Working as a school teacher for 11 years, Lori Skurka has a passion for helping children learn.

The Naperville mom left the classroom shortly after the birth of her second child. Still wanting to foster learning, she launched her own tutoring business about two years ago.

EleMental Learning is an in-home tutoring company based on the premise of teaching children in the areas where they're struggling. She differs from national tutoring companies in that her tutors work with parents and possibly the student's teacher to determine exactly where a child needs help.

When launching the company, Skurka did the tutoring herself, but now mainly manages and coordinates about 30 tutors who work throughout the suburbs. She recently started a branch location in Long Island, N.Y.

Skurka hires tutors that are certified teachers with experience in the classroom. Her company also handles a small amount of adult tutoring, mainly in the language area.

Skurka spent more than a decade in the classroom, most recently teaching in Naperville's Indian Prairie District 204. She also taught in Barrington and Morton Grove.

While teaching, she found that the average or slightly below average student is often the one that struggles. Larger class sizes and limited teacher resources can make it difficult for this student to keep up with the curriculum. "I saw first-hand that it's a struggle for this student," said Skurka, 36.

It's often the slightly below average or average students that her company works with and not the student that's failing. During the summer, her tutors often work with parents who want their children to stay fresh and not forget what they learned that year.

Tutors also work with junior high and high school students who are learning math methods that are taught differently than when their parents were in school.

The tutors often find the children are more comfortable working in their own home. It's also easier on the parent with more children at home.

Tutoring sessions range from $40 to $50 an hour.

Skurka and her husband, Michael, are raising two children in Naperville; Grant, 4, and Alexandra, 2.

For more information, call (630) 355-5112 or check out www.elemental-learning.com.

New focus: International photographer Marina Kraus published his first collection of photography and writings, titled "Inspirationals."

The collection was taken while he traveled the world. He grew up in Central Europe and spent 20 years with an international conglomerate. His experienced helped him to recognize a greater need for balance, harmony and authenticity in our collective environments. For more, visit www.lartiste2.com.