Aimee Campbell has over sixteen years of elementary and special education teaching experience. Currently based in East Hampton, Aimee has taught on the East End of Long Island, Connecticut and Louisiana. She possesses a Master of Professional Studies in Elementary (PreK-6th) and Special Education (K-12th) along with a TESOL certification. Aimee is highly trained in multisensory and creative teaching strategies such as the Orton-Gillingham method and specializes in teaching struggling and reluctant learners. Interestingly, prior to her teaching career, Aimee earned a Master of Arts degree in Archaeology from Washington State University and worked on Native American archaeological digs in the Pacific Northwest and the African Burial Ground Project in Lower Manhattan. Students love working with Aimee because her lessons are engaging, interactive, and rewarding.

Alberto is a mathematics teacher, who currently teaches at Stamford High School in Stamford, CT. Alberto is from Quito, Ecuador. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechatronic Engineering from University of Armed Forces ESPE. Sangolquí, Ecuador. He obtained his Teacher Certificate from the ARC program (Alternate Route to Teacher Certification) in Goodwin University at East Hartford, Connecticut. Alberto has experience teaching Middle School Math, Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2, Precalculus. In addition, He taught coding for elementary, middle and high school students.

Alberto is passionate about knowledge, and helping others to improve their integral development.

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Alice taught middle school English and reading remediation for 21 years at a public school in Westchester County, New York. She majored in English and writing as an undergraduate student at SUNY Empire State College. She received her Master of Arts in Elementary Education and her New York State certifications in English 7-12 and Reading K-12 from Manhattanville College.

Drawing on years of teaching experience, Alice incorporates proven reading comprehension strategies, expository writing skills, and grammar, sentence structure, and vocabulary skills in a multisensory instructional approach. Furthermore, through the use of interpretive questioning, she encourages her students to think critically about literature and nonfiction texts. Her modeling of this method of questioning also prepares her students to generate their own critical analysis questions and use the process independently.

In addition, Alice has experience assisting students with the writing of admissions essays for entry into private high schools and colleges. She understands the importance of guiding her students to hone in on an interesting, memorable topic, which reveals something meaningful about themselves or their view of the world.

Finally, Alice prides herself on being patient and nurturing and enjoys the respectful rapport she has with her students and their families. Her goal is to help set a path for her students to grow academically and gain confidence in themselves as lifelong learners.

Allison is a New York State certified special education teacher and literacy specialist. With a decade of teaching experience in New York City public schools, she’s honed the art of tailoring instruction to meet diverse student needs. Allison excels at helping students with reading disabilities, attention deficit disorders, autism, and those who are twice exceptional or English language learners. Known for her creativity, care, and motivation, she specializes in creating engaging lesson plans built on students’ strengths and interests. Outside of teaching, Allison cherishes family time. Her personal interests and approach to teaching are intrinsically linked, reflecting her belief in balance and the holistic development of a child. With Allison, your child is not just tutored, but nurtured, understood, and empowered.

Amy has an undergraduate degree in Elementary Education from Brandeis University and a graduate degree in Literacy Education, Birth-Grade 6 from Fordham University. She taught elementary school for 18 years, with a primary focus in grades 3-5. She currently works as a content designer for a large Edtech company.

Amy is a big advocate of Carol Dweck’s Mindset book and uses “growth mindset” language both in her curriculum writing and work with students. She enjoys delving into all subjects, be it writing, math, reading, grammar or social studies. She loves using manipulatives and visual aids, especially when learning math concepts, as well as making learning come alive through real world application. With ELA concepts, it is her ultimate goal to help students love reading and uncover the beauty of writing as a form of self-expression and actualization. Amy aims to help each child grow their self-confidence, encourage a true love of learning and ultimately blossom into their best self!

Andrew taught English and social studies for 18 years at John Jay Middle School in Katonah. Before that, he taught social studies and humanities at MS 141 and the Jonas Bronck Academy in the Bronx. He has a BA in history from SUNY New Paltz and a MA in American studies and secondary education from Boston College.

Andrew has a love of history and literature that allows him to provide instruction that’s both meaningful and thought-provoking. He believes in teaching history as a story with fascinating characters rather than a series of dates and facts, and in this way, he seeks to engage students. As an English and humanities teacher, he also uses the writing workshop model to teach note taking, outlining, and essay writing that will help students in their humanities classes and beyond.

He understands that each student has their own individual strengths and needs, and that it’s important to tailor instruction and materials to meet each student’s learning style. He also knows that working in collaboration with parents is essential to helping students achieve their goals and develop the habits that will serve them as lifelong learners.

Anna Marie studied economics and finance at Columbia University. She has worked on Wall Street as a research analyst. She has always loved solving puzzles and math problems ever since she can remember.  Anna Marie has been a math teacher since 2016 and a tutor for more than 10 years. She is currently an Algebra 2 teacher and most recently a middle school math teacher in the Regis High School REACH summer program. Anna Marie enjoys sharing her knowledge of math and a life-long learner in the fields of languages, philosophy, and the humanities. She turns to dance, a good walk, or Tai Chi to refresh her well-being.

Audrey is a native French speaker and has an undergraduate degree in French and a minor in Psychology from the University at Albany. She received a Master’s degree in French Literature from Queen’s College. She has been teaching French for 12 years to students in grades 7-12, including all levels from beginner French students to advanced high school students. She also has had experience tutoring students in French from as early as 5 years old in speaking, writing, listening and reading.

She is eager and excited to share her passion for the language and culture with others, meeting every single one of her student’s needs as they embark on this adventure.

“To learn a language is to have one more window from which to look at the world.”

– Chinese Proverb

Ben teaches chemistry and biology at the nationally ranked Westhampton Beach High School on the East End of Long Island where he has been for the past twenty five years. He has taught AP Chemistry for the last 15 years and AP Biology for the past 6 years. Ben wrote and implemented the curriculum for freshman and sophomores to take AP Biology and AP Chemistry in consecutive years. Ben has been a private tutor for almost 30 years. Ben has a Master’s degree in Secondary Education from Dowling College and Bachelor of Science from the University of Massachusetts.

Bernard is a master tutor who has been teaching and tutoring for more than thirty years. He graduated from Tufts University and graduated with a Master of Science in Secondary Math at Lehman College. He has worked in White Plains, Yonkers, New Rochelle and most recently at the Hendrick Hudson school. Bernard taught seventh and eighth grade math in middle school and Algebra, Honors Geometry, Honors Algebra 2 and Trigonometry, Precalculus and AP Statistics at the high school level. He was the math Honor Society Advisor for six years at Henrick Hudson and an AP Stats reader in 2014 to 2016 and did virtual grading at home in 2020. He was the math department instructional leader from 2010 to 2013 where he worked with administration and other department leaders to make the school run smoothly.

        He has also tutored SAT math and ACT math as a private tutor and for tutoring services. Bernard has just retired from teaching after 33 years. He has vast knowledge in many courses to help students achieve in this unprecedented time. Bernard was an adjunct professor at College of New Rochelle and more recently at Iona College where for two years he taught Business Calculus.

        Bernard is married with three children ages 26, 23 and 19. He plays golf, bowls and has aspirations to become a voiceover artist. He is looking forward to continuing to help students learn and at the same time learn from students as well.

Brigid Phelan is an experienced teacher and tutor who works in the New York City Department of Education who has worked with students of all learning abilities and backgrounds. Brigid has had the pleasure of teaching in the fifth and third grades. She received her undergraduate Degree from Manhattan College in Childhood Education (Grades 1-6) with concentrations in Mathematics and Psychology. She also received her Master’s Degree from Manhattan College in Special Education.

Brigid has fostered meaningful relationships with the students and families that she’s worked with over the years. She strongly believes in using a variety of instructional strategies to meet the individual needs of each child. In doing so, she provides students the outlets to build the confidence they need be successful learners!

In her free time, Brigid loves to spend time with her family and friends. She especially loves to travel whenever she can!

Caitlin Heppenheimer has been in the education field for several years now. She has worked with students on the autism spectrum and attention deficit disorders. She began her teaching journey when she lived in Plattsburgh, New York where she attended college. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education as well as a Master’s of Science in Counseling Education.  After college she became a paraprofessional in Vermont where she worked in small groups with students in a fifth grade classroom. She realized she enjoyed working one on one with students to help them hone their academic skills. Later in life, she moved back home to the east end of Long Island where she was hired as a teaching assistant at a local elementary school. A few years ago she began teaching full time at that same district as a first grade teacher and now currently teaches fourth grade. Caitlin has worked with age groups from pre-school to seventh grade.

