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.

Imagine a compassionate and engaged individual guiding you through coursework to better grades. Meet Angelica: Angelica’s career has centered around Education and English. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts and excels in communication. Her specialty is writing and grammar. She has worked for her local school district and has tutored elementary and high school students. Although she has worked from pre-k to university peer level, elementary has been a mainstay in her career. Her success has entailed creative writing awards and being recognized for her journalism. Angelica has eight years of experience teaching and tutoring students in the public and charter school districts of Philadelphia. She is currently working in special education. She enjoys reading about cats making yarn fortresses.

Angelina S. teaches world religions, history, and theology at a Philadelphia area prep school. She spent twenty years as an advertising creative director in the healthcare space before transitioning to teaching. She has a master’s degree in religious studies, focusing on the relationship between technology and religion. Angelina decided to pursue teaching because she found mentoring early career team members was what she loved most about her role as a creative director, and she wanted to make a positive impact on the lives of young people. As a tutor, Angelina focuses on critical thinking and communications – essay writing, public speaking, and presentation building. She works with students to build their confidence and set clear goals for academic success, and she relies on relevant skills she’s acquired as a communications professional to help her students.

In addition to teaching, Angelina is a freelance writer and sings with the choir of the Philly Pops. She is a strong advocate for the humanities in education and finds inspiration from the rich arts and culture offerings in Philadelphia.

Caitlin G. is a passionate and experienced educator with over six years of teaching experience and a passion for helping students shine. She has taught grades 3–8 and brings a strong background in K–4 math, ELA, science, and social studies, along with a special love for middle school reading and writing. In addition to her classroom work, Caitlin has years of tutoring experience and has led everything from summer learning programs to theater games at camp—always finding creative ways to make learning fun and meaningful. Whether she’s helping a student build confidence in reading or master tricky math, Caitlin brings patience, humor, and a deep belief in every child’s potential. When she’s not teaching, you’ll probably find her at a local theater, exploring a new hiking trail, or trying to keep her plants alive (with mixed success).

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.

Charity is an Elementary and Middle School educator with experience in teaching American Sign Language (ASL) for beginners, English Language Arts (ELA), Social Studies, and Science in homeschool and public-school settings. One of her greatest passions is language learning and gaining familiarity with the surrounding cultures. She currently has a high B1 level of Spanish, a fair communicative level in ASL, and is learning Japanese and Swahili. In all her personal goals and professional undertakings, Charity’s main focus is to be an encouraging and virtuous figure and role model in the lives of children. She spends her free time spending time with her seven younger siblings, volunteering at church sports leagues, and brainstorming unique themes for her self-developed Outschool classes.

Chiara B. is finishing her Master’s degree at the University of Pennsylvania, in Materials Science and Engineering with a minor in Mathematics and a concentration in Energy and Sustainability. Passionate about sustainability, chemistry, physics, and mathematics, Chiara is eager to pursue a career in academia, focusing her research on energy storage solutions.

Beyond academics, Chiara has teaching and coaching experience, having coached sailing programs for students of all ages, including children with learning disabilities. She has also held leadership roles in her team, leading meetings and mentoring high school students in math and chemistry.

An accomplished athlete, Chiara is a dedicated member of the Penn Sailing Team, where she has held leadership positions, including team captain. She is also actively involved in the engineering honor society, leading tours for prospective students and engaging with the broader academic community.

Originally from Italy, Chiara moved to Miami at the age of 10 and speaks Italian, English, and Spanish fluently. A passionate world traveler, she loves exploring remote destinations and immersing herself in new cultures. She believes that fostering curiosity and connecting academic concepts to real-world applications is key to helping students build confidence and succeed.

Connor is a Middle School English Educator and has worked for the School District of Philadelphia since 2023. Connor is passionate about the reading and writing skills of all students and combining student need with interest. They believe in building a solid rapport with students, as it is foundational to create supportive learning environments that challenge and hold students accountable for their learning. Above all, they are dedicated to creating and adapting lessons that will push students out of their comfort zones, resulting in the growth of the whole student.

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.

