Professional Tutoring in Philadelphia

Alvaro Drake-Cortes is a certified facilitator, trainer, teacher and mentor who has worked with children, adolescents and adults in academic and professional settings in government and private sectors.

Alvaro has over 20 years of experience empowering clients to meet their goals and potential across a wide range of disciplines, using tailored and personalized instruction and guidance. With Prep Academy Tutors, he offers students an opportunity to immerse themselves in the Spanish language through lessons and workshops.

Alvaro has a Master of Education from Temple University and acquired his teaching certification in the state of Pennsylvania.

Candy is a native Philadelphian and enthusiastic high school English teacher. She is a proud graduate of both Central High School and Temple University.

Candy has experience in supporting learners of all ages. Above all, when tutoring students, she strives to curate her lesson plans to each student so she is able to meet them where they are, and deepen their understanding using lessons that are relatable to students, and applicable to real-world understanding. Candy works hard to create solid relationships with her students, instilling trust and building confidence along the way. She has found that this solid foundation helps students trust her as she pulls them through complex literary subjects.

With over 16 years of dedicated experience in education, Deanna has had the privilege of shaping young minds as an elementary classroom teacher, literacy specialist, instructional coach, professional development specialist, and private tutor.

Her journey in education began with a profound appreciation for the impact that targeted instruction can have on a child’s learning and self-esteem. This inspired her to pursue master’s degree in Elementary Reading and Literacy, where she discovered the transformative power of literacy in unlocking a student’s potential.

Throughout her career, she has witnessed firsthand the joy and instant gratification that comes from helping students thrive through explicit and systematic instruction in areas of need aligned to assessment data. Her style of teaching is meeting students where they are and taking them to where they need to be, while instilling the power of “yet” and a growth mindset. Instead of “I can’t do this,” it becomes “I can’t do this yet.”

Deanna’s passion for literacy and commitment to student success extend beyond the classroom walls, as she strives to create a nurturing and engaging learning environment for every child. She looks forward to partnering with you to ensure your child receives the personalized support they need to reach their full potential.

Ashley is an accomplished educator with a passion for teaching. With a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from the New Jersey Institute of Technology and experience as a professor, Ashley brings a deep understanding of complex scientific concepts to her tutoring sessions. Over the years, she has honed her ability to break down challenging subjects, making them accessible and engaging to students of all levels.

Ashley’s teaching philosophy is rooted in the belief that learning should be enjoyable and enriching! She specializes in math and science subjects, providing support that extends through college-level courses. Her highly personalized approach fosters a supportive and confidence-building learning environment that encourages students to excel and embrace the joys of discovery.

Beyond the classroom, Ashley is an avid reader. She also cherishes spending quality time with her dog. Ashley is dedicated to nurturing growth, understanding, and a lifelong love for learning in all her students, whether inside or outside the classroom.

Dr. Brandy S. Pickens is a distinguished biochemist and dedicated educator with extensive experience in scientific research and environmental advocacy. Having earned a BA in Biochemistry from Oberlin College and a Ph.D. from Temple University School of Medicine, Dr. Pickens is proficient in making complex scientific concepts accessible and engaging to diverse audiences.

Dr. Pickens has dedicated over 15 years to biomedical research, specializing in biomedical research studies at institutions including the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. This background equips her with a robust understanding of the STEM disciplines, which she brings to the classroom to inspire and educate future scientists and STEM professionals.

Currently, Dr. Pickens serves as a Toxicologist at the United States Environmental Protection Agency, where she conducts technical analyses and reviews concerning the cleanup of hazardous waste sites. Her role at the EPA underscores her commitment to public health and safety, themes she emphasizes in her educational outreach.

Passionate about fostering a love for science and environmental stewardship among young people, Dr. Pickens actively engages with community groups and schools. She organizes and leads educational programs and STEM initiatives, aiming to instill a sense of enthusiasm for STEM disciplines, particularly environmental science, and stewardship in the younger generation.

Dr. Pickens is not only a scientist and advocate but also a mentor who strives to encourage students, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds, to pursue careers in STEM and public service. Her commitment to education, combined with her expertise in biomedical sciences and environmental sustainability, makes her a great match for organizations dedicated to cultivating knowledgeable, responsible, and motivated students.

Dr. Howard C. received his BS with Cum Laude, MS, and PhD in Electrical Engineering from the University of Washington (UW) in Seattle. While he was attending UW, he worked as a teaching and research assistant at the University of Washington Graduate School. He spent a better part of his career as a research engineer in fingerprinting audio, image and video streams. He has received a total of three U.S. patents. After his retirement from industry, Dr. C. started tutoring students in all levels of math, physics, and statistics. It is his pleasure to help students to appreciate the mechanics behind learning these subjects. His students come from many prominent schools and school districts. To Dr. C., math is a passion. He always encourages students “to see” instead of “to memorize”. A picture is worth more than 1,000 words.