Within her teaching, Caitlin strives to provide hands-on activities to help students learn. Caitlin believes every child has a unique way of learning and works with each of her students to help them learn their very best by providing manipulatives, organization charts, as well as various strategies to help in reading, writing, and math.

Caitlin has a master’s degree in Special Education Grades 1-6, and is a certified Special Education Teacher currently teaching in the Bronx, NY. Caitlin has 5 years experience teaching high-need K-5 students in various settings. She has 3 years experience teaching in an ICT classroom and 2 years experience providing intensive small group and one-on-one academic support to at-risk students and students with IEPs. Caitlin has both Elementary Reading and Math teaching and tutoring experience and is trained in a variety of evidenced based, multi-sensory intervention programs. Caitlin has a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering and has over 10 years experience in tutoring middle and high school math and science courses. Caitlin is knowledgeable of higher level math and science curriculum and can explain it in a way that her students can comprehend. Caitlin has a passion for learning and for helping students succeed and believes that all students can learn if they are provided with instruction tailored to their needs. She uses personal and individualized instruction that best supports her students to build academic confidence and success.

Carmelina has been working as a New York City public school teacher for 17 years.  Carmelina graduated from Lehman College with an undergraduate degree in Sociology and a Master’s Degree in Childhood Education (1-6) from Fordham University.  As she began her career as an elementary school teacher, she realized that her passion was helping children to master literacy skills.  After obtaining a second master’s degree as a literacy specialist from Lehman College, she continued to support students outside of the classroom as a Response to Intervention teacher.  Throughout her tenure, she has taught in a second grade general education classroom as well as a second grade integrated co-teaching class. Currently, Carmelina teaches third grade in an Integrated Co-Teaching classroom.

Carolyn began her career in education working with students with disabilities as a teaching assistant, and has not looked back. After 3 years as a teaching assistant, Carolyn went on to teach Science 8 and Honors Biology at Rye Neck. She is currently a teacher at a special education school in Yonkers, NY where she teaches a variety of science courses and is the therapeutic horseback riding coordinator. Her passion has always been to help every student learn no matter the obstacles or challenges. Carolyn is a graduate of SUNY Cortland where she received a bachelor’s degree in Biology, and Manhattanville College where she received a master’s degree in Science and Special Education (Grades 5-12). Outside of teaching, Carolyn is an assistant lacrosse coach, volunteers at a therapeutic horseback riding center, and loves to go skiing.

Casey graduated from Manhattan College with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s degree in special education. While completing her master’s degree, Casey worked as a special education teacher providing small group instruction to students with individual education programs. After finishing school, Casey began to work full time as a third grade teacher for the Department of Education. Casey has since worked with students in kindergarten through fifth grade (in all subject areas) throughout the last five and a half years as a general and special education teacher. She has worked with students of many different learning styles and tailors her instruction to support her student’s individual needs. Having worked with general and special education populations, Casey has developed strong instructional strategies to increase student achievement.

Celia Josephson, B.A., The University of Chicago, MPA, Harvard University, brings a passion to her love of teaching.  Her skills range from essay writing to foreign languages, (Spanish, French and ESL) from mathematics to social studies.  Though trained as an attorney and journalist, Celia discovered that teaching was her vocation.

She taught most recently at her local library in East Hampton, New York, offering courses in ESL, citizenship preparation and high school equivalency.  Celia’s year-long stay in Mexico, after college, prepared her well to teach ESL and to understand the dynamics of teaching Spanish speakers to learn English. Her legal training provided a solid base from which to teach citizenship preparation and her training in quantitative methods as a graduate student at Harvard enabled her to tackle the mathematics portion of the high school equivalency curriculum.

For the past several years, Celia has focused on tutoring.  She has privately taught elementary age students as well as aspiring college students, particularly in English composition and math.  She is equally comfortable teaching in English or Spanish.

As a mother of three, Celia is also aware of the challenges and rewards of nurturing a love of learning in young people, so that they can fully harvest their abilities as adults.

Charles teaches Advanced Placement US history and is Director of the Learning Academy at Notre Dame High School in Fairfield.  He is certified in social studies grades 5-12 and as a special education generalist in grades 7-12.  Before teaching, Charles received a BA in history from the University of Colorado in Boulder and studied European integration at the University of Amsterdam.  After fifteen years as a real estate developer and asset manager in commercial real estate, Charles pursued his calling as a teacher after receiving his Master of Education at Manhattanville College.

Charles’ Learning Academy program addresses the needs of students with moderate learning challenges who require accommodations beyond the scope of traditional special education.  He works collaboratively with teachers in all core content areas and can teach a wide variety of content.  His work also includes developing executive functioning skills and strategies that address the unique needs of his students.

He is also highly qualified for standardized test preparation, writing, and college admissions essays.

Charles was born in New York City, raised in Bronxville, New York, and resides in Fairfield with his wife and two daughters.

Chelsea Gillespie is a math teacher at Rye Neck High School in Mamaroneck, NY. She graduated from Iona College earning a bachelor’s degree in Adolescent Math Education. She is currently pursuing her master’s degree through the University at Albany in Curriculum Development and Instructional Technology. She has taught algebra and algebra II classes where she has designed creative lessons aligned with the common core state standards and has developed learning activities to support a diverse classroom. She has worked as a teaching assistant where she designed and implemented mini-lessons to assist students with specific math skills from pre-algebra to calculus. This fall, Chelsea will be teaching geometry, statistics, and algebra II.

This past spring, Chelsea had to transition from face-to-face learning to remote learning. During this time, she developed skills with technological tools, such as Zoom and Screencastify, where she used these programs for synchronous and asynchronous learning. She also assigned tasks for students using websites, such as Google Classroom, Edpuzzle, Khan Academy, and Delta Math, in order to enhance student learning.

Chelsea is very excited to be a tutor at Prep Academy Tutors and looks forward to working with you!

Christina Rizopoulos is an experienced, tenured New York City teacher working for the Department of Education. Christina has worked in various classroom settings, and has taught/tutored children from ages 5 to 12. She received her undergraduate Degree from Manhattan College in Childhood Education (Grades 1-6) with concentrations in English and Psychology. She also received her Master’s Degree from Manhattan College in Special Education. Christina has also received training in Social Emotional Learning from Fordham University.

Christina prioritizes clear and open communication with families, and works to create an authentic and strong bond with the children she teaches. She understands the importance of differentiating instruction and materials based on a child’s specific needs to best suit their learning style and strengths.

In her free time, Christina loves to spend time with her family and friends. She is a huge animal lover, and enjoys spending time in nature and exercising. Sometimes she even takes her dog to school!

Cory graduated from Dartmouth College with a degree in Classical Studies and English Literature. He has spent the last 17 years as a teacher and tutor. In that time, Cory has worked with a variety of students and helped scores of students go to colleges from SUNY to the Ivy Leagues. He has tutored these students for the SAT/ACT tests, as well as Regents exams and other college readiness tests in subjects such as American History, World History, English Literature, and World Literature. He is also a twice nationally-recognized award-winning writer and editor.

Daniel Riseman is a New York State certified teacher (Grades 7-12) in Mathematics, English Language Arts, Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, and Social Studies. He has an M.Ed., an Ed.M. in Mathematics, and an Advanced Certificate in Special Education. He is presently working on his Neuroeducation Graduate Certificate at Johns Hopkins. For the past 21 years, Daniel has provided in-home, subject-based tutoring. He also customizes lessons to prepare students for the SAT, ACT, ISEE, SSAT, and TACHS. Daniel helps families with every aspect of private secondary school admissions.

As a member of the National Association for College Admission Counseling, Daniel assists students with every step of the college admissions process. He has helped students get admitted into MIT, Harvard, Princeton, University of Chicago, Dartmouth, among others. He also helps college students with the transfer process and graduate school admissions.

Daniel has served as a featured education writer and contributor for Psychology Today, The Fiscal Times, Yahoo Finance, The Week, Education News, MSN Money, Institute of Sport, STEM Education Digest, Special Needs Digest, Entertainment News, and LifeZette. He has also served as an on-air educational expert for EWTN.

Danielle, a 27 year veteran of the public school system, has a Master of Science Degree in Special Education with specialization in wide-spectrum learning disabilities.  Over her long tenure in education, Ms. Bucolo has taught in the general education setting, teaching both general education students as well as those with various learning difficulties and styles.  Ms. Bucolo has extensive training with programs that have given each of her students access to and success with rigorous academic standards.  Currently, Ms. Bucolo teaches fifth grade in a general education classroom with five students who have IEPs.  Although the majority of her experience has been with students who either have IEPs or who are at risk, she has a passion for teaching all students in all settings. Outside of school, Ms. Bucolo is busy with three children of her own.  She enjoys her book club, listening to music and tutoring students privately.

