm of learning for her! YAY! Thank you!!!
~ R.L., Virginia
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Eva,
G loves having you as a teacher and loves your classes. A few weeks ago, we were reflecting on our altered life since the pandemic began. G volunteered that, during this difficult time, your classes have been a positive addition to her life.
Thank you for being a bright light for your students!
CK, Virginia
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This was our first class at OTA and it was a wonderful experience.
As a parent, I found the class description very enticing and felt pretty confident that my (almost) 9 year old daughter would enjoy it. I couldn’t even finish reading the class description to her before she excitedly shouted, “YES! I WANT TO TAKE THAT CLASS!”
Ms. Brittany Robbins made the class engaging and fun from the beginning–starting with the arrival of an acceptance letter to Hogwarts! My daughter loved dressing up in her robe, getting ready for class,and enjoyed the classwork. As a traditional homeschooling family, my daughter also enjoyed the company of other students. Ella’s favorite part of class was the read alouds when Ms. Robbins would read using “voices” for different characters…”Not every teacher does that Mom, that’s cool,” my daughter said.
If you have a Harry Potter fan, don’t miss out on this class! We would highly recommend this class as it’s a great way to make learning fun and engaging.
E.M.
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Eva,
If it wasn’t for your IEW Writing Classes, which my son has taken for the last five years, J would, without a doubt, not be where he is today. The graduation speech you just watched was a direct result of your teachings.
I thank God every time he tackles a paper. He uses every skill he has learned from your classes. Again, from the bottom of my heart, thank you.
I know it is a business you run, but it is much more than that. You have truly changed my son’s life and future.
With gratitude,
K.K, California
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Open Tent Academy has been such a blessing to my family!
My 9th grader enrolled in a year-long Writing course, All About Essays, this year with Ms. Eva and has thoroughly enjoyed the class. His writing has improved ten-fold! We couldn’t be more pleased.
This spring, his sisters have joined him, taking Starting IEW From the Very Beginning and Profiles of History. Both girls love their classes and look forward to each week.
All three of my children have learned so much!
Thank you, OTA!
G.A., California
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My son, L, has taken IEW WRITING classes from Eva and Open Tent Academy for about 4 years now. All of the classes have been worthwhile and vehicles for great learning and growth in his education. The writing class he is just finishing, High School Research and More, has really developed and strengthened his writing skills in a variety of forms of writing, including the SAT essay and a large term paper. He has been inspired to write on his interests and eagerly gets to work each day.
My son, L, has also taken several social studies classes with Jonathan Meola. Luke truly enjoys all of Jonathan’s classes and especially enjoyed American Government 101. Jonathan made government fun and exciting.
We are very pleased with the quality of lessons, the attention each teacher has given to L, and the invaluable learning received from all classes in Open Tent Academy.
I have recommended OTA many times and will continue to do so.
T.H., Seattle, Washington
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We LOVE OTA\and we love Ms. Eva!
In 2018 – 2019, my daughter took all three sessions of her Exploring American History with the American Girls class. The class was phenomenal! Ms. Eva is an extremely talented as a teacher. She understands the blend of teaching and making every child feel important and appreciated! This alone is worth its weight in gold; however, there is more! Eva understands the importance of blending all content areas into one class. Exploring American History with the American Girls was not only about reading the American Girl books – it was about geography, history and writing. My daughter walked away with a wealth of information!
I encourage all homeschooling parents to take a look at what Eva is offering as she is the type of instructor you will want your children to have!
K.D., Washington State
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I wanted to give a “shout out” to Open Tent Academy! My son, age 10, is taking Ideas that Changed the World and LOVES it. All the students in the class tell the instructor weekly it is their favorite class.
It is nice to see my son so excited for the class. Online classes may seem expensive; however, once you see the technology that OTA uses and how much your child will learn, you will see how it is worth it at the end. Kudos OTA!
~ M.K., Ohio
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I will never forget our daughter’s excitement as she watched one of Mr. Jonathan’s required documentaries in the class 20th Century Wars and the Rise of the Superpowers and couldn’t believe she recognized and knew all of the names and places.
