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Stephanie Clayton Crawford is an educator, nationally certified test-preparation instructor, speaker, and founder of Best in Class Professional Tutoring. With more than 20 years of experience in education, she has dedicated her career to helping students strengthen their academic confidence, overcome obstacles, and realize their full potential.

Stephanie began her career in the classroom, where she spent five years teaching before transitioning into more individualized instruction for students with specialized learning needs. Through this work, she discovered her passion for one-on-one education and the profound difference personalized support can make in a student’s academic journey.

In the summer of 2008, Stephanie joined the LSU Academic Center for Student-Athletes. She eventually became the Tutorial Coordinator, mentoring and tutoring student-athletes while hiring, training, and supervising tutors. She also coordinated hundreds of tutoring appointments each week, gaining extensive experience in academic support, program development, tutor training, and student accountability.

After becoming a mother, Stephanie decided to combine her professional experience with her passion for individualized education. In 2012, she founded Best in Class Professional Tutoring and began building a team of highly trained educators who shared her commitment to student success.

Today, Best in Class is a teacher-owned and operated tutoring company based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The company provides private and small-group academic tutoring, academic coaching, study-skills instruction, and ACT, SAT, PSAT, and GRE preparation for students ranging from elementary school through college.

Best in Class was created around Stephanie’s central mission: to help build each student’s academic self-esteem and classroom success by strengthening fundamental skills and creating a foundation for a successful, self-reliant academic future.

In 2014, Stephanie completed specialized ACT and SAT preparation training through A-List Education and MasteryPrep, two nationally recognized test-preparation organizations. She continued her professional education through both organizations and later completed international TEFL and TESOL certification.

In 2019, Stephanie was selected to participate in the ACT organization’s rigorous educator-certification program. The program included an extensive application process, intensive training, and entrance and exit examinations. As a member of the program’s inaugural graduating class, she became an ACT Certified Educator, giving her direct insight into ACT content, testing developments, and strategies.

Through Best in Class, Stephanie has helped thousands of students improve their academic performance, gain admission to their preferred colleges, and earn millions of dollars in scholarships. Her approach extends beyond test scores. She helps students understand how anxiety, confidence, executive functioning, and emotional pressure can affect academic performance—and teaches them practical strategies for managing those challenges.

In November 2018, Stephanie expanded the reach of Best in Class by launching an online ACT-preparation course, allowing students to benefit from her proven instruction and test-taking strategies from anywhere.

A defining moment in Stephanie’s career came in May 2025 when she appeared on The Oprah Podcast alongside Oprah Winfrey and bestselling author Mel Robbins. During the episode, Stephanie participated in a powerful conversation about anxiety, resilience, and the emotional and academic pressures facing today’s students. The appearance, which aired during Mental Health Awareness Month, brought national attention to Stephanie’s belief that meaningful academic support must address both a student’s educational needs and emotional well-being.

Stephanie also travels to conduct professional-development programs for educators and customized ACT and SAT preparation courses for schools and student groups. Her programs can be presented in person or virtually and tailored to the specific needs of a faculty, school, organization, or student population.

Whether she is working individually with a struggling student, preparing a high school student for the ACT, training a team of tutors, or speaking to a national audience, Stephanie remains committed to the same goal: helping students recognize their abilities, develop confidence, and create lasting academic success.