Colleen R.

Hi! I’m Colleen, a Sarasota native, proud mom of three, and happily married for eight years. I hold a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education from the State College of Florida and will complete my master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction with a focus in Reading in December 2025 from Florida Gulf Coast University.

This is my third year teaching in Sarasota County, and I bring over 10 years of experience in early childhood education including time as the director of my own program. I’m certified to teach PreK–3rd grade, hold both a Reading and ESOL endorsement, and have worked in classrooms across all elementary grade levels.

I’m passionate about helping children develop a lifelong love for reading and writing. I specialize in building strong foundational literacy skills and preparing scholars for structured writing tasks such as opinion and expository writing. Outside the classroom, I enjoy boating, crafting, and curling up with a good book. My goal is always to nurture confident, curious learners through engaging and supportive instruction.

Marsha W.

Marsha is a dedicated and certified veteran elementary school educator with over two decades of service in the field of education. Born and raised in New York, she graduated with a Bachelor degree in Psychology with a concentration in Elementary and Special Education and obtained a Masters of Science in Elementary Education.

Passionate about student growth and academic excellence, she has taught a diverse range of learners and grade levels, consistently fostering inclusive, engaging, and high-achieving learning environments. Known for her kind nature, ensuring engaging interactive hands-on learning experiences, and commitment to lifelong learning, Marsha excels at fostering both academic growth and social-emotional development in young learners.

In her spare time, she enjoys reading, traveling, and watching sporting events.

Carissa Y.

Carissa is a dedicated and passionate certified teacher with over 23 years of experience in elementary education. She earned her Master’s Degree in Reading from California State University, Fullerton, where she deepened her expertise in literacy instruction.

Throughout her teaching career, Carissa creates a classroom environment where learning is both fun and meaningful. She brings lessons to life with creative, hands-on activities that spark curiosity and make academic concepts accessible to all learners. Her commitment to building strong relationships with students and their families is at the heart of her teaching philosophy, helping foster trust, confidence, and a love for learning in every child she teaches.

Outside the classroom, Carissa enjoys spending time with her family camping, cheering on their favorite sports teams, and relaxing at the lake.

Amy W.

Amy Weniger has an extensive background in education, and a deep desire to help every student fall in love with learning. She is a certified teacher with 15 years of elementary classroom experience. She has also been the Lead Administrator (Principal/Superintendent) for a local charter school, Village Leadership Academy, where she encouraged a culture of leadership and learning for educators, students, and their families. Not only has she been an elementary teacher and administrator, she has trained educators across the state through a local non-profit called Lee Pesky Learning Center. Through her position as a training specialist, she provided professional development and coaching to support teachers in providing evidence-based learning for their students. Amy earned both her bachelors and masters degree in educational leadership from Boise State University. Through their extended educational program, she also traveled to Belize on a service trip serving schools and students in areas of poverty. She is thrilled to be a part of Prep Academy Tutors of Boise and looks forward to fostering the love of learning and making a difference in every young student she has the privilege of tutoring.

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.

Colleen R.

Edward H.

I’m a certified teacher of English with extensive experience tutoring math through geometry, and into the fundamentals of trigonometry and calculus. I’m the content designer for two SAT preparation for the 2400 series of the test formerly available on iTunes, using a smart flash card platform that innovated a math system designed specifically to improve time management and trap identification, called CCCP Math. I have also identified techniques that limit the effects of self-distraction that is often the key to better concentration.

I believe there are four components to doing well on the SAT test: specific knowledge, problem solving process, focus, and confidence. I make it my business to address all of these areas.

I’ve been tutoring SAT for 10 years and have many success stories. more than 90% of student who do 6 or more lessons with me improve markedly. For elite score students, (those who could only possibly improve 16%) I’ve seen significant improvements in the reduction of the number of errors. For student starting in the 1000-1300 range, I’ve seen improvements as high as 90% better. I rely on a hybrid teaching approach where I use screen shots of slides from my apps, while process is taught and supported through tutoring and exercises based in McGraw Hill’s SAT book. The results have been great.

With covid affecting the learning process, I feel the need to offer my service as a distance learning coach to parents, helping as a mentor reviewing the coming weeks materials for presentation and stepping in to teach only when remediation is necessary. We can’t, after all, afford a full program of tutoring in all areas. With over 7000 hours of tutoring under my belt, parents can rely upon my perspective and advice.
Lately in my tutoring lab, I’ve developed techniques that show results in improving basic focus and addressing “Test Anxiety”. Ask me about my findings, if you fear your child is not suited to standardized testing. I may just be able to help.

Meagan H.

Meagan holds bachelor’s degrees in both English and secondary education from LSU. While attending LSU, she was a lead teacher at Sylvan Learning Center. During her tenure, she developed skills working with all age groups and fostering a love for reading and writing. She spent four years teaching middle school in the public school system, where her students connected with her real-world lessons and crafted their writing styles. Meagan also spent a year teaching fourth through sixth grade in all core areas, so she feels comfortable teaching other subjects in addition to her ELA specialty.

Meagan specializes in breaking down not only complex concepts, but also complex emotions related to learning. She strives to make education enjoyable, especially for children who may struggle with anxiety towards learning. In her spare time, Meagan loves to play disc golf with her family, read, and manage her small business.

Torrey S.

Torrey is a certified educator with experience teaching in public and private schools across early childhood and elementary grades. She holds a Master’s Degree in Childhood Education from Hunter College and a Bachelor’s in Psychology from Penn State. Torrey has taught at top-tier Manhattan schools, including Hunter College Elementary School and The Heschel School.

Torrey’s passion lies in tutoring because it allows her to personalize instruction, build connections, and tap into each child’s unique interests. She specializes in supporting early learners in areas such as reading, writing, math, and academic readiness. Torrey values positive reinforcement and creating a space where children are made to feel motivated and proud of their progress. Outside of teaching, Torrey enjoys yoga, planning her upcoming wedding, and visiting her family in LA and Florida.