Today we’d like to introduce you to Lara Rankin.
Hi Lara, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I have taught English for 22 years in diverse countries around the world, developing a holistic teaching style in which I see every learner for their value and potential. After earning my BA in Sociology and Photography from the University of California, San Diego in 2003, I worked with students with neurodiverse needs, understanding the needs of individual learning styles and observing a variety of school settings. During that time, I became inspired by each student I worked with, seeing the world from their perspectives, and recognizing the superpowers available to kids who may have a different way of interpreting their surroundings. If students seem to be struggling with a subject or are stubborn about engaging, it is probable that they just need a new point-of-view to launch into the content. I began to see the world from the perspective of my students, helping them to discover their strengths, leverage these methods in their academics, and revive their curiosities!
I became inspired to move into a career as an international educator, and began teaching English, Science, Art, and Music to 2nd, 6th, 10th, and 11th grade students on the island of Roatan, Honduras. When I returned to the US, I earned my teaching credential at California State University, Monterey Bay in 2007. For the next 12 years, I taught 9th–12th grade English at a small charter high school in Santa Cruz, CA, where I was also able to build and administer a Digital Photography program, inspiring students to connect to their artistic sides. In 2012, I spent a year as a Fulbright exchange teacher in Budapest, Hungary, teaching English as a Second Language and serving as an ambassador for the United States. I was nominated for Teacher of the Year in 2015 and received a commendation for my work in 2018.
During Covid, when education moved online, I began tutoring students virtually to help them keep up with their courses. I continued working with many of these students as they wrote their college essays, applied to universities, and worked toward gaining admission to the colleges of their dreams. I loved my own college experience and I have found great fulfillment in supporting students through the college application process. This inspired me to begin building my own business focused on helping students and families navigate the often overwhelming college process with greater clarity, confidence, and ease.
Top Rankin’ Education was born, and I began tutoring students from 5th-12th grades in a variety of Humanities subjects, SAT preparation, AP courses, as well as supporting international students in the process of applying to US universities. In my various teaching roles, I have seen the multitude of faucets in preparing students for college-level academics, and how each individual learner has unique needs that may be neglected by the status-quo educational process. Many students need guidance in finding their strengths, gaining their academic confidence, and building their identity in these formative years. My objective is to help students holistically prepare for college by developing academic skills, mastering executive functioning skills and creating experiences that help them build meaningful stories for their college applications.
During the school day, I am a lead Humanities teacher at Lydian Academy in Palo Alto, CA, and have been working alongside students as they construct their identities, write their stories, and navigate an increasingly competitive academic environment. I have been building the Top Rankin’ Education brand as my passion for the past 6 years, tutoring students in AP courses after school and on weekends, and guiding students as they craft their applications each college season. I help students identify their areas of interest and find extracurricular activities that align with their goals. I work with them to establish skills in targeted areas of focus, strengthen their academic writing, and develop confidence in their own voices. I also guide students through the often-daunting process of finding the right college fit, help them craft compelling essays, and inspire them as they embark on their college journeys. My mentorship has helped students gain acceptance into esteemed institutions such as Stanford, Northwestern, UPenn, and UCLA. No matter what a student’s educational needs may be, my goal is to ensure that each student is equipped with the skills, tools, confidence, and knowledge they need to thrive academically and pursue the future they envision for themselves.
My goal is to build the business, connect more with families in my neighboring communities and reach students who feel as if they are stuck, parents who need help with their students and don’t quite know what they need, and offer solutions! I have seen too many students who don’t think they can write, or feel overwhelmed by the schooling system, and want to give up, and I know that they have the capability and can help them rewrite their stories.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Starting a business has certainly been a roller coaster. There have been ups and downs, I’ve made mistakes along the way, and it has made me grow exponentially. But the difference between working for someone else and working for myself is that every lesson I learn, I’m building equity, experience and wisdom in my field for my own business and clientele, not for someone else’s business. And despite all of the struggles, whether they are organizational or marketing, it’s been an adventure! Even when there are struggles, I find more resources, reframe my ideas and try it in a new way – which is exactly what I teach my students to do, so we are on the ride together!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I have also been trained as a Qi Gong teacher, as well as in medical Qi Gong, from Holden QiGong Teacher Certification Program. I have studied mindfulness practices for two decades and teach qi gong and mindfulness practices to my students, fellow teachers and friends. I offer support to students around taking breaks, breathing techniques, self-care, advocating for their needs, and bringing balance into their sometimes stressful modern lives. Students learn how to slow down and check in with themselves more often, which makes them more attentive in their studies, learning strategies for brain and body sustenance in a technology-saturated existence.
What matters most to you? Why?
What matters the most to me is what matters to my students right now. What matters the most is seeing students gain confidence, feel successful, and to watch their stories unfold and be told! I love to witness when students gain ownership of their identity and move from feeling like they are “boring” to seeing how uniquely interesting they are. I help them grab onto what they think is “average” and love to see them light up when they recognize and claim their voices! It matters to me that students can reflect on their progress, and see their success, and build their own toolbox of strategies to be more independent and self-driven learners. I want them to be critical thinkers and look deeply into the discourse, understand the nuances, and derive their own meanings. I aspire to see students get into their top colleges (which is always an incredible experience to witness), and that they find the right fit for their college choice, so that they can be successful in their furthering education independently and are happy in their endeavors. In the long run, I love to see my students come back from college and share their experiences, goals, and watch them make a difference in the world beyond their studies.
Pricing:
- I offer blocks of semester sessions for various subjects: AP Language & AP Literature as a specialty
- I offer College Counseling/Coaching support in packages for each year across high school: 🟦 Freshman Foundations→ Build Habits 🟩 Purpose & Leadership → Build Experiences 🟨 College Foundations → Build Your Story 🟧 Top Rankin College Acceptance Roadmap → Build Your Future
- I have a sliding scale for those in need, as all learners are equally valuable
- Long-Term Family Savings Families who remain enrolled year after year receive: Priority scheduling Locked-in tuition rates Summer planning sessions Complimentary parent strategy meetings Seamless transition into each year’s program Preferred enrollment in senior-year admissions coaching
- I also specialize in International Students, English Language Learners & Neurodiverse Learners
Contact Info:
- Website: https://topcollegeprep.com/
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/toprankineducation
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lara-rankin
