Amber B.

Amber  has been certified as a middle and high school English Language Arts teacher for nine years and over the course of her educational career has dedicated herself to helping students develop critical skills in reading and writing through creative and student-centered approaches. She grew up in Utah and graduated with an undergraduate degree from Brigham Young University in English Teaching in 2018 and her master’s degree in Literacy Education from the University of Utah in 2024. Throughout her time as a teacher, she worked with students at all levels of achievement, from young struggling readers to students in Advanced Placement courses and has experience working with small groups of students and providing instruction one-on-one. After being accepted to Louisiana State University’s doctoral program for Curriculum of Instruction with an emphasis in literacy education, Amber moved to Baton Rouge where she hopes to continue to help young learners find success as they develop the ability to read and write effectively.

Sarah H.

Giani C.

Giani is a highly experienced literacy specialist, Certified Academic Language Therapist (CALT), Educational Diagnostician, and educator with more than 20 years of teaching, coaching, and tutoring experience. Throughout her career, Giani has been guided by one fundamental belief: every student learns differently, and effective instruction begins with understanding how an individual child thinks, processes information, and connects with learning.

Giani earned her Bachelor’s degree in Applied Learning and Development from the University of Texas at Austin and her Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Texas at Arlington. She continued her advanced training through Midwestern State University to become an Educational Diagnostician, developing specialized expertise in evaluating how students learn and understanding how learning differences can affect academic performance.

Her credentials in literacy instruction are particularly extensive. Giani is a Certified Academic Language Therapist (CALT) and holds Texas certifications as a Reading Specialist, Master Reading Teacher, Educational Diagnostician, and Elementary Generalist, along with additional endorsements in English as a Second Language and Gifted and Talented education. She has also received specialized training in structured literacy programs including Reading by Design, Basic Language Skills, and JET, as well as Orton-Gillingham-based instruction.

This combination of classroom experience, diagnostic expertise, and specialized literacy training makes Giani particularly effective with students who struggle with dyslexia, decoding, phonics, spelling, fluency, reading comprehension, and written language. Rather than simply helping students compensate for areas of difficulty, Giani works systematically to strengthen the underlying skills necessary to become more capable and confident readers and writers.

At the same time, Giani’s expertise extends far beyond reading intervention. She works with students across the academic spectrum, from elementary learners developing foundational literacy skills to middle and high school students tackling sophisticated reading and writing assignments. Her tutoring areas include elementary academics, middle school Language Arts, AP English, writing, spelling, college essay writing, and English preparation for the SAT and ACT, as well as comprehensive STAAR preparation.

One of Giani’s greatest strengths is her ability to understand why a student may be struggling. Her background as an Educational Diagnostician gives her a valuable perspective when working with students who have learning differences or complicated academic histories. She can identify patterns in how students approach reading and writing and then adapt instruction to address individual needs while building on existing strengths.

For advanced students, Giani applies that same analytical approach to higher-level literacy skills. Whether a student is learning to evaluate an author’s argument, develop a thesis, analyze rhetoric, organize an essay, or refine a college application essay, she helps students break complex language tasks into understandable components and then put those pieces together effectively.

Families appreciate Giani’s ability to combine deep professional expertise with patient, individualized instruction. She understands that students who have struggled academically may arrive at tutoring already believing they are “bad at reading” or “not good at English.” Giani works to change that experience by providing instruction at the appropriate level, recognizing progress, and giving students concrete strategies that allow them to experience success for themselves.

Above all, Giani is passionate about helping students discover the power—and ideally even the enjoyment—of reading. Whether she is teaching phonics to a beginning reader, providing structured literacy intervention for a student with dyslexia, strengthening a middle schooler’s writing, or helping an advanced high school student master rhetorical analysis, her goal is to build a strong and lasting foundation for how students read, write, communicate, and think.

Outside of education, Giani is an enthusiastic reader herself, with a particular fondness for urban fantasy novels. She enjoys sharing her love of books with students—while fully recognizing that convincing every student to share her enthusiasm for urban fantasy may be one teaching challenge even she can’t solve.

Lena H.

Lena is a certified Texas educator with a creative, student-centered approach to helping learners build confidence, strengthen academic skills, and discover how they learn best. She holds a Texas EC–12 teaching certification and brings several years of classroom experience working with students from early elementary through middle school, along with experience supporting learners with a wide variety of academic abilities, learning styles, and individual needs.

Lena graduated from the University of Texas at San Antonio with a Bachelor of Arts in Art, earning a 3.81 GPA. Her university studies also reflected her broad interest in the humanities and social sciences, with coursework exploring literature, culture, history, and the ways art and storytelling reflect society. This interdisciplinary background has helped shape her ability to make subjects such as English, writing, history, geography, and social studies more engaging and relatable for students.

