Our Tutors

Sharon S

Teaching Style

I love teaching and working with young people of all ages and abilities. It is my belief that all students have the ability to learn, so they can succeed and gain the confidence in their abilities. In order to help children reach their highest potential, I believe that each one should be given personalized and individualized instruction that is based on their given abilities and skills. I am a patient, helpful, and kind person. Over the years, I have become flexible in the way I teach as each child learns differently and deserves the needed respect to help them reach their dreams and goals.

Experience Summary

As a graduate from Briar Cliff College, I have always enjoyed learning and wanting to help others succeed. I have earned a BA degree in Elementary Education, in which I have taught in the classroom for 2 years, but have also taught at a learning center for a total of 5 years. While in college, I participated in the AmeriCorps tutoring program, in which I privately tutored a few students, along with students in a school setting during the day. Recently, I have been privately tutoring a high school student and a kindergartener mainly for math, reading, English, and writing.

Jim J

Teaching Style

Educational goals are comprised of two major types: short term - typically course oriented and long term - typically life oriented. I believe that everyone can learn almost any subject matter if it is presented in a meaningful manner - conceptual and tangible. I utilize my broad-based educational and life experiences to identify and then address a person's learning opportunities so that they not only succeed in the short term goals but also incorporate their new knowledge in a manner supporting their goals of life long education. Education and the ability to think is a gift - I am committed to supporting a person's efforts to receive this gift.

Experience Summary

I am a graduate of the University of California, Irvine. I originally studied Chemistry and Biological Sciences for the first 3 years maintaining a high GPA. I became allergic to many base reagents used in synthesis that precluded me from completing this educational path. I completed my education in business receiving degrees in economics and business administration. I went to work with a global consulting firm implementing financial systems. Since college I have continued to tutor mathematics, chemistry, biological science and physics. I have tutored for over 20 years intermittently. Many of my students completed their educations at universities including the University of California, Notre Dame, Syracuse, CSULB, etc.

Stuart S

Teaching Style

As a product of top-notch education I feel that I have become intimately familiar with effective teaching styles and have thereby tried to replicate the best of these styles. I would describe my teaching style as adaptive because I feel a certain teaching style that works for one student may be inadequate for another student. For this reason I strive to first determine how a particular student learns and subsequently derive an action plan. For example, if a student seems to retain information from a book or other types of visual material but not from a teacher's lecture I would deem that student to be a more visual based learner. In such a scenario, I would approach the student in a visual based manner through animations, practice problems, and other visual material. On the other hand, if the student was found to be a more auditory-based learner that student may benefit from descriptive metaphors or a verbal walk through of sample problems.

Experience Summary

As a graduate of Bucknell University and the prestigious Mercersburg Academy, I gained a strong affinity for education and thereby providing quality learning experiences for others. While at the Mercersburg Academy I earned a 700 math score and a 680 verbal score on my SATs. At Bucknell I earned a bachelor's of science degree in biochemistry and cell biology while gaining extensive experience in chemistry, biology, psychology, physics, math, and scientific research. I have also gained extensive writing experience in the form of research papers, lab reports, and numerous other classes at both Bucknell and Mercersburg that required a plethora of writing. During the past year I served as an Honors and Accelerated Chemistry teacher at the esteemed Worcester Academy while tutoring biology, physics, and chemistry students during the evenings.

Melissa M

Teaching Style

I believe the keys to teaching any student, young or old, are patience and encouragement. I find that when I demonstrate a pleasant, usually fun, and encouraging environment for my students, they tend to thrive. There has not been a more fulfilling experience for me than to effectively teach a child something that they did not initially have the confidence to learn. My goal is to not only teach them the required material, but to also introduce a learning experience that positively impacts their self-perception. If they believe they can learn anything, they will ultimately thrive in other experiences that require self-confidence, patience, and leadership. The bottom line is that I love to teach, because very few experiences grant me this opportunity.

Experience Summary

From January 2007 to December 2010, I had the significant opportunity to teach for Broward County Public Schools in various education settings ranging from Pre-K to 12th Grade. I have worked at the high school level as a Resource Teacher and Exceptional Student Education Support Facilitator creating Individual Education Plans and working with parents, specialists, and district employees to monitor students’ yearly progress. During the course of my studies in Biomedical Engineering, I gained extensive academic knowledge in Math, as well as Technical Report Writing, Essays, and Research Papers. I have been able to guide students in attaining academic success by tutoring them in various subjects such as Reading, Algebra, Geometry, Language Arts, and Science. My life experiences have also allotted me the opportunity to teach non-academic subjects such as Music Education, Musical Theatre, and Dance. I currently work for a nonprofit organization providing public service educational programs set forth by its mission. Tutoring allows me the flexible opportunity to engage in additional community projects and endeavors.

