Tutoring is recognized as a highly effective means of enhancing educational outcomes for children, yet a recent survey reveals that fewer than 10% of students in the U.S. receive such support. The high costs associated with traditional tutoring often prevent families from accessing this vital resource, with many programs charging hundreds or even thousands of dollars monthly.
Addressing this issue, Tim Novikoff, a former Google product manager and educator, has launched an innovative solution: Super Teacher, an AI-driven tutoring app tailored for elementary school students. Priced at just $15 per month—and $10 with an annual commitment—Super Teacher aims to democratize private tutoring access for families across the country.
“Tutoring is by far the most effective educational intervention available, yet access remains unfairly limited,” Novikoff stated. “My mission is to democratize private tutoring services, ensuring every child has the opportunity to succeed.”
The Super Teacher app employs animated AI tutors equipped with voice capabilities to engage students in interactive lessons. Unlike many educational technology solutions, this app utilizes a deterministic system to ensure accurate responses, avoiding the pitfalls commonly associated with large language models.
While Novikoff believes that AI tutors can significantly benefit children’s educational experiences, he emphasizes that these tools are not meant to replace teachers. He views AI tutors as complementary tools—similar to smartboards or calculators—that can support educators in the classroom.
Currently, Super Teacher exclusively serves elementary school students, a choice informed by Novikoff’s personal experiences and the limited options available for this age group in the edtech market. He envisions expanding the service to cater to younger and older grades while pursuing partnerships with more school districts nationwide.
Novikoff previously founded Fly Labs, a mobile video-editing application that was acquired by Google in 2015.
For more insights into Super Teacher and a chance to explore numerous other innovations, join us at Disrupt, taking place from October 27 to 29 in San Francisco. Additional details can be found here.
