JB Brooks.
JB enjoys helping students simplify problems into smaller pieces of a puzzle. His goal is to teach students the key to breaking down math problems into simpler steps before tackling the larger problem. He communicates on the level of the student in a way that feels relatable.
JB is a rising sophomore in the McKelvey School of Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis. As mechanical engineering major, JB has a strong math and physics background. JB is also a part of Army ROTC where he utilizes organization, discipline and leadership skills. JB enjoys playing basketball and football, skiing, backpacking, and fishing.
Deb B.
Deborah has been a dedicated teacher for 33 years, beginning her career after graduating from the University of Idaho with a Bachelor’s in Spanish. She has taught in rural communities and large cities, teaching every grade and subject, which has allowed her to hone her teaching skills. Upon moving to Boise, she contributed to district training initiatives and earned her Master’s degree during her nine years teaching first grade. Seeking more family time, Deborah transitioned to the Lee Pesky Learning Center, where she has worked for nearly eight years, supporting and collaborating with educators. Outside of work, Deborah enjoys the outdoors, spending time at her cabin in Featherville/Pine, and cherishing moments with her blended family. Now an empty nester, she continues to find joy in reading, traveling, and managing a couple of home-based businesses.
Fanwei (Mary) Z.
Mary is an experienced Mandarin educator and former university professor with more than 20 years of teaching and academic leadership experience. Before relocating to the United States, she served as a Professor and Director of the Engineering Management Department at Shandong Technology and Business University in China, where she taught courses in both Mandarin and English while leading major academic research initiatives.
For the past five years, Mary has taught Mandarin in the United States, working with students ranging from kindergarten through college, as well as adult learners. She specializes in helping students of all experience levels—from beginners to advanced speakers—develop confidence in speaking, reading, writing, and understanding Mandarin Chinese.
Mary’s teaching style is interactive, engaging, and highly personalized to each student’s goals and learning style. She incorporates authentic materials and multimedia resources—including videos, audio clips, PowerPoint presentations, and widely respected curriculum programs such as Easy Steps to Chinese, HSK, and YCT—to create dynamic, effective lessons that keep students motivated and engaged.
She focuses on three core principles to support student success:
- Connecting language learning to real-life situations
- Beginning with interesting, relatable topics
- Using multimedia tools to strengthen understanding and retention
In addition to conversational and academic Mandarin instruction, Mary also supports students preparing for AP Chinese, HSK, and YCT examinations.
As a bilingual educator fluent in both Mandarin and English, Mary creates a supportive and encouraging learning environment where students feel comfortable building language skills while also gaining appreciation for Chinese culture. Her accomplishments as a lead textbook author and recipient of national-level research awards reflect her deep commitment to educational excellence and lifelong learning.
Families and students appreciate Mary’s warmth, structure, patience, and enthusiasm, as well as her ability to make Mandarin both approachable and enjoyable for learners of all ages.
Skill set: Online Mandarin
Dr. Sophia N.
Dr. Sophia N. recently earned her PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Delaware. She received her undergraduate degree in Chemistry from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where she also competed on the cross country and track team. During her graduate studies, Sophia was actively involved in K-12 outreach, which prompted her interest in educating children. She is currently pursuing a Master’s in Teaching, Learning, and Curriculum at Drexel University and is working toward her certification as an elementary school teacher. In addition to her strong background in science, Sophia enjoys teaching math and has several years of experience tutoring K-12 students in both math and science. She understands how daunting these subjects can be, but with encouragement and practice she helps students recognize their capabilities. Outside of teaching, she is an avid movie lover and enjoys walking.
Dr. Samantha N.
Dr. Samantha N. is an interdisciplinary archaeologist with years of tutoring and teaching experience in social science, natural science, and math. She graduated from Cornell College in 2019 with a Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry and Archaeology. In 2026, she graduated from Boston University with a Ph.D. in Anthropological Archaeology. Throughout this time, she gained experience in tutoring and teaching students at the collegiate, high school, and middle school levels. She loves archaeology because of the way that it connects to so many other disciplines: chemistry, geography, history, and economics, just to name a few! As a teaching fellow in Boston University’s Department of Anthropology, she used hands-on activities and guided questions to help her students learn how to learn. She believes that this allows students to comprehend and retain information better than if they had relied solely on rote memorization. In 2022, she received Boston University’s Outstanding Teaching Fellow in Archaeology Award for her dedication to her students and her contributions to the course material. In her spare time, Samantha enjoys knitting, spending time with her cats, and gardening.
Patrick C.
Patrick is an elementary teacher with six years of classroom experience and has a genuine passion for helping young learners thrive. Now living in Bracebridge, he feels grateful to call Muskoka home, a place that reflects his love of nature, community, and outdoor adventure.
From a young age, Patrick knew he wanted to teach. Growing up surrounded by educators inspired him to pursue a career where he could make a meaningful difference. He has always felt most at home working with elementary‑aged students, believing this stage of learning is where curiosity, confidence, and foundational skills truly take shape.
Patrick is known by his students as “fun but fair,” a balance he takes pride in. He creates a classroom environment that is positive, engaging, and supportive, while encouraging students to challenge themselves and grow. Building strong relationships, maintaining consistency, and bringing enthusiasm to every lesson are at the heart of his teaching approach.
Outside of school, Patrick enjoys exploring the outdoors, camping, and taking in everything Muskoka has to offer. He loves helping children make connections between their learning and the natural world around them, fostering curiosity and a deeper appreciation for their environment.
