Caleb W.

Caleb is from Billings, Montana and was the first Native American Valedictorian at West High School. He has mentored and tutored high school students for nearly a decade to help them prepare for and apply to college. A few of the elite universities his students have been accepted to are: Stanford, Harvard, Columbia, and Amherst College. Caleb has a M.A in Native Food Systems from Montana State University and a B.A in Environmental Studies from Amherst College. His relevant professional career experience has ranged from being a college prep coach to working as a graduate research and teaching assistant. Having recently graduated, he is young enough to relate to your child while being old enough to have the lived experience to share. Caleb believes that academic success comes from a holistic understanding of one’s personal goals and playing off of one’s strengths. Outside of work he enjoys camping, trivia, and getting friends together to play board games.

Lynda E.

Lynda is a Math and Physics teacher with 20 years of experience spanning classroom teaching, private tutoring, and Gifted and Talented programs. She has a Master’s in Physics with a concentration in Education from University of Virginia, certificate in Leaders of Learning from Harvard University, and holds teaching certificates in Math, Physics, Elementary Education, Students with Disabilities, and Middle School Science.

Lynda specializes in demystifying challenging math and physics concepts by (1) explaining concepts as clearly as possible, (2) performing examples in order to model the problem-solving process, and (3) providing several practice problems to work up to mastery. While she is a professional, Lynda enjoys conversing in a casual tone (think more Penny, less Sheldon), as math and science are often culprits for producing anxiety in students. Whether you are aiming for that 800 on the Math SAT, or simply trying to make it through your physics course unscathed, please think of Lynda as someone who can help you attain your goal!

Colleen S.

Colleen Simmons realized as a child she wanted to become a teacher. She loved learning how to read and do basic math from her mother, Donna, who she says was still her best teacher ever! Growing up in Illinois, she started helping her peers and younger children with reading and math homework when she was in 6th grade. Like the acting bug that some folks get, teaching became her passion. Graduating in 1981 from Millikin University with a B.S. in Biology, she pursued further training and completed a teacher certification program at the U of I Springfield soon after. She began teaching and continued to add certifications and degrees to her resume. She obtained a middle school concept endorsement on her standard certificate, a second B.S. in Special Education from EIU, and two M.S. degrees in Educational Administration from EIU and Teacher Leadership from U of I Springfield, respectively. Throughout her career, she has not only worked in the classroom, but she also has privately tutored students after school. Her reputation as a caring and supportive teacher is something she cherishes. In 2019, Colleen and her husband retired to Texas. Retirement didn’t last long, since she found herself missing the enjoyment she got from working with students. In 2021, she began working once again as support staff, tutor, and ultimately, teacher in a science classroom. This year, she is working on a new challenge. She, along with a couple of friends, began developing a home-school pod service to help families who want another option for educating their children. Along with tutoring, Colleen enjoys traveling, meeting new people, and learning something new, like painting a watercolor, playing a new strategy game, or reading a mystery novel.

Juan F.

Juan F. is a highly experienced tutor with over seven years of expertise in guiding students through Mathematics, English, and Reading. With a M.S. in Data Science and a B.S. in Operations Research, he helps students develop strategic problem-solving skills, ensuring they approach the Test/Exam with confidence and efficiency.

His proficiency in mathematics, data analysis, and reading comprehension allows him to craft tailored lesson plans that emphasize critical thinking, time management, and test-taking strategies. Juan understands the challenges students face and focuses on ensuring students maximize their scores by understanding question patterns rather than just memorizing formulas. Juan also makes learning engaging, whether through interactive problem-solving or real-world applications of test concepts. His ability to connect with students and his expertise makes him a dedicated and highly effective tutor who helps students unlock their full potential.

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?

Rachel P.

Rachel graduated Phi Beta Kappa and Summa cum Laude from Reed College before going on to earn her Masters and become a Doctoral Candidate in Classics at UC Berkeley–she can also train a wild horse, work concrete, and process game. With more than ten years’ teaching experience at the high school level, and even more at the collegiate level, you’re in good hands with Rachel, across subjects from Anatomy to Zoology. Rachel is a voracious learner and credits this authentic curiosity to her success in connecting with young people during her career. She is a neurospicy Boise native who loves animals and playing with her amazing kiddo. Rachel believes that being human is too hard to do alone, and that powerful things are possible through connection. For her, the purpose of tutoring is to meet students where they are and support them in developing transferable strategies and tools that foster independence, confidence, and achievement as they progress along their educational journeys.

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!

Alma A.

Alma is a dedicated and experienced tutor with a strong academic background and a passion for teaching. Currently a third-year Computer Science student at Concordia University with a minor in Multidisciplinary Science, Alma brings a well-rounded perspective to her teaching, combining technical expertise with interdisciplinary knowledge.

Alma has worked in research labs focusing on data statistics, medical physics, and biology, which has deepened her understanding of complex concepts and enhanced her ability to break them down into accessible lessons for her students. She specializes in tutoring students in subjects such as mathematics, science, computer science, and programming.

With a love for coding and problem-solving, Alma is skilled at creating engaging, tailored lessons that build her students’ confidence and foster their curiosity. She believes in nurturing critical thinking and providing practical tools that help learners succeed academically while developing a genuine interest in their subjects.

Outside of academics, Alma enjoys knitting and painting, activities that reflect her patience and creativity—qualities she brings to every tutoring session. Her approachable and encouraging teaching style has helped students of all levels achieve their academic goals and develop a lifelong love of learning.

Janella S-R

Janella holds a Bachelor’s degree with Honors in Environmental Sciences and a specialization in Wildlife Biology from McGill University. She is a recipient of the prestigious McCall MacBain International Fellowship, through which she spent two years in South Korea. During this time, she developed advanced Korean language skills, translated at science exhibitions, and taught English fluency to students.

With over four years of tutoring experience at the elementary level, as well as several years assisting high school and college students in mathematics and science-based courses, Janella has honed her ability to make complex subjects accessible and engaging. She utilizes practical, relatable, and enjoyable methods to ignite curiosity and a passion for learning in her students.

Janella also holds a TEFL certification and brings additional expertise in scientific writing, research, and proofreading. Her strong foundation in science subjects, combined with her experience in language education, allows her to provide well-rounded support to students across various academic levels.

Whether working with young learners or college students, Janella is committed to helping each student achieve their academic goals and develop a deeper appreciation for the subjects she teaches.

Clent I.

Clent is a dedicated educator with twenty-six years of teaching experience. Hailing from Jackson, Mississippi, he earned his BS in Biology from Jackson State University, where he was a member of the famed, “Sonic Boom of the South,” which performed at the 2024 Super Bowl Halftime. He is also a proud member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. He furthered his education at Southern Illinois University (Carbondale), pursuing a Master’s in Physiology. As a third- generation educator, Clent is deeply committed to the belief that every student has the potential to learn, emphasizing the importance of meeting students at their current level and guiding them towards their academic goals. Over the course of his career, he has taught both elementary and middle school with the latter half of his teaching career; teaching middle school mathematics. He strives to create a nurturing environment where the academic expectations and outcomes are clear; together he and his students systematically work to achieve these outcomes. Clent is an avid traveler, a voracious reader, and adores concerts and other live music venues.