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.
Henry H.
Henry H. is a certified educator with a deep commitment to helping students thrive academically and personally. Born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, he earned his Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies and a Master’s in Business Administration from The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA).
A lifelong sports enthusiast, Henry grew up participating in basketball, soccer, track, and cross country, and he remains an avid runner to this day. It was during his time at UTSA that he discovered his passion for teaching and mentoring young people, which led him to a rewarding career in education.
Henry began his career sharing his love for mathematics and sports, coaching a variety of indoor and outdoor sports at the middle school level and mentoring high school athletes in distance running. He has a particular interest in helping young athletes balance academics and sports to achieve their full potential.
In addition to coaching, Henry spent several summers working with the Pre-Freshmen Engineering Program (PREP), which introduces middle and high school students to STEM fields through hands-on experiences. This role further fueled his passion for teaching, and he has since dedicated time to tutoring and mentoring students one-on-one, primarily focusing on math, but also supporting broader academic growth.
Henry believes that building strong, trusting relationships with his students is key to fostering their success. He continues to refine his teaching and mentoring strategies, finding the process deeply rewarding as he helps students overcome challenges and reach their goals.
“I believe that every student has the potential to excel, and my role is to guide them toward realizing their own abilities. Education isn’t just about knowledge—it’s about building confidence and curiosity. By creating a supportive, engaging environment, I help students unlock their full potential and develop a lifelong love of learning.”
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.