After 28 years in business, Nelson Resource Center has a new name and is expanding its services.
Melissa Hostetter purchased the business from founder Deb Nelson in 2018, and the tutoring service has continued to operate from a location at 319 Chatham Rd. in Springfield. However, the company will now be known as Springfield Academic and will offer SAT prep, in addition to ACT pre and K-12 tutoring.
Hostetter said she’s tried to offer a range of prices to make the services accessible for more parents, including a middle school math tutoring night that has proved to be popular. “It’s kind of a life saver for a lot of parents,” she said.
Hostetter is also starting a new business called Magic Hour Storytime that will be housed inside Springfield Academic. Magic Hour Storytime offers stories, literacy education and play for children ages 18 months to 3 years old and their caregivers.
“I was an elementary school teacher and librarian; I’m very passionate about teaching children how to read,” said Hostetter. “I also have a desire to create community. When I moved to Springfield, we had a 16-month-old and I didn’t know anyone. I didn’t know where to go to meet people.”
Hostetter said the classes, which begin March 5, will be offered on Saturdays, weekdays and weeknights to accommodate a variety of schedules. She also plans to offer additional classes during the summer for both older and younger children.
While Hostetter will initially run Magic Hour Storytime by herself, she hopes to find teachers to help lead some of the additional classes and also plans to add a retail component with a selection of recommended books.