Chris L.

Growing up in Cardiff, Wales, Chris was drawn to the outdoors despite the city’s amenities. As a child, he joined outdoor clubs, cubs, scouts, and played various sports; fostering a love for new activities, challenges, and meeting people. This passion led him to the Sea to Sky region, where a temporary visa turned into a lifelong adventure. For Chris, the satisfaction of overcoming a challenging target, problem, skill, or puzzle has always been worth the effort, work, and occasional pain and frustration

While in university, Chris worked at a summer camp in North Carolina, where he helped campers grow physically, socially, and emotionally, sparking his interest in academic teaching. In 2013, he earned a BA in education from the University of the West of England, Bristol. Through this course, he was incredibly fortunate to have extensive placements in a range of settings, with a range of grades. Chris has worked in both traditional and non-traditional settings; in schools with everything imaginable and schools with almost nothing; and taught from the very youngest learners up to adults in their golden years.

Chris blends educational theory with his active outdoor background to create engaging, multidisciplinary learning experiences, emphasizing hands-on learning and understanding rather than doing. He strives to find creative ways to show that learning is real rather than a lesson in a room. Chris loves finding opportunities to get outside and do something, rather than learn about something. He encourages movement, noise and active participation. Critically and fundamentally, Chris believes in teaching a person at their own individual level and to their own individual needs, encouraging everyone to take ownership of their learning and to support them in overcoming challenges to aid understanding and ability.

Making mistakes and finding things hard is the first step to learning something. If it was easy, were we learning, or just completing tasks?

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.

MATTHEW D.

Matthew graduated from Manhattan’s prestigious Regis High School and SUNY Binghamton for college, where he earned a Summa Cum Laude distinction. In the years since, he has coached subject and test prep private clients in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Los Angeles; tutored low-to-middle income children via the Kennedy Child Study Center; taught an after-school enrichment course at the Women’s Housing And Economic Development Corporation (WHEDco) in The Bronx, NY; and developed a community center’s first SAT Prep Course. Currently, Matthew leads several Math Olympiad teams in Darien, CT and has a steady math and test prep roster of both private clients and those via Fairfield County’s top placement firms. In addition to his tutoring work, Matthew continues an active professional career in the arts and entertainment industry.

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!

Mia F.

Mia has a Bachelor of Education degree from McGill University.

She has worked for one year as a teacher at St. George’s Elementary School and is currently in her second year of teaching at Solomon Schechter Academy.

Her specialties include English and Math for students at the elementary level. In addition, she has worked as a student teacher at Lower Canada College and Akiva where she supported the teacher’s objectives, planned, prepared and implemented original lessons and activities.

Mia believes that there is not a “one size fits all” approach when it comes to teaching would like her students to feel welcome and safe from judgment. She understands the need for differentiation and always tries to integrate multiple learning styles and techniques in her teaching.

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!

Dr. Andrea D.

Dr. Andrea D. graduated from the University of Virginia with a degree in Psychology and Biology, and earned her PhD from Boston University. She is a Biological Anthropologist who studies wild orangutans, baboons, and other primates. When not studying primates, she teaches Writing and Anthropology at an Ivy League University. Her teaching experience includes Harvard, Princeton, and Boston University, and she served as the Resident Scientist for 8th graders in a Massachusetts public school. Having struggled with a reading disability herself, and now helping two stepsons with ADHD and other neurodivergences, Dr. D. knows how tough it can be to learn in the traditional classroom environment. As a tutor and professor, she uses multimedia, scaffolding, and other pedagogy to help every learner excel. If you or your child is struggling with executive functioning (study skills, planning, time management, etc.), she can help with strategies that she has practiced herself. Her previous experience in marketing and current experiences teaching Writing and writing her own research grants makes her an excellent choice to help with college entrance exams and essays. Dr. D. loves teaching, and helping students make connections and form an understanding of the materials. She always strives to make each learning experience a skill- and confidence-building moment so that the student leaves with more than a right answer.

JEFF Q.

Jeff has taught in both NYC and Westchester schools for over 25 years. He began teaching with the U.S. Peace Corps before obtaining a Master’s Degree in American Literature as well as a Master’s in School Administration/Educational Leadership. He has also spent over 10 years helping Westchester families navigate the SAT, ACT, and the college application process.

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.

Ollie J.

Ollie is currently studying Environmental and Sustainability Sciences (Biology) at Concordia University. He graduated John Abbott College on the honour roll, having completed two internships in environmental science research. He has experience tutoring learners from the elementary to the CEGEP level across a wide variety of subjects.

Ollie is committed to making every student feel welcome. As someone who has struggled with executive functioning, he has personal experience learning how to build routines and study effectively. Ollie believes that teaching learners to work with their unique brains is key to building long-lasting academic habits.

In his free time, Ollie enjoys crocheting, sewing, and embroidery. He also plays the drums!