Desiree has been an elementary school teacher for over twenty years.  She has a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Hofstra University and a Master’s degree in Reading from Lehman College.  She began her career teaching in the New York City Public Schools and has spent the last 18 years working in Westchester County. She has taught first, second and third grades.  As a general education teacher she has also worked in her district’s ICT (Integrated Co-Taught Classroom) model where she taught alongside Special Education teachers.  This collaborative work has given her the unique ability to identify specific needs and offer students a variety of learning strategies and methods to help ensure student success.  She is a member of her district’s English Language Arts Committee where she works with fellow teachers, reading specialists and district leaders on curriculum.

Desiree has been tutoring students throughout her career.  She enjoys working individually with students and their families.  She brings her years of experience, multiple learning strategies and a host of resources to each child she tutors.  She enjoys nurturing relationships with her students and their parents.  Working to meet individual needs is her ultimate goal.

Devon’s passion for teaching started at a young age and was inspired by her grandfather who was a retired educator and administrator. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Adolescent Education and English and a minor in Educational Psychology from SUNY Oneonta. She enrolled in LIU Riverhead and completed a Master’s degree in Literacy, B-6. Currently, Devon holds her New York State Teaching Certification in Secondary Education/English, 7-12 and has a pending certification in Childhood Education, 1-6. Devon currently teaches grades 3-6 in a public school on Long Island. She has tutored for the past 4 years, as well. Devon believes all children can learn when provided with a nurturing and supportive space for them to take chances. She strives to instill confidence and perseverance within all her students. In her spare time, Devon enjoys reading, gardening, and spending as much time as she can at the beach.

Diana M. is an experienced teacher currently working in Westchester County.  She received her undergraduate degree and from Quinnipiac University in English Language Literature and Arts. She also received her Master’s Degree from Quinnipiac University in Elementary Education (K-6)

Diana is a warm and caring educator who creates an engaging learning environment for young children. She successfully supports students reach their academic goals and helps them develop a stronger sense of self-confidence as a learner. Diana has taught 1st, 2nd and 3rd grade. She has worked closely with students who perform below and above grade-level standards. As a general education teacher, she has also worked in an ICT classroom setting where she co-taught a large Special Education population daily.

Diana prioritizes clear and open communication with families and students and, creates genuine relationships. Diana is a dedicated educator who brings a variety of instructional strategies and materials to meet the individual needs of her students. She is enthusiastic and wants to help each child achieve their personal best!

Elisa Cullaro earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Childhood Education (Grades 1-6) and her Master’s Degree in Special Education (Grades 1-6) from Manhattan College. To further develop her teaching practices and continue her growth as an educator, Elisa has recently completed TESOL graduate courses at The College of Mount Saint Vincent and she is working towards acquiring her TESOL advanced certificate.

Elisa has been a passionate NYC public school teacher for 5 years, where she has had the opportunity to teach kindergarten, second and third grade. Throughout her experience thus far, Elisa has worked with children of various learning styles, abilities, and backgrounds. Each year she strives to develop a strong rapport with her students and families, which she believes is essential in a child’s learning experience. Her passion, patience, and empathy foster a sense of encouragement and motivation in her classroom where her students can experience success and joy while learning.

In her free time, Elisa enjoys spending time with her family and friends, reading, traveling, and taking long walks with her dogs.

Ellie is a bilingual (Mandarin Chinese/English) tutor who is passionate about education and mentorship. She has extensive teaching experience and has worked with students of all age groups from toddlers to adults, in a variety of subject areas including Mandarin, ESL, mathematics, English, chemistry, biology, test preparation, and swing dancing. She has completed her Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, Master of Science in Physiology, and Doctor of Medicine. In her free time, she enjoys gardening and partner dancing.

Eminesse Gonzalez has been teaching for 8 years at P94m in Murray Hill in Manhattan, New York. She has worked with students in kindergarten to fifth grade who have varying disabilities such as intellectual disability, autism, speech and language impairment, and attention deficit disorder. Eminesse has been a private tutor for 8 years to a wide range of learners who attend public and private schools in Manhattan, New York. She taught first grade for two years on Saturday mornings through the GO Project, providing extra support to students in public schools in reading, writing and math. Eminesse received both her Bachelor’s degree and Master’s degree in 2013  from Pace University, with a combined focus in Elementary Education and Special Education.

Eminesse exudes a genuine passion for teaching and learning. She has continued her own education by attending updated professional development courses for reading, writing and math. Using her past experiences and new skills, she has continued to reinforce the concepts of collaboration with colleagues and families, differentiation and being a reflective practitioner.  She has provided instruction in an array of different environments, working with students in grades Kindergarten to fifth grade from diverse backgrounds. Her experiences have helped her to fully understand that every child is unique and learns differently

Eric has been a science teacher in Stamford, CT for over seven years. Earning his bachelor’s degree in meteorology, Eric has a strong science background. In college, Eric was an Academic Resource Mentor, where he was able to sharpen his skills helping others with their homework, study skills, and time management. To this day, Eric shares his love for science with his students and recognizes that the content may be difficult to understand. He utilizes many techniques within his classroom to assure that his students can comprehend the material. With completing his master’s in science education in 2016 and his master’s in educational leadership in 2023, Eric is well equipped with up-to-date and current skills that will help a student who is in need. Eric is eager to make as many children literate in the field of science as he can.

Eric Sigman is a proud “edupreneur” with a strong passion for teaching mathematics with a conceptual approach to allow students to form connections. His motivating style has fostered his success as a teacher, building level administrator and district level K – 12 STEM Coordinator. As a high school math teacher for over 10 years in Bedford, NY, he personally experienced and implemented the paradigm shift in education from teacher-centered to student-centered classrooms. Outside of the classroom, Eric has helped develop materials for the writers of the Common Core Math Standards and College Board’s Pre-AP Algebra 1 to address the unique learning perspectives of the “new math”. In addition to his academic achievements, Eric has been featured in both the CT Post and NPR for his cutting edge approach to social emotional learning in high-need areas.

Eric has a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from the State University at Albany, and a Master’s degree  in Mathematics Education and Educational Leadership from Hofstra University and Manhattan College. He also holds a Certificate in Instructional Technology from New York Institute of Technology. He is the owner of E to B Concepts, Inc. an Educational Consulting firm based in CT.

When he is not saving the world of education from its archaic views and methodologies, he is spending time with his wonderful wife, Rebecca and four beautiful children.

Erin G. is a chemistry and AP chemistry teacher in Fairfield county and has been teaching for over 13 years. She has experience with teaching and tutoring all levels of chemistry, as well as biology and earth science. Erin has a master’s degree in Biochemistry from Yale University and a master’s degree in Education from the University of New Haven.

Erin has a passion for teaching and helping students recognize their own ability to do hard things. Erin is incredibly patient and is skilled at explaining challenging concepts in ways that are easy to understand. Erin has created a large supply of resources to use during tutoring, including instructional videos, worksheets, and practice problems. She has perfected the technique of both virtual and in person tutoring and is excited to help students succeed.

George Rahbari has been teaching at the high school and college level for the past 28 years. His background in biochemistry, statistics, and law qualifies him as an expert in a multitude of areas of education and one of a select group of individuals who can guide students in various areas of education.  Additionally, George has worked with a number of college students who are and were seeking admission to medical, law, business, and graduate schools. His greatest attributes aside from subject expertise, include patience and compassion for students of all abilities and aptitudes.

Ghada has a Ph.D in Science Education and a master’s degree in Physics and has been teaching for 15 years. She has taught AP Physics with calculus,  post AP Introduction to Modern Physics, Regents physics, honors pre-calculus, and Experimental Physics at the high school level and algebra-based introductory physics courses at the college level. Ghada enjoys working with students of all ages and looks forward to supporting their work in the sciences.

Gwen has been teaching and tutoring students for over 15 years. She has a BS in Chemical Engineering, an MS in Environmental Engineering, and an MBA in Finance, as well as an Advanced Certificate in Secondary Education. Gwen is certified to teach mathematics, chemistry and physics, and is presently teaching at Tuckahoe High School in Eastchester, NY.

Helen, a master teacher, has a two decades of experience working with children.  She earned her teaching degree from Fordham University and her special education degree from Manhattan College. She has a Nursery School through grade 6 certification with a specialty in Early Childhood Education.  She has many years of experience teaching reading and writing along with executive functioning skills. She views tutoring as a fulfilling activity that allows students to develop and sharpen their skills. She enjoys being a positive influence in a student’s life to help them reach their full potential.  Her ability to address the various learning styles of her students makes her students successful. Helen currently is employed by the New York City Department of Education.

