Our Story

In 1985 Dr. Andrea Blumenthal, a life-long teacher and believer in the power of reasoning to transform students’ lives, had a dream: to build a firm dedicated to serving the complex informational needs of students, especially those facing the demands of standardized tests.  Drawing upon her experience and knowledge, she envisioned a company encompassing many, many educational dimensions (hence the name Creative Dimensions in Education), capable of delivering expert one-on-one tutoring in a vast array of offerings, from classroom subject matter and study skills to writing and other reason-based areas.  In this endeavor she was ably assisted by her daughter, who began her tenure as office manager in 1992.

As the company expanded, Andrea's husband Jay joined her in 1993, as did many other tutors; to meet this growing demand, the Blumenthals began to understand the need for developing more reason-based skills sheets, explanations, and related booklets on each specific subject area—materials that went far beyond the typical textbook approach.  As a consequence, clients responded enthusiastically to this unique approach of personalized attention and structured knowledge.

In 1999 Creative Dimensions obtained a contract to write a book entitled A Parent’s Guide to College Entrance Exams, which contains the fullest expression of the Creative Dimensions philosophy.  This book was compiled in less than six months from educational materials developed over a six-year period.  Jay supervised the production schedule by tracking the progress on a large white story board; he wrote copy in the early morning hours, and Andrea wrote and edited copy after her last student at 9 pm.  The knowledge base of the book was gleaned from decades of teaching experience, wide reading, and systematic reflection, all of which proved to be the perfect solution to the quandaries that parents face when their children reach 9^th or 10^th grade.

As the practice grew in the early 2000’s, the Blumenthals realized the need for instruction for students as early as elementary and junior high as well as programs in science, Advanced Placement, SAT II, ACT, and general study skills.  Thus, an enterprise that had begun with a handful of students grew to a practice that now includes a broad array of offerings that serve hundreds of students each month.  Our final new offering occurred when our SAT students asked to return for graduate school programs such as the LSAT, GMAT, and GRE because of their supreme satisfaction with their earlier instruction.

At this 26-year mark, we are proud that our mission—to empower students through knowledge and reasoning—has succeeded so well.  The dream has become a vibrant, life-affirming reality.