John Jaros is a highly experienced mathematics teacher with an AS in Respiratory Therapy, a BA in Mathematics, an MS in Physics, and a PhD in Computer Science. His extensive teaching background includes helping students in elementary school, middle school, high school, and college. If you are having difficulty with arithmetic, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or calculus, he is confident that he can answer your questions, eliminate your confusion, and set you on the road to mathematics excellency. Dr. J. loves math because it is one of the few areas of knowledge that has both practical applications as well as theoretical investigations. In addition to enjoying teaching, Dr. J. is an avid computer programmer, a big admirer of his and his wife’s cat Copernicus, and an “exercise junky” on his home treadmill.

Dr. Lynda’s professional journey, from a long-term substitute in a public school to earning a doctoral degree in Education, is a testament to her dedication and persistence. She has worked with a comprehensive array of demographics regarding students, ranging from early intervention with the youngest students to working with adults striving to earn a GED. She has tutored undergraduate students and non-traditional learners. Each new experience builds a knowledge base and broadens understanding of students’ diverse academic encounters.

Currently, Dr. Lynda provides learning support to young students with developmental disabilities, notably those with intellectual challenges, autism, sensory challenges, and behavioral issues, as well as typical learners. She connects well with people across age cohorts and with students’ families. Her down-to-earth nature is immediately apparent. Her commitment has led her to delve into delivering early learning opportunities, such as language development, phonemes, literacy, phonics, numeracy, and social-emotional development. She uses fun, interactive, collaborative brain breaks, sensitivity, and the learners’ strengths to help them meet their needs.

Dr. Lynda is eager to participate in problem resolution with her students, using her calming therapist skills as needed. She encourages open discussion about academic difficulties in a compassionate, nonjudgmental manner, always remaining a steadfast safety net.

James earned a BS in World History from Temple University and has been working in education for the past 16 years. He values the connections he makes with students and enjoys helping students understand their learning profiles. His academic expertise is with ELA, essay writing, college essay writing, SAT prep specifically in Reading and Writing sections and executive functioning skills. He is remarkable at supporting students in learning to rely on their strengths. He also has a knack for product design, graphic design, and loves panda bears.

Joseph (“Joe” to everyone except priests and nuns) Myers is a lifelong Philadelphia resident who graduated college with Tyrannosaurus Rex and Triceratops. Well, he is not THAT old, but due to completing undergraduate studies in 2001 from Saint Joseph’s University (The Hawk will never die!!!) and graduate work eight years later through Arcadia University, he has acquired a good amount of experience in the educational and publishing realms. His time within them has reaffirmed the belief that everyone exists as a teacher with abundant lessons to teach. He happens to consider himself fortunate to be a literal educator with unwavering devotion to reading, writing (Poetry rules!), and history. Music and pop culture are other topics where he can hold his own, and he likes to weave them into discussions so as to contextualize material. When these pursuits have had enough of his dedication to them and he is not in stitches from time with his wife and son, this left-hander frustrates foes on tennis courts and nerds out on chess.

John Rogers began his teaching journey as a Peace Corps Volunteer in West Africa in the 1990s. He then embarked on a 25-year career as a chemist in the pharmaceutical industry, while also teaching chemistry at Temple and Villanova. Now, he teaches in Temple University’s engineering department, and he has taught physics, biology and math at the high school level. Driven by his passion for inspiring young minds, John left the pharmaceutical field to start a company focused on science and robotics training for youth. In his spare time, John likes playing guitar and cooking exotic foods (a handy springboard for discussing thermodynamics). He is dedicated to helping students discover the wonders of the world through science.

Kate is a certified teacher with her Bachelor’s degree in Special Education and certifications in Special Education K-8 and Early Childhood PK-4. Along with her Bachelor’s degree, Kate recently obtained her Master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis. Kate has always had a love for supporting various learners inside and outside of the classroom.

She has worked in various settings, including preschools, mental health settings and alternative learning settings. Kate loves sports and the outdoors, she takes her passions and creates hands-on and engaging lessons geared to all learners.

