501(c)(3) NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION

Building Brighter Futures for Houston's Students

Marber Learning Foundation is dedicated to closing academic gaps for K–12 students across Alief, Stafford, Sugar Land, Richmond, and Missouri City through personalized tutoring and family support.

WHO WE ARE

Our Story

Marber Learning Foundation was founded with a single belief: every child deserves access to the support they need to succeed. Serving the communities of Alief, Stafford, Sugar Land, Richmond, and Missouri City, we work hand-in-hand with local families and schools to create lasting pathways to academic achievement and lifelong success. We provide personalized tutoring during a child's most formative K–12 years, laying a permanent foundation in reading, math, and self-assurance.

501(c)(3) Nonprofit

All donations are tax-deductible.

Proudly Serving Alief, Stafford & Fort Bend

AliefStaffordSugar LandRichmondMissouri City

Our Service Area

Serving families across the Greater Houston area and Fort Bend County.

Mission & Vision

Our Mission

To empower K–12 students in Alief, Stafford, Sugar Land, Richmond, and Missouri City through high-quality tutoring and enrichment. We build academic excellence, foster self-confidence, and ignite a lifelong passion for learning by bridging the gap between home and school to ensure every child has the tools they need to thrive.

Our Vision

We envision a future where all children throughout Alief, Stafford, and the surrounding communities have equitable access to the resources and mentorship needed to excel academically, socially, and emotionally — regardless of their background or circumstances.

Our Core Values

Equity

Every child deserves equal access to quality education, regardless of background or circumstance.

Personalization

We meet each student where they are, crafting learning plans tailored to their unique needs.

Community

We partner with families and schools to strengthen the communities we serve.

Excellence

We hold ourselves to the highest standards in teaching, mentorship, and student outcomes.

MEET OUR FOUNDER

Marla Cortes

Founder & Executive Director

As the Founder of the Marber Learning Foundation, Marla Cortes is dedicated to closing academic gaps for K–12 students across Alief, Stafford, Sugar Land, Richmond, and Missouri City. A seasoned educator with over 20 years of experience in secondary mathematics and ESL, Marla built the foundation on the belief that every child deserves a solid foundation in reading, math, and self-assurance, regardless of background.

Marla earned her B.S. in Math from the University of St. Thomas and holds a Region IV certification (Grades 6–12). Her seven years of classroom instruction span the core high school curriculum, including Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II. She is particularly known for her work in Mathematical Models with Applications (MMA), where she helps students connect complex concepts to real-world scenarios such as personal finance and statistics — transforming "classroom math" into essential life skills.

With 15 years of leadership as an ESL Department Chair and Specialist, Marla has a unique ability to identify knowledge gaps caused by language barriers or "math anxiety." This expertise is central to the Marber Learning Foundation's mission: providing high-quality, personalized tutoring that bridges the gap between home and school.

Marla is driven by the "light bulb" moment — the instant a student moves from frustration to mastery. Her goal is to ensure that families throughout Fort Bend County and the Greater Houston area have equitable access to the mentorship and resources needed for their children to excel academically, socially, and emotionally.

“Watching a student gain the confidence to thrive is my greatest professional satisfaction. At Marber, we aren't just tutoring; we are building pathways to lifelong success.”

OUTREACH