Holly Bittner is a New York State certified teacher for K-12 ENL and 7-12 English.  She has a Master’s Degree in Education from George Mason University.  Having taught in Florida, New York, Virginia and Washington, D.C, her experience includes Kindergarten, Second, Fifth, Sixth grade, and Reading for both middle and high school.  Maintaining best practices with current technology, she utilizes a variety of online platforms such as Google Classroom, Discovery Education, Kahoot, Newsela, and Quizlet.  Holly is a warm, accessible, enthusiastic and caring individual.  She creates a positive learning environment which supports students at any age

Ira brings twenty years of experience teaching literature, writing, and grammar to students at the Horace Mann School in Riverdale, NY. His teaching practice (MA, New York University, English Education) has been informed by his background in theater and writing. He received a BA in Theater Studies from George Washington University and an MFA in Dramatic Writing from Brandeis. He has studied with members of the Royal Shakespeare Company on ways to use rehearsal techniques to engage students’ emotional and kinetic intelligence. Ira’s interest in languages and world cultures drew him to the study of TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) at Teachers College, Columbia University. As an instructor at Westchester Community College, he has taught ESL to students at all levels of English proficiency. He has tutored students in the US and China via Zoom in ESL and TOEFL preparation. Ira brings deep knowledge of his subject areas along with dedication to finding the best mix of techniques to help each student thrive. He knows that students learn best when they feel seen and prized as individuals with interests and skills beyond the work at hand. Ira helps students to see and understand their academic growth so they can develop confidence in their ability to learn independently.

Jack K. has a background in Human Rights and secondary education. He has taught a variety of humanities topics for the past six years in New York and Connecticut. Jack began his teaching career in Harlem, New York, and now lives in New Haven, CT. During that time, he has developed curricula for AP World History, AP U.S. History, 9th grade English Language Arts, and 9th grade U.S. History. He is also a mentor for several college-bound high school students that are looking to perfect their college applications.

Jade J is a dedicated, compassionate, and creative teacher who is eager to inspire children to be lifelong learners.  She is enthusiastic about increasing students’ success through engaging activities.  Jade is going on her eighth year of teaching, having taught grades 2, 3, 4, and 5.  She currently is a fourth grade teacher and will continue to teach fourth grade next year as well.  Jade is well-versed in a variety of academic curricula and teaching strategies to appeal to a diverse group of learners.  Additionally, she encourages incorporating social emotional techniques across all subjects.  In her free time, she enjoys spending quality time with her family, including her two daughters, two stepdaughters, and her three dogs!

For the past decade, Jan had her own private reading remediation practice in Fairfield County and the Hamptons (summers).  She started as a public high school English teacher of junior English (both advanced and basic levels), before shifting to become a community college lecturer, then becoming a learning center reading specialist using the Orton-Gillingham approach before becoming a private reading specialist.

Jan holds two Ivy League degrees, was credentialed as an award-winning high school English teacher, and trained in Connecticut’s only Orton Gillingham institution where she worked directly under a Fellow, who later sat on the Academy’s Board of Directors.  In addition to learning the OG approach, Jan used the Wilson Reading System, FUNdations, SPIRE, and the Language Tool Kits.

The Orton GIllingham approach has been validated by the test of time– for 75 years, diagnosing educational psychologists have recognized that it is the best means of remediating diagnosed dyslexia.  Dyslexia affects 15% of the population with reading challenges comprising 85% of Special Education referrals.  However, the public schools have not conquered this problem, as the typical SpEd student enters the program reading two grade levels behind his peers, and he exits the program still reading two grade levels behind his peers.  The Orton Gilliingham approach actually closes skill gaps, rather than simply making progress.

Among the attributes that make the OG approach unique are its emotional sensitivity and its customization.  The Orton Gillingham practitioner creates a lesson for that individual’s specific needs and skill levels in order for him/her to achieve 80% or better accuracy.  During the lesson, the specialist adjusts the lesson’s administration accordingly to realize that result.  Allowing such a curated sense of competency to emerge (albeit in a vacuum) builds a newfound sense of confidence in written-language capability for the dyslexic student.  Also, the Orton Gillingham approach, because it is not a program (pre-scripted) or a one-size fits all curriculum, permits the instructional intensity necessary to closing deficits.  There is no need for covering ground already familiar to the student, and there is the freedom to bear down on those skills eluding the student.

Jane’s education, teaching experience, and ability to compassionately interact with students, prepare her well to continue the teaching she loves.

After living and studying in Montevideo, Uruguay and Madrid, Spain she developed a love for language and literacy.

Jane earned her BA at Tulane University, graduating Magna Cum Laude in 2003. In 2013, Jane graduated Summa Cum Laude from Hunter College with an MA in K to 12 education, specializing in TESOL (Teaching English to Students of Other Languages). Jane taught and became certified in three states, adhering to each state’s standards.

Jane facilitated and taught seven different curricula on the road with child actors on the national tour of “Annie.”

Recently, Jane worked with private clients using micro-schooling as schools switched to remote learning, due to COVID.

In her last teaching position, she facilitated teacher training in supporting the English language learner in mainstream classes. Jane co-wrote and co-led professional development training for middle and high school classroom teachers.

Currently, Jane teaches part-time in the Edgemont School District. She is happy to have returned home, closer to her Nyack roots.

Jane is committed to supporting students who aim to strengthen their academic language and writing skills. She also often blends academic support with the coaching of task management and organization.

Jane develops confidence and independence in her students while identifying and strengthening the skills they need to succeed.

Jason holds a master’s degree in Adolescent Education from Mercy College as well as a bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience from Drew University. He is currently a Chemistry teacher at Walter Panas High School, teaching both the Honors and Regents levels. Jason also has experience teaching a variety of science class including Living Environment, AP Biology, Ecology and Anatomy and Physiology. Jason dedicates himself to providing his students with comprehensive instruction that fosters scientific discovery as well as improving critical thinking skills. Jason has tutored students in biology, chemistry, AP Biology, AP Chemistry and even physics. He prides himself on helping students understand the difficult subject matter and preparing them for assessments.

Jean has been teaching mathematics for 29 years and loves to make the seemingly difficult concepts in math much easier to understand.  She has a master’s degree in Math Education from Bank Street Graduate School in New York City and a bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education from The University of Akron in Ohio. She enjoys tutoring students in general math, pre-algebra, algebra, geometry, algebra II, trigonometry, and can help students prepare for the math sections of the PSAT, ISEE, SSAT, GRE, GMAT, ACT, and SAT tests.

She is also a writer, editor, and consultant for educational publishers including Comprehension Publishing, Domino Data Lab, Kaplan, McGraw-Hill, and Scholastic. For these companies, she has created math contest materials, practice workbooks for state proficiency tests, a teacher manual for the California High School Exit Exam, and questions and answers for the Praxis Mathematics test taken by aspiring teachers as part of their certification to teach middle and high school math.

Jean is a mother, grandmother, avid golfer, and the published author of her first children’s book Sit Down Little Prince, A math story about Carl Friedrich Gauss. She is a resident of Westchester.

Joan is a veteran teacher with a Master’s degree in Elementary Education.  She spent 14 years teaching, both in elementary and middle school classrooms. She has tutored privately in Westchester and Fairfield counties for the past 15 years.  During Covid, Joan homeschooled families in the local area. Currently, she works with elementary students in all subjects as well as middle and high school students in English and history. Joan also supports students’ writing, study skills and executive functioning.

John Caine has been teaching intermediate English for the past ten years at Suffolk County Community College. While here, he has designed and created his own course instruction, testing, and assessment for Grammar, Writing, and Speaking. The coursework is rigorous but also balanced and fair. His tenure experience has enabled him to help newer teachers with their coursework, offering suggestions on specific classroom management techniques. He has had the privilege of teaching students from around the world, providing a broad range of linguistic and cultural experiences. Having an advanced degree has also given him the knowledge and training to incorporate a wide array of teaching styles focusing on each student’s individual needs while maintaining an enjoyable learning environment.

John Caine has taught at Suffolk County Community College as an Adjunct Professor in the TESOL department for many years. Previously, he taught ELA/ESL Teacher grades 9-12, working in conjunction with the ESL department including implementation of the READ 180 program. Every ESL student eligible for a Regents Diploma passed the ELA Regents portion. In addition, he has completed further studies in Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages. He earned his Master of Science, Education, School Administration and Supervision from C.W. Post, Long Island University. He has a Bachelor of Arts, summa cum laude, Southampton College, Long Island University, Double Major, Elementary Education, and English and Writing.

