Our Tutors

Jade J

Teaching Style

I enjoy tutoring students of all ages. When a student reaches the moment of understanding and a smile comes across his or her face, my heart is filled with a certain level of satisfaction that is indescribable. My hope is to facilitate this process of understanding the best that I can. Thus, my teaching style is relatively lax and often humorous in nature in order to mitigate any intimidation that may accompany learning. I try different approaches to explain a concept, often referring to common everyday examples to simplify more technical ideas. I understand that not every student learns in the same manner or at the same rate, so I will cater my teaching style to the individual student.

Experience Summary

As a pre-dental student from Seattle University, I have created my own goals for a successful education. I am on track for earning two degrees, a BS in Mathematics and a BS in General Science. My greatest strength is in mathematics, as I have undergone extensive outside coursework in this field from an early age. I have tutored mathematics for four years, from middle school and high school students in after school tutoring programs to college-aged students and adults who are returning to college in my school’s Math Lab, an educational center designed to provide math help to those enrolled in math classes. My experience as a resident assistant has facilitated my ability to work with a diverse student population. With regards to my French ability, I was enrolled in a French Immersion program for the first four years of elementary school and had taken four years in high school.

Jon J

Teaching Style

My teaching style begins with understanding the level of each student's knowledge and learning approach. During my college years I participated in many tutorial sessions realizing that it could provide instructional help as well as social interaction with other motivated students. I believe that tutoring helps a student become more involved in his/her studies, creating a greater interest and a more enduring impact. I can teach very detailed, down to the fundamentals, or using simple examples. The best part about teaching is watching as the students "get it."

Experience Summary

At the University of California, Irvine I completed my degree in Economics with a minor in Spanish. Additionally I took the necessary courses for medical school. I have completed Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physics, and several Biology courses. I also took the Medical College Admissions Test. I have tutored students in their homes in areas of mathematics and Biology.

Nigel N

Teaching Style

I believe that every child is capable of learning and that every child has their own style of learning. As a teacher, I believe in differentiated instruction that allows all students an equal opportunity to learn. I believe in teaching through student exploration. Once a child is able to discover a concept on their own, they are able to better understand and remember it. My approach to teaching is to expose students to practical problems. Once these problems are understood, I introduce a mathematical concept that should allow them to discover a solution to the problem. Throughout this approach, I’m always encouraging and patient. I always stress the importance of making an attempt at solving a problem, as in my favorite quote, “Without struggle, there is no progress.”

Experience Summary

During completion of my undergraduate degree in math, I always strived to achieve excellence in education and to pass on my love for learning. Throughout my college career, I’ve tutored at the undergraduate, the middle and the high school levels. Such exposure allowed me to determine the concepts students have the most difficulty in understanding, and I’m able to prepare accordingly. Upon completion of my degree, I accepted an analyst position with an HR Consulting firm. During these four years, I gained vital experience that allows me to transfer mathematical concepts into real world examples. Such experience has proven to be critical in helping students visualize practical examples of what they learn. I have since left the Consulting firm and entered into teaching. I’m finally doing what I enjoy the most, teaching and passing on a love for learning.

Victoria V

Teaching Style

I truly enjoy teaching. My strategy involves actively engaging the student in the learning process. I always try to develop personalized programs based on each student's strengths and weaknesses.

Experience Summary

In 2006 I graduated from Bowling Green State University (Ohio) with a Master of Science degree. During my Master's program I worked as a teaching assistant in General and Organic Chemistry Laboratories. I was responsible for a brief introduction of the material prior to every lab period. This greatly helped me to learn how to organize material I was to present and explain difficult concepts in a simple manner. At USC as a Ph.D. student, I had a chance to work for the Student Athletes Academic Service where I was a chemistry and math tutor. In addition, during the spring of 2007 I was working as an assistant for the Organic Chemistry Course at LA Trade Tech College, where I was responsible for weekly sessions.

Darlene D

Teaching Style

Much of my job includes mentoring new employees. Although I enjoy working with adults, I find it much more interesting to work with younger people. I would like the opportunity to tutor another student who is struggling with math. I have found that most students I have helped just needed some individual attention, and a safe place to ask questions that they would not ask in the classroom setting.

Experience Summary

I have worked in the Computer Science field since 1985 when I first started working for the US Space Program. During that time, I earned my BS and MS degrees, and am currently working on the Doctorate in Business with Applied Computer Science. During the last four years, I have tutored a student in mathematics, ranging from basic Algebra to College Calculus. During that time, the student received all A's. Since this student is moving on to a University out of the area, I will no longer be working with him; therefore I am looking forward to helping other students.

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.

Andy A

Teaching Style

I am grateful that school was easy for me, but I also know that for many children the task of discovering, understanding, making sense of, and retaining information can be tough and may seem almost overwhelming. All children can learn and there is no better way to instill that desire in them, than to work one-on-one or in small groups. All subjects can be made interesting, and I feel I have a knack for making the "boring" material come alive with relevance and excitement.

Experience Summary

Upon graduating from Johns Hopkins with a degree in writing, I substitute taught full-time at the high school and the middle school levels in the small upstate New York town where I grew up. Since my days as a substitute teacher, I have worked as a freelance writer, Senior Editor at a major publishing company, Senior Copywriter at an ad agency, and attended grad school. Over the past 15 years, I have tutored a number of high school students primarily in English, social studies, paper-writing, and general test-taking strategies.

Philip P

Teaching Style

My 5 years as a United States Marine established important core values such as tact, integrity, discipline, and commitment. I bring these values with me into the classroom. I believe that the success of a student depends more on their level of commitment than on inherent talent. However, learning must be an enjoyable experience in order for a strong commitment to be made. I am passionate about mathematics and the sciences, and this passion shows in my teaching style. Students recognize this passion, and it makes the learning experience fun. I am patient, open-minded, and innovative; so if a student is struggling with a particular topic, I find an alternative teaching approach which better suits their learning style. The success of my students is gratifying, to both student and teacher alike.

Experience Summary

I have been a straight-A student my entire life and I recently graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a 4.0 GPA. I earned my B.S. in Physics (Astronomy emphasis) with a minor in Applied Mathematics. Though my expertise lies in mathematics and the sciences, I am also knowledgeable in topics ranging from history to English grammar and composition. Much of my academic success is due to my ability to prepare for exams. I scored a 32 on the ACT, as well as perfect scores of 800 on the SAT2 Writing and GRE Mathematics exams. I gained teaching-related experience during my year as an Instructional Assistant, in which I assisted students with math, science, English, and GED exam preparation. At the college level, I spent 2.5 years tutoring in physics, math, and astronomy, as well as a semester in a college-level general physics class working as a teaching assistant.