Symone L.

Symone is a passionate and dedicated educator who enjoys helping students build confidence, strengthen their academic skills, and recognize their full potential. She currently teaches Advanced Math to students in grades 6–8, providing rigorous instruction in Pre-Algebra and Algebra 1 while adapting lessons to meet the individual needs and learning styles of her students.

Symone earned her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education with a minor in Psychology from Saint Joseph’s University and is currently pursuing her Master of Science in Organizational Development and Leadership. Throughout her educational experiences, Symone has worked with students across multiple grade levels and with diverse learning needs. She particularly enjoys working one-on-one with students, where she can identify individual strengths and areas for growth, personalize instruction, and help students become more confident and independent learners. Symone also uses student progress and assessment data to guide her instruction and has experience incorporating virtual learning tools and online educational resources, including Google Classroom, IXL, DreamBox, and other interactive platforms, to provide engaging and meaningful learning experiences.

Symone believes that building strong relationships with students is an important part of their success and strives to create a supportive environment where students feel comfortable asking questions, making mistakes, and challenging themselves. Symone loves finding creative and relatable ways to make difficult concepts easier to understand while helping each student discover the learning strategies that work best for them.

Outside of education, she loves traveling, spending time with family and friends, exploring nature, caring for plants and flowers, and sewing.

Josh B.

Josh Bicknell is a licensed educator for English Language Arts, which he earned shortly after completing a BA in English at the University of Missouri with a minor in creative writing. He has taught and tutored at the secondary level (7-12) throughout the Houston, Texas area where he grew up. He has also worked as a professional writing tutor for college composition and rhetoric, in addition to TOEFL prep, ISEE prep, SAT/ACT, and both GED and some GRE completion.

In 2024, Bicknell decided to continue his education with a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction, while also studying a topic he had always felt passionately about: Holocaust and Genocide studies. He graduated in 2025.

His current work includes developing curriculum for his project (Ten Stages of Change) which focuses primarily on textual and source analysis, media literacy skills, and social emotional learning. His work has been published by Consider the Source New York Archives, Learner Education’s EdTech blog series, and three pieces of poetry selected for the Glendale Literary Archives.

He currently livens in downtown Glendale, California with a Boston terrier/pug named Dexter.

Lena H.

Lena is a certified Texas educator with a creative, student-centered approach to helping learners build confidence, strengthen academic skills, and discover how they learn best. She holds a Texas EC–12 teaching certification and brings several years of classroom experience working with students from early elementary through middle school, along with experience supporting learners with a wide variety of academic abilities, learning styles, and individual needs.

Lena graduated from the University of Texas at San Antonio with a Bachelor of Arts in Art, earning a 3.81 GPA. Her university studies also reflected her broad interest in the humanities and social sciences, with coursework exploring literature, culture, history, and the ways art and storytelling reflect society. This interdisciplinary background has helped shape her ability to make subjects such as English, writing, history, geography, and social studies more engaging and relatable for students.

As a classroom educator, Lena has taught hundreds of students across elementary and middle school settings and has designed more than 75 standards-aligned lessons. Her experience includes developing curriculum, differentiating instruction, incorporating educational technology, assessing student progress, and finding creative ways to present information so students can better understand and retain it.

Lena is particularly passionate about working with students who benefit from a more individualized approach to learning. She has managed and implemented IEP accommodations for special education students and has completed additional professional training in dyslexia awareness, mental-health response, and Capturing Kids’ Hearts. She has developed a strong connection with neurodivergent students, including learners with ADHD and autism, and strives to create an environment where students feel understood, supported, and comfortable asking for help.

Lena specializes in English, English Language Arts, reading, writing, spelling, and middle school Language Arts, along with a broad range of humanities and social sciences, including U.S. History, World History, Geography, Human Geography, Social Studies, Psychology, Sociology, and Philosophy. She also supports students in AP English, AP Human Geography, AP World History, college essay writing, and introductory college-level English and Psychology.

In addition, Lena works with students on executive functioning, test-taking skills, and standardized test preparation, including English preparation for the SAT and ACT, as well as STAAR Reading and Social Studies. Her experience with organization, differentiated instruction, and individual accommodations makes her especially well suited for students who understand the material but struggle with planning, organization, task completion, or demonstrating what they know on assignments and tests.

One of Lena’s greatest strengths is her ability to approach academic material creatively. Her background in art and visual storytelling allows her to incorporate visual explanations, step-by-step modeling, and alternative ways of presenting information when traditional instruction isn’t connecting with a student. Rather than expecting every learner to process information in the same way, Lena works to discover what makes a concept “click” for each individual student.

Families appreciate Lena’s patience, creativity, and ability to build genuine connections with students. She believes students are more willing to challenge themselves when they feel safe making mistakes and know their teacher genuinely understands them. Her goal is to help students recognize their own strengths while developing the academic skills, strategies, and independence necessary for continued success.

Outside of teaching, Lena is an artist and storyteller who has had a lifelong love of comics and animation. She enjoys creating her own stories and artwork exploring underrepresented communities and themes of justice and representation. She brings that same curiosity, creativity, and appreciation for different perspectives into her work with students.

