François-Michel L.

François-Michel L. discovered his love of teaching and tutoring when he taught a computer class while still in high school and has resided in the Washington DC area since 1991. He graduated with High Honors from Princeton University with an AB in Classics and wrote his senior thesis on ancient Greek epic poems (it wasn’t all Greek to him ). He then obtained an MSE degree in Computer and Information Science from the University of Pennsylvania, where he was a sought-after tutor in both French and Computer Science. After graduating, he worked for ten years as an IT director at Fannie Mae before becoming a Scientific Systems Developer at the National Institutes of Health. At every job he has worked, he has had the great privilege of teaching technical and/or business classes to junior staff and providing one-on-one coaching as a corporate mentor. He is known as a dynamic and entertaining presenter and public speaker, holds both French and American citizenship, and is qualified to teach and tutor English, French, Latin, Math, and Linux. François is also allergic to cats, so please let him know if you have furry feline friends so he can take his allergy eyedrops ahead of time!

Clara M.

ENG: Meet Clara, a passionate and experienced tutor with five years of expertise in helping students reach their full potential! Currently enrolled in the science program at John Abbott College, she is set to graduate soon. Her dedication to academic excellence has earned her the prestigious Lieutenant Governor’s Award, a testament to her hard work and commitment.

Clara is deeply invested in her students’ success, providing not only subject-specific support but also equipping them with valuable skills they can apply beyond the classroom. With a patient and engaging teaching style, she tailors her approach to each student’s needs, ensuring they gain confidence and a strong understanding of their coursework.

Whether it’s mastering complex scientific concepts or developing effective study strategies, Clara goes above and beyond to foster both academic achievement and a love for learning.

FR: Rencontrez Clara, une tutrice passionnée et expérimentée avec cinq ans d’expertise dans l’accompagnement des élèves vers la réussite ! Actuellement inscrite au programme de sciences au Collège John Abbott, elle est sur le point d’obtenir son diplôme. Son engagement envers l’excellence académique lui a valu le prestigieux Prix du Lieutenant-Gouverneur, une reconnaissance de son travail acharné et de sa détermination.

Clara se consacre pleinement à la réussite de ses élèves, en leur offrant non seulement un soutien ciblé dans leurs matières, mais aussi en leur transmettant des compétences précieuses qu’ils pourront appliquer bien au-delà de la salle de classe. Grâce à sa pédagogie patiente et engageante, elle adapte son approche aux besoins de chaque élève, leur permettant ainsi de gagner en confiance et de mieux assimiler leurs cours.

Que ce soit pour maîtriser des concepts scientifiques complexes ou pour développer des stratégies d’apprentissage efficaces, Clara met tout en œuvre pour encourager la réussite scolaire et éveiller un véritable plaisir d’apprendre.

Addaline D.

Addaline Durham has been passionate about education and mentorship from a young age, beginning her tutoring journey in middle school as part of a peer buddy system. Since then, she has accumulated years of experience working with students of all ages, from early childhood to college-level peers. Throughout high school and college, Addaline continued to tutor a diverse range of learners, providing personalized academic support to help students build confidence and achieve their goals. She has experience tutoring a wide variety of subjects, including Spanish, which she taught at a language learning camp, as well as English, college algebra, biology, political science, and math.

Her adaptability allows her to tailor lessons to each student’s needs, making complex concepts more approachable and engaging. In addition to her tutoring experience, Addaline has worked extensively with younger children as a pre-K teacher. This experience reinforced her ability to create engaging, developmentally appropriate learning environments and tailor lessons to fit each student’s unique needs. With a deep commitment to student success, Addaline takes a patient, personalized approach to teaching. Whether working with young learners on foundational skills or helping older students refine their academic abilities, she is dedicated to fostering growth, curiosity, and confidence in every student she teaches.

Suraj A.

Suraj A. teaches writing and literature at Louisiana State University (LSU). He is also a certified ELA Teacher for grades 6-12. He grew up in Long Beach, California and moved to Baton Rouge, LA to take up a teaching post in LSU’s English Department. He is a traditionally published writer and has a postgraduate degree in English from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. He has lived all over the world and speaks five languages with varying degrees of fluency. For him, teaching is no different than writing, in that both mediums impart knowledge while simultaneously keeping the recipient engaged. With that in mind, he constantly strives to develop and deliver lesson plans and activities that keep the student curious and involved. He loves teaching and feels like it is his true calling in life, besides writing. While not teaching or writing, he can be found in the gym, training for powerlifting competitions or out in nature, exploring.

