Shauna K.

Helping students succeed is Shauna K.’s true passion.

Shauna has been teaching, tutoring, and helping students achieve academic success for more than a decade.

A California native, Shauna has a graduate and undergraduate degree in Biological Sciences from UCSD. She also has a TESOL certificate to teach English as a foreign language, and many years of in-person and online SAT and ACT coaching — which is her specialty.

Shauna is highly skilled in helping students excel in a wide range of subjects from science and math to language arts and Spanish.

She is an expert at helping all students learn (and master) executive functioning skills such as planning, time management, study habits, and effective study techniques (how to study). She believes that the confidence gained through these skills propel students forward and lay the groundwork for lifelong success.

When Shauna is not teaching or tutoring, you will find her hiking, biking, or camping the Rockies.

Marlee S.

Marlee S. has a Bachelor’s degree with a double major in English Literature and Creative Writing from Susquehanna University. Wanting to be an author, she has been writing from the time she was young. This passion caused her to pursue literature and writing both in higher education. During and after college, she has tutored both high school students and college students in essay-writing, even helping college applicants to write their admissions essay. Currently, she is substitute teaching in Manatee County while pursuing a career in teaching English. In her free time, Marlee likes to read, work on her novel, watch anime with her brother, and beat her parents at pickleball.

Brook L.

Brook L. is a certified teacher with a Master’s degree in Teaching and Bachelor’s degree in Arts and Humanities. She is a certified TESOL instructor, and accredited by the American Tap Dance Society.

She has 15 years of experience teaching English Language Arts (ELA). Six of those years were spent teaching middle-school English. In addition, she has worked as a technology instructor, theater director, International Baccalaureate Primary and Diploma instructor, an academic advisor, and an ESL tutor.

Brook’s strengths include grammar and punctuation, language proficiency, SAT and ACT test prep, and helping students embrace new reading-comprehension strategies rooted in the Science of Reading.

She also created a Girl, Awake! Project: a mentorship program that advocates for girls’ education.

When Brook is not teaching, tutoring, or writing YA and dystopian fiction, you’ll find her crocheting, reading, or walking her Golden Retriever pup: Salvador Doggie

Meghan P.

Meghan has an MA in History and a BA (double major) in Classics and International Development from McGill University. She is in the final stages of completing her PhD in History and Classics at Yale University. Meghan has published a number of articles in academic publications and presented her research at conferences around the world. She speaks three languages fluently (English, French, and Romanian) and works in several others (Italian, German, Latin, and Ancient Greek).

Meghan is a passionate teacher who believes that every student is capable of excellence. Her approach is characterized by empathy, patience, and kindness. With over 15 years of experience in higher education, Meghan is sympathetic to the pressures modern students face: difficulties in focus, wavering confidence, and the temptation of unethical AI use among others. Meghan has had particular success in motivating students who were especially shy, withdrawn, or otherwise on the margins of the classroom. Strategies for how to bring such a student back into the fold differ on an individual basis but are always couched in mutual respect and understanding. Frequently, students who may have been struggling the most at the beginning of the term—be it with meeting deadlines, quality of work, or something else—became some of Meghan’s strongest and most self-motivated students by the end of the academic year.

Areas of Expertise: Reading, Writing, and Critical Analysis (all levels); History (all levels); Latin; Ancient Greek; Biology (K-12); Homework Help (English: K-12; French: K-6).

Dr. Michelina N-O.

Dr. Michelina Nelson-Olivieri developed a lifelong love of reading and writing as a child growing up in rural East Texas. Her favorite writers include Jeanette Winterson, Emily Austin, and Joy Harjo.

She received her B.A. and M.A. in English from Sam Houston State University, and her Ph.D. in English from the University of Denver. During her time at DU, she taught several English courses and tutored in after-school programs and at the University Writing Center.

Michelina’s passion is helping students of all ages find their written voices and learn to understand the world around them through other literary voices.

When she is not helping students learn to read and write with confidence and ease, you can find Michelina hiking with her family on trails all over the Front Range.

Dr. Katina W.

Dr. Katina Walton views her enthusiasm for teaching as a calling and a responsibility that is driven by her commitment to student growth, equity, and excellence. Her desire to be a better teacher is fueled by the her personal experience of how effective instruction transforms lives and unlocks the potential in every learner.

