How Virtual Tutoring Is Making Education More Accessible

Kevin P. Chavous: But with the rise of virtual tutoring, it’s natural to wonder—can it really deliver the same results as in-person sessions? Recent studies suggest it can. Research from the Annenberg Institute and Johns Hopkins University shows that well-designed virtual tutoring can significantly improve student performance, rivaling traditional face-to-face methods.

But what makes some virtual tutoring programs more effective than others? And beyond academics, can they foster confidence and a love for learning?

Jennifer Moore: I think every learner can benefit from it. And, you know, through the power of technology, that’s something that is becoming more and more possible—to be able to provide that kind of access.

Kevin P. Chavous: To explore these questions, we’re joined by Jennifer Moore, the General Manager of K12 Tutoring. With firsthand experience leading K12’s nationwide online tutoring service, Jennifer offers unique insights into what drives success in virtual learning. Jennifer, welcome to the show. Jennifer Moore, once again, welcome to What I Want to Know.

Kevin P. Chavous: Look, I’ve been eager to chat with you—not only because of the work you do in the tutoring world at K12 Stride but also because you’re pretty active in running and training. Talk about the idea of movement and how it relates to your day-to-day because it obviously feeds into your energy.

Jennifer Moore: Well, I do a lot of things. Something I hadn’t even told you about yet—I’m also an opera singer. And so, I started my education in music. Then, subsequently, I got into work in education. I started off as a tutor and a test prep teacher when I first moved to the New York City area.

I later moved into the EdTech and product management world, and ultimately into program line portfolio management and general management, which is what I do today. I’m the General Manager of K12 Tutoring.

Kevin P. Chavous: Distinguish in-person tutoring from the notion of virtual tutoring, which you’re driving at K12.

Jennifer Moore: Yeah. So, we are an online tutoring company. All of our tutors meet face-to-face in a virtual classroom, optimized for learning. It’s face-to-face. It’s voice-to-voice. You’re building that relationship.

You’re building that connection. And then there are all sorts of great educational tools—whiteboarding, polls, chats, quizzes. You can share multimedia in that environment. So, it’s really optimized around learning, but ultimately, it is a face-to-face connection.

Jennifer Moore: A lot of what makes a difference is the personal side of things. Parents and guardians often say, “Oh, this tutor was so kind. They were so patient. They really understood where my child was struggling and helped them out.” We hear those things over and over again. And we wouldn’t hear them if that personal, human-to-human magic weren’t happening in the tutoring environment.

Kevin P. Chavous: When you talk about training your tutors to work in that environment, it reminds me of what our Chief Learning Officer, Nyoka McCoy, has mentioned about teacher training. If you’re a teacher or tutor used to in-person settings, how do you adapt to a virtual environment to build that connection?

Jennifer Moore: Yeah, that is the primary focus of our onboarding and training for new tutors. We ensure they have active teaching certifications, pass background checks—all those foundational things. We know they have the education and experience.

They have the chops. That’s a given. But many of them, as you said, have spent most of their careers teaching in brick-and-mortar environments. We also have experienced virtual teachers who join us, which is great. But for those new to the online space, the biggest gap we help them bridge is adapting their instructional strategies for the virtual environment.

That means learning to use the platform fluently, leveraging all the tools available, and practicing teaching in that space. They go through sample lessons, receive feedback, and get coaching along the way.

That really is key because it’s a different space. If you’re used to being in a physical classroom with a large group of kids, how do you translate that personal connection and engagement strategies to an individual student or a small group online?

That takes some adjustment for many teachers transitioning into virtual tutoring. We’re studying what accelerates learning the fastest and how we can expand that to benefit all students. It’s an ongoing research project I’m really excited about with our research team.

=: We’ve conducted several efficacy studies, looking at groups of learners we’ve worked with through schools and districts. K12 Tutoring is available for parents to engage a tutor directly for their child, but we also partner with schools and districts to provide tutoring at scale for students who need it most.

Those large-scale implementations give us a valuable opportunity to measure engagement and academic outcomes. We’ve published several research reports already, and we have more in progress.

