GALION — A new business coming to Galion hopes to make a difference in the lives of young people and the school districts they attend.

Duffy Learning Solutions, owned and operated by Shawna (Duffy) Kleinknecht, will offer such services as certified tutors, college and career counseling, test prep and youth leadership training.

“It is no secret that state report cards for Ohio schools have not been good lately”, Kleinknecht said. “By helping students, we are also helping the school districts they live in.”

Future services include, college-level tutoring, GRE prep, school consulting and teacher professional development.

Kleinknecht, who is currently a teacher, has a bachelor of arts in secondary education and dual master’s degrees in instructional design for online learning, and training and performance improvement. She also has a certificate in college counseling from The University of California, Los Angeles and recently was certified as a private tutorial practitioner through the National Tutoring Association. Kleinknecht is also finishing up her doctorate in educational leadership and management.

Kleinknecht will help students further their education after high school by establishing a scholarship in memory of her father Robert B. Duffy. The initial scholarship will be for a Galion student who wishes to attend a two-year technical college.

Duffy was a long-time resident of Galion and served as a police officer at the time the memorial was established at Amann’s Reservoir. His name can be found on the plaque honoring those who served in the early 1960s. After leaving law enforcement, he spent most of the rest of his life as a mechanic. He passed in 2002.

Kleinknecht hopes to be able to establish multiple scholarships in the future for students in other districts.

It is anticipated that Duffy Learning Solutions will start offering services by Jan. 15, 2018.

“If I can get staffed sooner, we will open sooner”, Kleinknecht said. “I would like to start in time to help students prepare for state testing in the spring”.

She is hoping to recruit 50 to 100 certified teachers who will work in Galion and nearby districts. All grade levels and all subject areas are needed immediately. Visit the company’s Facebook page to see a complete listing and to submit a resume. Current teachers, unemployed teachers and retired teachers are all encouraged to apply.

Families who may need a tutor can get on a waiting list by calling 419-777-1209 or emailing duffylearning@gmail.com.