Kelly H.

Kelly is joining Prep Academy Tutors with a long-standing passion for supporting students and their families in the educational process. Her experience entails teaching children with autism, ADHD, OCD, and other similar diagnoses, as well as managing an inclusion program for children with special needs. With seven years of classroom experience, Kelly is thrilled to be able to work with students in a focused fashion, helping them reach their goals and feel more confident in their academic performance. She believes every child is capable of succeeding in the school environment, and enjoys helping students learn about themselves in order to do so. Kelly specializes in Early Childhood and Elementary Education, as well as English Language Arts.

In her free time, you can find Kelly outdoors, hiking, hanging out with her family and friends (usually around food, board games, or football–Go Bills!!), enjoying her energetic pup, or reading a fantasy book. She also has a penchant for ice cream (mint chocolate chip, any day of the year!). She looks forward to working with your family to support your students’ progress!

Elizabeth K.

Elizabeth is a Certified Teacher in multiple states. She grew up in Alabama on 30 acres and lived in Washington before moving to Boise in 2023. She knew at an early age that she wanted to be a teacher and has pursued her passion for over two decades in various settings. She received her Undergraduate Degree from Samford University in Elementary Education and Early Childhood Education. Elizabeth has taught in both brick-and-mortar and virtual settings from grades kindergarten to third. Along with being a classroom teacher, Elizabeth has also tutored multiple students over the years to help them find academic success in reading and math. She also homeschooled her twin sons during their junior high school years. Over her years in education, she has also worked in several preschool settings, being a lead teacher and a teacher in a drop-in center. She loves working with students and seeing those “light bulb” moments by meeting a child where they are at in their education journey and connecting with their learning style. Making learning fun and engaging is important to Elizabeth as she works with students to help them reach their academic goals and success. When not teaching or tutoring, Elizabeth loves watching British Premier League and MLS soccer and cheering on the Boise State Broncos. She loves spending time with her husband, twin adult sons, and two mini Australian Shepherds.

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!

Karen D.

With a Masters in Education degree from Niagara University and an Honours Music Undergraduate degree from Wilfrid Laurier University, Karen has worked as a special education and elementary classroom teacher for over 20 years, specializing in primary/junior education, early literacy intervention, social-emotional learning and individualized education planning and implementation.

While in the role of Mental Health and Well-being consultant at the Waterloo District School Board in Ontario, over 12,000 students accessed a Social-Emotional Program she created for children and youth in grades one through eight. This past year, Karen was a part-time lecturer with Wilfrid Laurier University’s Faculty of Education, teaching “Mental Health in the Classroom” to teacher candidates.

Karen believes all children can learn and thrive, and it’s the teacher’s role to create a space that is safe, kind and inspiring. Having recently relocated to the area, Karen is thrilled to be joining the team at Prep Academy to work with students here in Whistler!

Amy H.

Amy grew up with an ardent love for reading and the English language. Thirsty for knowledge, Amy pursued a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from Hodges University, graduating magna cum laude. She fulfilled a life-long dream of becoming an educator when she received her teaching certification in English/Language Arts. Amy’s expertise includes not only raising test scores but also cultivating enthusiasm for learning in her beloved students. She has supported students on every level from kindergarten to college, from whole-class to specialized one-on-one instruction. Her passions? Though she has many, Amy will tell you about her three Ps – poetry, photography, and pollinator gardening. Amy believes that kindness beats unkindness every day of the week and that kindness coupled with love can accomplish much.

Elizabeth B.

Elizabeth is a highly experienced educator with over 30 years of expertise in special education, literacy, and early childhood development. Born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, Elizabeth holds a B.S. in Early Childhood Education from the University of Maryland and a Master’s Degree in Communicative Disorders from Johns Hopkins University, where she also earned certifications in Special Education and Reading for grades K-12.

Throughout her career, Elizabeth has worked in both public and private educational settings, teaching students with diverse needs, including cognitive disabilities and learning differences. She is deeply passionate about fostering student growth through a “learning by doing” approach, empowering children to explore, think critically, and achieve their goals in a supportive and inclusive environment. Whether working on reading comprehension, math skills, or self-regulation, Elizabeth’s innovative, multi-sensory techniques have consistently driven success for her students.

Elizabeth’s teaching philosophy centers on creating a community where every child feels understood and accepted. She believes in the transformative power of education, seeing it as an opportunity to inspire curiosity and nurture authentic self-expression. Her passion for teaching stems from the joy of learning from her students, whom she views as partners in an ever-evolving journey of discovery.

In her spare time, Elizabeth enjoys sharing her Baltimore roots, from cheering on the Ravens and Orioles to savoring Maryland’s famous steamed crabs. Her dedication to her craft and her students makes her a trusted and inspiring guide for learners of all ages.

Deanna P.

With over 16 years of dedicated experience in education, Deanna has had the privilege of shaping young minds as an elementary classroom teacher, literacy specialist, instructional coach, professional development specialist, and private tutor.

Her journey in education began with a profound appreciation for the impact that targeted instruction can have on a child’s learning and self-esteem. This inspired her to pursue master’s degree in Elementary Reading and Literacy, where she discovered the transformative power of literacy in unlocking a student’s potential.

Throughout her career, she has witnessed firsthand the joy and instant gratification that comes from helping students thrive through explicit and systematic instruction in areas of need aligned to assessment data. Her style of teaching is meeting students where they are and taking them to where they need to be, while instilling the power of “yet” and a growth mindset. Instead of “I can’t do this,” it becomes “I can’t do this yet.”

Deanna’s passion for literacy and commitment to student success extend beyond the classroom walls, as she strives to create a nurturing and engaging learning environment for every child. She looks forward to partnering with you to ensure your child receives the personalized support they need to reach their full potential.

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.

Amrita G.

Amrita has a Masters in Finance and Masters in Business Administration through distance education in India. After becoming a mother of two kids she switched her career from Information Technology to teaching. She started to enjoy teaching, especially Math, to elementary children at the International school in India. She is passionate about learning new math concepts and knows how to help children improve their focus and attention, building a strong foundation in this subject in a very friendly manner. She enjoys bringing her perspective, international experiences and wealth of education to those she works with.

Carol K.

Carol Kato graduated from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, with a double major in Psychology and Diversity Studies. During her time in school, she worked as a tutor and mentor to grade school children aged 4 to 13. Carol has a passion for understanding how the human brain develops, which has sparked her interest in how children retain information through play and storytelling. She has worked with children from diverse backgrounds and cultures and speaks three languages: English, Spanish, and Portuguese. Carol knows that many children struggle with certain subjects not because they are incapable of understanding the information, but because that information sometimes needs to be broken down step by step, in a playful manner, to improve memory retention and understanding.

In addition to her work with children, Carol loves shopping, traveling, eating, drinking tea, and spending time with her friends and family. Her family consists of her husband, their 3-year-old son, and their beloved dogs, Tina and Brady.