Douglas P.

Douglas is a certified teacher, university faculty member, former museum curator, and all-around renaissance man. Few have a professional background like him: Archaeology, Astronomy, History, Paleontology, and Religious Studies are just a few of the subjects Douglas has worked and taught in. After completing a degree in History he went to work for museums in Los Angeles, including the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and Griffith Observatory. During that time he acquired a Master of Arts in Teaching, taught in several school districts, and all while continuing to work in museums. Since moving to Idaho, he has worked in community based mental health, the state prison system, and currently he is at Boise State teaching Human Anatomy and Physiology Labs, (he prefers labs over lectures – they’re more fun!). Douglas’s style is very unique, interactive, and is about inspiring and not just rote knowledge acquisition. From lecturing about Dwarf Planet Pluto at the most visited public observatory in the world, to teaching inmates about fossilization and quantum mechanics, Douglas is available to help you, or your student, find new appreciation for their natural and cultural worlds, create a tomorrow that is better than today, and learn a little along the way!

Some examples of how he works:
Does your student need to work on basic reading and writing? Let’s use dinosaurs to develop those skills!
Does your student need to work on writing proper essays, developing ideas, and forming arguments? Let’s dig up something archaeological and either support or refute it!
Maybe your student needs someone to talk with while learning about the wonders of the past, the mysteries of the cosmos, and other big ideas. Let’s dive in and see where we end up!
From kindergarten to college, Douglas will endeavor to help your student achieve academically – and have fun while doing it!

Kyla P.

Kyla is a seasoned songwriter and audio editor with a passion for music, lyrics, and music technology. After earning a Bachelor of Science in Music Production from Full Sail University, she rediscovered her love for education and set to work training the next generation of musicians, songwriters, and producers. She has worked alongside music industry greats such as Songwriter of the Year recipient Logan Belle (Songwriters of America 2001, 2007), prolific production music composer Dave Kropf (CBS Sports, NFL Network, Animal Planet, Netflix, Disney, and more), and songwriter and producer Veit Renn (NSYNC, Backstreet Boys, Jennifer Hudson). She looks forward to mentoring students on how to turn their own ideas into fully realized demo tracks. With half a decade of studio experience, Kyla can instruct students on proper recording techniques, the capture musical ideas in MIDI and notation, how audio effects like reverb and delay work, and what it means to mix and master to the industry standard.
When not noodling around in Pro Tools and Logic Pro, Kyla loves to travel to new places, play ukulele in the park, and write short stories for an online publication.

DARREN W.

Darren has been a classroom teacher 9+ years and a soccer and flag football coach. He has a BEd, BA in History, and additional certification in Special Education.

Alya S.

Alya is a dedicated and compassionate elementary school teacher with over four years of teaching experience. She has her master’s degree in Childhood Education and is licensed to teach students in grades 1-6. She has experience teaching students in a variety of settings, including public, charter, and accelerated curriculum schools.
Alya has extensive experience implementing targeted instructional approaches that meet various students’ academic learning styles and needs, including students with IEPs.

While in graduate school, Alya tutored elementary and middle school students in Reading, Writing, and Math. She also created supplemental curriculum material that aligned with state standards in order to provide differentiated instruction for these students.

In her free time, Alya enjoys practicing yoga, going for walks on the beach, and hiking. Alya believes that in order to best meet the learning styles and academic needs of each student, frequent and open communication with parents/guardians, and differentiated instruction is imperative. She looks forward to the opportunity to work with you!

Micaela M.

Micaela is an experienced educator specializing in reading, math, and ESL. She earned her Master’s degree in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) and her Bachelor’s in Cultural Anthropology from the University of Texas at San Antonio. Micaela is passionate about teaching and has dedicated her career to helping students excel in English language learning, literacy, and math.