As a classroom educator, Lena has taught hundreds of students across elementary and middle school settings and has designed more than 75 standards-aligned lessons. Her experience includes developing curriculum, differentiating instruction, incorporating educational technology, assessing student progress, and finding creative ways to present information so students can better understand and retain it.

Lena is particularly passionate about working with students who benefit from a more individualized approach to learning. She has managed and implemented IEP accommodations for special education students and has completed additional professional training in dyslexia awareness, mental-health response, and Capturing Kids’ Hearts. She has developed a strong connection with neurodivergent students, including learners with ADHD and autism, and strives to create an environment where students feel understood, supported, and comfortable asking for help.

Lena specializes in English, English Language Arts, reading, writing, spelling, and middle school Language Arts, along with a broad range of humanities and social sciences, including U.S. History, World History, Geography, Human Geography, Social Studies, Psychology, Sociology, and Philosophy. She also supports students in AP English, AP Human Geography, AP World History, college essay writing, and introductory college-level English and Psychology.

In addition, Lena works with students on executive functioning, test-taking skills, and standardized test preparation, including English preparation for the SAT and ACT, as well as STAAR Reading and Social Studies. Her experience with organization, differentiated instruction, and individual accommodations makes her especially well suited for students who understand the material but struggle with planning, organization, task completion, or demonstrating what they know on assignments and tests.

One of Lena’s greatest strengths is her ability to approach academic material creatively. Her background in art and visual storytelling allows her to incorporate visual explanations, step-by-step modeling, and alternative ways of presenting information when traditional instruction isn’t connecting with a student. Rather than expecting every learner to process information in the same way, Lena works to discover what makes a concept “click” for each individual student.

Families appreciate Lena’s patience, creativity, and ability to build genuine connections with students. She believes students are more willing to challenge themselves when they feel safe making mistakes and know their teacher genuinely understands them. Her goal is to help students recognize their own strengths while developing the academic skills, strategies, and independence necessary for continued success.

Outside of teaching, Lena is an artist and storyteller who has had a lifelong love of comics and animation. She enjoys creating her own stories and artwork exploring underrepresented communities and themes of justice and representation. She brings that same curiosity, creativity, and appreciation for different perspectives into her work with students.

Laurel A.

After years in the classroom starting with Kindergarten all the way up to high school, Laurel started her own tutoring business in the Raleigh/Cary area and enjoys working with students one-on-one as well as small groups as requested. She works with English/SAT English and sometimes French!

Laurel truly believes that engaging students using their curiosity and encouraging them to think bigger builds confidence and success. She loves working with international adult students as well, in-person or online anywhere in the world. She has visited many countries in Europe and she wants to visit other countries where her students live someday.

Stephanie J.

Stephanie has been a dedicated and passionate National Board Certified English teacher for over 30 years. She believes that with engaging instruction and the right encouragement every single student can attain both skills AND confidence —and thus opportunities for unlimited growth—as readers, thinkers, and writers. She fosters curiosity and helps students connect on a personal level with what they are learning.

Stephanie is a proud graduate of Meredith College where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and her teaching license for grades 9-12. Teaching had always been her life’s plan, and once she started, she never looked back. Stephanie has extensive experience teaching grades 9-12 and in coaching students to read closely both fiction and nonfiction, write effective college application essays, prepare for the verbal sections of the ACT and SAT, and create polished, compelling compositions in various modes. She enjoys teaching the finer points of grammar, in particular how they elevate student writing and authenticate student voice.

Outside of teaching, Stephanie enjoys laughing and spinning tales, reading both realistic and historical fiction, cooking for her family and friends, singing in her church choir, taking long brisk walks daily, and hiking as often as possible in the North Carolina mountains. She loves bright colors, the Oxford comma, organized closets (well, organized everything, to be honest), and all things autumn.

Karim E M.

Karim is a fully credentialed educator with over nine years of international teaching and tutoring experience, specializing in STEM and English from elementary through secondary levels. He holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) with UK Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) from the University of Sunderland, a Double Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry.

Throughout his career, Karim has served in key academic leadership roles—including Head of the Science Department at Khalil Gibran School—and has successfully guided senior students through rigorous Cambridge iGCSE and A-Level examinations. Fully bilingual in English and French, he brings extensive experience in delivering international curricula and adapting instruction to support diverse learning styles.

As a tutor, Karim integrates brain-based, cognitive learning strategies to help students demystify complex scientific and mathematical concepts. His pedagogical approach emphasizes metacognitive problem-solving, building student independence, and fostering self-efficacy. Whether working one-on-one or in specialized group programs, he creates a structured, encouraging environment designed to inspire confidence and drive measurable academic achievement.

Amy M.

Amy is an experienced STEM educator specializing in biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, and science tutoring for middle school, high school, and college students. Originally from Germany, she holds a B.S. in Biology from Florida Gulf Coast University, graduating with high honors, and brings several years of experience helping students navigate challenging STEM concepts. She also provides test preparation for ACT, SAT and PSAT.

