Anita M.

Anita is a veteran Texas educator, curriculum specialist, teacher trainer, and academic tutor with decades of experience helping students and educators achieve greater success. Her extensive career has included classroom teaching, bilingual and ESL instruction, curriculum development, educational assessment, teacher coaching, educational publishing, and individualized tutoring. Throughout each of these roles, Anita has remained focused on one central goal: identifying what a learner needs and providing instruction in a way that allows that individual to succeed.

A San Antonio native and the valedictorian of her high school class, Anita earned her Bachelor’s degree from Our Lady of the Lake University with a double major in English and Spanish, graduating with a 3.89 GPA. She later earned her Master’s degree in Bilingual/Bicultural Studies from the University of Texas at San Antonio, also with a 3.89 GPA. Anita holds Texas teaching certifications in English and Spanish as well as ESL certification.

Anita began her career teaching middle and high school students in San Antonio ISD and Edgewood ISD. Her interest in curriculum, assessment, and differentiated instruction eventually led to a remarkable career beyond her own classroom, working with educators and schools throughout the country. She has held educational leadership, curriculum, assessment, and training positions with organizations including Pearson Education, CTB/McGraw-Hill, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, the Education Service Center Region XX, and the Intercultural Development Research Association (IDRA).

For many years, Anita trained teachers in effective instructional practices, curriculum implementation, assessment interpretation, test-taking strategies, ESL methodology, and ways to differentiate instruction for students with different academic needs. She has presented to both small groups and large audiences at state and national conferences and has designed and delivered professional development programs for educators.

Anita also served as an ELL Secondary Transition Coach with Northside ISD, where she modeled lessons, coached teachers on strategies for developing students’ academic language, created professional development, and supported differentiated instruction for English Language Learners. Her graduate education and extensive professional experience in bilingual and ESL instruction have given her a particularly strong understanding of how language development affects reading, writing, comprehension, and learning across subjects.

Today, Anita brings this wealth of experience directly to individual students. She specializes in English, English Language Arts, reading, writing, college essay development, elementary academic support, STAAR preparation, and test-taking skills. Her extensive background in assessment is especially valuable when working one-on-one: Anita looks carefully at a student’s current skills, identifies specific areas that need improvement, and then adjusts instruction accordingly.

Her tutoring experience demonstrates the effectiveness of this individualized approach. Anita has provided elementary reading and writing intervention, STAAR preparation, grade-level readiness support, and home-based academic coaching. In one documented example, she helped a first-grade reader progress from Level C to Level I, while other tutoring work included analyzing Texas TEKS and creating individualized instructional materials to prepare students for the next grade level.

Anita’s expertise in STAAR and test-taking skills is another significant strength. In addition to directly tutoring elementary students in STAAR reading and writing strategies, she spent many years working professionally in educational assessment, including a decade with CTB/McGraw-Hill as an Assessment Specialist and later Senior Product Manager. Her background allows her to help students understand both the academic content being tested and the strategies necessary to approach assessments more confidently and effectively.

Families appreciate Anita’s ability to combine decades of educational expertise with highly individualized, encouraging instruction. She understands that students do not all process information in the same way, and she does not rely on a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, she identifies each student’s strengths and areas of need, adapts instruction accordingly, monitors progress, and helps families see the academic growth taking place over time.

Even in retirement, education remains an important part of Anita’s life. She enjoys teaching third-grade Catechism students preparing for First Communion and creating presentations for her church’s Rosary Prayer Group. Outside of teaching, she enjoys gardening, browsing for antiques, tackling DIY projects, and spending time with her grandchildren.

After a career devoted to students, teachers, curriculum, and assessment, Anita continues to find fulfillment in helping individual learners make progress. Her goal is not simply to help students complete assignments or prepare for the next test, but to give them the skills, strategies, and confidence they need to become stronger and more successful learners.

WILLIAM A B.

ALEX L.

Alex is currently in her final year of her Education degree. Prior to starting this second degree, she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Physical Literacy (Kinesiology) from Mount Royal University where she graduated with a perfect 4.0 GPA.

With 5 years of formal tutoring experience and a background as an Education Assistant for grades 5–8, Alex excels in individual and small group instruction to reinforce curriculum content. Her specializations are in mathematics and language arts. Being directly in the classroom and engaging with Alberta’s curriculum daily, she is immensely knowledgeable of how students are taught, where there may be disconnects between a teacher’s instruction and a student’s understanding, and alternative strategies that will result in the same skill being mastered.

Alex’s approach to tutoring is patient, encouraging, and nurturing. She is skilled at meeting students where they are, tailoring instruction to their unique needs, and cultivating inquiry with material to develop critical thinking skills. Her focus is not only on academic achievement, but also strengthening the essential skills such as organization and effective study strategies in order to help students develop habits supportive of learning across any subject.