History is not a strong suit for our girl, and for her to show a passion for World War I is remarkable. The choice of reading assignments, videos and documentaries all parlayed well into a comprehensive history course. We have truly enjoyed Mr. Jonathan’s teaching style and desire to bring the past alive and look forward to taking another class with him next semester.
~L.R., Florida
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Eva and the other teachers are wonderful!
Eva is always willing to go the extra mile and to answer my questions and provide my kids with a fantastic learning experience in her classes.
E.K., New Mexico
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My son is currently taking the Extraordinary People from History class. He’s a very reluctant learning. He was dreading a history class. Within minutes of being in class with Mr. Jonathan, he was completely engaged. Mind maps are now his favorite way to research and compile his work and ideas. I’m so happy to see my son confident and looking forward to his class each week.
J.D., Virginia
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Ms. Selena is a 5 star teacher! Both her ASL classes and Intro to Deaf Culture are amazing.
My daughter is now proficient in ASL because of Ms. Selena’s patience and encouraging ways!
I couldn’t be more pleased!
G.R., New York
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My daughter and I are both impressed with the variety of class that Open Tent Academy offers. This year she took Ideas That Changed the World! My daughter is loving this class, especially the mind mapping technique for homework.
In addition, she is in her second semester of You Can’t Stop Them, a literature class with strong female characters taught by Ms. Eva! The loves the creative projects, choices offered and discussions on the novels that they read.
She and I both LOVE Open Tent Academy. I know that she is getting a great education, and she likes that she is having fun learning! She loves the projects that the teachers assign. Open Tent Academy is awesome!
~S.M., California
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I hesitated long and hard about Open Tent Academy and my only regret is not trying it sooner. Both of my kiddoes are taking math and writing classes. These classes are truly a gift. Ms. Eva’s IEW Writing Classes and literature are out of this world. Eva might be a tough writing teacher; however, she is fair and loves the children and her work. Jonathan’s United States History classes are amazing! I couldn’t be more pleased with OTA and plan on having my children take classes for years to come!
~T.S.C., New York
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Ancient World with Jonathan Meola has been one of the best online classes my son, Z, has taken. We will definitely be signing up for more with OTA!
I.D., California
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Ms. Eva was recommended to me when I was looking for an outside writing instructor for my kids after struggling with doing it myself. Her leveled IEW classes were a perfect fit for both of my children at the time.
The classes met my kids where they were in their educational journey. The skills that she taught them go far beyond just writing. She taught them how to read critically and extrapolate the important points of a passage.
After my son returned to public school, he had a fellow student in his science class ask how he was able to so easily prepare a one page outline of a passage in the textbook they were reading – it was the skills he learned with Ms. Eva and IEW that equipped him. I recommend Open Tent Academy to anyone looking for online solutions for homeschooling!
N.S., Virginia
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Just a quick note to thank you for a wonderful class! I was a little apprehensive that Cyrus and Ellis would balk at taking an American Girl themed class, but they thoroughly enjoyed your class and never once mentioned that it was girl-centric. Your combination of American history, geography, culture and reading was perfectly balanced. Well done!
~ AKH, Northern Virginia
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History. This was definitely not my strongest area as a homeschool mother. I knew to provide my kids with what they needed, I had to look at outside resources. Taking a leap of faith, I registered both my 7th and 8th grader for U.S. History with Jonathan Meola.
Learning history through simple short stories using. “A History of US,” has been fun to read-a-loud. With a subject I once disliked myself, I’ve been able to power through, and engage with my children learning to love the past. Mr. Meola is a phenomenally fair instructor, and has allowed our kids to use their creativity for the semester project. The kids have enjoyed this area most about the class. Seeing their creations from the past come to life is a gift in itself. Thank you, Jonathan! You have lit a fire for history within my children!
