Garrett R.

With 15 years experience in New York City public schools, Garrett Ramirez has a long track record of tutoring students in a wide range of subjects. His listening and communication skills have been honed through numerous one-to-one assignments across varied grade levels, supporting students in reading, writing, vocabulary, math skills and, his specialty, social studies. In his free time, he loves the outdoors and volunteering in his community.

Kelinda Y.

Kelinda, a master tutor, has nineteen years of experience dedicated to supporting and educating students with disabilities. Kelinda holds a Grade 6-8 Social Studies State of New Jersey Standard Teaching Certificate, acquired through successful completion of the Praxis exam and incorporating course from her Business Administration degree. Additionally, she holds the following standard instructional certificates issued by the state of New Jersey: Teacher of Students with Disabilities, Teacher of English as a Second Language, and Elementary Education Grades K-6. Kelinda is an experienced instructor of Strategic Reading and Multi-Sensory Phonics programs. With experience spanning from Pre-K to 12th grade, she currently serves as a Learning Disabilities Teacher Consultant at a middle school within an Essex County School District.

Kelinda’s passion for teaching and learning drive her to tutor, seeing it as a reciprocal learning process as she guides her students towards growth. Although her current role is as a member of her school’s child study team, Kelinda provides direct instruction as in-class support for students with cognitive impairments and as a teacher during extended school year sessions. Kelinda is committed to encouraging her students to embrace challenges without fear, emphasizing that mistakes made while facing challenges promote self-growth and confidence. Her joy in her profession stems from providing a safe and nurturing environment for her students to think and strive.

Kelinda enjoys maintaining an active by going to the gym, particularly favoring Zumba and Aqua classes. She is also an avid traveler who relishes exploring new places and dining at exceptional restaurants.

Maria Z.

With over 29 years of dedicated experience as a classroom teacher, Maria has cultivated a strong foundation in teaching and leadership in private schools in San Antonio, Texas. As a versatile educator for grades 3-8, Maria led various extracurricular activities, including chess and math clubs, while serving as a mentor for new staff and a coordinator for multiple programs. Being a tutor allows Maria to teach with differentiated learning techniques which is invaluable for addressing the diverse needs of students at varying levels of ability and learning styles. By tailoring instruction to meet individual strengths and challenges, she creates a more inclusive and engaging learning environment which not only accommodates different learning preferences but also fosters a sense of ownership over the student’s education. Being nominated for Teacher of the Year twice in her career, exemplifies the respect Maria has from her peers not only as an educator, but also as a person of character.
Holding a B.A. in International Relations from St. Mary’s University and a K-8 Texas Teacher Certificate from the University of Texas at San Antonio, Maria is passionate about leveraging her initiative and strong work ethic to make a meaningful impact in education. Coming from a military family with roots in New York, her wanderlust to travel America comes naturally. She brings concepts from her travels into her teaching to give her students a wider depth of knowledge and connections to material.

JAMILLA F.

Jamilla F. is an experienced educator with two master’s degrees, Elementary Education and Special Education, from Lesley University and a Post-Graduate Certificate in Educational Leadership from Loyola University Maryland. She began her career teaching elementary and middle school, where she consistently exceeded district-wide growth expectations by using data-driven strategies to meet the needs of diverse learners.

Recognized as a “Teacher of the Year” finalist for Baltimore City Public Schools, Jamilla is passionate about creating equitable learning environments and empowering educators to achieve excellence in teaching and learning.

In her current role as an Educational Consultant with Generation Ready, Jamilla partners with school leaders across New York City to provide instructional coaching and professional development for teachers and principals, design effective instructional systems, and implement data-driven strategies to improve student and educator outcomes.

Martha B.

Martha has a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration and focus on Reading and Literacy. With a background in education, Martha has experience developing and enhancing reading curricula to empower students academically throughout their academic studies. She also has experience preparing students for academic rigor by assessing social-emotional attitudes and overall well-being regarding reading and literacy. Student engagement is critical to academic success. Martha strives to educate students comprehensively and holistically.

Going by “Marsha” as her nickname, Marsha attended Louisiana State University for an undergraduate degree in Interdisciplinary Studies, while minoring in English, Sociology, and Women’s and Gender Studies. Educating to empower all those within her reach has always been her passion, as she believes that wisdom, knowledge, and understanding can eliminate barriers to prosperity, and provide a safety net that will impact generations. Knowledge is a powerful tool. Reading critically and analytically is a fundamental tool that paves the way to excel in all other subjects.

Marsha’s passion, commitment, resilience, and tenacity in serving students and families are interwoven into the fabric of her Being. She considers it an honor and privilege to provide families with high-quality tutoring. Marsha provides students with comprehensive tutoring which entails tailored academic support to assist students in thriving beyond their expectations.

