Jessica L.

Jessica is a lifelong educator, mentor, and lifelong learner whose roots run deep in Miami. Born and raised on Miami Beach, she attended Lehrman Day School and Miami Beach Senior High School, experiences that helped shape her lifelong connection to education and the South Florida community. She went on to graduate from Florida International University with a degree in English Literature and later earned a Master’s degree in Education. With more than 30 years in education, Jessica has built an extensive career dedicated to helping students discover their potential, strengthen their skills, and achieve their goals. Her experience spans virtually every level of education, from elementary and middle school students to high school and college-bound learners. Throughout her career, she has taught and supported students in Regular, Honors, Gifted, Advanced Placement (AP), CAPSTONE, International Baccalaureate (IB), and Cambridge programs, as well as providing SAT and ACT preparation. Beyond classroom instruction, Jessica has extensive experience in tutoring, academic coaching, college counseling, curriculum development, and individualized academic support. She is especially gifted at helping students develop the practical skills they need to succeed academically and independently. A strong believer that organization is a skill that can transform every area of life, Jessica teaches students strategies for time management, organization, planning, studying, and goal setting that extend far beyond the classroom. Her approach focuses not simply on helping students succeed today, but on giving them tools they can carry with them throughout college, their careers, and life. She has worked with students from a wide range of backgrounds and abilities, tailoring instruction to meet their individual needs while helping them develop confidence, independence, and a genuine love of learning. Her passion for English, literature, writing, journalism, and education continues to influence her work both inside and outside the classroom. After more than three decades in education, Jessica remains committed to the belief that every student has the ability to succeed when given the right guidance, encouragement, and opportunity. She also believes that almost any academic crisis can be improved with a good plan, a well-organized calendar, and, when necessary, a healthy supply of coffee. For Jessica, helping students find their path and occasionally helping them find the assignment they were absolutely certain they had already submitted is one of the most rewarding parts of being an educator.

Carol S.

Carol, graduate of Marquette University, has extensive background in private school education. She spent 15 years teaching middle school math. She transitioned into the public school sector where her concentration was 7/8 grade reading and special education. Carol spent 25 years in public education, retiring in 2011. Post retirement, Carol took on a position with the Ohio Department of Education. Her role was to visit local schools and provide training in how to grade for mastery. After she left the ODE she took on several long term guest teacher roles for Toledo Public Schools. Most of these roles required Carol to use expertise in special education. Now living in Florida, Carol has held roles as a private tutor most recently for Sylvan Learning Center.

Lilah G.

Hi! I’m Lilah, and I’ve been a secondary school teacher with the TDSB for the past six years. I mainly teach English, Social Sciences and Family Studies. During the school year I work at an alternative secondary school, which I really love.

English is definitely one of my main areas of experience. For about five years, I’ve taught English through TDSB summer school and night school, particularly ENG4U (Grade 12 University English), so I’m very familiar with the course and what students need to be successful. I’ve worked with students on everything from essay writing and thesis development to reading comprehension, literary analysis, grammar, and just becoming more confident writers overall.

Before becoming a teacher, I also had a background in Child and Youth Care, so building relationships with students and making them feel comfortable has always been really important to me. I’m patient, approachable, and I try to explain things in a way that actually makes sense rather than making schoolwork feel more complicated than it needs to be. I also know that every student learns differently, so I’m happy to slow things down, break things into smaller steps, or approach something in a different way when needed.

Outside of teaching, I love animals, being outdoors and in nature, reading, and musical theatre.

Melissa G.

Melissa is a Psychology graduate from York University with a strong passion for education and supporting children in reaching their academic and personal potential. She brings experience working with children with autism and developmental disabilities in educational and developmental settings, along with knowledge and hands-on experience in Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA). Through this experience, she has supported children in developing communication, social skills, emotional regulation, independence, and academic learning using individualized and evidence-informed strategies.
As an academic tutor, Melissa provides support in French Immersion, Spanish, English reading and writing, and elementary-level mathematics. She understands that every student has a unique learning style and works to adapt her approach to meet each child’s individual strengths, needs, and goals. Her background in psychology and ABA allows her to incorporate structured learning strategies, positive reinforcement, encouragement, and individualized behavioural supports to promote engagement, focus, and confidence.
Melissa strives to create a positive, patient, and supportive learning environment where students feel comfortable asking questions, making mistakes, and developing new skills at their own pace. She believes that academic success goes hand in hand with confidence, motivation, and independence, and she takes the time to recognize and celebrate each student’s progress, no matter how big or small.
With a student-centered approach grounded in empathy, patience, and encouragement, Melissa is dedicated to helping learners strengthen their academic foundations while developing a genuine enjoyment of learning. She is committed to providing individualized support that helps students overcome challenges, build confidence, and develop the skills necessary to become more independent learners. Through her academic tutoring and ABA-informed experience, Melissa strives to empower every student to recognize their strengths, reach their goals, and feel confident in their ability to succeed both academically and personally.