John Caine is the author of magazine articles and several books: Waldo and the Wackos, The Story of Pig and Giraffe, La Historia de Cerdo y Jirafa, My Name Sir?, In the Time of Big Trains, 4:56) short stories and poetry. He teaches English and writes on Long Island, NY, where he currently lives with his family.

John has been teaching students in a variety of science courses at Greenwich High School since 2003, including Advanced Placement Biology and UConn’s Principles of Biology as a certified Early College Experience Instructor. He holds a B.S. in Biology from Binghamton University, a M.B.A. from Iona College, and a M.S. in Biology from St. Joseph College. Prior to changing careers to teach, he developed the capabilities of a new team to improve and innovate the global acquisition of data and information as Director, Knowledge Management and Business Information in the Pfizer Pharmaceuticals Group, New York.

Joseph’s passion for education stems from his time working as a research scientist at Princeton University and Rowan University. Through mentoring students in higher education, he discovered his interest in tutoring. Tutoring, like science, is a dynamic field where great tutors always observe, assess, design, research, and take new approaches to engage their students. Currently, as a high-school teacher, Joseph uses these skills to identify the strengths of each student and incorporates them into addressing their specific needs. He focuses on a relationship-based approach in education, in which he relates the topic to the everyday lives of his students. He has a proven record of success in AP Biology and Regents-level sciences, such as Living Environment and Chemistry.

Josephine Logan is a veteran Italian teacher of over 20 years. She graduated from the University of Delaware with a dual degree in Italian and International Studies and holds a Master’s degree in multicultural education from Iona College. She enjoys sharing her love of the language and culture with others and teaching them all that makes Italian so wonderful! In her spare time she enjoys reading, shopping and spending time with her three kids.

Julie Nunez is a 6th-grade humanities teacher in a local Westchester County independent school. Julie has been a teacher for 12 years. She graduated from Binghamton University with an undergraduate degree in Sociology. She later attended Lehman College where she earned an MA in Childhood Education and Teaching. Julie has taught elementary-aged students in grades K- 4 and has spent her more recent years teaching middle schoolers.

Besides teaching, Julie enjoys kayaking and is learning how to sail. She spends her free time cooking, dancing, reading, and spending time with family.

Successful companies are only as good as the people who work there, and colleges want to welcome students who will benefit most from their offerings. Through her 20+ year career building successful internship and recruitment programs for some of the world’s largest corporations, Karen knows what college administrators and employers are looking for and how to help students and new hires shine.

Katherine received her undergraduate and graduate degrees in Elementary and Special Education from Manhattan College. While there, she also obtained her certificate in Early Childhood education. After college, Katherine gained valuable ENL experience as she moved to Seoul, South Korea and taught full-day kindergarten as well as tutored older children in the afternoons. After returning from Korea, Katherine obtained a kindergarten position in the New York City Department of Education where she taught in a general education classroom for five years. For the past two years, Katherine has taught in an ICT classroom with her co-teacher while also serving as the grade leader of her team. Katherine has experience teaching students who fall on the autism spectrum as well as students with learning disabilities such as speech impairments, ADD/ADHD, etc.

Katherine believes that all students have the ability to succeed! She is skilled in building relationships with students to foster a growth not only in academic scores, but self-esteem and confidence as well. In her free time, Katherine enjoys reading, traveling, spending time with her two young nephews, and relaxing with her dog, Gertie.

Kathryn “Katie” Meyers has been teaching for six years for the New York City Department of Education. Katie holds a master’s degree in Literacy and is certified to work with children in grades 1-6. She is a middle school special education teacher for the 5th and 6th grades and works with students who have mild to severe learning differences, as well as gifted and talented students. Katie works with children to strengthen their reading comprehension and math skills. Katie’s approach to teaching takes into account her own struggles with math as a child, and gives her a unique ability to relate to her students. Katie strives to imbed her lessons with cognitive tools and strategies in order to foster independence and confidence. Katie believes that all children are capable of academic success and just need the extra support and guidance to do so.

Kathy is a certified English as a New Language teacher with experience teaching both native English-speaking children as well as English Language Learners in grades Kindergarten through 11th grade in the Westchester, NY and Fairfield County, CT Public and Private School systems. She is greatly inspired by her work with individual and small groups of students and watching them develop and gain confidence. Her lessons are specifically tailored to each student’s goals, needs and interests. Lessons support the school curriculum and help children become successful learners in the classroom. She is a Native English speaker with TESOL certification in both New York and Connecticut and a master’s degree in TESOL from Manhattanville College.

The earlier part of Kathy’s career was spent in advertising so she has a particular sensitivity to the impact of the visual message and engagement factor of her lessons with an emphasis on using the latest technology. She has always had a passion for reading and writing and truly enjoys spreading that love of learning to her students. She is also a student of the Spanish language having spent time abroad expanding her listening, speaking, reading and writing skills and, therefore, she has a sensitivity to the nuances, frustrations and insecurities of learning a new language.

Kerry is a certified teacher specializing in early childhood. She has 15 years of teaching experience in both New York City private schools and Fairfield, CT. In addition to her classroom experiences, Kerry has tutored many students of various ages. Her tutoring experiences include ERB preparation, phonemic and phonological reading skills, kindergarten readiness, preschool enrichment, and supplemental instruction for homeschooled children.

Kerry earned a B.S. in Psychology from Sacred Heart University and a M.A. in Elementary Education from Long Island University, C.W. Post Campus. She is certified to teach students in preschool through 6th grade. In addition, Kerry is also trained in the Orton-Gillingham Approach and Learning Without Tears. These two programs have benefited her greatly throughout her teaching career.

Volunteer work is also important to Kerry. She currently runs a 4th grade Odyssey Of The Mindteam, which is an international STEAM- based academic program. She leads a Daisy troop and a Girl Scout troop, as well as running a camp program for St. Pius X in Fairfield, Connecticut.

Kownine is a New York State certified mathematics educator. He completed his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in mathematics from The City College of New York (CUNY).  He has been a NYC public school educator for over a decade. He has experience teaching in both the middle and high school. Kownine’s pedagogical journey has been marked by a profound impact on countless students. With an innate ability to clarify complex mathematical concept, he has fostered a dynamic and engaging learning environment, making even the most challenging topics accessible to all his students.  Kownine has an extensive knowledge of Regents based math courses, which he accumulated from years of teaching and scoring the Regents. Kownine is very excited to be part of an elite group of educators at Prep Academy Tutors and looks forward to working with you.

Kristen graduated from Pace University in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics. She has spent the last 8 years tutoring mathematics for middle and high school students, as well as all topics of the SAT and ACT. Her years of experience focus on teaching to the student, not the subject, and she believes that a one-size-fits-all approach does not work for every student. She likes to take a holistic and mindful approach when working with students. In her free time she enjoys reading, going to orange theory, and hanging out with her cat, Chewy.

Kristina has a master’s degree in Elementary and Special Education with a concentration in mathematics. While teaching over the past 6 years, Kristina has taught in the general education and ICT setting, teaching students with various learning difficulties and styles, and from a multitude of cultural backgrounds. Kristina has extensive training with programs that have given each of her students access to rigorous academic standards, most notably being the Algebra For All Initiative. Currently, Kristina teaches third and fourth grade math. Though her passion is math, Kristina truly enjoys teaching all subjects. She is motivated to remove the stigma against math learning and show all children that they are capable of being mathematicians. Her love for education stems from when she was a child herself, and she feels fortunate to connect with children at various ages and ability levels. Outside of school, Kristina enjoys crafting, baking, and spending time with family and friends.

Kristina has been teaching Science (Biology, Human Biology, and Forensics) and AP Psychology at Brunswick School in CT for eight years. She also enjoys teaching and tutoring Chemistry. Kristina has a Bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience from Claremont McKenna College, a Master of Art in Teaching from Manhattanville College, and a Master of Science in Biology from NYU. In addition to teaching, she helps work with the Brunswick Water Polo program and has earned her EMT certification and looks forward to volunteering in her free time.

Ladane is a multilingual professional educator with a DEI and technology background currently teaching French at a private Independent School in New York City. She is proficient at developing authentic personal relationships with various constituencies with a personal reputation for integrity, mentoring, empowerment, collaboration, performance excellence, and thoughtful leadership. Previously, Ladane worked at The Masters School in Dobbs Ferry, NY, where she taught all levels of French for ten years and developed and implemented new curriculum, including capstone projects, coached tennis, and advised the French Club. Prior to that position, Ladane worked in IT/Telecommunications for Verizon Labs. She completed her BA in Human Resources at L’ Institut Supérieur de Gestion in Tunis, Tunisia, her master’s in network management at L’institut National des Télécommunications in Paris, France, and her MEd at Pace University in New York.