T.C., Florida
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My daughter just completed her first class at OTA:To Hope and Back, The Story of the U.S.S. St. Louis. She loved it!!! Eva Goldstein-Meola was an incredible teacher. Fun and informative. The amount of homework was not overwhelming. My daughter loved this class so much that I never had to remind her. She was always sitting at her desk 15 minutes before start time. We have just signed up for another close with Open Tent. I highly recommend!
~E.S., Virginia
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My son was a very reluctant writer when he started taking classes with Ms. Eva, the founder of Open Tent Academy. Fast-forward three years and I have a teenager who writes willingly and thoughtfully. He found the IEW Writing classes that he took through Open Tent to be very well organized. He benefitted from the class structure, as well as the use of the online learning management system. It was easy to find everything that he needed for his assignments, and he liked that he could go back and re-watch his class if he missed it or if he had questions. I highly recommend Ms. Eva and the Open Tent Academy for online classes.
K.B., Virginia
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I can’t say enough about the art classes at OTA. You would think – art online – but yes, ART ONLINE! The instructor worked her magic on our daughter, who originally took art history to “check the box” for her high school fine arts elective. The passion for art and art history readily comes through each live online class.
What makes this class even more special is the fact that each student not only learned about various artists and styles of art, but then had to actually get out the paints and canvases to give it a whirl! The hands-on component to this class really brought each artist alive for the students and generated deep respect for those who have a special gift for creating renowned masterpieces.
~L.R., Florida
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I would like to say thank you. My daughter, Laura, was so inspired by OTA’s Lights! Camera! Action! class. She WANTS to improve at writing instead of shying away from the process that she finds so difficult. She is putting her heart and soul into trying. I am seeing improvement and I am seeing enthusiasm that just were not there before. You have no idea how joyful that makes me. This latest essay was really, really hard but a bit less overwhelming than the prior two. Slowly the elements that Laura is learning in class are sinking in. I appreciate all that you do for the class! Thank you!
~ J.C. – Vermont
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“During the process, they might not like me; however, I know when they arrive in college they will thank me.” (Eva Goldstein-Meola)
This is one thing that makes you a good teacher and the reason that I will ALWAYS enroll my upper elementary/middle/high school students in a writing class taught by someone else!
Students need someone that is hard on them that is not also tucking them in at night! I appreciate your rigorous grading and emphasis on learning and progress. I keep telling my boys… if you were getting 100%, I would need to sign you up for the class. Thank you for pouring your heart and soul into every lesson, Eva.
~A.S. – Maryland
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During our family new year’s celebration, everyone completed a year-in-review questionnaire. One question asked, “What are you most proud of that you accomplished this past year?”
Without hesitation, our daughter blurted out “I learned to write a five-paragraph essay!”
Our daughter, who up until this past semester would only write science lab reports, should be proud of this accomplishment. She willingly dedicated days to completing required essays, and we owe this success to Ms. Eva’s Lights! Camera! Action! class.
Ms. Eva’s enthusiasm, instruction, encouragement and feedback all generated a newfound level of confidence within our daughter. Plus, the course spurred everyone in our family (including grandparents) to watch incredible movies, which normally would not be in our Netflix queue. Ms. Eva’s impact reached beyond our daughter.
~ L.R., Florida
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We are thrilled to have placed so many courses in the hands of OTA’s professionals.
We’ve been homeschooling for eight years and outsource the majority of our classes, so we know a thing or two about live online classes!
Some of our favorites were…. To Hope and Back, I am Malala, Adulting 101, Strong Males, You Can’t Stop Them, IEW Writing, Biology and High School Geography.
The flow of information was timely and thorough. When questions arose, we always received a prompt and comprehensive response. In terms of technology, Canvas worked very well; we had no issues or problems accessing Canvas or signing into the live classes. Course content was appropriate and on-grade for each class. Teachers were professional and engaging with a clear desire to share their passions. Without hesitation, I recommend OTA to other homeschool families.
~P.K, Connecticut
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I am a full time working parent, who was looking for a homeschool consortium that included live lessons (as well as recording them), qualified teachers, and would be proactive with their communication with any of our needs. Open Tent Academy fit everything we needed as a family and more!
We are so thankful to be a part of this wonderful academy.
