Grace F.

Grace F. is earning her degree in Elementary Education at North Central College, where she has maintained a high GPA and earned a spot on the Dean’s List for six consecutive semesters. Originally from Elmhurst, she discovered her love of teaching while helping classmates with writing, research, and public speaking. What started as casual tutoring turned into a true passion for supporting students.

Grace has worked with learners from early childhood through middle school, developing creative, student-centered lessons through daycare and summer programs. She believes every child learns differently and thrives on adapting instruction to meet individual needs.

Through her college placements, Grace has taught in 1st through 4th grade classrooms and supported 5th grade accelerated math, gaining experience in literacy, math, and science. She also helps students strengthen executive functioning skills like organization, planning, and time management—because sometimes, learning how to learn is the biggest lesson of all.

Outside the classroom, Grace enjoys birdwatching and exploring the outdoors. Her love of animals and education came together through the Greater Chicago Cage Bird Society, where she taught scout groups about bird care and behavior. She’s been helping students—and birds—take flight ever since.

Sherry P.

Sherry is a dedicated teacher and reading intervention specialist with an extensive background, experience, and training in educational settings. Her expertise includes Wilson Language Training Fundations, developing and implementing literacy, based programs for early childhood, elementary, teens and adults.

Sherry is an experienced Connecticut state certified teacher and certified Child Life Specialist. She is a graduate of Wheelock (a teacher’s college) in Boston, MA. with both undergraduate and graduate degrees in Education. In addition, her dual majors include training in pediatric hospital settings where she worked as a teacher and play therapist. Sherry has worked with children from newborn-young adults in urban and suburban communities. For over 25 years she has taught numerous grades including pre-k., kindergarten, elementary, middle, and high school students in public, private school classrooms and health care settings.

Sherry is conversant in Spanish and has been a mentor to others. In her caring, patient, organized, dedicated manner, her ability to apply practical, best-practice solutions with available resources will ensure each student has the skills necessary to succeed. She believes that every child is capable of learning. Sherry goes the extra mile to support them in a positive manner to help them reach their full potential and develop self-confidence as learners. Her experience with students includes: the general education population, autism, autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, ADD, ADHD, medically homebound, social emotional behavior difficulties, physically challenged, executive functioning skills and English language learners.

In her spare time Sherry can be found baking banana bread, singing Soprano in her choir, and playing with her rescue cats, Louie and Sugar.

Lawrence T.

Larry Topazio has taught in both public and private schools for the past thirty-five years. During this time, he has utilized his elementary and secondary teaching skills effectively, always striving for increased student achievement. He also fostered vocational and work experiences through curriculum development at the high school level.. Having a son with a disability himself is the basis for his unrelenting pursuit of excellent educational assessments and instruction. He gets things accomplished by his adamant desire to see that all students can learn. Larry graduated from Western Ct State University and from Southern Ct State University.. This has given him a broad knowledge of students in both general and special education . In his spare time, Larry enjoys walking, hiking and creating poetry. Larry has one poetry book that he has written and creates poems for weddings, parties, and family events. Larry likes to incorporate poetry in both literature
and language arts instruction.

Alexis R.

Alexis Rowe is a dynamic educator and in-school tutor whose infectious enthusiasm turns learning into an adventure. Originally from Georgia and seasoned by years as a military spouse, Alexis has taught and tutored in classrooms from coast to coast, adapting to diverse curricula and cultures along the way. She pairs a Bachelor’s in Business Leadership, an Associate’s in Organizational Management, and a Certification in Early Childhood Education with more than 15 years of hands-on experience guiding children from pre-K through middle school. Whether she’s jump-starting early literacy for a four-year-old new reader or boosting a fifth-grader’s confidence in math, Alexis blends research-based strategies with imaginative games, storytelling, and real-world problem-solving that keep students eager for the next session.

Passionate about unlocking the brain’s full potential, Alexis draws inspiration from Dr. Joe Dispenza’s neuroscience-backed approach in Becoming Supernatural to cultivate focus, resilience, and a growth mindset in every learner. Families praise her for creating warm, high-energy sessions that feel less like tutoring and more like discovery, where academic skills explode alongside curiosity and self-belief. From individualized reading plans and multisensory phonics drills to hands-on STEM challenges and mindfulness breaks, Alexis custom-tailors each lesson so students not only meet their goals but surpass them with a smile. When she isn’t crafting engaging lesson plans, you’ll find her exploring holistic wellness, cheering on her two daughters, or planning her next learning adventure, always ready to bring fresh ideas and boundless positivity to Prep Academy Tutors of Forsyth County.

Patricia T.

Patricia Tibesar graduated from Colby College with a Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science and Environmental Science and a minor in English Literature. She grew up in Caldwell, Idaho, and moved to Maine to complete her degree, though she has also lived in Spain, Mexico, and Costa Rica. At Colby College, Patricia worked closely with the Center for Teaching and Learning. As a learning assistant, Patricia worked with students to engage them with their learning and encourage asking questions, and she worked with professors and staff to rework course designs to improve student learning. She enjoys tutoring and helping students understand their learning because of the reward of a student feeling their own confidence grow. In her free time, Patricia loves reading, watching movies and reviewing them on Letterboxd, and traveling, both domestically and internationally.

