Meet the Focus on Learning Team
Thomas Patrick Scharenborg
STEM Specialist, Test Preparation Specialist
Mr. Thomas Scharenborg
B.S., Physics, M.Ed., STEM Curriculum & Instruction
Tom is President of Focus on Learning. He has worked at FOL since 2007, to help develop and build the services and programs currently available. Tom works with students, cultivating the joy of learning, study skills, time management, test preparation, and test anxiety mitigation practices.
He is a STEAM specialist: Science, Technology, Engineering, Fine Art: Photography & Media Arts, and Mathematics.
“I enjoy sharing new and exciting ways to incorporate these subject areas into daily life. I also collaborate with teachers, parents, and educators on developing ways to integrate these disciplines into curriculums and help create resources aimed at the next generation to enhance and enrich their lives.”
In his spare time, Tom enjoys cycling, backpacking, camping, practicing Martial Arts, and photography. Tom also enjoys traveling to Japan and learning to speak the native language as often as possible!
Dr. Traci Cox
Focus On Learning Office Manager
English and Reading Tutor, Test Prep English and Reading Coach
Traci@FocusOnLearningCenter.com
Traci Cox has a Ph.D. in English/Creative Writing from the University of Missouri. She has fourteen years of teaching experience in the U.S. and abroad. Traci is the recipient of a J.W. Fulbright Fellowship through the U.S. State Department, as well as the G. Ellsworth Huggins Fellowship through the University of Missouri. Traci holds an M.F.A. in Creative Nonfiction Prose from George Mason University and a B.A. with Honors and Distinction in English and Anthropology from James Madison University. Her creative and scholarly writing has appeared in publications such as The Journal of American Folklore, The Masters Review, and Madison Magazine. Traci is a postdoctoral faculty member in the English Department at the University of Missouri.
Brandon Painter, MBA, M.Ed., M.S.
E-Commerce and Learning System Manager
FOLCI@FocusOnLearningCenter.com
Brandon Painter is the E-Commerce and Learning System Management Manager at Focus on Learning. He is responsible for developing online courses, overseeing all online products, and managing e-commerce orders. Brandon holds master’s degrees in business administration, internet marketing, and high-performance coaching.
In his free time, Brandon enjoys reading, walking trails with his dog, volunteering, and exercising.
Focus on Learning teachers not only help students figure out how they learn best, but our teachers also help them thrive. I enjoy meeting people and hearing their stories about how they push past their issues and strive to be their best. I have heard countless times of how former FOL students are still using what they learned at FOL in their careers or lives.
Ene-Kaja Chippendale, Ph.D.
Founder and President-Emeritus, Learning Specialist
READING, WRITING, ACT, P/SAT
EneC@FocusOnLearningCenter.com
Dr. Ene-Kaja Chippendale is the founder and president of Focus on Learning. She has worked for many years with students of all ages and needs to enhance their reading, writing, and learning skills. She adapts instruction to accommodate each student’s learning style and works with students to promote their love for reading. Her goal is to help students become confident and successful life-long learners.
Dr. Chippendale’s ACT workshops prepare teachers to coach the ACT and incorporate reading, English, and writing strategies into their classroom curricula. She also coaches students for the ACT, PSAT, and SAT.
A founding member of the Gifted Association of Missouri, she has been active in GAM, TAWL, LDA, and CHADD.
Dr. Chippendale graduated from Oberlin College and received an M.A. in English Literature from the University of Wisconsin. She earned a Ph.D. in reading, linguistics, and learning disabilities at the University of Missouri. Her post-doctoral program at the University of Maryland prepared teachers to integrate students with special needs into regular classrooms. Prior to opening Focus on Learning in 1985, Dr. Chippendale taught at the University of Wisconsin, University of Missouri, and Central Methodist University, where she also set up the Student Development Center.
In her spare time, Dr. Chippendale enjoys reading, music, traveling, walking, and spoiling her grandchildren.
Gary Moss, Ph.D.
Math and Science Test Prep Consultant
ACT, P/SAT, GRE PREP
Gary.Moss@FocusOnLearningCenter.com
Dr. Gary Moss has over 30 years of teaching, research, and test preparation experience. He is widely recognized in the ACT/SAT coaching field. His research examines the effectiveness of ACT coaching. Dr. Moss coaches students and presents teacher workshops for ACT preparation: Teachers as ACT (TAC) to prepare teachers to teach the ACT and Teachers for ACT Success (TFS) to guide teachers to incorporate into lesson plans. Dr. Moss has taught on both the high school and college levels and currently works extensively in Florida.
Dr. Moss spends his spare time running and biking and is active in his church’s youth and music programs.
Dr. Moss graduated Magna cum laude from the University of Missouri – St. Louis and received his Ph.D. from the University of Missouri – Columbia.
My goal as a teacher is to help my students connect something they know with something they need to know.
Adam Byko, Ph.D. Candidate
ELA Tutor
ACT, P/SAT, ELA Tutoring Specialist
Adam@FocusOnLearningCenter.com
Adam Byko is a writer, educator, and PhD candidate at the University of Missouri. Prior to coming to Missouri, Adam received his MFA from the University of Central Florida and taught high school English and standardized test prep at what has been ranked one of the top two high schools in the state of Florida. As a writer, his work has appeared in the Notre Dame Review, Willow Springs, The Pinch, Catapult, and F(r)iction among other publications.
Tim Larkin, M.Ed.
Math and Science Specialist
ACT, Math and Science Specialist
TLarkin@FocusOnLearningCenter.com
Tim Larkin has over 30 years of classroom teaching experience, including middle school through college level math. His goal is to help students experience the beauty of learning and to better understand how math and science can be more meaningful in the classroom as well as in their daily lives.
Tim obtained a B.A in education from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, a B.S. in physics from Lincoln University, and an M. Ed. in education from Lincoln University with an emphasis in mathematics. Tim has additional coursework beyond a Master’s degree in math and physics through the University of Missouri of Columbia.
Tim enjoys spending time with family and has agricultural interests to include being a hobby sheep farmer. He has also been a PTRA (Physics Teacher Resource Agent) through the American Association of Physics Teachers.
Focus on Learning represents many things for my family and me: new beginnings, change, progress, serenity, and peace, to name a few. I really look forward to what the future has to offer for FOL. I am proud and lucky to be a part of such a wonderful team.
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Contact our office
FOLCI@FocusOnLearningCenter.com