Beverly B

Teaching Style

I have had experience with students from middle school to graduate level in college. I was a very successful teacher and administrator and also an adjunct professor at the University of Cincinnati. I am very patient and have been most successful with guiding students to reach maximum potential. I am extremely dependable and very much student centered. I bring a wealth of resources to assist your student in receiving the best experience possible.

Experience Summary

I will retire from the Cincinnati Public schools where I served for 30 years as a teacher, and as a high school principal, on June 30, 2008. I received a doctorate in Urban Education Leadership in 2004 and am credentialed to teach English and Communications/Speech. I hold a Masters in Reading. I have won numerous awards for my teaching. My area of expertise is in writing and research. I have tutored students in all levels of English from basic to Advanced Placement. As a principal, I tutored students after school so that they could successfully pass the Ohio State Graduation Test and also helped tutor students for SAT and ACT.

Timothy T

Teaching Style

When I tutor a student, I seek first to understand the student and how he/she thinks. I find it is very important to have good rapport and communication with the student so I understand how he/she views the subject and the difficulties of it. Next I try to make "conceptual bridges" from what they know to what they are having difficulty understanding. This process usually teaches me about seeing the subject from a new point of view. I try to achieve a fine balance between guiding and directing the student’s thoughts on the topic with following the student in their own line of thinking of the subject. The student needs to learn to have confidence in his own thoughts on the subject and in his own ability to master it.

Experience Summary

Over the past four years, I have tutored high school and middle school students in math, algebra, calculus, chemistry, SAT Math, and general study skills. My preference is to tutor math, algebra, calculus, physics, physical science, chemistry, and programming. Math is the subject for which I have the greatest passion. I also participate in the homeschooling of four of my children (13, 11, 8, 6). I have mentored my 13 yr old son in Algebra I & II, Chemistry, Elementary Math, and Middle-school Physical Science, and taught elementary math to my 11, 8, and 6 year olds. Additionally, I read and review history lessons to my kids. I completed my MS in Electrical Engineering in 2006 from The University of Texas at Arlington and my BS in Electrical Engineering and a BA in Philosophy from Rice University. I have recent experience as a student having completed Cellular Biology II at St. Petersburg College in Fall 2011.

Nathan N

Teaching Style

I believe in completing an individual needs assessment and designing a study approach around that assessment. I believe in constant reinforcement and reassessment. I also believe it is useful to utilize as many and as varied forms of instruction as possible (written, audio-visual, demonstration, etc.) to solidify a concept. Promoting thorough understanding rather than route memory and recognition skills is paramount.

Experience Summary

Over the years (as undergrad and graduate), I have tutored middle school and elementary age students in various subjects. I have also been a resource for undergrad and graduate health science students while serving as a graduate assistant (public health master's program). I proctored exams and held tutoring and review sessions prior to testing. I have two master's degrees, three undergraduate degrees, and experience as a paramedic, nurse, and substitute teacher.

Natalie N

Teaching Style

With my tutoring experience I have learned that each child learns and comprehends material on an individual level. With that said, it is essential that a teacher understand his/her students' strengths and weaknesses. My goal is to help my students discover how they learn so that they will benefit from their education. In a tutoring atmosphere it is important for students to see how they can apply learning techniques to their future classrooms. Additionally, I believe that students gain the most from education when they are actively involved rather than becoming overwhelmed with information. In order to ensure their engagement, I will understand how they learn and present material accordingly. I am patient with children, and I am passionate that each child can excel if he/she is willing.

Experience Summary

I have earned two bachelor degrees, BA in Elementary Education and BA in English, and have had experience tutoring in both of these fields. As an education student I volunteered in elementary school classrooms and tutored students in a variety of subjects. I have spent the past three years in writing centers working with undergraduate and graduate students, helping them in paper organization, grammar, and concise writing. Additionally, I have worked in a local tutoring center where I aided students in a variety of subjects from preschool reading to high school SAT prep in English.