Patrick looks forward to supporting students over the summer through personalized, enjoyable, and confidence‑building learning experiences. Families are always welcome to reach out with any questions.
ROBYN K.
Robyn is an Ontario Certified Teacher and a recent graduate from the Master of Teaching program at the University of Toronto’s Ontario Institute for Studies in Education. She also holds a Master of Arts in English from Toronto Metropolitan University. Robyn is qualified to teach Intermediate/Senior English and Social Sciences and is currently pursuing an additional qualification in Intermediate Math.
Robyn teaches with patience and flexibility, tailoring lessons to the unique needs of her students. As a tutor, she wants to help students discover the joy of learning through meaningful and engaging activities.
In her spare time, Robyn volunteers with the Toronto Public Library’s Leading to Reading Program where she works one-on-one with an elementary student on their reading and writing. She is passionate about literacy instruction and believes it is crucial to helping students develop critical thinking skills, creativity, and confidence.
Christine C.
Christine holds an Honours Bachelor of Science degree and a Bachelor of Education, and has been teaching in elementary schools for nearly seven years. She brings a wide range of classroom experience, particularly in the primary grades, while also having worked with students across all grade levels from Kindergarten to Grade 8. Additionally, Christine has a special focus on early literacy intervention and working with struggling readers on remedial reading programs. Using phonetic-based literacy programs, Christine delivers instruction in a systematic way to students who have dyslexia and other language-based learning differences. Christine is also qualified to teach Intermediate Science.
Passionate about creating meaningful connections with her students, Christine believes that learning should be engaging, supportive, and fun. She approaches teaching with a whole-child mindset, recognizing that every student is more than their academic performance. Her goal is to help students build confidence, curiosity, and a genuine love of learning in a positive environment where they feel seen and valued.
Outside of teaching, Christine enjoys spending time with her family. She is the proud mom of a one-year-old daughter and loves going on adventures with her dog, Louie.
Amanda G.
EN: Amanda Guedes has a bachelor’s degree in Kindergarten Elementary from Mcgill University. She has been working with children since her teenage years when she volunteered at a daycare and then began working there as a replacement educator. She then continued to pursue her love for working with children through the education program at Mcgill University. She graduated in 2019 and since then has worked towards her career in teaching. Upon graduating, she went abroad to London, United Kingdom to start her teaching career and gain experience. There, she completed two years of teaching –at the grade 5 level and kindergarten level respectively –and got to appreciate the education system and its methods within the UK. Upon her return to Canada, she was able to bring back those methods and began teaching for the English Montreal School Board. She has been with them ever since and continues to put all her love into teaching. She also began tutoring four years ago and has since then taken on many students to provide extra practice to help them succeed in their academic journey. She has helped students with their homework, extra practice to solidify their understanding, practice for both final and entry exams, and so forth. Amanda speaks three languages and is able to help students in both the English and French sectors.
FR: Amanda Guedes est titulaire d’un baccalauréat en éducation préscolaire et enseignement primaire de l’Université McGill. Elle travaille auprès des enfants depuis son adolescence, alors qu’elle faisait du bénévolat dans une garderie avant d’y être embauchée comme éducatrice remplaçante. Elle a ensuite poursuivi sa passion pour l’éducation en intégrant le programme d’enseignement de l’Université McGill.
Diplômée en 2019, Amanda s’est consacrée à sa carrière en enseignement. À la suite de ses études, elle est partie à Londres, au Royaume-Uni, afin de débuter sa carrière et d’acquérir une expérience internationale. Elle y a enseigné pendant deux ans, respectivement au niveau de la 5e année et de la maternelle, ce qui lui a permis de découvrir et d’apprécier le système éducatif britannique ainsi que ses méthodes pédagogiques.
À son retour au Canada, elle a intégré plusieurs de ces approches à sa pratique professionnelle et a commencé à enseigner au sein de l’English Montreal School Board. Elle y travaille depuis et continue de mettre toute sa passion au service de ses élèves.
Amanda a également commencé à faire du tutorat il y a quatre ans et accompagne depuis de nombreux élèves afin de leur offrir un soutien personnalisé dans leur parcours scolaire. Elle les aide notamment avec leurs devoirs, la consolidation de leurs apprentissages, la préparation aux examens d’admission et aux examens finaux, ainsi que le développement de leurs compétences académiques de façon générale.
Amanda parle trois langues et est en mesure d’accompagner les élèves des réseaux scolaires anglophone et francophone.
Liz P.
Liz has over 26 years teaching experience in elementary school, including every K-5 grade level and one year as a K-8 home school support teacher. Her recent professional development includes training in the Orton-Gillingham (OG) Reading/Writing Method, Lexia LETRS Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling, Cognitively Guided Instruction (CGI) for Math, and Guided Language Acquisition Design (GLAD). She has received the following degrees and credentials from San Diego State University (SDSU): Master’s Degree in Reading Education with Reading Specialist Credential, Multiple Subject CLAD Credential with Supplementary Mathematics Authorization, and Bachelor of Science, in Computer Science & Psychology.
Liz has successfully worked with students from very diverse backgrounds and supported their individual needs with targeted differentiated instruction and social-emotional support. She builds positive relationships with her students and enthusiastically supports them to achieve their academic and personal goals. She also understands the importance of collaborating with the student’s family in order to maximize the student’s growth and well-being.
She is available for in-person and/or virtual online tutoring sessions.