Our Tutors

Diana D

Teaching Style

Having a minor in psychology, as well as the wonderful teachers I had been exposed to over the years, has helped me to recognize that each student had a unique learning style. I attempt to discover this style, which usually happens within one lesson, and focus in on proper teaching methods to cater to this style. I am very patient and have worked with various levels of skill and ability to intake information. I love hands on activities where possible (sciences mainly) and have a multitude of visual examples for many subjects. I hope to inspire my students to want to learn a subject they once thought was "pointless" or "boring".

Experience Summary

I began tutoring when I was in middle school. Our school designed a program where honors students were paired with students they believed to be at risk for dropping out of school before they graduated high school. I tutored one specific student for 2 years and continued to mentor him through high school. After this program I realized I loved working one-on-one with people who were truly struggling with education. I have always known education was extremely important to my own success and I wanted to help others gain knowledge towards their own goals. I tutored through college and still continue to do so. My education has given me insight into many levels of math and science as well as recognizing how to write on a scientific level due to laboratory analysis. Due to this ability to express math and science on a basic level it aides in explaining it to others who do not have a firm grasp on the topic at hand. I have tutored the following subjects at a high school level: chemistry (regular through AP), biology (up to the AP level), linear functions, calculus, statistics, physics (up to AP), algebra I & II, and trigonometry. At a college level I have tutored: chemistry, organic chemistry, biology, molecular biology, cellular biology, statistics (at the request of the professor), physics, biomedical physics, public health, anatomy, and trigonometry.

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.

Robin R

Teaching Style

I am a very energetic person and try to bring that to everything that I do. I am also very concerned with providing students with an understanding of the concept behind what they are learning and what the real-world applications of those concepts are. I feel that it is the key to engage students by making them see the benefits of their education in the long run.

Experience Summary

I have recently graduated from the University of Richmond with a degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. I am looking forward to helping others expand their knowledge in the area of science. I have tutored high school students in chemistry and biology, and have gain knowledge of both fields through my degree in biochemistry, enabling me to be versatile in subject matter.

Joon J

Teaching Style

I am a huge proponent of the dialectic and Socratic methods of teaching, while recognizing the need for the didactic to learn the basic methods of academics. My own experience, as well as my background in Psychology, helps me recognize that learning must be relevant, interesting, and conducted in a highly accepting and supportive environment. I am keenly aware of the sense of inadequacy of students who come to tutoring services (I have been one myself in the past) and make special care to make all my students feel that improvement is possible for anyone. The knowledge and strategies that high performers utilize are not exclusive; anyone can learn with patience and the right tutor!

Experience Summary

I am a current teacher for the Princeton Review for the SAT (soon also for the GRE and GMAT), as well as a former tutor for Huntington Learning Center (SAT). A score of 1400 on the SAT allows me the credibility to teach, while a self-awareness allows me to understand the mechanisms and strategies that have allowed me this success. As a recipient of two bachelor degrees, in Biochemistry and Psychology, I am uniquely positioned to help students on a variety of subjects. My curriculum included Biology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physics, Math, and a litany of Psychology courses, including the Psychology of Learning.

Redha R

Teaching Style

I teach by example and I am methodical. I show a student how to solve a problem by going very slowly and by following a sequence of steps. I make sure that the student follows understands each step before moving on to the next one. I then ask the student to solve almost the exact same problem (with a slight change in numbers for example)so that the student learns the method and how to solve the problem by herself/himself. I am very patient but expect the student to be willing to learn. I tell students that learning a subject matter is more important than getting an A in a class - this is because 1. if you learn, chances are you won't forget (at least for a long while) and 2. you will get a good grade as a result.

Experience Summary

I have been employed by the IBM corporation for the last 27 years. I held numerous positions in hardware development, software development, telecommunication network development, project management, solution architecture, performance analysis, and others. As much as I enjoy my job, I have passion in Mathematics. I develop new ideas related to my work and expand them into U.S. patents and external technical papers. I informally tutor family and friends attending high school or college. I was a Mathematics teaching assistant at the Univ. of Pittsburgh for 2 years and at the Univ. of Michigan at Ann Arbor for 3 years. I love teaching and sharing my knowledge with others. I have published numerous technical papers and hold numerous U.S. patents as well.

Shelly S

Teaching Style

Because science is a "hands-on" subject, I feel it is extremely important to use demonstrations, examples that are relevant to every-day life, experiments and anything else that will help students understand the world around them. I have been told that I have an "out-of-the-box" approach to learning, but have found it to be successful with the majority of students. Classroom discussions are utilized more often then lectures, because when a student plays an active role in their education, they learn more.

Experience Summary

Over the past 12 years, I have worked in both the private and public sectors of the education community. I have taught grades 7-12 in all areas of science. I have also been the director of a learning center, where I started as a tutor. The years of experience have taught me a great deal about children of all ages and abilities. With each new year, I learn something new about myself and my style.

Justin J

Teaching Style

I am a very enthusiastic tutor and, as I stated in the previous section, believe teaching in such a way that the student gains a true mastery of the given subject. In a sense, I believe in each student understanding a particular concept in their own unique way that is consistent with their unique thinking processes. I strive to do this by relating a given concept analogously to something the student already fundamentally understands. I also create new problems to solve that probe the students’ progress and comprehension. I try to make these problems as realistic as possible to make them interesting to the student.

Experience Summary

Being a Ph.D. candidate and appointed research assistant, I very much realize the importance of true comprehension of a subject. Not only do I hold two B.S. degrees in Applied Mathematics and Chemical Engineering but I also carry credits to the equivalent of a Non-Thesis Masters in Applied Mathematics and am one course shy of a minor in Chemistry. I have tutored groups of students for Sylvan Learning Centers, conducted one-on-one sessions with Educational Enrichment and independently, and prepared and delivered lectures for advanced undergraduate chemical engineering courses. I am capable and experienced in tutoring all levels of mathematics, chemistry, chemical engineering, physics and materials science.

Bryttani B

Teaching Style

I love working with children and seeing them grow. I KNOW that all children learn in different ways, and I feel that because I am a non-traditional teacher, that I can incorporate traditional and non-traditional pedagogies to find which way my students learn best. Education is the key in everyone’s life, and I feel that even though I am one person, that I can make a great impact in each of my students’ lives.

Experience Summary

As an early graduate, I consider myself to be driven and motivated to move any mountains that stand in my path to academic excellence. I've earned my BA in English and am currently working on my MA in English and African American Literature. This enables me to perfect my craft in writing, English and grammar, and because of this, I have tutored many students in those three areas.