She holds a Ph.D. in Literacy, Reading, Assessment, and Evaluation from Walden University, and has taught in a variety of classrooms from elementary schools to universities since 2001.

Outside of teaching, Dr. Walton finds joy in her faith, family, and community. She also enjoys encouraging others and engaging in activities that renew her spirit and strengthen her passion for education.

Travis McG.

Travis McGinnis has a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Regis University, with endorsements in both Gifted and Talented Education and Social Studies. With 15 years of classroom experience in the Adams 12 and Jeffco School Districts, Travis is an expert at guiding students through Reading, Writing, and Math using goal-setting and arts-integrated methods.

In 2017, Travis was awarded the Talented Teacher Award by the Jeffco School District, and recognized for “100% student achievement,” as all his students met or exceeded their goals in Reading, Writing, and Math. In 2016, he also contributed to Devinney Elementary School winning the National Blue Ribbon Award.

Outside the classroom, Travis enjoys playing soccer, boardgames, baking sourdough bread, and writing fantasy and science fiction novels. When he’s not writing, gaming, or baking masterpieces in the kitchen, he enjoys quality time with his wife, four children, and their mini-goldendoodle puppy.

Travis’s experience as an educator, his enthusiasm for learning, and zest for life make him an ideal “smart friend” for elementary and middle-school students who could use a little inspiration to overcome challenges and master the learning process.

McCall D.

McCall D. is exceptional at helping students grasp concepts and gain confidence in Middle-School Math, Trigonometry, Pre-Calculus, and English Composition.

McCall enjoys helping students learn how to bridge the gap between big-picture mathematical concepts and solving specific problems using those concepts.

Her goal is to help students gain confidence, improve their understanding, and realize, “Hey, wait a minute. I’m actually good at math!”

As a graduating honor-roll senior at Silver Creek High School in Longmont, McCall will be attending Colorado State University in the fall, where she plans to major in Biomedical Engineering and Biochemistry.

In her spare time, McCall works with a local equine veterinarian and spends time with her friends, family, and her three dogs: Anzu, Zeke, and ZuZu.

Zach L.

Zachery Lundgren received his Ph.D. in Rhetoric, Writing, and Composition from East Carolina University. He also has an MFA from the University of South Florida, and a BA from the University of Colorado, Boulder.

Zach has taught at the college level for seven years, and has tutored students from middle school to graduate school in a variety of subjects. His primary areas of expertise are English, Essay Writing, and Science.

When he isn’t teaching or tutoring, Zach loves hiking, camping, and backpacking in the Colorado backcountry. He is also an avid reader and has published a book of poetry: Turkey Vulture, published by Meadowlark Press.

Jacob C.

EN: Jacob is a current student in McGill University’s Master of Arts in Teaching and Learning (English Language) program. He holds a Bachelor of Journalism and brings nearly 10 years of experience in traditional media and corporate communications, where clear, effective language was central to his work.
Jacob specializes in reading, writing, and communication skills. He has a particular strength in helping students build confidence in their abilities. His background allows him to break down complex ideas across multiple subjects into clear, accessible concepts while adapting his approach to each student’s learning style.
Positive and encouraging, Jacob aims to create a personalized learning environment where students feel comfortable asking questions, making mistakes, and progressing at their own pace.

FR: Jacob est actuellement étudiant dans le programme de maîtrise arts en enseignement et apprentissage (langue anglaise) de l’Université McGill. Détenant un baccalauréat en journalisme, il possède près de 10 ans d’expérience dans les médias traditionnels et les communications d’entreprise, où l’utilisation de langage clair et efficace était au cœur de son travail.

Jacob est spécialisé dans la lecture, l’écriture et la communication. Il excelle particulièrement dans l’aide apportée aux élèves pour qu’ils prennent confiance en leurs capacités. Son expérience lui permet de simplifier des idées complexes dans plusieurs sujets en concepts clairs et accessibles, tout en adaptant son approche au style d’apprentissage de chaque élève.

Positif et encourageant, Jacob vise à créer un environnement d’apprentissage personnalisé où les élèves se sentent à l’aise pour poser des questions, faire des erreurs et progresser à leur propre rythme.