Our Story
Students have been experiencing increased amounts of difficulty with school assignments leading to disparities in their learning compared to the average educational level of their ages. We began working with students by changing the educational environments of the students during the coronavirus pandemic. Many of these students were dealing with isolation. Our data confirms that opportunity for in-person tutoring for learning and expression, by a child and teenager, promotes independence and self-efficacy, which can be significantly beneficial to their increase in assignment completion.
Additionally, as a result of the current historic changes, the community has been affected in various ways, but we believe self-improvement is one of the bases for community development.
Strokes of Genius began providing young people with tutoring as a tool to support themselves and to improve their circumstances during the Pandemic. Our unique method of allowing students to build their own knowledge while learning has been able to teach students how to build knowledge that can be utilized and broaden the career path options for many of the participating students.
Douglas Pitzer, Founder
Douglas Pitzer's commitment to his community in Roanoke, Virginia has been unwavering since his return in 2016. Armed with a master's in educational psychology from Virginia Tech, with a concentration in curriculum and instruction, he has been instrumental in creating workshops, certification classes, and programs for schools, colleges, and educational initiatives in Roanoke and its surrounding areas.
His rich educational background and experience span across different levels of academia and educational settings. As a college professor at UASD University in Nagua, Dominican Republic, he imparted knowledge and inspiration to aspiring minds. In addition, he has demonstrated versatility by serving as a high school, middle school, and elementary school teacher, an ESL teacher for Region-5 Adult Education, and a middle school site coordinator for Virtual Academies during the challenging times of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Pitzer's vision for impactful education led to the establishment of Strokes of Genius, LLC., a testament to his dedication to revolutionizing education in various areas of learning. His academic journey includes a bachelor's in psychology from Norfolk State University in 2012 and a master's in educational psychology from Virginia Tech in 2021.
Beyond his professional endeavors, Douglas Pitzer is deeply entrenched in his community network, serving as the 2024 Get2KnowNoke Roanoke Region Talent Ambassador and the 2024 Chair for the Neighborhood Advocacy Council. His commitment to volunteerism and community service was recognized with the January 2024 Serve Virginia Honor Roll from the Virginia Governor's Awards. His involvement in various community organizations such as Blacks in Technology for Southwest Virginia as Vice President, Youth Services Citizens Board, Humble Hustle Company, Inc., and others underscores his holistic approach to contributing to the betterment of his community.
Douglas Pitzer's return to Roanoke in 2016 sparked a wave of educational innovation and community engagement. Through his multifaceted roles and extensive affiliations, he continues to make a profound impact in Roanoke and plans to leave a lasting legacy in the fields of education, technology, and community service.
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