Dr. Andrea D. graduated from the University of Virginia with a degree in Psychology and Biology, and earned her PhD from Boston University. She is a Biological Anthropologist who studies wild orangutans, baboons, and other primates. When not studying primates, she teaches Writing and Anthropology at an Ivy League University. Her teaching experience includes Harvard, Princeton, and Boston University, and she served as the Resident Scientist for 8th graders in a Massachusetts public school. Having struggled with a reading disability herself, and now helping two stepsons with ADHD and other neurodivergences, Dr. D. knows how tough it can be to learn in the traditional classroom environment. As a tutor and professor, she uses multimedia, scaffolding, and other pedagogy to help every learner excel. If you or your child is struggling with executive functioning (study skills, planning, time management, etc.), she can help with strategies that she has practiced herself. Her previous experience in marketing and current experiences teaching Writing and writing her own research grants makes her an excellent choice to help with college entrance exams and essays. Dr. D. loves teaching, and helping students make connections and form an understanding of the materials. She always strives to make each learning experience a skill- and confidence-building moment so that the student leaves with more than a right answer.

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. Hannah P. has 9 years of post-secondary teaching experience as both a teaching assistant and adjunct professor at Drexel University. She has taught various chemistry courses including General Chemistry, Quantitative Analysis, and Analytical Instrumentation Analysis.

Prior to completing her Ph.D in Analytical Chemistry, she obtained a Master’s degree in Secondary Education, during which she partook in multiple classroom observations and completed a semester of student teaching. Through the student teaching experience she was able to take on the full responsibilities of the classroom, teaching both Chemistry and Earth Science.

Her teaching philosophy is based on presenting material from three different approaches; visual, audio, and hands-on learning styles. Through the understanding that everyone learns differently, she finds it important that students discover how they learn and are able to apply that to every aspect of their education.

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.

Dr. Philippa C. graduated from the University of Oxford with a BA in English Language and Literature, earned her MA in U.S. Literature from the University of Edinburgh, and received her PhD in English Language and Literature from Cornell University. She has taught at Cornell, Johns Hopkins, and, most recently, Rowan University. She also has over a decade of experience tutoring students aged 14 to adult in English, ELA, PSAT/SAT and AP English test prep, college essay writing, college admissions, and executive functioning.

She approaches tutoring holistically, tailoring her lessons to each student’s individual learning style, academic goals, struggles, and interests. She is deeply committed to inclusive teaching and has published academic research in this field. She is trained in trauma-informed pedagogy, has extensive experience working with neurodiverse students, and enjoys helping students to thrive intellectually and personally through close attention to executive functioning issues and strategies.

She loves teaching English. Not only does it benefit students academically, but it also introduces them to new worlds, ideas, and forms of self-expression. It can also be incredibly fun! In her spare time, she enjoys exploring Philadelphia, live music, and fostering shelter dogs until they are ready for their forever home.

Dr. S. Bolton is a dedicated educator, executive functioning specialist, and leader in early childhood education with over 15 years of experience helping children build the foundational skills they need to thrive academically and personally. She holds advanced degrees in education and child development and began her career as a preschool teacher before transitioning into leadership roles shaping educational programs at a national and global level.

Dr. Bolton specializes in executive functioning coaching, helping students develop essential skills such as organization, time management, and self-regulation. She believes that every child can reach their full potential with the right support and strategies. Her approach is engaging, research-based, and tailored to each student’s needs, ensuring they build confidence and independence in their learning.

Beyond her work in executive functioning, Dr. Bolton has designed and led educational initiatives that improve literacy, cognitive development, and early childhood learning. She is passionate about equipping students with the tools they need for success, fostering a love of learning, and supporting families in navigating their child’s academic journey.

When she’s not coaching or consulting, Dr. Bolton enjoys exploring creative ways to support children’s development, speaking on early childhood education, and spending time with her two young children, who constantly inspire her work.

Dr. Stephen Hackler holds a PhD from the University of Pennsylvania in Physics and Bachelors degrees from Rutgers University in Physics and Computer Science. They’ve worked as an instructor at Penn and Swarthmore and know what it takes to excel in the college classroom. They use thoughtful and compassionate teaching strategies to identify each student’s unique skills and specific needs and help them to improve both their performance and their understanding of challenging material. Stephen is attentive to the many stresses that students experience in todays highly competitive academic environment and is passionate about supporting the wellbeing of their students as they work to deepen their understanding and master challenging content.