Beth S.

With 30 years of experience and a Master’s in Education, Beth brings an encouraging and practical approach to tutoring that helps students become confident and capable learners. Throughout her career, she has worked with students from sixth grade through college age. Beth has engaged with students across a wide range of backgrounds and subjects such as reading, writing, SAT Prep and study skills and has helped those students develop strategies that work for them. Most recently, she served as Coordinator of Writing Center Services at Bryant University, where she worked individually with students on writing, organization, and academic success. She also taught a first-year student success course and supported students who needed additional guidance to meet their goals. Beth meets students where they are, identifying skills they need to strengthen, and building from there. Her goal is to make learning feel manageable so that it builds student confidence. Outside of education, Beth enjoys reading, staying active, and spending time with her family and her cat, Otis.

Hanif M.

Hanif is a passionate MATHEMATICS educator and experienced ESL instructor with a strong academic background and a genuine love of teaching. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from the University of Dhaka and is currently pursuing a Master of Engineering in Applied Data Science at the University of Victoria.
With a strong foundation in algebra, geometry, trigonometry, calculus, statistics, and problem-solving, Hanif brings both mathematical expertise and an analytical approach to his teaching. He also has extensive experience teaching English as a Second Language, including IELTS preparation, speaking, writing, reading, and communication skills.
Hanif’s teaching style is patient, encouraging, and interactive. He enjoys breaking challenging concepts into manageable steps and adapting his approach to each student’s individual learning needs. One of his favourite parts of teaching is seeing a student understand something that once felt difficult and gain the confidence to work independently.
Whether supporting a student in mathematics or English, Hanif brings clarity, enthusiasm, and genuine care to every lesson.

Téa C.

Téa brings a distinctive interdisciplinary academic background to her teaching, with three degrees and a post-baccalaureate certification across multiple fields, including the sciences, Spanish linguistics, and classical music! She is currently pursuing a PhD with a focus on neuroscientific research. Her academic path reflects her belief that different fields of knowledge are deeply interconnected, and that understanding those connections can lead to a richer and more intuitive approach to learning and to life overall.

She has had the opportunity to teach and support learners across a wide range of ages, from young children and adolescents to teens, adults, and senior adults. Her experience as a behavioral therapist and interventionist with younger learners taught her the importance of meeting each student as an individual—understanding how they communicate, what interests them, and what helps them engage with new ideas. She has also helped adults develop practical skills, from basic computer competency in an increasingly digital world to teaching them how to shred on guitar!

In her spare time, she can usually be found curating the perfect song playlist, cooking something spicy, or enjoying the great outdoors.

Rachel M.

Somyata G.

Somyata is a PhD Candidate in the Faculty of Education at the University of Victoria, where her research explores interculturalism and the experiences of international students in higher education. Her academic work centres on fostering inclusive learning environments and understanding how culture and learning styles shape students’ educational experiences.
A Gold Medal recipient for academic excellence in her Master of Education program, Somyata brings more than five years of experience in educational research and student support. As a Learning Strategist at UVic’s Centre for Accessible Learning, she develops individualized learning strategies for diverse learners, including international students, ESL learners, and students with exceptionalities.
Somyata is particularly skilled in academic writing, reading, research methodology, thesis preparation, communication skills, and helping students interpret and apply academic feedback. Her experience also includes roles with UVic’s English Language Centre, Globalink Mitacs, and as an ESL Instructor, supporting students from more than 20 countries.
Fluent in English and Hindi, with intermediate proficiency in German, Somyata brings a thoughtful, collaborative, and culturally responsive approach to tutoring. She is passionate about helping students build the skills, strategies, and confidence to become more independent learners.
Outside of academics, you’ll often find Somyata behind a camera, capturing anything that catches her eye!

Alissa C.

Alissa has her master’s degree in Education with a concentration in Autism Spectrum Disorder from Saint Francis University. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in General Education PreK–5 and Special Education PreK–12, along with a minor in Psychology and an Autism Spectrum Disorder Endorsement.

Alissa brings 4.5 years of experience as an Educational Specialist, working primarily with 2nd- and 3rd-grade students. Her academic focus has included math, writing, and structured reading instruction. She also has experience supporting students with a variety of learning differences, including dyslexia, and is experienced in working with students with disabilities and IEPs.

When Alissa is not working, she enjoys being outdoors, gardening, and spending time with her two children. She looks forward to building strong relationships with her students and their families and is committed to helping each student grow in confidence and achieve academic success.

Melanie M.

Melanie has a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry and a Master’s degree in Education with a concentration in Multiple Intelligence Theory. She taught high school chemistry for eight years in New Orleans,New York City and Washington D.C., gaining experience with diverse students and learning styles. She moved to Atlanta in 2005 and has been tutoring students ever since, helping them build confidence and achieve academic success.

She uses Multiple Intelligence Theory to assess each student’s strengths and tailor instruction so they can learn in the way that best fits them. She also homeschooled her five children for two years, which strengthened her ability to individualize instruction and meet students where they are. Outside of education she enjoys yoga, hiking and cooking and values balance, curiosity and lifelong learning.