Molly R.

Molly is a Florida-certified educator with experience working with students from early childhood through high school. A lifelong Floridian born and raised in Naples, she holds a Bachelor’s degree in Education and has developed a diverse background working in public schools, private academies, religious settings, and project-based learning environments.
Molly has taught in elementary through high school and is comfortable supporting a broad range of subjects and grade levels, including ELA, mathematics, biology, social studies, and entrepreneurship. She also has extensive experience working with children with unique learning needs and within the ESE population, with a particular specialization in reading instruction for students with dyslexia. Molly currently serves as a Kindergarten Teacher with Collier County Public Schools and an Infant-Toddler Development Specialist with Early Steps of Southwest Florida.
Molly believes that every child is unique and that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to learning. She understands that students develop at different paces and may need additional patience, encouragement, structure, or individualized support to reach their potential. Her approach focuses not only on academic growth but also on building trust, confidence, and positive relationships with her students.
Molly finds great fulfillment in helping students recognize their strengths, overcome challenges, and become more confident learners. She is passionate about creating a supportive environment where every child feels understood, valued, and capable of success.

Kyra W.

Kyra is a Kinesiology student at the University of Victoria with a passion for working with children and helping students build confidence in their abilities. She tutors a range of subjects including English, essay writing, psychology, middle school science, high school biology and pre-calculus, as well as university-level EPHE 141 and EPHE 143.
Kyra has experience tutoring students as well as working with children through childcare, mentoring, summer camp, and community programs. These experiences have strengthened her ability to connect with young people and create positive, encouraging learning environments.
Kyra recognizes that every student learns differently and takes the time to understand each learner’s strengths, challenges, and individual learning style. Her goal is to pursue a career as a pediatric occupational therapist, combining her interest in education with her love of working with children.
Outside of school, Kyra enjoys running, hiking, travelling, and music. She played clarinet for six years and loves finding ways to connect with students through their own interests.

John M.

John is a dedicated certified science educator with over a decade of experience inspiring upper elementary and middle school students. After beginning his career in 2009 supporting students with diverse learning needs, John went on to earn dual Master’s degrees in education. Currently a fifth and sixth-grade science teacher, he excels at taking complex concepts and making them accessible, engaging, and hands-on through interactive models and digital tools. John believes that building a strong, supportive rapport with each student is the key to unlocking their confidence and natural curiosity across all subjects. Outside of the classroom, John is an avid chess enthusiast, a self-proclaimed home-kitchen chef, and an undeterred golfer who still insists his high school caddying days give him special insight on the green.

Nancy C.

Josh B.

Josh Bicknell is a licensed educator for English Language Arts, which he earned shortly after completing a BA in English at the University of Missouri with a minor in creative writing. He has taught and tutored at the secondary level (7-12) throughout the Houston, Texas area where he grew up. He has also worked as a professional writing tutor for college composition and rhetoric, in addition to TOEFL prep, ISEE prep, SAT/ACT, and both GED and some GRE completion.

In 2024, Bicknell decided to continue his education with a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction, while also studying a topic he had always felt passionately about: Holocaust and Genocide studies. He graduated in 2025.

His current work includes developing curriculum for his project (Ten Stages of Change) which focuses primarily on textual and source analysis, media literacy skills, and social emotional learning. His work has been published by Consider the Source New York Archives, Learner Education’s EdTech blog series, and three pieces of poetry selected for the Glendale Literary Archives.

He currently livens in downtown Glendale, California with a Boston terrier/pug named Dexter.

Andrew V.

Andrew has a master’s in English, having capped off his courses with a creative thesis, a book of formal poems entitled “Sierra.”

In college, he won two awards for his poetry; received a fellowship; and published—and presented—three academic articles (Milton, Kafka, Dante).

Since graduation, he has written a graphic novel, and has taken up piano, frame drum, and Grecian lyre.

As a warm-hearted, seasoned academic, Andrew knows how to move through projects with humor and determination.