Internationally Renowned Afterschool Program Comes to Moorestown

Cristina Lepore works with 3-year-old Sabarno Paul on his English. She sits across from him and puts the picture card in front of him and points to each picture, enunciating each word as she does.

“Pot … pan … pineapple … potato,” Lepore says, waiting after each one for Sabarno to repeat after her.

Once they finish with one card, she puts her hand up and says, “High-five!”

“High-five!” Sabarno says gleefully (based on the number of times he repeats it, it seems to be his favorite phrase) and slaps her open palm with his.

Sabarno’s mother, Kakoli, and father, Sudipta, wait in the lobby of the newly opened while their son finishes his lessons.

They heard about Kumon from their friends and decided to enroll their son after hearing good things about the program. They want Sabarno, who just turned 3 last week, to learn English before they return to India next year. Schools in India interview students at enrollment to determine how much English they know.

It’s only Sabarno’s third day at the school—too soon to tell how well he’s doing, his dad says.

“He doesn’t know any English besides A, B, C, D,” says Sudipta.

Perhaps he hasn’t heard him say “high-five” yet.


The key to success

Kumon—named for the Japanese instructor who invented it, Toru Kumon—is two things: a method of teaching that customizes instruction for high-achieving students, struggling students, and everyone in between, and also the largest afterschool math and reading enrichment program in the world.

Toru Kumon, who created his namesake method of instruction in the 50s, felt traditional schools “have a standard way of teaching,” said Jasleen Sobti, owner and operator of the Moorestown Kumon. “That they don’t have the ability to customize programs for students.”

Kumon does that. Each student takes a placement test when they enroll to determine what their needs are and where their learning curve is. Their instruction is tailored to their individual needs based on the results.

After an 11-year career with the Navy, Sobti got back into teaching after her daughters began attending the Kumon Center of Medford.

“Whenever they were doing Kumon, they wanted to do it with me,” she said. “I realized, I’m teaching them Kumon anyway, and I believe in that teaching style because I see how helpful and wonderful it was for my daughters.”

So earlier this year, Sobti bought a Kumon franchise of her own in Moorestown. It opened last week. So far she only has 12 students enrolled, but she envisions the center increasing the “academic success level of students in Moorestown … exponentially.”

“It’s not just for children who are struggling,” she continued. “It’s for children who are not wanting to be limited by grades. Who want to learn and learn and learn … If you want to become a higher learner, you supplement with Kumon.”

Waiting outside the classroom for her daughters, Lily and Lia, to finish their lessons, Shandi Hogg, of Moorestown, said she enrolled them because they just needed “a little extra boost.”

“Tutoring really wasn’t what they needed,” Shandi said. “In Lily’s case, she needed to be challenged … I just wanted them to be a little ahead of the game.”

She said so far her daughters seem to have really taken to Kumon because, for one thing, it’s less work than they thought it would be. But also they’re getting a lot out of it. And her daughters like to learn.

“If the kids don’t like it, and they aren’t challenged, they’re not going to get anything out of it,” Shandi said.

Lepore began working at the Moorestown Kumon as an assistant instructor shortly after earning a degree in elementary education from Kutztown University. She had no experience with Kumon prior to going to work for Sobti, but in a few short months has completely embraced its methods and philosophy.

“This is such a good foundation for teaching at any age,” Lepore said. “It’s awesome for (the students). It doesn’t get old. It doesn’t get boring for them. It’s just very focused, driven instruction … But it’s just—the rigor of the Kumon program is so worth it.”

Sobti believes nearly everything she has achieved in life is a result of her education, which is why she has such faith in Kumon.

“The way I look at it is, I come from a very blue-collar background in India,” she said. “This level of achievement I’ve acquired is due to education. The key to success is education.”

To begin, the center, at 315 Young Ave. in Moorestown Commons, will be open for instruction from 4 to 7:30 p.m. on Mondays and Thursdays. The cost is $115 per student, per subject, per month. The program is for all ages, from Pre-K through high school.

For more information, visit the Kumon of Moorestown website or call 856-924-8989.