Shelley R.

Shelley R. is a certified English and German Teacher, grades 8-12. She grew up in Casper, Wyoming and completed an Undergraduate Degree in Secondary Education at University of Wyoming in 1994. She grew up with a deep love of travel and took the opportunity to be an exchange student in Germany in 1992-3. After returning and graduating, Shelley then wanted to use her passion for teaching and working with children. Starting in 1997, she taught English Language Arts in many states being a former military wife. She also taught German for 1 year in Kansas. As well, she completed a Postgraduate Degree in Secondary Education: Classroom Technology in 2003 at Kansas State University.
She has supported and invested in improving students’ academic skills using her passion for writing and reading. She believes that by building a solid relationship with her students, she can better meet their needs and grow their learning. As a former teacher of 18 years and a tutor, she continues to develop strategies for working with children. She finds working with children to be rewarding and fulfilling.

Nicole D.

Nicole graduated from New Mexico Highlands University with two Bachelor’s degrees, one in History and one in Elementary Education, with a minor in Bilingual Education. Nicole taught for eleven years, over the course of which she excelled at math and reading instruction. In addition to math and reading intervention, Nicole was a bilingual educator (Spanish) and a dyslexia interventionist. However, her real passion lies in Robotics and Computer Science.

Nicole has written Robotics/Computer Science curriculum for two districts. She has also taken several teams to competition with VEX and FIRST(tm) who have successfully won awards over the years.

In her spare time, Nicole enjoys visiting her daughter, who attends LSU, and spending time with her two dogs.

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.

Cameron W.

Cameron is a recent graduate from the University of Texas at San Antonio, garnering a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. At the beginning of his undergraduate education in Psychology, Cameron rose to the roles of Research Assistant and Lab Manager in the Team on Acculturation, Risk, and the Development of Identity and Self (TARDIS) Lab. These roles involved not only data collection and management of local administrative operations but also the social awareness necessary to engage with topics such as identity-based marginalization and foster interdependent relationships with team members at all levels. As Lab Manager, he worked to centralize information and redesign organizational systems that improved collective understanding within the University of Texas at San Antonio’s Department of Psychology. Cameron continued these roles throughout their bachelor’s degree, adding positions as a Tutor and Student Administrative Assistant in UTSA’s Department of Biology, Health, and the Environment. In these roles, they utilized their in-depth knowledge of biological sciences and artistic skills to help peers achieve academic success. Throughout his undergraduate education, Cameron received awards and recognition from UTSA’s School of Art, contributing to efforts and exhibitions featured in the main gallery. As an aspiring educator, Cameron establishes the foundations of his teaching framework and practices upon his values of creativity, compassion, and communication. In serving his peers and community as a teaching assistant, tutor, research lab manager, and community worker, Cameron has exemplified the power within each of these values.

Victoria W.

Cian L.

Cian is a dedicated and enthusiastic educator with a passion for helping young learners build confidence and excel in their studies. With four years of experience working with elementary students, he specializes in creating dynamic and engaging learning experiences that make complex concepts easy to understand. His ability to break down challenging topics into manageable, relatable lessons ensures that students feel supported and motivated every step of the way.

With a patient, encouraging, and student-centered approach, Cian tailors his teaching to accommodate a wide range of learning styles and abilities. Whether working with struggling learners who need extra reinforcement or advanced students seeking new challenges, he adapts lessons to meet each child’s unique needs. His focus on strengthening reading, writing, and math skills is complemented by an emphasis on building positive study habits and critical thinking skills, equipping students with the tools they need for long-term success.

Beyond academics, Cian believes that fostering a growth mindset and a love for learning is just as important as mastering core subjects. By creating a warm, supportive environment where students feel safe to take risks and ask questions, he helps them develop resilience, curiosity, and confidence in their abilities. His goal is not just to help students succeed in school, but to inspire a lifelong passion for learning that will benefit them far beyond the classroom.

Maria Z.

With over 29 years of dedicated experience as a classroom teacher, Maria has cultivated a strong foundation in teaching and leadership in private schools in San Antonio, Texas. As a versatile educator for grades 3-8, Maria led various extracurricular activities, including chess and math clubs, while serving as a mentor for new staff and a coordinator for multiple programs. Being a tutor allows Maria to teach with differentiated learning techniques which is invaluable for addressing the diverse needs of students at varying levels of ability and learning styles. By tailoring instruction to meet individual strengths and challenges, she creates a more inclusive and engaging learning environment which not only accommodates different learning preferences but also fosters a sense of ownership over the student’s education. Being nominated for Teacher of the Year twice in her career, exemplifies the respect Maria has from her peers not only as an educator, but also as a person of character.
Holding a B.A. in International Relations from St. Mary’s University and a K-8 Texas Teacher Certificate from the University of Texas at San Antonio, Maria is passionate about leveraging her initiative and strong work ethic to make a meaningful impact in education. Coming from a military family with roots in New York, her wanderlust to travel America comes naturally. She brings concepts from her travels into her teaching to give her students a wider depth of knowledge and connections to material.

JAMILLA F.

Jamilla F. is an experienced educator with two master’s degrees, Elementary Education and Special Education, from Lesley University and a Post-Graduate Certificate in Educational Leadership from Loyola University Maryland. She began her career teaching elementary and middle school, where she consistently exceeded district-wide growth expectations by using data-driven strategies to meet the needs of diverse learners.

Recognized as a “Teacher of the Year” finalist for Baltimore City Public Schools, Jamilla is passionate about creating equitable learning environments and empowering educators to achieve excellence in teaching and learning.

In her current role as an Educational Consultant with Generation Ready, Jamilla partners with school leaders across New York City to provide instructional coaching and professional development for teachers and principals, design effective instructional systems, and implement data-driven strategies to improve student and educator outcomes.

Marisa T.

Marisa is a dedicated tutor and accomplished student currently pursuing a double major in Political Science and Economics at McGill University. With a strong academic foundation and a passion for education, Marisa has honed her expertise across a wide range of subjects, including Math, English, Economics, and History.

Her teaching experience is rooted in years of involvement with academic clubs, debating, and leadership roles, including participation in Model UN and organizing TEDx events. These opportunities have allowed Marisa to develop clear and effective communication skills, as well as a deep understanding of how to break down complex concepts into manageable steps for learners of all levels.

Marisa’s teaching philosophy emphasizes adaptability, ensuring that each session is tailored to the unique needs and learning styles of her students. She is known for creating a positive and supportive environment where students feel encouraged to ask questions and tackle challenges confidently. Her approach includes structured lesson planning, targeted exercises for difficult topics, and engaging activities for younger learners.

In addition to her academic achievements, Marisa has extensive experience helping students prepare for exams, improve grades, and build a strong understanding of their subjects. Her goal is to make learning less stressful and more rewarding for every student she works with.

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.