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.

Diana H.

Diana has taught learners of all levels from gifted kindergarten in the public schools to freshmen at California Baptist University. It gives her great joy to light understanding in her students not only to boost scores but to reveal the order and beauty of language. She has served varying roles as a public school teacher, head of the Gifted and Talented Program, homeschooler, and professor of composition. Also a book editor and writer, Diana has led writing workshops for teachers at conferences along with seminars on great college application essays in Fulton, Gwinnett, and Forsyth school districts. Her narratives, commentary, articles, and poetry feature in magazines and anthologies, digital and print. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Pennsylvania with a B.A. in linguistics before earning her M.Ed. at Temple. Certified to teach all grades in Georgia, Diana tutors students in SAT Reading & Writing, ACT English & Reading, SSAT, MAP, IOWA, and college essays. She scrubs commas and rescues dangling modifiers from The New York Times in her spare time.

Matthew R.

Matthew’s journey into education was an unexpected yet deeply rewarding path. After earning a BA in Television, Film, and New Media, he initially pursued a career in the film industry. However, in 2013, while teaching a film course at the Digital Media Academy summer tech camp, he discovered a passion for guiding young scholars toward academic, creative, and professional success. This experience inspired him to pursue a single-subject teaching credential, leading him to a fulfilling career in education.

Since 2018, Matthew has been an educator at The Preuss School, UC San Diego, where he has honed his teaching philosophy and instructional methods. Initially stepping in to fill a vacancy in the Drama department, he transformed the curriculum into a film-based program that integrates Art, English, and History. His courses reinforce grade-level ELA comprehension and writing skills through in-depth units on story structure, plot development, character analysis, and thematic content. Students apply these skills to writing their own screenplays, while Film I students explore film theory and cinema history. In his advanced Film II/Honors Film course, students engage in collaborative, hands-on projects that guide them through all stages of video production, from pre-production to post-production.

Matthew’s adaptability and innovation were especially evident during the pandemic when The Preuss School transitioned to remote learning for two years. While many educators faced challenges, he embraced the format, finding new ways to engage students and enhance learning through strategic virtual instruction. He firmly believes that, when thoughtfully designed, virtual learning can be just as impactful—if not more—than in-person instruction.

His passion lies in inviting students into the vibrant world of poetry, literature, and history and watching them engage with enthusiasm. Through teaching, he hopes to foster a deep sense of global awareness, empathy, and compassion in his students, empowering them to express themselves through both written and visual storytelling.

Matthew is eager to begin the tutoring process for students in need of support in English, reading, writing, history, social studies, college essay writing, and test prep. Additionally, with his background in Film, he is thrilled to assist students seeking help with video production, editing, or acting. His expertise also extends to Public Speaking and Debate courses, providing students with valuable skills to enhance their speaking abilities.

Matthew is excited to bring his expertise and passion for education to Prep Academy Tutors, where he continues to support students in their academic journeys.

Richard M.

Richard Maloon has a proven track record in education. He earned his Bachelor’s degree (B.S.) in Elementary Education and later his Master’s degree in Education (M.Ed.) with a focus in Curriculum & Instruction. He has taught all grades 1 through 9, spending most of his time with grades 4 through 8. He taught for 14 years and served as a private school principal for 23 years. Mr. Maloon also had a career as a national certified consultant for MicroSociety, Inc., a successful, real-world school reform model. He was the consultant for many public schools in the southeast United States. He is very adept at teaching math, social studies, science, and English, and has been recognized for his creative approaches to teaching concepts and skills. He is considered by many to be a master teacher. He also was a school-wide program coordinator for implementing MicroSociety; his school was featured in many periodicals and on prime-time television. He has had an article published for a professional journal and has been a presenter at teacher conventions as well. Besides this, after school he has coached soccer, sponsored a chess club, and started a robotics tech club in many of his schools, taking teams to the finals in Lego Robotics. Mr. Maloon also enjoys traveling, being in nature, and learning more about neuroscience.

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!

LAGHIMA J.

Laghima is a Chemistry student at the University of Calgary with years of tutoring experience in math, chemistry, and English for students in grades 1 through 10. Her strong foundation in the sciences, combined with her patience and ability to explain complex concepts in an accessible way, allows her to support students in building confidence and achieving academic success.

She believes every student learns differently and tailors her approach to meet individual needs. Laghima believes that every student has the potential to succeed and strives to create a safe, supportive environment where they feel comfortable asking questions, making mistakes, and growing in their learning journey.