~ S.S., Indiana
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My daughter, Anna has really benefited from and loved OTA’s Fractions, Decimals, Percents class. We LOVE that she has a real, live teacher every week. Most online math offerings want you to subscribe to an already recorded set of videos! We love the fact that the instructor makes a personal connection with each student. The world of online education feels so cold and impersonal as a whole, but OTA is SO different.
~C.B., Virginia
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We have absolutely loved Jonathan’s Ancient Civilizations class this year.
He is so organized and his classes are expertly taught – my son usually makes me leave the room but I will often go back and listen to the recordings and watch some of the videos because they are so interesting.
We are thrilled that OTA is now a vendor with our charter school, and since Z will be in middle school next year, we plan on signing up for a lot more classes.
Keep up the excellent job and thanks for making homeschooling so much easier for us parents!
I.D., California
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My daughter just completed her first class: To Hope and Back, The Story of the U.S.S. St. Louis. She loved it!!!
Eva was an incredible teacher. Fun and informative. The amount of homework was not overwhelming.
My daughter loved this class so much that I never had to remind her. She was always sitting at her desk 15 minutes before start time. We have just signed up for another close with Open Tent. I highly recommend!
K.S., Vermont
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My 8th grade daughter is just finishing up Eva’s Research Writing Intensive – a 10-week course on writing research papers.
This was her first experience with an on-line course and she really liked it. Writing and editing are not my strong suits so I was more than happy for her to have feedback from someone as knowledgable and kind as Eva!
She liked the class so much we have already signed up for another one for the 2018-2019 school year. Thank you to Eva and her team for helping to make homeschooling even easier.
C.V., Virginia
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Eva is a fantastic teacher. My daughter, J, has now been taking Eva Goldstein-Meola’s writing classes for 3 years with her. We started because I couldn’t find a writing curriculum that worked for her. With Eva’s online class and specific, step-by-step instructions, that are very clearly written, Julie’s writing has taken off to a level that impresses us.
This year we decided to add a literature class, To Hope and Back, also taught by Eva. At first Julie wasn’t very excited to start, but it has easily become her favorite class of the year. She actually saves the assignments for last saying she’s saving the best subject for last. I think the small size of the class and live classroom discussions encourage Julie to be more involved and feel like her voice is important.
As a by-product, the writing assignments for literature have now turned into a tiny competition with herself to include as many styles as possible that she has learned in her Middle School Writing class. Eva is extremely easy to work with, extremely understanding and extremely fair. She’s quick with any communication, and just an all-round friendly person. I think her ability to understand the level each child is at and how to encourage them in a gentle manner to excel makes her an outstanding teacher.
L.F.S., Virginia
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I just wanted you to know that Laura and I were discussing classes for next year. I was thinking that she would “take a break” from Eva Goldstein-Meola’s writing class for one year and then return for the high school classes; however, Laura insisted, “Absolutely not. I learn so much from Eva. Not only about writing; but about how to be a better person. Eva expects excellence out of us in all areas of life.“
Laura truly enjoys all that you bring to the class, your energy, humor, and all that you teach. She has learned so very much from you and I know you have her highest respect along with mine. Personally, I am a terrible writer. Laura loves to write; however, that was not always the case. Without your instruction, I cannot even imagine the quality of her work. I thank you so much for everything. I am so glad I met you years ago in NJ at ENOCH. You have changed my daughter’s life for the better!
~M.S., New Jersey
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I enrolled my eighth-grade son in Middle School Writing at the last minute this past year. Anyone who has had to deal with 12-13-14 year-old boys know how each and every subject can become a power struggle! With my fourth son, writing was “our” struggle. At this point, I knew I needed help!
Eva’s classes and the ability to watch them over or on your own time have been helpful. I left my son to his own devices with this class because I was done arguing, nagging and cajoling. He was surprised and shocked when his papers did not meet up with Mrs. Goldstein-Meola’s approval. Secretly, I have been secretly cheering her because she was not allowing my son off the hook. It’s been a long year but he’s finally getting it. He is following instructions, checking and proofreading his own work and the improvement is amazing. REALLY. AMAZING.