Leila “Sunny” H.

Leila holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and has over 10 years experience teaching in public elementary and middle school settings as well as homeschool classrooms. Currently, Leila uses her passion and expertise for engaging emerging and struggling readers with one on one explicit instruction. Adhering to the philosophy of The Science of Reading, which addresses all components of language (spelling, phonics, writing, and oral communication along with reading) her passion is connecting with the individual student and developing an engaging and personalized curriculum that fosters their desire to learn. Leila utilizes an approach that is centered around games and personal connection. She believes educational success should also include parental involvement and finds creative ways to incorporate learning into family life and uses positive communication to work as a team within the family unit. By closely monitoring progress and careful attention to observable and measurable data, Leila teaches in a method that is specific to each individual’s needs and interests.

Johanna D. F.

Johanna is thrilled to be joining the Prep Academy Tutors team. With over 20 years of teaching experience, she brings a strong background in French language and literature education. She began teaching French at the elementary level before starting to teach courses at the University of Toronto (where she completed her M.A. and Ph.D. in French literature), at Mount Allison University, and at York University.

Johanna’s passion for teaching extends beyond the classroom, as she is also an active researcher in the field of teaching and learning. She has presented at national and international conferences on topics such as language acquisition, experiential and task-based learning, technology-enhanced learning, and digital gaming in language learning. She also led workshops focused on using technology to motivate and engage students, particularly in language learning.

In the classroom, Johanna emphasizes active learning through communicative tasks and projects, while also reinforcing the importance of grammar and language structure for mastery. As a tutor, she tailors instruction to students’ individual needs through targeted exercises and a variety of proven teaching methodologies. Whether through traditional grammar drills, reading exercises, or informal conversation, her goal is to help students build confidence and successfully advance on their learning journey.

Johanna looks forward to working with you and your child to foster their interest in French and support their academic success.

Brendan G.

Brendan Gorman is committed to empowering students to advance achievement. With over 16 years of experience in education, specializing in grades 6th to 12th English Language Arts, Brendan has extensive experience working with gifted and talented populations. He partners with families to create engaging and effective instructional experiences. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from St. Francis College and a Master of Arts in School Building Leadership from St. John’s University.

In his spare time, Brendan works with a nonprofit that teaches public speaking skills to students around the country. Brendan has specific experience teaching writing in both AP courses and college credit courses. He has run review classes for college entrance exams and AP exams. He has also worked with students to craft college essays and supplements. He believes in the revolutionary impact of education and equipping students with the tools necessary to create a lasting impact in their academic careers. He also believes that bios can only tell you so much. Schedule a session to see if he is the right fit for your family!

Mia F.

Mia has a Bachelor of Education degree from McGill University.

She has worked for one year as a teacher at St. George’s Elementary School and is currently in her second year of teaching at Solomon Schechter Academy.

Her specialties include English and math for students at the elementary level. In addition, she has worked as a student teacher at Lower Canada College and Akiva where she supported the teacher’s objectives, planned, prepared and implemented original lessons and activities.

Mia believes that there is not a “one size fits all” approach when it comes to teaching would like her students to feel welcome and safe from judgment. She understands the need for differentiation and always tries to integrate multiple learning styles and techniques in her teaching.

Chris L.

Growing up in Cardiff, Wales, Chris was drawn to the outdoors despite the city’s amenities. As a child, he joined outdoor clubs, cubs, scouts, and played various sports; fostering a love for new activities, challenges, and meeting people. This passion led him to the Sea to Sky region, where a temporary visa turned into a lifelong adventure. For Chris, the satisfaction of overcoming a challenging target, problem, skill, or puzzle has always been worth the effort, work, and occasional pain and frustration

While in university, Chris worked at a summer camp in North Carolina, where he helped campers grow physically, socially, and emotionally, sparking his interest in academic teaching. In 2013, he earned a BA in education from the University of the West of England, Bristol. Through this course, he was incredibly fortunate to have extensive placements in a range of settings, with a range of grades. Chris has worked in both traditional and non-traditional settings; in schools with everything imaginable and schools with almost nothing; and taught from the very youngest learners up to adults in their golden years.

Chris blends educational theory with his active outdoor background to create engaging, multidisciplinary learning experiences, emphasizing hands-on learning and understanding rather than doing. He strives to find creative ways to show that learning is real rather than a lesson in a room. Chris loves finding opportunities to get outside and do something, rather than learn about something. He encourages movement, noise and active participation. Critically and fundamentally, Chris believes in teaching a person at their own individual level and to their own individual needs, encouraging everyone to take ownership of their learning and to support them in overcoming challenges to aid understanding and ability.

Making mistakes and finding things hard is the first step to learning something. If it was easy, were we learning, or just completing tasks?