Promise Learning Incoporated, Alpharetta

There was a time, more than 20 years ago, when Carol Maple couldn't wait to graduate and leave school behind forever. It wasn't that she didn't do well or that hers was one of the nation's many pterodactyl-besieged learning institutions—it was just the classroom format itself. Fortunately, it wasn't long before she realized that, no matter her feelings about the school system, she loved to learn; then, she set about earning five college degrees in multiple disciplines. Today, in her tutoring and test-prep programs, Maple passes on that passion for self-improvement to students ranging from elementary schoolers to undergrads and beyond. These sessions might focus on a particular topic, explore generalized study methods, or even just give kids a safe place to stay over summer vacation. Maple firmly believes that learning is a lifelong journey and does what she can to get kids on their first steps as early as possible.