Eva is a former high school math teacher who pivoted to software engineering. She is a proud graduate of Westtown School and Bryn Mawr College, where she earned her BA in mathematics. Eva lived in Houston, Texas after college teaching Algebra and Geometry while also working with private tutoring clients. During this time, Eva also obtained an MA in mathematics from the University of Houston with much of her coursework focused on math education.

She moved back to Philadelphia to complete a Masters program in computer science at the University of Pennsylvania. She then joined Comcast, eventually serving as a senior software engineer. While Eva enjoyed mentoring in that role, she misses working with students and is eager to bring her energy and expertise to helping clients achieve their goals. In her spare time, she stays up too late reading and always has several craft projects on the go, including making bespoke piñatas for her friends’ kids.

Ginneh is a dedicated educator with a passion for helping students grow into confident, skilled learners. A graduate of Bryn Mawr College and the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education, she has also completed 30 additional education credits through the University of San Diego’s Extended Studies program. Over the past four years, Ginneh has taught 4th and 5th grade students in English Language Arts, Writing, and Social Studies, while also tutoring learners from 1st through 12th grade in both math and ELA. She specializes in writing and reading comprehension and thoroughly enjoys making learning fun by using a variety of strategies to help students truly understand what they’re learning. Her classroom results reflect her commitment—over 90% of her students have achieved proficiency on the PSSA. Ginneh believes strong foundational skills are the key to long-term academic success. When she’s not teaching, you can find her coaching middle school basketball or planning her next travel adventure— sometimes while also binge-watching a new show and pretending she’s not already three episodes past bedtime.

Hong-Mei holds a Master’s in Nonprofit Leadership from the University of Pennsylvania and a Certificate in Entrepreneurship from the Wharton School. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Dickinson College and completed PhD coursework in chemistry. With eight years of tutoring experience, she has worked as a teaching assistant and instructor in math and chemistry. Professionally, she has managed nanotechnology, biomedical studies, and engineering programs at the University of Pennsylvania and Temple University. In 2019, she represented global policy for the Major Group for Children and Youth at the United Nations and was a panelist at the Geneva Academy of Science conference 2020. A certified breathwork and meditation instructor for over 13 years, she teaches globally to help individuals reach their potential. Outside of yoga and meditation, she enjoys traveling, running, cooking, and hiking.

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.

Jennifer has worked as a Teacher for over 7 years and holds a Pennsylvania Certification. She enjoys working with students in both one-on-one and group settings. Her favorite classes are Learning Support, Reading Intervention, and ELA. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English from Temple University, and loves all things Reading & Writing. Jennifer has a neurodivergent child who struggles with Executive Function, and who struggled greatly in their school environment. This life changed opened her eyes to the world of working with students and adults with Executive Function issues. She has been doing this type of support for over 3 years. Whether the Executive Function issues are due to Autism, ADHD or Trauma, Jennifer is eager to help in various ways as there is no one size fits all. Jennifer takes a whole person approach when working with students and adults. She is adaptable, dependable and is great at making her clients feel comfortable. She lives in beautiful Bucks County, PA with her 3 sons and her Westie, Graham.

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.

Upon graduating from college, Jonas H. began teaching at the St. Ann’s School in Brooklyn, and has taught in the humanities for over 20 years. While he has taught middle schoolers and adults in a variety of settings, Mr. Hamilton has mostly worked in private secondary schools, offering classes in World History, U.S. History, and other subjects. He earned his B.A. at Harvard College, and later, two Masters Degrees (Arts, Philosophy) from Columbia University. Mr. Hamilton remains an enthusiastic student and teacher of history, a challenging, beautiful, and constantly evolving discipline. In his spare time, Mr. Hamilton cooks, reads novels, plays chess, and folds paper, especially the beautiful models of Hideo Komatsu.

Julia spent five years teaching high school English in San Francisco Public Schools. She’s taught grade 9-12 as well as both AP English courses and worked as an AP Exam reader. As someone who loves to learn new things, Julia has earned an MA in German Literature from UC Berkeley, an MA in Teaching Reading from the University of San Francisco, and is currently a master’s student in the English Department at Villanova University. She also spent a year living in Germany on a Fulbright research grant to study political fairy tales.