Carole F.

A patient and innovative educator with general and special education experience at all grade levels, including students with disabilities and English language learners.

Dr. Hannah P.

Dr. Hannah P. has 9 years of post-secondary teaching experience as both a teaching assistant and adjunct professor at Drexel University. She has taught various chemistry courses including General Chemistry, Quantitative Analysis, and Analytical Instrumentation Analysis.

Prior to completing her Ph.D in Analytical Chemistry, she obtained a Master’s degree in Secondary Education, during which she partook in multiple classroom observations and completed a semester of student teaching. Through the student teaching experience she was able to take on the full responsibilities of the classroom, teaching both Chemistry and Earth Science.

Her teaching philosophy is based on presenting material from three different approaches; visual, audio, and hands-on learning styles. Through the understanding that everyone learns differently, she finds it important that students discover how they learn and are able to apply that to every aspect of their education.

Anthony M.

Dr. Anthony J. Marchi is a highly regarded educator and healthcare professional with over 20 years of experience empowering learners in various environments. As a U.S. Army veteran and former flight paramedic, he has led critical care training programs, mentored thousands of students, and developed award-winning curricula focused on humanistic and reflective learning principles, as well as student-centered growth. Dr. Marchi holds advanced credentials in health science, talent development, and quality improvement, which contribute to his compassionate and structured tutoring approach that inspires confidence and builds lasting academic foundations. Whether he is helping students master complex subjects or refine their writing and reasoning skills, Dr. Marchi draws from a wealth of expertise, patience, and curiosity. Outside the classroom, he enjoys reading philosophy, volunteering as a child advocate, and writing about education and leadership from his favorite corner coffee shop. At the heart of his teaching is a simple belief: every student already carries within them the capacity to grow; education is the mirror that helps them see it.

Ky G.

Ky Gay, an accomplished educator with a Master’s in Psychology and an Education Specialist degree, brings a deep and multifaceted understanding of cognitive development, learning sciences, and instructional strategies tailored to diverse student needs. Her professional journey is distinguished by a consistent record of excellence in teaching, where she has not only elevated academic achievement but also cultivated intellectual curiosity and a passion for lifelong learning in her students.
Guided by two foundational philosophies, Ky believes that education must be an integral part of the present to prepare students for the world of tomorrow and that within every child lies a unique spark of potential, waiting to be ignited. These principles, combined with her unwavering enthusiasm, expertise, and commitment to student success, make her an exceptional choice for any learner in need of academic support.

Why Choose Dr. Ky Gay as Your Tutor?
• Dynamic and Engaging Instruction: With a high-energy, student-centered approach, she transforms learning into an interactive and enjoyable experience.
• Innovative Teaching Methods: By integrating hands-on, real-world applications, she ensures students develop both creative and critical thinking skills.
• Personalized Learning Strategies: She expertly tailors instruction to each student’s unique learning style, fostering confidence and academic growth.

With a dedication to making learning accessible, meaningful, and exciting, Kenyana Gay is confident in her ability to make a lasting impact on students and contribute meaningfully to any educational mission. After all, education isn’t just about memorizing facts—it’s about unlocking doors, inspiring possibilities, and sometimes, proving that algebra really does have a place outside the classroom.

Expert Educator & Learning Specialist:
*Orton-Gillingham Literacy Specialist
*Executive Functioning & ADHD Homework Coach
*Specialist in Learning Differences & Remedial Instruction
*Expertise in ADHD, Specific Learning Disabilities, Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, Dysgraphia, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Asperger’s Syndrome, and Targeted Academic Interventions

Michael S.

After working with hundreds of students, Michael understands that struggles with math and science are incredibly common—and that students are not alone. Often, classroom teachers don’t have the time to adapt to every student’s unique learning style. That’s where Michael steps in: he works closely with each student to find the approach that makes the most sense for them. His past students have gone from being frustrated by a single problem all day to breezing through it with just a small shift in perspective.

Michael’s teaching experience spans a wide range of settings, from one-on-one tutoring in high school to leading review sessions for hundreds of college students. He was even selected as the pedagogy fellow in his graduate program, responsible for preparing incoming graduate students to teach—an honor that reflects both deep content knowledge and outstanding instructional skill. This high-level perspective on effective teaching methods enables Michael to bring exceptional flexibility and responsiveness to his tutoring sessions.

In terms of subject expertise, Michael brings thousands of hours of experience, including 11 years of tutoring, 7 years as a teaching assistant, 2 years of instructing college courses, and both a PhD and a BS in Physics, along with an undergraduate minor in Mathematics. With this foundation, he is confident in his ability to work through any course material alongside his students.

Michael’s tutoring journey began in high school, when he noticed that many of his peers didn’t know where to turn for academic support. This inspired him to explore Universal Design for Learning—an approach that emphasizes presenting content in multiple formats to meet different learning styles. Since then, he has supported college students in tutoring centers, led supplementary instruction sessions, and taught lecture and lab courses at the university level. Michael creates a learning environment where students feel safe to ask questions, engage deeply in discussions, and leave sessions empowered to apply their learning in the real world. He brings this wealth of experience to every tutoring session to help students get exactly what they need from their education.