Our Tutors

Gary G

Teaching Style

My teaching style has been, for the most part, dictated by student response. I am comfortable teaching in a traditional lecture format, in a format that uses a cooperative learning approach exclusively, or in a hybrid format. The goal is for effective learning to take place, and I believe my strongest quality is to be able to adapt in such a way that best helps students reach their academic goals.

Experience Summary

For eight years, I taught freshman and sophomore-level mathematics courses at Arizona State University. These courses included College Algebra, Pre-Calculus, Calculus, Finite Mathematics, and Elementary Mathematics Theory. Additionally, I have tutored students in these courses both in the Mathematics Department Tutor Center, and on my own personal time.

Gregory G

Teaching Style

I believe the true way to teach is to make a connection for each student: relate the material to something the student already knows. A more “hands-on” approach will allow the student to learn faster with greater retention. I feel that every student has the ability to learn, and that it is the teacher’s job to provide each student with the connection. In today’s age, classrooms have become over-crowded thus making it more difficult for the teacher to make that connection. It is the job of the tutor to fill in the gaps. With this theory, I try to use my experience in the work field to relate the subject matter to the student’s surroundings – hence math and science are my forte. I work well with children by making learning fun, but also have the knowledge of complex problems to provide the same environment for high school and college students.

Experience Summary

As a child of an Air Force pilot, I have always loved aviation. I strived hard in school to get the best grades to one day become a “Rocket Scientist” and design the plane of the future. In high school I was known for my good grades, and passed on my knowledge by tutoring my fellow classmates and students in earlier grades. After high school, I graduated from one of the top Aerospace schools in the country, and went on to work for a few companies: two small businesses and a large government contractor. I have completed many diverse programs successfully. When talking with friends about my career endeavors, I found myself giving more of a teaching course on how stuff works (e.g. planes, missiles, GPS, etc). I have since realized my passion for teaching, and that tutoring allows me to obtain both goals in my life: teaching and engineering.

Carrie C

Teaching Style

I can think of little else that is more rewarding that teaching. It is so wonderful to share knowledge and help another realize how powerful the willingness to learn can be - it can take you anywhere. So my enthusiasm for continuous learning drives my style which is really to take a complex concept and turn it into a real world example that the other individual can grasp. I try to break it down and add some color around each piece so that the other person can really relate and it's no longer an intangible concept. Once the individual can see that they can learn a concept that they originally may have been baffled by, I make sure to let them know that they can learn anything...it just takes some time, some questions, and maybe sometimes some help.

Experience Summary

During my high school and college years I frequently assisted others in learning subjects such as German, chemistry, algebra, business calculus, and economics. During my freshman and sophomore years as a college student I was formally employed as a tutor at the Pennsylvania State University for subjects including economics and business calculus. I earned a BS Accounting with honors degree in 2005 after which I began working at KPMG,LLP - one of the most prestigious and well-known global accounting firms. Employment at KPMG, LLP enabled me to continue my tutoring mentality due to the fast-paced team environment, and I was recognized for my focus on teaching others in 2008 with an award for Developing Others.

Maria M

Teaching Style

I love tutoring and consider myself to be effective at it. I approach it with enthusiasm. I apply theory to practical applications in my career and life. My approach is one of ease. I consider mathematics to be easy, as long as you accept what I call "the rules of the game"; i.e., there are certain principles that have to be accepted, and not questioned, then everything else falls in place. I believe that all people have the capability of learning, and I love the opportunity to provide a positive experience to students.

Experience Summary

I have been tutoring for more than 5 years. My main focus is mathematics, but I also tutor students in Spanish I through IV. I have tutored Spanish, Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, Trigonometry, and Pre-Calculus. I have recently helped several students prepare for the SAT math test. I enjoy making a difference in the student’s life.

Sandra S

Teaching Style

I have always worked with children, first as a babysitter at the age of 12, and then through the schools. I've learned that all students are unique and they respond to different teaching methods differently. I can usually tell by their expression if they "get it" or not. And if they are having difficulty, I immediately change my instructional approach. I have been known to make up learning strategies on the spur of the moment to suit a student and the material. I just enjoy being around children and want children to want to learn. It is something they will need to do the rest of their lives and I want them to have the skills they need to learn in the future.

Experience Summary

I was the first person to graduate from any higher level institution on both sides of my family - and paid for it myself by working and going to school. I have always strived to achieve success in whatever I attempt. Through the various jobs I have had besides teaching, I have learned many skills helpful to me in teaching and in life. I was a Title I teacher for 27 years in Illinois focusing on remedial reading, phonics, and math skills. I have also taught art (K-8) and computers (K-adult). I have worked with classroom teachers extensively to help our students learn.

Lucille L

Teaching Style

My students know I love math. I am enthusiastic, patient, and caring. I believe everyone can learn math given the right circumstances. I take interest in my students, I email them, I encourage them to do their homework. Through this personal interest, my students work to please the teacher. I also use different teaching styles: discovery learning, Look-Do-Learn, one-to-one instruction, critical thinking. Once a student, always a student for me. I go the extra mile.

Experience Summary

From an early age I loved math and so when I graduated with a BA in Math and Latin, I went straight into teaching math at the high school level. During graduate school years, I taught math at the University of Toronto. While working with computer programming, I taught math in the evening division of Westbury College in Montreal. I have taught math in different countries: Jamaica, Canada, U.S. Virgin Islands, Nigeria-West African Educational Council, The Bahamas, and Florida.

Kristi K

Teaching Style

My style is very unlike most educators, but that is why I believe I have such a high success rate. I believe that each student should have fair and equal educational access and that each child has the ability to learn. I believe in having the highest expectations for EVERY student. I also believe in making sure that curriculum and lessons are relevant to the child's surroundings, and I practice the strategies of modeling and practicing the concepts or assignments with the student.

Experience Summary

For the past four years, I have spent much of my teaching career working with ESE children and those from low income backgrounds with significant learning barriers. I have been incredibly successful in making learning gains and working toward successful high school completion and college enrollment. I have also tutored students after school and during the summer for the past four years in all core subject areas.

Mary Kathleen M

Teaching Style

I believe that every person has the ability to be a 'good' writer. In academics there are rules that a writer must follow. It is important to teach the conventions of writing so that students can build a solid foundation. After a student knows the rules, they can transfer good writing to other aspects of life (Civic, Professional, Personal). In my experience, students come in with a rough draft and need some guidance on how to move forward. I have tutored in groups and individually, and in both situations I may keep students on track, but they are the ones who figure out what their strengths and weaknesses are and how to improve their overall composition

Experience Summary

I earned my Bachelors of Arts from the University of Florida in 2006 and soon after I started Graduate school at the University of South Florida. As a graduate student I have been a writing tutor at the college level. I first started tutoring at Saint Petersburg College in 2007. The students who came in for help were in a variety of courses, such as Creative Writing and Speech. Every person came in with frustration, but left with a sense of accomplishment. This summer I was a T.A. at the University of South Florida in Dr. Conner's Composition II course. This course integrated technology by operating on a Wiki and communicating through chats, blogs, emails, etc. I was able to stay an active participant by reading students' posts and joining conversations. Through my graduate courses I have improved my own writing skills. I am currently in a Composition course where we are creating rubrics and assessing writing of students at the University of South Florida. This course is made up of 6 students that collaborate with faculty and writing coordinators at the University to develop new rubrics.