Julia loves to help students to make connections between their lives and what they are learning in school. She is an experienced writing coach who specializes in supporting students to express their thinking with clarity, complexity, nuance, and style.

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.

Kathryn is a dynamic and empathetic Spanish teacher with extensive experience teaching and tutoring students from kindergarten through high school. Throughout her 32 years as a certified public school teacher in both CT and NJ, Kathryn has never met a student who couldn’t learn Spanish! Adept at breaking down complex language concepts into manageable chucks, Kathryn specializes in providing memorization and test-taking strategies to help eliminate frustration and facilitate academic success. Music and academic games are favorite teaching strategies which often elicit those magical “ah ha” moments on the faces of her students. As a lifelong Spanish learner herself – from a shy, beginning high school Spanish student to her years as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Honduras to recent travels in Spain and Mexico – Kathryn’s own journey inspires her students along their path to language learning success. At this point in her life, Kathryn is extremely excited to have recently made the move with her husband to Philly!!! Short term goals include climbing all of the Manayunk steps, finding that elusive perfect vegetarian pizza slice, and decorating her new home with Facebook Marketplace treasures.

Lauren received a bachelor’s degree from Temple University in Spanish and Secondary Education. She has taught a variety of levels ranging from Intro to Spanish to Spanish 4 Honors at public and private schools across Philadelphia. Her teaching philosophies are student centered and adapt to each child she encounters. As a Spanish teacher, Lauren believes the most important aspect to learning is getting the students to buy into the content. It is important to gain the student’s attention and curiosity in order to keep them intrigued and open to learning. When Lauren is not in the classroom, she enjoys reading poetry and experiencing local art museums in the cities she is visiting. She is also passionate about swimming- Lauren coaches a competitive swim team and has taught survival swim courses in her free time.

Lauryn is a certified elementary and special education teacher and reading specialist with over 14 years of classroom and tutoring experience. She is passionate about helping her students build confidence and thrive academically.

With an interest in teaching since a young age, Lauryn pursued her career upon graduating from Saint Joseph’s University with a B.S. in Elementary & Special Education and an M.S. as a Reading Specialist. She has taught students in kindergarten through 6th grade one-on-one, in small groups, and in the whole class setting. Lauryn has specialist knowledge in reading and math with Wilson reading program training, an Orton-Gillingham Structured Literacy Certification, a Mathematics Coaching Endorsement, and extensive experience teaching students with learning disabilities, including dyslexia.

Lauryn enjoys making learning fun while tailoring lessons to challenge students and meet individual needs. When she’s not teaching, you might find Lauryn reading, taking dance classes, or exploring Philadelphia’s parks with her husband and one-year-old daughter.

Leah is a certified Reading Specialist, graduating from the University of Pennsylvania with a Masters in Reading/Writing/Literacy. For over a decade, Leah has worked with mixed-age and mixed-ability youth across the world including Pennsylvania, Colombia, and India. Whether in the classroom or after school, Leah is seriously silly and loves bringing an artful approach to literacy with her early elementary kiddos. In her spare time, Leah reads way too much fiction,  plays way too much with her dog named Zorra, and eats way too much pie.

Liza earned her BA from Columbia University before earning her MS in Biomedical Sciences from Drexel University. She is currently a medical student at Drexel University College of Medicine. With a strong academic foundation and passion for learning, Liza enjoys helping students build confidence and achieve their academic goals through personalized support and effective study strategies.

Margaret Martin graduated from Haverford College with a Bachelors of Science in Chemistry. She worked for three years as a teaching assistant in both General Chemistry and Organic Chemistry while completing her degree. As a teaching assistant she held multiple office hours a week to further student’s understanding of class content and how it applies practically to the skills they were learning in labs. Through this experience she developed a passion for being able to explain concepts in multiple ways to allow students to connect with material in a way that best suits their learning styles. She brings this philosophy into her tutoring as she fosters engaging and comprehensive one-on-one lessons, encouraging students to deepen their understanding and ability to apply the material they’re learning.

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.