Jennifer Moore: We’ve earned a Level Three certification, and the gold standard for us is demonstrating statistically significant differences in student outcomes. We compare students who receive tutoring with a matched sample of students who don’t.

We’ve seen particularly strong results in upper elementary and middle school English Language Arts (ELA) and math, especially when analyzing year-over-year state assessments and standardized progress measures. Those results keep us going and drive us to refine and expand our approach.

Kevin P. Chavous: That’s fascinating. You mentioned earlier that virtual tutoring, when designed well, can rival traditional face-to-face methods. What do you think are the key elements that make virtual tutoring effective?

Jennifer Moore: It really comes down to three things: personalization, engagement, and consistency. Personalization means meeting the student where they are—assessing their current level, understanding their specific needs, and tailoring the instruction to fit. Engagement is about making sure the student is actively involved, whether that’s through interactive tools, real-time discussions, or hands-on exercises. And consistency is key because the best results come when students receive regular, structured support over time.

Kevin P. Chavous: That makes a lot of sense. Are there any particular strategies your tutors use to foster engagement and motivation in students?

Jennifer Moore: Absolutely. One major strategy is relationship-building. Students are far more likely to stay engaged when they feel a connection with their tutor. That’s why our tutors make a real effort to create a positive and supportive learning environment, whether it’s through personalized feedback, encouragement, or simply getting to know the student’s interests.

Another strategy is making learning interactive. We use digital whiteboards, multimedia resources, polls, quizzes—you name it. The goal is to avoid passive learning and instead create an experience where the student is actively participating.

And finally, we focus on goal-setting. We help students set small, achievable learning goals so they can see their progress. When a student realizes, “Hey, I just mastered that concept,” it builds their confidence and keeps them motivated.

Kevin P. Chavous: That’s huge, because so much of learning is about confidence. When a student feels like they’re improving, they’re more likely to stay engaged. Do you have any stories or examples of students who’ve really thrived under your program?

Jennifer Moore: Oh, so many! One that stands out is a middle school student who was really struggling with math. Her parents enrolled her in our tutoring program because she was losing confidence and falling behind. At first, she was hesitant—she thought tutoring was just more schoolwork. But after a few sessions with her tutor, she started to see math differently.

Her tutor made the sessions engaging, using real-world examples and interactive exercises. Slowly, she began to understand the concepts, and most importantly, she started believing in herself. Within a semester, her grades had improved significantly, and she was actually raising her hand in class again. Her parents told us that tutoring didn’t just help her academically—it helped her self-esteem.

Kevin P. Chavous: That’s incredible. It really highlights the power of tutoring beyond just academics. It’s about confidence, self-efficacy, and a love for learning.

Jennifer Moore: Exactly. That’s why we’re so passionate about what we do. It’s not just about getting a student through a tough class—it’s about empowering them to see themselves as capable learners, no matter the subject.

Kevin P. Chavous: So, looking ahead, what’s next for K12 Tutoring? How do you see virtual tutoring evolving in the coming years?

Jennifer Moore: We’re constantly innovating. One area we’re focusing on is expanding access. We want to ensure that students from all backgrounds, including those in under-resourced communities, can benefit from high-quality tutoring.

We’re also investing in adaptive learning technology—tools that can personalize a student’s learning experience even further by using data to adjust lessons in real time based on their progress.

And finally, we’re exploring more ways to integrate tutoring with traditional school systems, so that tutoring isn’t just an extra service, but a seamless part of a student’s overall learning experience.

Kevin P. Chavous: That’s exciting. It sounds like you’re really pushing the boundaries of what virtual tutoring can be.

Jennifer Moore: Absolutely. The goal is to make learning more accessible, more engaging, and more effective for every student who needs support.

Kevin P. Chavous: Well, Jennifer, this has been a great conversation. I appreciate you taking the time to share your insights and the incredible work K12 Tutoring is doing.

Jennifer Moore: Thank you so much. It’s been a pleasure!

Kevin P. Chavous: And to our listeners, if you want to learn more about K12 Tutoring, be sure to check out their website. That’s it for today’s episode of What I Want to Know. Until next time, keep learning!