She has worked with students across various grade levels (EC-6), creating engaging and inclusive environments where they can thrive. Micaela develops customized lesson plans that support diverse learners using differentiated instruction and scaffolding. She is also trained in Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) methods, which she integrates into her teaching to foster supportive relationships with her students. Additionally, Micaela has received her Texas Teachers License in EC-6, with an additional certification in ESL. She has 4 years of experience as an educator in both traditional classroom settings and non-traditional exploratory and project-based learning programs.

Outside of teaching, Micaela enjoys camping, hiking, drawing, and spending time with her cats, Beaux and Pasha, and her dog, Apple.

Diego C.

Diego is a dedicated educator with extensive experience working with children and youth with diverse needs. Holding a Bachelor of Arts in Child and Youth Care from Toronto Metropolitan University, Diego is now currently in his second year of his Master of Teaching program at the University of Toronto OISE, where he continues to learn and develop his skills in teaching students in the Primary and Junior Stream. Professionally, Diego has worked as a Long Term Occasional Educational Assistant at Bloorview School Authority for the past 5 years and continues to be an active community member within the school. Here he collaborates with multidisciplinary teams such as teachers, physiotherapists, occupational therapist, and speech pathologists that support students’ academic and medical needs and provides Diego with many perspectives to learn from. His experience extends to roles such as Life Skills Assistant at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, where he created life skills programs for youth with disabilities. Diego has also worked as an online ESL teacher where he has mastered virtual classroom management skills while also supporting students with their reading and pronunciation. When Diego is not working, you can find him playing tennis or keeping up with the latest trends. His diverse experience in education makes him a well-rounded educator who cares about the students he works with.

Karina R.

Karina is a retired teacher and administrator with over 38 years of experience teaching and leading communities of learners. She has a love for education and connecting with her students and families.

Karina believes that the key to successful learning is making it fun, engaging and appropriate for each child’s instructional needs. Her specialty is differentiating and individualizing according to each child’s interests, strengths and academic goals. She is also a lifelong learner and enjoys traveling, reading, surfing, birding and hiking. Karina is thrilled to be a Prep Academy Tutor, which allows her to help children develop confidence in their abilities and achieve their full potential.

JACQUELINE D.

Jacqueline has a Graduate Diploma in Education and has 11 years of experience in education. She is an Ontario and UK certified teacher with expertise and success in Toronto’s model schools. Jacqueline has worked in Special Education with knowledge of direct instruction programs like Reading Mastery and Visualizing and Verbalizing, as well as phonics instruction programs such as UFLI. Jacqueline has taught Kindergarten to Grade 6 and is currently working as a Kindergarten teacher. Jacqueline is driven and committed to cultivating an equitable, inclusive and safe learning environment that supports all learners.

Dr. Lynda M.

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.

LAXSHAA N.

Laxshaa N. is an accomplished professional with a diverse background in education, data analysis, digital content management, fitness, and nutrition. She holds a Master of Education specializing in Assessment & Evaluation, a Master of Management Analytics from Queen’s University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Honors Psychology and Criminal Justice & Public Policy from the University of Guelph. Laxshaa is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Business Administration with a focus on Marketing and Leadership at Walden University.

She is currently a Student Success Project Manager at Centennial College, where she leads and manages quality assurance initiatives, develops comprehensive surveys, conducts environmental scans, and presents data-driven insights to enhance student success. Her expertise in data visualization techniques and statistical studies has been instrumental in improving advising operations and student engagement at the college.

Moreover, as a Professor of Marketing in the School of Business, she teaches various courses related to market research and analytics, has designed curricula, implemented active learning strategies, and created experiential learning opportunities, ensuring alignment with industry standards and academic excellence.

Outside of her professional life, Laxshaa is a fitness enthusiast, certified personal trainer, and nutrition coach. She enjoys promoting a healthy lifestyle and incorporates her love for cooking into her nutrition coaching. This passion for fitness and well-being complements her dedication to her professional work and personal growth.

Laxshaa’s blend of skills and experiences, combined with her commitment to continuous improvement and data-driven decision-making, make her a versatile and dynamic individual in both her professional and personal endeavors.