Higher Standards is the premier SAT/ACT preparation and tutorial organization in both Miami and Santa Cruz County, known for its effective methods and fun, accessible instructors. Since its inception in 1995, our students have achieved total increases of up to 600 points.
Regional Director and Private Instructor (Scotts Valley, California)
Jerilyn Kass has been the leading SAT and ACT instructor in Santa Cruz since 2001. Jerilyn brings an entrepreneurial spirit, vibrant personality, a thoughtful nature, and a wealth of information to all her students and their parents. She has recently switched gears in teaching and is now focused on helping teenagers find their true voice by collaborating with them on their college essays.
She is President of the Board of Bread for the Journey- an international non-profit organization focused on neighborhood philanthropy.
Class and Private Instructor (Scotts Valley, California)
Devon Weldon brings his dynamic personality to his classes and uses humor, stories, and really weird sounds to engage students and keep them entertained while teaching valuable lessons about the SAT and life. A graduate of University of California Santa Barbara, he majored in Political Science. Devon is an award-winning public speaker and writes as a freelance journalist for Patch.com.
National Director (Miami, Florida)
Dr. Jeffrey Rothkopf is the creator of the Higher Standards curriculum and has been training students to beat the SAT for 25 years. He has taught at the University of Miami, Miami-Dade Community College, and Florida high schools. Dr. Rothkopf is an energetic, involved instructor who uses creativity and wacky humor to make even the most challenging subjects enjoyable. He has garnered a stellar reputation in the South Florida area that has helped Higher Standards to triple in size in the past three years.
National Administrative Director (Miami, Florida)
Michele Rothkopf is a Florida-certified, licensed teacher who has 20 years of private tutoring experience and over 10 years of classroom teaching experience in public and private schools. Michele manages the tutorial division and is our administrative guru. Her friendly, clear, and compassionate way with people and her efficient, reliable systems keep the Miami operation running smoothly.