​Nex Gen Learning Solutions Launches to Support Working Families

Nex Gen Learning Solutions, (nexgenlearningsolutions.com), located at 253 Main Street in West Orange, a new company born out of the COVID pandemic, has opened its doors to offer affordable educational solutions for working families. Nex Gen’s services for children in Pre-K to Grade 12 include virtual/remote learning support and the management of Learning Pods, Academic Pods, Social Pods, and Pre-K Pods, from setting them up and finding members, to hiring facilitators, managing contracts, offering services, handling payments and more. In addition, Nex Gen offers 1:1 and Small Group Tutoring, After School and Weekend Enrichment Classes, Academic Coaching, Study Skills and Time Management Services, a Drop-In Study Hall, a Homework Helpers Club, Themed Birthday Parties, and much more.

Nex Gen Learning Solutions was founded by five local moms, three of whom are teachers, and three of whom are West Orange residents with children currently in the West Orange public school district in grades 9, 10, and 12. While Nex Gen was initially conceived to support working families in light of COVID-19 and virtual and hybrid schooling, which Nex Gen continues to do -- new services have been added and will continue to be added as the need arises.

“Times have been difficult and our desire is to be able to give back to the local community by offering affordable resources that help lift away some worries and serve some important needs,” says Nex Gen Co-founder Tracey O’Hara, of West Orange, a teacher.

“At the end of July, we noticed a lot of nervous chatter on Facebook regarding virtual learning and saw that learning pods were popping up on the West Coast. We had a meeting on July 31 and decided to offer learning support services to the community. Nex Gen was born the very next day,” adds Nex Gen Co-founder Jackie Schatell, who grew up in Livingston (LHS Grad ‘86), and now resides in West Orange.

“We just hit the road running,” adds Nex Co-founder and teacher Jodi Orland, Jackie’s sister and fellow LHS graduate (Class of ‘89), now of North Caldwell, “business has been booming ever since.”

West Orange resident, Lorena Gutierrez, whose children recently started doing their virtual learning at Nex Gen’s Center says, “My kindergartener was struggling until I found this wonderful team of ladies at Nex Gen.”

“I recently put both my kindergartner and second-grader at the Center, and they have been so happy,” she adds. “That makes me happy too. I am happy that they are learning and come home with their homework already done. My son never attended Pre-K, so he started kindergarten at a 0 level. I work full-time and did not have the patience for virtual learning. In addition, Nex Gen’s pricing is quite affordable.”

Nex Gen Co-founder Susan Palmucci, a teacher, and well-known tutor, residing in West Orange, took on the hunt for an office. When she found the space located at 253 Main Street in West Orange, right next to Willow and Olivia, she “knew she had found Nex Gen’s home.”

“We really lucked out,” says Palmucci. “The space is beautiful, roomy, effective, and perfect for our needs.”

Nex Gen Co-founder, Debby Shapiro, a former Livingston Councilwoman, and resident, now of Caldwell, joined forces with the team, rounding out the group as COO, providing much-needed financial advice and services.

“We intentionally keep our pricing low, so we are affordable to all,” says Shapiro.

So far, the company manages numerous pods at people’s homes in the local community and hosts children for virtual learning and more at the Learning Center. Students at the Center come from West Orange, Livingston, Bloomfield, the Caldwells, Montclair, and many other local towns. Adhering to all social distancing and COVID health and safety standards, no more than 10 children are inside the Nex Gen Center at any time.

“Many of our clients are working parents who are either working out of the home or remotely that need virtual learning support for their children,” says O’Hara.

Students are dropped off outside the Nex Gen facility, and, like their counterpart pods at local residences, their temperatures are taken upon entry and logged. Students wear face masks and are required to wash their hands many times a day. In addition, all surfaces and school items are disinfected throughout the day and at the end of the day.

Aside from pods, Nex Gen’s tutors have been busy since September providing much-needed support in all subjects for kids of all ages. In addition, registration has begun for Nex Gen’s Enrichment Classes, which started in November and can be taken by the week.

“These classes are running at the Center, in people’s homes, in open outside areas -- and virtually, so as to appeal to the different needs of community members,” says Jackie. “We know parents want their kids to be stimulated and able to socialize in safe environments, and we want parents to have as many options as possible to meet their comfort levels.”

In addition, Nex Gen’s Enrichment Classes make perfect structured playdates, backyard camps, great additions to existing pods, and fun birthday party themes. Pods can also be formed around classes.

“As the state starts to shut down and limit gatherings, we are glad to be offering virtual classes,” adds Jackie.

The Nex Gen’s Enrichment Classes, which can be taken one class at a time, include the following:

• Intro to Traditional Art for grades 6-12, which teaches the fundamental basics that will lead to multiple types of opportunities from graphic design, game design, comic book design, photography, videography, and more (no experience required).
• Story Time Comes Alive for children ages 4-6, which provides a fun, interactive, multi-sensory approach to early literacy.
• Getting Crafty for kids in K-Grade 6, which will inspire students to discover their creative talents and develop their artistic skills while learning different art techniques like painting, collage making, clay sculpting, working with paper and wood objects, and more.
• Multi-Sport for grades K-Grade 8, in which children will receive a high-level, fun, hands-on introduction to a new sport or fitness activity during each class.
• Mad Scientist for children in grades K-5, which will spark imaginative learning via fascinating demonstrations, experiments, and hands-on activities.
• Traveling Taste Buds Cooking Series for kids in grades 1-6, which will ignite culinary curiosity and introduce students to foods from around the world.
• Watercolor Painting and Meditation for kids in grades 4-6, which will teach students how experimenting with watercolors can help calm your mind while you are creating beautiful works of art.
• Lego Classes for kids of all ages including Building Tips & Tricks, Lego Art, Lego Animation, and Lego Mechanics and Robotics.

“Nex Gen strives to offer something for everyone,” adds Jodi.

Nex Gen parent Heather Detmar, of West Orange, took to Facebook to share her Nex Gen experience. She wrote, “I just wanted to scream thank you to Susan Palmucci and Tracey O’Hara, from Nex Gen Learning Solutions on Main Street, here in town. They have been nothing short of amazing between working with my schedule, what I could afford, and most importantly, helping my daughter succeed academically because I have to stay at work. Everyone who works there is caring, compassionate, and seems to enjoy all of the children. They really stepped up when I needed a place for my daughter to do her online learning, and they provide the extra one-on-one help she needs! If you need a place for your children, I would highly recommend Nex Gen!

For information on Nex Gen’s services, call 201-618-7444, please send an email to info@nexgenlearningsolutions.com, or go to the website at nexgenlearningsolutions.com.