Director

Holly L. Blumenstyk is the founder and Director of Learning Associates. Holly received her M.Ed. degree from the Eliot-Pearson Department of Child Study at Tufts University in MA, where she received a fellowship and was trained in educational diagnosis. After moving to NJ, she received additional training in educational diagnosis at Montclair State University and was certified as a Learning Disabilities Teacher-Consultant (LDTC) by the State of NJ. Holly has more than 25 years of experience in educational diagnosis.

Prior to establishing Learning Associates, Holly was a teacher and administrator in the Communication Disorders Demonstration Program at Montclair State University. She was also a teacher in public school districts.

Holly also is certified by the State of NJ as a Teacher of the Handicapped K-12, Elementary School Teacher, and Principal/Supervisor. Her experience as a teacher provides a basis for understanding real world school operations and enables her to make recommendations that work in a school environment.

Holly has made numerous presentations to faculty and administrators at schools including The Pingry School, Delbarton School, Red Oaks School, Assumption School, and The Purnell School. She has also presented workshops at organizations including NJ Association of Independent Schools (NJAIS), Children and Adults with Attention Deficit Disorders (CHADD), Association of Learning Consultants (ALC), NJ Association for the Education of Young Children (NJAEYC), and the Morris County Speech and Language Association.

Holly is a member of the Association of Learning Consultants (ALC), Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), the International Dyslexia Association (IDA), Children and Adults with ADD (CHADD), the NJ Association for College Admissions Counseling (NJACAC), the National Association of College Admissions Counselors (NACAC), and the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA). Holly is also a Nationally Certified Educational Diagnostician pursuant to the authority of the NCED Board.

Ronnie has provided services to the clients of Learning Associates since 1989. She earned an M.A. degree in Learning Disabilities at Ball State University in Indiana. Ronnie's graduate school program also included training to work with Emotionally Disturbed students. Ronnie is certified as a Learning Disabilities Teacher-Consultant (LDTC) and Teacher of the Handicapped K-12 by the State of NJ. In addition, Ronnie is certified in Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Secondary English Education, and Elementary Education. She has taken supplemental courses at Montclair State University and is also certified in Collaborative Teaching for Inclusive Settings.

Ronnie has been employed in the Millburn Public Schools since 1985. She is currently the LDTC at Millburn Middle School where she conducts Learning Evaluations, consults with classroom teachers, serves on the 504 Committee and the Regular Education Intervention Committee, and writes IEP's. Ronnie was previously a Resource Center Teacher at Millburn High School and at an elementary school. Ronnie is also a Nationally Certified Educational Diagnostician pursuant to the authority of the NCED Board.

Larry Blumenstyk is the Director of the College Admissions Program at Learning Associates. A graduate of Cornell University and New England School of Law, this program puts Larry's interests and talents to good use for our clients.

For a number of years, Larry served on the Cornell Alumni Secondary School Committee. After Holly and Larry's son went to Cornell, Larry returned to that interviewing activity. Attending both home and away soccer games for four years renewed Larry's interest in modern college life and in helping college applicants. Larry served as the 2008-2009 Morris County chairperson of the Cornell Alumni Admissions Ambassador Network.

As an interviewer, Larry found that his own interests and experiences enabled him to engage young people whose particular passions are diverse. We now find ourselves engaged with so many student interests: Government, History, Art History, Literature, Photography, Law, Business, Industry, Hiking, Skiing, Bicycling, Youth Sports, Music, Theatre, and on and on... We establish a connection with the students we serve through their passions, the very things which make them unique college candidates.

Holly and Larry combine their efforts in the college admissions program. The program relies on Holly's especially deep understanding of the learning challenges of the graduating high school student. Larry motivates the students to organize the many stages and deadlines they face. Each student is challenged and guided to navigate the application and selection process. The student must do the work but we show them how to accomplish what is necessary.

Through our professional associations, Larry attends symposia, seminars, conferences, and workshops to keep up to date on college admissions requirements and trends. Larry is registered with the National Association of College Admission Counseling (NACAC), is a member of the New Jersey Association for College Admissions Counseling (NJACAC) and is an associate member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA). He has completed the Professional Coaching Program offered by ADD Insights of Boston, MA. He visits scores of colleges each year.