Early in her college career, Amy served as a Supplemental Instruction Leader at Houston Community College, where she developed review materials, facilitated collaborative study sessions and adapted instruction to meet students’ needs. More recently, she has led year-long AP Biology study programs designed to strengthen student’s understanding, build confidence, and prepare them for the AP exam. She has also provided individualized tutoring in biology, genetics, and chemistry, supporting students with coursework, test preparation, and effective study strategies.

Amy’s approach combines strong subject knowledge, personalized instruction, and executive-function coaching. She helps students understand the why behind biological concepts, apply their knowledge to AP-style questions and data analysis, and develop the organization, problem-solving skills, and confidence needed to succeed. She has also recently applied for her Florida teaching license as she continues to expand her impact in the classroom.

Outside of teaching, Amy enjoys exploring fantasy worlds and collaborative storytelling, particularly through Dungeons & Dragons, where she channels creativity and problem‑solving – skills she brings into her work with students.

Todd M.

Todd is an experienced science educator, biological scientist, and outdoor educator with more than 15 years of experience helping students understand and appreciate the natural world. With expertise spanning biology, chemistry, environmental science, anatomy, and the earth sciences, Todd is passionate about showing students that science is much more than memorizing vocabulary and formulas—it is a way of understanding how the world around them works.

Todd earned his Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Louisiana and pursued graduate study in Environmental Health Science at the University of Georgia. His scientific background extends well beyond the classroom and includes professional experience in ecological research, environmental science, wildlife biology, and federal environmental programs.

Before focusing primarily on education, Todd worked as a Physical Scientist with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), where his work involved environmental policy, air quality, offshore exploration, and federal environmental regulations. He also served as a research associate studying carbon sequestration in southeastern U.S. swamps and wetlands and worked as a biological science technician conducting field surveys of wildlife populations, endangered plant studies, and conservation programs.

Todd brings this extensive real-world scientific experience directly into his teaching. As a science instructor, he has taught Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Science while developing curricula that incorporate hands-on experiments, interactive activities, and outdoor educational experiences. His greatest area of expertise is the biological sciences, and he especially enjoys helping students connect concepts from biology and ecology to things they can observe and investigate in everyday life.

His tutoring expertise includes Biology, AP Biology, Cell Biology, , Anatomy, Chemistry, AP Chemistry, Physics, Physical Science, Earth Science, Environmental Science, Geology, and Space Science, as well as middle school math. Todd also supports students preparing for 8th-grade Science STAAR, the ACT, and the TEAS exam, along with helping students develop stronger study habits and test-taking strategies.

One of Todd’s greatest strengths is his ability to make science tangible. Rather than relying solely on textbooks, he enjoys using experiments, demonstrations, outdoor exploration, and real-world examples to help students understand why scientific concepts work. His background as both a scientist and outdoor educator allows him to answer the question students so often ask: “When am I ever going to use this?”

Throughout his teaching career, Todd has worked with students representing a wide range of abilities, learning styles, and confidence levels. He believes students learn best when they feel comfortable asking questions, making mistakes, testing ideas, and discovering answers for themselves. His tutoring style is patient, encouraging, and highly interactive, with an emphasis on building genuine understanding rather than short-term memorization.

As both an educator and the father of three teenage boys, Todd also understands that no two students learn exactly the same way. Sometimes a student simply needs to hear a concept explained differently or see it demonstrated in a new context before everything begins to click. His goal is to identify that connection for each learner and use it to build greater confidence, curiosity, and independence.

Outside of education, Todd enjoys hiking, camping, geocaching, and exploring the natural world with his family. He is also a former drummer—a background that may explain both his appreciation for creativity and his comfort managing the occasional controlled chaos that comes with helping young people learn.

Ultimately, Todd wants students to leave tutoring with more than improved grades. He strives to help them become stronger problem-solvers, more confident learners, and perhaps even discover that science can actually be fun.

Yaman J.

Yaman is a Doctor of Medicine who graduated from medical school overseas and is currently taking a gap year while conducting neurology research and preparing to pursue a neurology residency. With more than 1,500 hours of teaching experience across private tutoring and educational institutions, he has taught learners from kindergarten through college and adulthood, including physicians older than himself. Passionate about teaching and public speaking from a young age, Yaman finds great purpose in helping students move from feeling overwhelmed to confidently saying, “I finally understand it, and I want to keep getting better.” He makes learning organized, engaging, and enjoyable while sharing practical, evidence-based strategies for studying, memorization, and exam preparation, including active recall, spaced repetition, targeted practice questions, and structured review. His goal is not only to help students succeed on an assignment or exam, but also to build confidence and develop study skills they can use independently for years. Outside of tutoring, Yaman enjoys playing video games, spending time with friends, and staying active through table tennis, soccer, and basketball.