Marie attended Temple University on scholarship for her postbaccalaureate teacher certification in Elementary Education, K-6.  Prior to graduate studies, Marie earned a BFA in Dance and has enjoyed a long career in fitness working with children, teens, professionals, and older adults in Philadelphia.  With such a vast background in arts, education, and fitness, it’s easy to imagine that Marie brings energy, creativity, and engagement when working with her students.  She has worked in classrooms at both public and charter elementary schools and was a lead fitness teacher at a local charter high school.  Marie is an experienced tutor, having led an afterschool program where she brought underperforming students up to grade level, and instructed after-school enrichment programs. Marie is a music lover, smiles a lot, reads a lot of books, loves cooking, and most importantly, she loves sharing her passion for education with her students.

Meg Hardick is a certified middle grades science teacher. She holds a BS in Environmental Science, and a Masters in Elementary Education. She specializes in all areas of science, as well as elementary education, middle school French, and standardized test prep. She greatly enjoys helping students build the emotional and executive functioning skills necessary to excel in all subject areas. As a lover of literature and writing, she is especially excited to help students engage with the written word and expand their creative and expressive abilities. She has had great success supporting students through the stress and pressure of standardized testing season, taking a wholistic approach to test preparation and demystifying test structures.

When not supporting students, she enjoys spending time with her son, Hazel, wandering the Bella Vista streets, and hiking in the Poconos. She is a recent transplant from Austin, Texas, and is very appreciative of her new community.

Rachel’s goal when working with students is showing them that math is for anyone who is willing to engage with it––and it can even be fun! She has taught high school math for several years. She has her Bachelor’s in Civil Engineering from the University of Maryland and her Master’s in Teaching from the Relay Graduate School of Education. She enjoys dance and loves to crochet in her free time.

Robin holds a BA in Elementary Education and an MA in Special Education, with over 10 years of experience. She is passionate about personalizing instruction to meet learners where they are, boosting confidence and academic skills in tandem. Robin incorporates multisensory techniques and her students’ unique interests to make learning engaging, impactful, and fun. With a collaborative spirit and excellent communication skills, Robin is dedicated to supporting her students’ progress both at home and at school. She is well versed in the Science of Reading, and enjoys breaking academic topics down into their simplest parts to deepen her students’ understanding and connect the dots in their learning to create lightbulb moments. In addition to her experience as a classroom teacher, Robin also has expertise in educational technology and children’s media, and has spent several years working in this space. In her free time, Robin enjoys playing guitar, practicing yoga, and spending time with her family.

Shaylee Chen is a dedicated and passionate educator with a B.A. in Education, Communities, and Organizations (ECO) from the University of Washington. She is currently pursuing her M.S. in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) at the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education. Having grown up in various countries and immersed in diverse cultures, Shaylee has cultivated a profound appreciation for multiculturalism and linguistic diversity. This international background has not only refined her mastery of Mandarin Chinese but also developed her fluency in French. Her global upbringing enriches her teaching with a unique and inclusive perspective. With three years of experience in multilingual teaching environments, Shaylee possesses the skills necessary to support and inspire students from diverse backgrounds. Her commitment to fostering engaging, personalized lessons, is driven by her belief that curiosity and interest are key to student success. Shaylee is eager to bring her expertise and passion for education to new opportunities and make a positive impact on the lives of her students. Outside of her professional and academic endeavors, Shaylee enjoys exploring new cultures, playing billiards, and swimming.

Ms. Timbers joins Prep Academy Tutors with 10 years of teaching experience and has taught Preschool through Fourth grade in two different states. Ms. Timbers graduated From West Chester University of Pennsylvania in 2014 with a degree in Elementary Education and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership at St. Joseph’s University. She won the “Most Valuable Teacher Award” for elevating her student’s math scores tremendously during her time as a third-grade teacher in Arizona.

Outside of the classroom, Ms. Timbers is a new mom and an only child. Her personal goal is to write a cookbook and she collects healing crystals.

Valentine Faseemo is a passionate and innovative teacher with over five years of teaching experience as a Professor of Law. Valentine graduated from Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria before proceeding to the Nigerian Law School where he was called to the Nigerian Bar as the Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court. He obtained a Masters in International Business Law at the Tilburg University, Netherlands where his curiosity for scholarship and research led him to write his Master’s thesis on Non-Interest Banking as an Alternative to Conventional Banking. Valentine is also a co-author of Company Law and Practice in Nigeria, as well as many academic articles.

Valentine’s impactful, innovative and dynamic teaching methods as well as positive student feedback earned him the award of the Best Lecturer in the College of Law of the Afe Babalola University, Nigeria, where he taught various courses such as Commercial Law, Banking Law, Application of Computer to Law, ICT Law and Alternative Dispute Resolution. His personable approach to teaching and mentoring also led him to be appointed as the Staff Advisor to the Law Student Society in the University.

Valentine’s other research and teaching interests and practice areas include Competition Law, Immigration Law, Entertainment Law, History and Current Affairs.