Davina L.

Davina is a certified bilingual educator with both Bachelor of Arts and Masters degrees. She has been teaching middle and high school French with Montgomery County Public Schools for over 15 years. She currently teaches high school students, where she shares her passion for languages.

François-Michel L.

François-Michel L. discovered his love of teaching and tutoring when he taught a computer class while still in high school and has resided in the Washington DC area since 1991. He graduated with High Honors from Princeton University with an AB in Classics and wrote his senior thesis on ancient Greek epic poems (it wasn’t all Greek to him ). He then obtained an MSE degree in Computer and Information Science from the University of Pennsylvania, where he was a sought-after tutor in both French and Computer Science. After graduating, he worked for ten years as an IT director at Fannie Mae before becoming a Scientific Systems Developer at the National Institutes of Health. At every job he has worked, he has had the great privilege of teaching technical and/or business classes to junior staff and providing one-on-one coaching as a corporate mentor. He is known as a dynamic and entertaining presenter and public speaker, holds both French and American citizenship, and is qualified to teach and tutor English, French, Latin, Math, and Linux. François is also allergic to cats, so please let him know if you have furry feline friends so he can take his allergy eyedrops ahead of time!

M. Galal

Mr. Galal is not your average educator—he’s a dynamic force in the classroom, blending the discipline and focus of a black belt martial artist with the passion and dedication of an experienced educator. With a distinguished background in teaching English as a second language (ESOL), standardized test preparation such as SAT, GMAT & GRE, and Advanced Placement (AP) exams, Mr. Galal holds a Master’s of Arts degree with honors in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) from the University of Maryland Baltimore County, and is certified as a PREK-12/ESOL teacher in both Washington, D.C. and the State of Maryland.

With over two decades of experience in education, Mr. Galal has taught and trained students across a wide array of settings—from K-12 schools to community colleges and universities. He is currently a full-time multilingual educator who teaches English as a second language, AP US History, and SAT preparation at Theodore Roosevelt High School in Washington, D.C. and he is a test preparation instructor at the American University. In addition, he serves as an AP test reader for ETS (Educational Testing Service) while managing a couple of test preparation centers he founded in Cairo, Egypt. He has also been recognized with multiple honors, including the United Nations Honor Medals for his service during peacekeeping missions. Besides his witty personality, Mr. Galal has also been known as “the teacher you don’t want to mess with!” since he once was a black belt, internationally ranked Karate player!

Addaline D.

Addaline Durham has been passionate about education and mentorship from a young age, beginning her tutoring journey in middle school as part of a peer buddy system. Since then, she has accumulated years of experience working with students of all ages, from early childhood to college-level peers. Throughout high school and college, Addaline continued to tutor a diverse range of learners, providing personalized academic support to help students build confidence and achieve their goals. She has experience tutoring a wide variety of subjects, including Spanish, which she taught at a language learning camp, as well as English, college algebra, biology, political science, and math.

Her adaptability allows her to tailor lessons to each student’s needs, making complex concepts more approachable and engaging. In addition to her tutoring experience, Addaline has worked extensively with younger children as a pre-K teacher. This experience reinforced her ability to create engaging, developmentally appropriate learning environments and tailor lessons to fit each student’s unique needs. With a deep commitment to student success, Addaline takes a patient, personalized approach to teaching. Whether working with young learners on foundational skills or helping older students refine their academic abilities, she is dedicated to fostering growth, curiosity, and confidence in every student she teaches.

Divina M.

Divina is a full-time chemistry professor at Baton Rouge Community College in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She has a doctorate degree in Chemistry and a master’s degree in teaching. She also has a Louisiana teaching certificate. Her education and teaching experience prepared her to be a highly effective chemistry tutor. Although she primarily teaches college students, she also enjoys teaching younger students. Additionally, she has tutored math classes in various grade levels at Sylvan Learning Center. She found out from her experience at the learning center that kids respond better if you build a personal connection with them. She absolutely enjoyed this tutoring experience.

Suraj A.

Suraj A. teaches writing and literature at Louisiana State University (LSU). He is also a certified ELA Teacher for grades 6-12. He grew up in Long Beach, California and moved to Baton Rouge, LA to take up a teaching post in LSU’s English Department. He is a traditionally published writer and has a postgraduate degree in English from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. He has lived all over the world and speaks five languages with varying degrees of fluency. For him, teaching is no different than writing, in that both mediums impart knowledge while simultaneously keeping the recipient engaged. With that in mind, he constantly strives to develop and deliver lesson plans and activities that keep the student curious and involved. He loves teaching and feels like it is his true calling in life, besides writing. While not teaching or writing, he can be found in the gym, training for powerlifting competitions or out in nature, exploring.

Caleb W.