Lee Hyatt has a Bachelor’s degree in Physics from Furman University and is currently working on a Master’s degree in Engineering Education from Purdue University. Lee has 7 years of teaching experience teaching in both boarding school and day school environments. He has taught AP Physics 1, AP Physics 2, College Preparatory Physics, Honors Physics, and College Preparatory Chemistry plus other project based engineering courses. Lee has been tutoring in Physics since his Sophomore year in college and loves to work with students one-on-one. He tries to use as many simulations and metaphors as possible to simplify the conceptual understanding to assist with the understanding of equations. Lee lives in Danbury, CT enjoys Formula 1, running, cycling, and hiking.

Lisa has over 15 years of teaching experience and 10 years of tutoring experience both in person and virtual. Lisa gained a scholarship to attend Cranleigh boarding school in the UK for 11th and 12th grade where she studied biology, chemistry and math. She has a bachelor’s degree in science from UWE Bristol UK and a master’s in science from Kings College London. As a qualified teacher she has worked in a number of reputable schools in the UK and New York. Now as a full time tutor, she combines her passions for biology and technology to create virtual lessons that make the biological concepts relevant, clear and fascinating for the student. She is a very diligent, dedicated and compassionate tutor, who will always listen to a student and work alongside them to help them reach their goals. She has a background in health and will always take a holistic approach to her tutoring. Drawing on her many years of experience she has an excellent track record of improving students performance in biology.

Originally from Sydney, Australia, Lourdes is an elementary school teacher for grades 1-6 in New York State. Lourdes currently works for The Windward School at the Westchester Lower School which specializes in language-based learning differences. She graduated in 2020 from The City College of the City University of New York with a Bachelor of Science in Childhood Education, and a concentration in Languages and Literature. In 2017, Lourdes was the winner of The Stark English Composition Award from the English department of the City College of New York for her winning paper, “Traditional Martial Arts: Timeless in the Modern World.” As a 2nd degree black belt in Taekwon-Do, Lourdes has also worked with children as a Taekwon-Do Instructor for Gotham Martial Arts in NYC. She teaches children from ages 2-13 and continues to instill her martial arts training, particularly socio-emotional learning and physical movement, into her academic instruction. Working with children means never having to “work” another day! As well as teaching children, Lourdes is an avid reader, writer, outdoor enthusiast, and animal lover.

Lydie has been teaching English and Humanities at Notre Dame School in Manhattan for eighteen years. She has also worked as an instructor for several middle school enrichment programs including the SEEDS Scholars Program of New Jersey and the Gilder Lehrman Institute. Additionally, she has an extensive background as a tutor of multiple subjects. Lydie has a Bachelor’s of English with a minor in Linguistics from the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia. She also has a Master’s of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Brooklyn College. She is an experienced curriculum innovator and developer, implementing many original courses in schools and programs throughout her career. She is a particularly skilled college essay advisor, coaching students through the writing and editing process and making sure they get the right word count! She is 100% certain that all students have the ability to become strong writers with practice and encouragement. Lydie feels that one of the most important aspects of teaching is showing students how to cultivate their authentic voices so that they can write with confidence, conviction and sophistication. She believes in academic rigor, scrutinizing literary texts for profound meaning, and insightful student-generated discussion. She is both a challenging and compassionate educator. Above all, she believes that students learn from each other just as much as they do from their teachers. Outside of teaching, Lydie is an avid reader, loves watching the CBS Sunday Morning show with her husband and playing with her funny cat, Boots.

Hola!

Maria Sanahuja was born in Barcelona, Spain. She has a bachelor’s in business administration from the European University in Barcelona and a certificate in marketing from EADA. After 15 years in the fashion industry as a business owner, Maria moved to the United States, in 2013, after her husband got a job offer. Since then, she has been tutoring and teaching Spanish in various schools. She loves her country and has a passion for teaching the language and culture to kids. Maria uses a full immersion teaching method, where 95% of the class is taught in Spanish, using only English when strictly necessary. Maria likes to make learning Spanish fun and interesting, engaging students through various interactive activities.

Maria enjoys reading, listening to music and long walks with her family of 6.

Hasta pronto, amigos!

Maryann is in her 15th year teaching in New York City. She holds an M.S. in Education from Lehman College, an M.S. in Special Education from Manhattan College, and an Advanced Certificate in School Building Leadership from Manhattan College. She values her connections with her students and especially enjoys teaching science and literacy!

Maura is currently an elementary school teacher for the New York City Department of  Education. She’s a graduate of Manhattan College where she received Bachelor’s degrees in English and Childhood and Special Education, and her Master’s degree in the latter. Throughout her tutoring and teaching experiences, Maura has leveraged her background in both education and English to work effectively with a variety of learners, including special education students and English Language Learners. In her leisure, she enjoys doing anything outdoors with family and friends.

Maureen Darcy was raised in Southern California and moved to New York to attend New York University. As an undergraduate, she majored in French and Linguistics with a minor in Arabic. She then went on to receive her Master’s degree in Teaching English as a Second Language from Teachers College, Columbia University. Maureen currently teaches French and Spanish at the Professional Children’s School where she is also a Middle School Advisor and a Yearbook advisor. She enjoys sharing her passion for world languages and cultures in her classes while also supporting students in their academic and personal growth. She currently lives in Brooklyn, New York with her cat Pistachio.

Mbaye is a certified New York teacher for grades 7-12.  He attended University Cheikh Anta Diop Dakar (Senegal) and graduated in 2013 with a B.S in mathematics and physics. He moved to New York in 2014, and pursued a B.S. in Mathematics and a Master’s degree in Mathematics Education at Lehman College (CUNY).  He is currently pursuing a PhD in Mathematics Education at Teachers College (Columbia University).  Mbaye is a 7th grade math teacher at South Bronx Early College Academics and an adjunct lecturer at Bronx Community College and Lehman College.  He is qualified to teach all middle & high school math courses as well as college-level mathematics.  Mbaye also teaches high school physics.

With his 7th grade students, Mbaye uses mathematics as a tool to understand and interpret our world. He believes that in an increasingly technological economy, we must strive to understand and apply mathematics to our lives and our future. 

Megan G. is a certified English teacher who has taught all grades 7-12. Currently teaching middle school English Language Arts in Connecticut, she has tutored upper elementary, middle, and high school students ranging in subjects from English, Social Studies, Spanish, test prep, summer work, college essay writing, and executive functioning/organizational systems support.

Melanie R. Buchanan received a bachelor’s degree of fine arts in acting from Creighton University and worked as the Youth Director at Civic Theatre of Greater Lafayette in Indiana. While working full time, she opted to return to school at Purdue University. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and immediately moved to Lima, Peru, where she worked at an English immersion school. In her free time, she enjoyed learning Spanish, eating ceviche, and exploring the Peruvian culture (including Machu Picchu).

In August 2013, Melanie moved back to the US, and applied for the New York City Teaching Fellows program. Once accepted, she participated in the Spring Classroom Apprenticeship and the Blended Learning Institute and started as a full time teacher in the fall of 2014. In June 2016, she completed her Master’s degree from Relay Graduate School of Education.

Melanie taught for 6 years at Bronx Studio School for Writers and Artists in the south Bronx, but, last year, moved to Tuckahoe High School. She currently teaches Regents and AP Chemistry after having taught Algebra 2, Regents Earth Science, Forensics, and Everyday Engineering. Ms.Buchanan is married to an English professor, and they have one dog, Camote, a cat, Khione, and a fiery, red-headed six year old. When she isn’t teaching, grading, or traveling with her family, you can find her completing 1000 piece jigsaw puzzles, reading, or tending to her plants.

Melissa is a tenured New York City Math Education teacher for the Department of Education.  She has over 11 years of experience working with the general and special needs population.  Melissa provides student mathematical growth in her general education class, as well as co-taught classes serving students with Individualized Education Plans (IEP).  She has serviced grades K-12 throughout her career and has a current focus on grades 6-8 Math and Algebra 1.  Melissa is a culturally responsive teacher who uses students’ experiences, lifestyles, and cultures to develop tailored lesson plans and provide services that are accessible to her diverse student groups.

