“Betty’s magic, she’s magical. I don’t know why or how,” said senior Rhea Sarrouf-Levine, who has been tutored by Betty Winholtz since 2023.
Winholtz, a Morro Bay tutor, has been tutoring on the Central Coast since 1988. From getting her degree from Graceland College in Iowa with a sociology degree, later continuing on to get her master’s at the University of Iowa for counselor education/student personnel, she has always been interested in helping people achieve academic success.
At the start of the school year, Winholtz has around 15 to 35 people per week, but once finals season starts up, or people flunk their first test, she tends to receive a lot of calls. Keeping a full schedule never seems to be the problem, as math is always a hard subject for high schoolers. Even if you don’t see Winholtz on a regular basis, she’s always there to lend a hand when you need it. “I used to see her once a week, but now I see her whenever I find myself confused about things,” said Sarrouf-Levine.
When asking Winholtz about an aspect of tutoring she enjoys the most, she said, “When that lightbulb goes on for students, and it’s like ‘oh that’s all I have to do.’” Winholtz’s tutoring aids students to feel as though school isn’t as hard as it may seem, and maybe even start to enjoy the topic, as she brings in different perspectives and strategies to various topics. “I appreciate the fact that I’ve been able to find a language that can help people understand better,” said Winholtz.
Winholtz started out tutoring with the tutoring program Lindamood-Bell, a more profes
sional and prestigious tutoring group, where she worked for five years. In the spring of 1992, she met a parent from Morro Elementary School who promised her that she would have a full schedule if she started tutoring for her, and by that fall, that promise was fulfilled, and Winholtz quit her job. “I’ve never had an issue with tutoring,” said Winholtz.
Since Winholtz has been tutoring on the Central Coast for years, it seems as though everyone has been tutored by her at some point. “She tutored my older brother, who’s ten years older than me; she’s done her duty, she’s been around,” said Sarrouf-Levine. She’s developed her craft, and she’s immensely talented at assisting people in developing the skills that they learn in class. “I love Betty, and anyone else who has had her before has remembered her tutoring them; she’s really kind and memorable,” said Sarrouf-Levine. “She just will sit there and explain things 20 times until I get it, and most people don’t take the time to actually do that,” said senior Ruby Bariel, who has been one of Winholtz’s students since she was in sixth grade. Winholtz isn’t a placeholder for a teacher, but rather another way for students to understand a new topic in class more one-on-one.
Each and every one of Winholtz’s students admire her, feeling truly looked after when in a session with her. “Betty is a very caring and compassionate person; she cares about people, she really just wants to help you, rather than bring you down if you don’t know how to do something; she finds ways to teach you it,” said freshman Kaylee Tackett, another one of Winholtz’s students. Winholtz is known for providing snacks during her sessions, as “Food is an important nutrient for the brain,” said Winholtz. Crystal, Winholtz’s sweet little dog, will also be right by your side as you experience subjects in a whole new light. Winholtz’s quirky and loving demeanor provides a comfortable and positive learning experience for her students.
You can tell from the moment you meet Winholtz how incredibly devoted to helping people she is. “Once I called her at midnight and she answered and told me to come in the morning, she’s just always there to help you if you need it,” said Bariel.
“Betty makes me not hate math. It doesn’t feel as unachievable because of the way she teaches me things,” said Sarrouf-Levine, “She simplifies it in a way that makes sense for me, and she wants to know how you learn math.” Teachers only have so much time in the world to teach a subject to students, so having a tutor who can make a subject any more comprehensible is wonderful. “She makes math more achievable; it’s not such a foreign concept anymore,” said Sarrouf-Levine.
Whether you are struggling with a subject and you believe it could be useful to become proficient in it, or you are passing it with flying colors, it is always useful to have more practice. “I genuinely think even if you think you know what you’re doing, just go to her and get help,” said Sarrouf-Levine. Extra help and explanation on topics may boost your grades higher than you could ever have imagined. “I started out in math with an F, and then she helped me get it up to an A,” said Tackett. Being simply taught things in a different way may actually just be what’s been holding someone back from fully comprehending topics. Winholtz’s door is wide open with her dedication and a desire to help you achieve a better understanding of subjects.
