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When Rhonda Mosley returned home to care for her mother, she had a vision of returning to her element in education, which led her to open her own tutoring business – The Learning Table.

Mosley taught school for 27 years and wanted to stick to her roots after retiring from education in 2017. This will be her 30th year overall in the field. She said parents contacted her at the onset of the pandemic about working with their children in a one-on-one setting. “I was even getting calls from parents with juniors in high school. I saw the need to reach out and create an establishment to help students struggling with individual skills and concepts. I thought it would be a great way to not only use my background but service the community doing what I love to do.”

With school just around the corner, Mosley is excited for another year of helping students in all areas and welcomes those in all schools to her program. The Learning Table (TLT) is a tutoring/learning center for anyone of any age seeking knowledge or educational skills through one-on-one or group lessons as well as virtual lessons. She currently has 11 tutors working for her at TLT. Subjects range from teaching phonics to students in Pre-K all the way through high school/college math and physics. They also offer ACT prep and GED test prep.

When trying to decide on a name for the learning center, Mosley wanted it to be something positive and unique. “I did not want to refer to it as a center, so I chose to be original and use the word table. When I engage with the children, we sit at a table and work together to determine the best needs of each individual student. I wanted to reflect that and make a difference in their lives as much as possible.”

Mosley first began TLT in January 2021 shortly after her mother passed away. Tutoring is vital to students who have difficulty learning a lesson or skill concept. “This helps children who struggle and improves their self-esteem and confidence. At school, students may not always feel comfortable asking questions in front of their peers. Tutoring may help teach the child to be comfortable inquiring without feeling self-conscious,” she said. “Tutoring provides an environment free of distractions with fewer students and disruptions, so students are able to focus more on learning.”

TLT offers tutoring to challenge under-stimulated children and help them reach their full potential. Mosley stated they are also available to help students work on projects such as art, science, and history that parents may not have the time to help with at home. She added, “Tutoring also helps keep students on track during breaks such as summer but also with the pandemic we have experienced. We have tried to help combat what we call the ‘COVID Slide,’ which is learning loss due to the pandemic.”

Mosley thoroughly enjoys helping students achieve their goals. Making a difference in the lives of young children is very special to her. “When I ‘see the light bulb come on’ meaning they have just grasped the concept, I can’t help but smile and celebrate with them. This is a challenging but highly rewarding profession,” she said.

There are some students who feel ready to give up on an assignment, but she wants to show reassurance. “First and foremost, I would want a student to know, without a doubt, I am not going to give up on him or her. However, we have to change the growth mindset of the child if he or she is ready to give up.” When that occurs, Mosley said she uses the word “yet.” She explained, “It’s not always easy, but the power of this small word allows for success. According to Dr. Carol Dweck, the power of ‘not yet’ gives students a path into their future and makes them feel they are on a learning curve rather than a dead end.”

Mosley resides in Andalusia with her husband Wade. She has two children, Courtney Bowers and Nathan Hattaway, along with son-in-law Garret Bowers and her new granddaughter, Claire. Regarding the future of TLT, she envisions creating more franchises in other communities as well as helping Pre-K students. “I’m just getting started, but the possibilities are endless,” she said.

The Learning Table is located at 101 East Pass Road in Andalusia. During the school year, hours are from 3 until 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and Friday through Sunday by request. When school is not in session, they host summer camps in June and July. Summer hours of operation are from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. for one-on-one tutoring. Mosley said they have continued to grow and acquired a second space at 105 East Pass Road.

For more information contact Rhonda Mosley at 251-424-4835 or e-mail thelearningtable@yahoo.com. “Teaching is a calling and a passion, and knowing I get to educate and inspire young minds to hopefully grow up and make a difference in the world is very rewarding,” she said.