Mr. Marlowe comes to Prep Academy Tutors after a thirty-plus-year career that has spanned the realms of teaching, writing, marketing, managing, and leading at local, state, and national levels. A mathematics and test-prep man of all trades within the supplemental education community, Mr. Marlowe spent the better part of sixteen years with Kaplan before moving on to Huntington Learning Centers and then on to founding Math and English Consulting (MEC). In November of 2017, Michael sold his company to iTutor. Mr. Marlowe has written materials for all graduate-level, high school, and elementary level standardized and high-stakes tests..

Michael possesses a Master of Childhood Education and Literacy from Pace University, along with an extension in Middle School Social Studies. He graduated with a B.A. in History from the University of Hartford. He has been working as a teacher for the past seven years and has experience teaching elementary and middle school.

Mohamedou is an experienced educator whose background includes over 20 years of teaching all levels of Chemistry as well as algebra-based Physics courses at several top boarding schools in the US (Exeter, Lake Forest Academy) and abroad (King’s Academy, in Jordan). He received a PhD degree in macromolecular chemistry from Université Pierre et Marie Curie, in Paris, France, and a Master’s Degree in Education (curriculum and instruction) from National Louis University, in Wheeling, IL.

Mohamedou looks forward to sharing his passion for science and math with the students. According to him, very few things provide as much personal satisfaction and sense of purpose as sharing knowledge and helping others gain confidence and succeed.

Mohamedou has been a soccer coach and dorm parent for over 20 years. He is also a creative amateur woodworker, and he likes to spend some of his free time on woodworking projects when he is not traveling. Mohamedou speaks five languages fluently.

A recent retiree, Monica Gerken spent the last twenty-five years teaching second and then first grade at the Horace Mann School in Riverdale, Bronx, New York. Prior to that, she taught pre-K for several years. A firm believer in continual growth and professional development, she has had complete training in the Fountas and Pinnell Reading System, Teachers’ College Writing Workshop, Handwriting Without Tears, Singapore Math, the Yale Institute for Emotional Intelligence RULER initiative, and Zoom for online teaching. While at Horace Mann, Monica was chairperson of the Language Arts Department and the Yearbook, and was a mentor for new teachers. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Mercy College and has done graduate work at The College of New Rochelle and Manhattanville College. A recipient of the Bellett Award for Teaching Excellence at Horace Mann, Monica’s work ethic and warm, nurturing, and creative approach to teaching was recognized. The mother of four and the grandmother of twelve, she counts time with her family as her most precious gift. In addition, in her spare time, she enjoys reading, theater, and days on the beach. Monica resides with her husband in the Bronxville area.

Dr. Naomi Finkelstein received her B.A. in Classical Studies from Barnard College in 1990, her M.A. 1995, M.Phil. 1997, and Ph.D, 2010 from Columbia University in Classical Studies, (Greek, Latin, Ancient History, Art History and Gender studies). In 2006, she received permanent New York State certification in Latin 7-12.

Dr. Finkelstein has taught and tutored students in graduate school and college at Columbia University, Union Theological Seminary, and in high school and middle school at Fieldston and the City School District of New Rochelle.  Throughout her 29-year career, Dr. Finkelstein has helped hundreds of students improve their comprehension, confidence, and performance in Latin and ELA, including AP Latin, the National Latin Exam, ELA essays, and personal statements for both the common and coalition apps.  She has also assisted students in preparing for the English sections of the SAT and ACT.

Not everyone knows this but Dr. Finkelstein is also a yoga teacher. She has continued to build skills to better serve students, with training in yoga, social-emotional learning, and mindfulness. She has a 200-hour Yoga Alliance teaching certification and a 25-hour Yin yoga training as well as a Wellness Champion certificate from Breathe for Change.

When Dr. Finkelstein is not teaching, she’s traveling around the world, because travel is the best form of education! Some of her favorite travel experiences have been trips to Athens, Crete, Rome, and Istanbul because of their amazing antiquities.  There is nothing like coming face to face with a 2000-year-old Greek Bronze, or architectural remains like the Parthenon, the lion gate at Mycenae, and the Colosseum!

Nina B.has been teaching for 21 years, the last 16 at the Bronxville Elemenatary School. She has taught 1st, 2nd and 3rd grade and is currently teaching 2nd grade. She and her team of teachers have been responsible for putting together a rigorous curriculum that is enriching and engaging for her students. Her current curriculum includes using Teachers College reading, writing and phonics programs and Singapore math. However, she has a vast general knowledge of how to teach young children any math or ELA they might use in another school district. She understands the need to both challenge her students as well as offer modifications and scaffolding so that all of her students are successful and happy. Ms. B. wakes up each morning excited to come to school as do her students each year.

Noreen brings fun and enthusiasm to tutoring.  She loves to learn and shares this excitement with her students. Noreen earned a Master’s Degree in Elementary and Special Education from Manhattanville College.  She graduated from Fordham University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics.   Noreen has extensive tutoring experience providing executive functioning and academic support to students with various learning styles.  Noreen has supported students to understand classroom lessons, complete homework, and learn study skills for quizzes and tests. Her goal is to promote skill development in all academic areas, as well as in the areas of time management, organization, and self-advocacy.

Noreen has been teaching for the New York City Department of Education for twelve years as both a general education teacher and special education teacher.  She currently serves as a co-teacher for reading, writing, and math in grades four and six in Integrated Co-Teaching (ICT) classes. Although the majority of her experience is with students with IEPs, Noreen has a passion for teaching all students.  In her free time, Noreen enjoys spending time with her family, reading and gardening.  She resides in Ardsley.

Olivia has a BA in English and Secondary Education and a Master’s degree in Liberal Studies with a concentration in History. An attentive and passionate English educator with 15+ of experience in ELA grades 7-12, Regents, SAT and ACT prep, and writing instruction, Olivia integrates interdisciplinary content knowledge and skills with a learner-centered approach to foster positive relationships and differentiation to promote achievement. Olivia is highly skilled in content development and implementation, using standards, data, and technology to improve student performance and success.

Parker is presently completing his Ph.D. in Divinity at the University of St Andrews. He has taught high school humanities and has tutored Latin for several years. Parker is passionate about teaching the humanities, especially philosophy, ethics, and religion, and he is excited to help students become stronger thinkers and writers. One of his favorite subjects to tutor is Latin, as a bunch of his time is spent translating dead people’s works! Parker looks forward to helping his students excel in their studies and strives to meet his students at their individual levels.

Patricia was trained as a fashion designer, holding degrees from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, as well as Université de La Sorbonne and Esmod in Paris, France.

Patricia has held various roles in the fashion industry, with expertise in fabric development, coupled with design and illustration. She was amongst the original three-member team that started Women’s Black Label at Ralph Lauren and other New York brands. During her career in the fashion industry, Patricia was communicating daily with France and Italy.

Currently Patricia teaches art to children and adults as well as French and Italian conversation servicing Westchester communities.

Traveling and family captivate her the most! She is inspired by people and everything that “makes them tick,” as she would say. Originally from upstate New York, Patricia really enjoyed living for years in Paris and Italy. This fed her passion for languages.

Patricia was trained as a fashion designer, holding degrees from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, as well as Université de La Sorbonne and Esmod in Paris, France.

Phil resides in Dobbs Ferry, NY and currently teaches Algebra and Geometry to 9th and 10th graders at Iona Prep in New Rochelle, NY. Phil received a master’s degree in middle school adolescent education. Phil has coached varsity baseball at Iona Prep for 14 years in addition to being a referee for Division 1 College basketball. Phil loves to travel and he has a beautiful 7 year old son, Salvatore.

Richard has taught high school English for 13 years at three different independent schools. After graduating from Davidson College, with a BA in English (and a minor in economics), Richard taught at Worcester Academy (MA) for two years. He then earned his MA in Teaching of English from Teachers College at Columbia University. For the next four years, Richard worked at St. Albans School in Washington, D.C., where he earned the Hall-Hoffman Award, given to the faculty member “who taught us in the classroom and on the athletic field that, through maximum effort, we can excel with honor in all that we do.” He most recently spent seven years at St. Sebastian’s School, outside Boston. Richard is also a dedicated and accomplished coach. He has coached soccer, hockey, and baseball at the varsity level, while also leading teams at several sub-varsity levels. Richard believes that teaching and coaching are the same, and that a sound mind in a sound body is a solid foundation for success.

Richard is pursuing a graduate certificate in Sport Management from the University of New Haven, and he spent the summer of 2020 coaching the 17u Connecticut Bombers baseball team. When not teaching or coaching, Richard enjoys running around with his two kids, riding the Peloton bike, golfing, and reading.