Caleb is from Billings, Montana and was the first Native American Valedictorian at West High School. He has mentored and tutored high school students for nearly a decade to help them prepare for and apply to college. A few of the elite universities his students have been accepted to are: Stanford, Harvard, Columbia, and Amherst College. Caleb has a M.A in Native Food Systems from Montana State University and a B.A in Environmental Studies from Amherst College. His relevant professional career experience has ranged from being a college prep coach to working as a graduate research and teaching assistant. Having recently graduated, he is young enough to relate to your child while being old enough to have the lived experience to share. Caleb believes that academic success comes from a holistic understanding of one’s personal goals and playing off of one’s strengths. Outside of work he enjoys camping, trivia, and getting friends together to play board games.

Diana H.

Diana has taught learners of all levels from gifted kindergarten in the public schools to freshmen at California Baptist University. It gives her great joy to light understanding in her students not only to boost scores but to reveal the order and beauty of language. She has served varying roles as a public school teacher, head of the Gifted and Talented Program, homeschooler, and professor of composition. Also a book editor and writer, Diana has led writing workshops for teachers at conferences along with seminars on great college application essays in Fulton, Gwinnett, and Forsyth school districts. Her narratives, commentary, articles, and poetry feature in magazines and anthologies, digital and print. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Pennsylvania with a B.A. in linguistics before earning her M.Ed. at Temple. Certified to teach all grades in Georgia, Diana tutors students in SAT Reading & Writing, ACT English & Reading, SSAT, MAP, IOWA, and college essays. She scrubs commas and rescues dangling modifiers from The New York Times in her spare time.

Jake M.

Jake is a dedicated and passionate tutor with a strong background in chemistry and biology, seeking a career in medicine and education. He is excited about the opportunity to support students in their academic journeys and inspire a love for science by building confidence and curiosity. Jake recently completed his master’s degree, focusing on how viruses affect the brain, and has additional research experience in protein engineering and microbiology garnered during his undergraduate degree in Biochemistry.
With over six years of combined experience in tutoring and teaching university-level courses, Jake understands the challenges learners face when tackling complex scientific concepts. He strives to make lessons engaging, accessible, and tailored to individual needs. By using interactive real-world examples and metaphors, he enhances understanding and fosters curiosity, which naturally develops students’ passion for learning and strengthens their critical thinking skills.
Whether guiding students through chemical reactions, explaining genetic processes, or providing academic mentorship, Jake creates a supportive learning environment where students feel comfortable asking questions and deepening their appreciation for science. He is patient, approachable, and adaptable, ensuring his teaching aligns with different learning styles and paces.
Beyond academics, Jake enjoys cycling, reading, writing, and has a deep appreciation for the visual arts. Whether students need assistance with homework, exam preparation, or conceptual understanding, he is dedicated to guiding them toward success!

Matthew R.

Matthew’s journey into education was an unexpected yet deeply rewarding path. After earning a BA in Television, Film, and New Media, he initially pursued a career in the film industry. However, in 2013, while teaching a film course at the Digital Media Academy summer tech camp, he discovered a passion for guiding young scholars toward academic, creative, and professional success. This experience inspired him to pursue a single-subject teaching credential, leading him to a fulfilling career in education.

Since 2018, Matthew has been an educator at The Preuss School, UC San Diego, where he has honed his teaching philosophy and instructional methods. Initially stepping in to fill a vacancy in the Drama department, he transformed the curriculum into a film-based program that integrates Art, English, and History. His courses reinforce grade-level ELA comprehension and writing skills through in-depth units on story structure, plot development, character analysis, and thematic content. Students apply these skills to writing their own screenplays, while Film I students explore film theory and cinema history. In his advanced Film II/Honors Film course, students engage in collaborative, hands-on projects that guide them through all stages of video production, from pre-production to post-production.

Matthew’s adaptability and innovation were especially evident during the pandemic when The Preuss School transitioned to remote learning for two years. While many educators faced challenges, he embraced the format, finding new ways to engage students and enhance learning through strategic virtual instruction. He firmly believes that, when thoughtfully designed, virtual learning can be just as impactful—if not more—than in-person instruction.

His passion lies in inviting students into the vibrant world of poetry, literature, and history and watching them engage with enthusiasm. Through teaching, he hopes to foster a deep sense of global awareness, empathy, and compassion in his students, empowering them to express themselves through both written and visual storytelling.

Matthew is eager to begin the tutoring process for students in need of support in English, reading, writing, history, social studies, college essay writing, and test prep. Additionally, with his background in Film, he is thrilled to assist students seeking help with video production, editing, or acting. His expertise also extends to Public Speaking and Debate courses, providing students with valuable skills to enhance their speaking abilities.

Matthew is excited to bring his expertise and passion for education to Prep Academy Tutors, where he continues to support students in their academic journeys.