As a parent I love the way this class is structured. I know what is going on and can be as involved or uninvolved (in my case) as I like. The student is given all the information, instructions and examples he needs to do a good job if he chooses. Personally, my son took most of the year to see the light and I have been sitting on my hands and biting my tongue. But . . . he’s finally got it! He has rewritten many of the assignments multiple times until he finally got it right. And, at last, things clicked – follow the directions the first time and poof! No rewrites. Mrs. Goldstein-Meola never waivers in her expectations of excellence. She gives clear instructions and it’s up to the student to follow through. For my son, this class has been a terrific lead-in to high school (and above) level work.
~A.K., Florida
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Minecraft and Architecture was my son’s favorite class. His imagination has been sparked. I love seeing what he has been able to create every week. My son spends so much time perfecting his creations. In addition, he loves giving feedback on the other student’s work. He is learning so much. Mr. Rasar really knows how to engage the students.
~ T.K., New York
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My daughter has taken two of Ms. Eva’s IEW writing classes and LOVES them. Ms. Eva’s class structure and teaching style truly makes the process manageable, even for the most reluctant writers. Class notes are provided so that the student can focus on the class content itself. The notes can be reviewed, along with the PowerPoint presentation, before and after class so that the material is familiar. And, as with all the OTA courses, the class is recorded and can be re-watched as many times as needed. Ms. Eva provides constructive feedback in a manner that encourages continuous improvement.
~ C.T., Vermont
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Both my daughters LOVED their creative writing class last semester. Being able to create something unique to them and generate ideas that culminated in something interesting to hear was something that truly sparked their love for writing. One of my daughters previously had not enjoyed the art of writing; however, after this class she begged to take the second semester. I would highly recommend this class to any student who has found writing to be dull, full of rules and without energy and excitement. Here they will learn to enjoy the process of writing and the fruit of their effort
~ T.F., Florida
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My kids recently completed a literature class with Eva Goldstein-Meola, To Hope and Back, and they loved it! Eva brings energy and passion to her classroom. She is incredibly positive and is able to get the kids to open up and share. My kids love her as a teacher (they have had her for other classes and routinely ask to take her classes again). We just signed up for her winter literature class and I am sure they will enjoy it as much!
~ J.B., Gainesville, Virginia
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During 2017 – 2018, I have been taking four classes through Open Tent. My two favorite classes are Middle School Writing and ADHD Toolbox. What I really like about the ADHD class is that OTA knows how hard it is to learn in school and life. All the tips she tells us really help. In addition, I love Middle School Writing. The best part of MSW is how Ms. Eva teaches and how her comments are so easy to understand. I am so happy to be able to take OTA classes this year. I can’t wait to take more next year.
K.T., Student from Vermont
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In middle and high school, I took IEW writing classes with Mrs. Goldstein. Her teaching style and passion for the material made learning the techniques and rules of writing so easy. Today, as I am preparing to graduate from George Mason University, I still apply what I learned from Mrs. Goldstein in every paper I write. I’m so thankful I took her classes many years ago, because it has truly helped me succeed in my current academics!
~ C.T., Reston, Virginia
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Eva is a very experienced teacher who does not just ‘grade papers’ writing papers but gives meaningful feedback that helps the student learn and improve. She is very responsive by email. The learning management system used by OTA (called CANVAS) is very user friendly and easy to navigate. Eva is kind, reasonable, and has the students’ best interest at heart.
Please – do not miss out on Eva Goldstein-Meola’s IEW Writing classes – you will regret it!
~ A.K., China
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I have known Eva, founder of OTA, for over ten years and cannot recommend her enough! My daughters attended live classes with her while living in Northern Virginia, and they are all excellent writers because of her IEW Writing Classes. By founding OTA, she has expanded her love of learning and commitment to education to benefit students around the globe. Eva wants nothing more than to help parents on their educational journey with their children and does what it takes to make that happen!!
M.P., ~ Texas
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