A fun and energetic tutor, Richard loves learning and sharing knowledge with others. He earned a BA in History at SUNY New Paltz. Richard went on to receive an MS in Elementary Education for grades 1-6. After finishing his studies, Richard began his career teaching in the special education program in the Lakeland Central School district  and tutored both privately and for a learning center. Richard spent some time teaching 7th and 8th grade math and science at a private school in Westchester, and is currently teaching 3rd and 4th grade math and science. Richard has tutored math and phonics to elementary school children as well as SAT test prep for high school students looking to increase their overall score for college. “I focus on getting to know my students and creating a fun and safe learning environment. Many times students lack the confidence in themselves and I strive to help them believe that they can achieve anything they set their minds to.” Richard has always excelled in math and believes “mistakes allow thinking to happen.” He has loved sports, movies and animals since he was a child. Richard is the owner of two kittens, Millie and Mittens.

Richard R. has taught both middle and high school mathematics for 20 years in the New York City and Yonkers Public School systems.  Most of his experience in the past ten years has been in NYS Regents Geometry and Algebra 2 classrooms and he has taught all grade levels from 7th grade to college level.   Prior to teaching, Richard was a software instructional designer and received his graduate training at NYU with a concentration in Computer Assisted Instruction.  These skills were particularly useful during the recent experiences in remote instruction where he helped colleagues and students adapt to the computer learning environment.  Richard tutors after school and brings all of his knowledge about Regents preparation and mental math skill development to his sessions.  Richard is enthusiastic about helping your student achieve their highest academic success in mathematics.

Rolando earned a B.S. in Mathematics from Mercy College and a M.A. in Pure Mathematics from Hunter College. Math has always come easy to him, allowing him to help his classmates throughout his school years. He started working as a math tutor for Mercy College at the start of his sophomore year. He graduated with honors (Summa Cum Laude) from Mercy College in 2017. He has a wealth of experience in teaching and tutoring, in-person and online for middle, high school, and test prep math. He currently works as a supplemental math instructor at SUNY Maritime College. His goal as an instructor is to provide his students with the necessary tools to transform their weaknesses into strengths. Rolando’s favorite motivational quote is, “The five P’s: Proper preparation prevents poor performance.” Rolando enjoys sudoku, anime and movies in his spare time.

Sandra is a chemistry teacher with seven years of teaching experience in private, charter and city schools at the middle and high school levels. She is presently teaching applied chemistry and she has experience teaching 7th and 8th grade science, test prep, forensics, and environmental science. All of the classes focus on inclusivity by incorporating different learning levels and styles to better assist the needs of every student.

Sandra’s additional experience comes from tutoring students at the Huntington Learning Center. In this setting, she gained the opportunity to teach chemistry, biology, earth science, organic chemistry, as well as the mathematics portion of SAT/ACT prep to high school students. She also has experience working with younger students aged 5-10 while volunteering in a Croatian parish as a religion and language teacher.

Sandra’s seven year long teaching, volunteering, and tutoring experience has given her the opportunity to develop her own teaching style which is to look at every student as an individual with their own set of skills and ways to learn.

Sandra’s passion for teaching came after she left the United States Marine Corps in 1998. After leaving the Marine Corps, she enrolled in a bachelor’s program at Long island University (CW Post) and received her degree in elementary education.  After graduation, she enrolled in a master’s Program at Dowling College where she received her master’s degree in special education.   Sandra currently holds 4 New York State Teaching Certifications (Birth-6th grade, General Education and Special Education). Sandra has a passion for teaching and motivating children to become independent and lifelong learners.   Sandra currently teaches grades 3-6 in a public school on Long Island.  Sandra has tutored for the past 14 years.  In Sandra’s spare time, she loves to be out on the water boating with her husband and 6-year-old son.

Sara has been tutoring for over thirteen years. She received her Bachelor of Arts in History from Eastern Connecticut State University, and a Master’s in Education from Sacred Heart University. She is currently working on her EdD. in curriculum, instruction, and assessment. Sara has been teaching elementary education for twelve years and is currently a second-grade teacher. She has written curriculum for her district and is currently a lead literacy teacher for the district.

Her mission as a tutor is to ensure that every student succeeds. Her goal is to instill in children the passion to be lifelong learners. The students Sara has worked with have ranged in age from three years old to eighteen years old. She has worked on skills including phonics, number recognition, math facts, and test preparation. She creates individual tutoring plans for each of her students based on their skills. Sara creates meaningful bonds with all of her students as well as their families.

When Sara is not working, she loves reading, spending time with her three children, and traveling.

Sarah has a Bachelor’s degree in Human Rights from Columbia University. She has been in the teaching profession for 5+ years. From 2018-2021 she served as a teacher of the gifted, teaching Algebra 1 and Geometry with >95% pass rate at Volusia County School District, FL. In addition, she served on the Algebra 1 curriculum committee. She is currently a Substitute Teacher at Dobbs Ferry MS and Eastchester HS while pursing NYS Teaching Assistant certification.

Her hobbies include reading, needlecraft and outdoor activities. She is preparing to run her first 5k this coming September.

A quote that inspires her is, “The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man,” by George Bernard Sha

Shanna Z. is a professional educator with over 19 years experience in education. She has a diverse experience and strong track record fostering child-centered curriculum and student creativity. Shanna is a warm and caring teacher who works to create learning environments that are encouraging, and adaptive to the varied needs of students. Shanna is experienced in one-on-one as well as group tutoring and workshops, and she strives to build students’ self-esteem while introducing concepts into curriculum related to life and social skills.

Shawn is a graduate of SUNY Geneseo and Pace University where he received his undergraduate degree in History/Adolescent Education and a Master’s in Special Education. Shawn loves teaching and he feels lucky to be able to teach students.  He has taught every grade level from 7th through 12th and for the past 6 years, he has been teaching both 9th and 10th grade Global History.  Additionally, for the past 4 years, he has taught AP World History. 

Shawn believes that history should be an incredibly interesting and engaging topic.  Learning about why real people made decisions and how those decisions impacted people is truly fascinating. He truly enjoys portraying history as a story where there are characters and a plot and a setting. Shawn enjoys using his passion for history to better help students understand topics.  

Sophie has a wide scope of professional experience in French language education and the arts. After receiving a MA from the Institute of French Studies at NYU, Sophie worked with refugee and immigrant youth populations in NYC through the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and the French Heritage Language Program teaching French AP courses and helping to produce a bilingual musical, Amidou et Toya. Sophie currently works as a multimedia artist in puppetry, theatre, and creative and non-fiction writing, and lives between Colorado and Paris (France) as a touring educator and guest artist.

Steven is a special education teacher at Dolan Middle School in Stamford, CT. He has been teaching at this middle school for the past four years. Steven taught in the Diocese of Bridgeport as a middle school social studies for five years prior to joining Stamford Public Schools. He has an undergraduate degree in education from Iona College and a master’s degree in education from Western Connecticut State University. He has an additional master’s degree in special education from Fairfield University and recently completed the educational leadership program at Sacred Heart University. Steven loves teaching and his passion is helping students succeed.

Stone is a former software engineer with a degree in Chemical Engineering from Washington University in St. Louis. As a software engineer, he worked in the financial and cryptocurrency space at companies such as Vanguard and Morgan Stanley. He currently teaches Engineering and Robotics in high school.

Stone takes an individualized approach with every student he works with. He believe rapport and mutual respect are the foundations from which successful habits can be formed. Meta-skills in self-learning, problem solving, and critical thinking are extremely important to long term success and Stone works to develop these alongside any curriculum.

Theresa completed her undergraduate degree at SUNY Cortland, and is certified to teach in grades 1-6.  She received a Master’s degree in Special Education from Pace University.  She also has a certification in TESOL (grades 1-12) and middle school Social Studies (grades 5-9). Theresa is in her seventh year of teaching and teaches third grade, general education, in Westchester.  In her free time, she enjoys being outside and playing and watching sports!

Victoria received a Bachelor’s Degree in Childhood Education and a Master’s Degree in Special Education from Manhattan College. Victoria is now a tenured New York City Department of Education teacher working in a 12:1:1 classroom with Special Education students. In her six years of experience, Victoria has worked in a day treatment school setting which focuses on preparing students to succeed both inside and outside of the classroom.

Victoria has experience working with students who have a wide variety of learning styles and needs. She understands the importance of planning engaging and differentiated lessons to meet the needs of each individual student. Victoria also prioritizes creating a safe, respectful, and growth-producing environment with each student and their families. She is passionate about making learning fun and celebrating each learning milestone a child makes–no matter how big or small!

When Victoria is not teaching she enjoys cooking, spending time with her family and friends, and relaxing on the beach.