As a seasoned teacher and tutor with years of classroom, small group, and one-to-one experience, Michelle understands the importance of working with a student’s individuality and needs to build self-esteem to foster learning using their unique strengths. There are many approaches to solve a problem. Her job is to find the approach that works for each student. Michelle takes pride in connecting with them and getting them to understand that they are capable of getting to their goal. She loves to travel, and feels it enhances perspective. She uses this approach in her teaching. Outside of the classroom, Michelle’s favorite hobby is refinishing furniture; changing something dirty and dusty, left at the curb into a shining new treasure. Sometimes a little elbow grease is all you need to see the potential in something!

Mira is a certified teacher with seven years of classroom experience in Philadelphia elementary schools. She graduated summa cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania and holds a Master’s in Teaching from Relay Graduate School of Education. Mira currently serves as a literacy coach, training and supporting new teachers in effective reading instruction and classroom strategies. Mira believes that literacy is a fundamental right, and specializes in literacy intervention to help every student become a successful and confident reader. When she’s not teaching, Mira loves to go camping and hang out with her pup at the dog park.

Nikki J. is a passionate special education teacher specialized in working
with students with autism and developmental disabilities. A graduate of Saint Joseph’s University, Nikki’s focus in Applied Behavior Analysis gives her a plethora of strategies to foster creative exploration of the curriculum inside the classroom. Within the span of 10 years Nikki has taught High School and Elementary School, and is currently in the
role of K-2 Special Education Teacher. Because of the uniqueness of students with autism and developmental disabilities, Nikki implements various strategies, differentiation, and modification to the lessons to improve skills and make learning fun on each child’s level. Nikki’s current enrollment in the Reading Specialist Program has taught her how to specialize her plans for teaching writing and reading comprehension to her students.

Nikki is heavily involved in her church and is a church leader in the Youth Department. Nikki enjoys game nights with her family, relaxing, and hanging out with her fur baby Diego.

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.

Rebekah A. (she/they) is completing her Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Villanova University. Her counseling background, combined with over a decade of experience working with children, make it easy to build strong bonds with each student that she tutors. As a counselor, Rebekah believes that the best changes happens when a student feels comfortable and safe in a learning environment, so her first priority is to cultivate a trusting relationship with each child and family. Parents appreciate her patience, kindness, and sincerity.

Rebekah’s diverse tutoring experiences make her an ideal fit for a wide range of families. Her years of experience tutoring students ages 7-22 make her perfect for families with multiple children in need of support, and Rebekah’s multidisciplinary expertise qualifies her to tutor in many subject areas, including languages, writing, math, biology, and chemistry. Most notably, Rebekah specializes in math support (4th grade-algebra 2) for students with math learning disorders (dyscalculia). She also has four years of experience as a professional writing tutor, assisting students of many ages to improve their writing in English, Spanish, and Italian.

A lifelong learner, Rebekah has always been drawn to the helping professions. As a future therapist, she values the relational aspect of tutoring, and looks forward to supporting your child on their journey towards success.

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.

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.

Tiffany Delgado is a PA Certified ELA Teacher and PA Certified K-12 Reading Specialist. She completed her undergraduate and graduate degree at East Stroudsburg University, and is currently pursuing her PA Principal’s Certification. She has been an educator for 8 years, helping students of all ages foster a passion for reading and writing. Outside of academia, Tiffany enjoys traveling, surrounding herself with family and friends, and her 12 year old bull terrier, Lola.

Vania Gulston has more than 20 years of experience in the field of education. She holds Pennsylvania certifications in secondary mathematics and social studies; and has masters degrees in education, history and folklore, performance studies, and technology design from the University of California at Berkeley, Temple University, and New York University, respectively.

Her teaching practice has been shaped by her love of radio. She became a social studies teacher in order to extend the work of helping to broaden people’s understanding of their social world that she did as a community radio broadcaster. She pursued a degree in technology design because she wanted to equip herself with the technical skills necessary to operate the broadcast equipment of a radio station. As well, she pursued graduate studies in tech design because, after experiencing obstacles in her efforts to increase her technical knowledge, she wanted to be able to offer that same technical knowledge to women and people of color who sought it.

She is the founder of WJYN Radio–a low power fm radio station in Philadelphia