Jose P.

Jose. “Alex” P. is a linguistics student, tutor, and educator with a passion for language, the humanities, and helping students become more confident and engaged learners. Alex is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics in Global and Local Communities at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), with particular interest in the educational applications of linguistics and bilingual and ESL instruction.

Alex has gained experience working with students in several different educational settings, including private tutoring, in-class academic support, and K–12 substitute teaching. As a freelance tutor, Alex works directly with students and families to improve grades, strengthen content retention, assist with homework, and provide additional learning resources students can use outside of tutoring sessions.

Alex also worked as an in-class tutor with Woodlawn Academy in San Antonio ISD, supporting students both individually and in small groups while collaborating with classroom teachers and providing instruction aligned with Texas educational standards. Previous experience as a K–12 substitute teacher provided additional exposure to students across a wide range of ages, subjects, abilities, and classroom environments.

Language and communication are particular strengths for Alex. Their study of linguistics provides a valuable foundation for understanding how language works and how students acquire reading, writing, and second-language skills. Alex communicates comfortably with both Spanish- and French-speaking individuals and provides tutoring in conversational Spanish, middle and high school Spanish, and middle and high school French, as well as English and ESL.

Alex particularly enjoys the humanities and works with students in English, English Language Arts, reading, writing, social studies, U.S. History, World History, and AP World History. Their interest in language, culture, and history allows Alex to help students make connections between subjects rather than treating each course as an isolated collection of facts.

Alex also offers broad academic support for elementary students across core subjects and works with middle and high school students in Pre-Algebra, Algebra I & II, Geometry, Trigonometry, Pre-Calculus, Biology, and Environmental Science. This versatility can make Alex an especially good fit for families looking for one tutor who can help a student manage assignments and strengthen skills across several subjects.

In addition to subject-specific instruction, Alex supports students with ADHD-related academic skills, handwriting, study and organizational strategies, and STAAR preparation. Their approach emphasizes building a comfortable tutoring relationship where students feel free to ask questions, work through mistakes, and develop greater ownership of their learning.

Alex believes that effective tutoring should do more than help a student finish tonight’s homework. By using creative activities, targeted practice, and individualized explanations, they strive to improve both immediate academic performance and long-term understanding. Their goal is to help students recognize that challenging material becomes much more manageable when it is presented in a way that connects with how they learn.

Outside of academics, Alex has a strong interest in theater and currently participates in UTSA Student Theater, following earlier involvement with the International Thespian Society. This background complements their interests in language and communication and brings creativity and an engaging personality to their work with students.

Above all, Alex strives to champion a genuine love of learning while giving students the individualized academic support they need to become more confident, capable, and independent learners.

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.

Amy B.

Amy has been in the field of education for over 20 years. Currently, she is a professor of elementary education courses at Loyola University Chicago, where she is also completing her dissertation for a doctorate in Curriculum, Communities, and Culture. Additionally, she holds a master’s degree in Literacy instruction, and endorsements in English as a Second Language and Learning Behavior Specialist I (LBS1) for special education. She has spent 22 years as an elementary classroom teacher, reading interventionist, and Literacy coach in public schools. She has a passion for culturally relevant teaching, and matching evidence-based practices with individual students to bring joy and efficiency to learning new skills. She believes in using assessment and children’s interests to help design individualized experiences that meet each learner’s unique needs.
While not teaching, Amy enjoys traveling and exploring the Chicago area with her spouse and two children. She is also an avid reader and bike rider. In addition to her 22 years in public schools, she has spent time teaching in schools and daycares in Sydney, Australia, Glasgow, Scotland, and Shanghai, China.

Candace T.

Candace is a Certified Teacher in NYS as a Middle Childhood Generalist in grades 5-9. She grew up in the Bronx, NY and continued her own Undergraduate and Graduate education in New York. She obtained her Undergraduate degree from CUNY City College where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Minor in English, and earned her Graduate degree from Relay Graduate School of Education where she earned her Master of Arts in Teaching with a concentration in Mathematics. Candace first began her love of education and working with students in afterschool and summer programs. There she was helping students in ELA and Math in both Elementary and Middle School aged students through homework help and a curriculum based instruction. From there Candace’s love for teaching grew and led her to pursue her higher education in teaching.

Candace is now entering her 10th year in education in an NYC Charter school where she has focused on teaching middle school Math and Science. She believes in meeting students where they are, creating a learning environment where she and students are able to build and foster positive relationships. Providing multiple modalities of access to learning and instruction. Giving space to students to ask questions, make mistakes, push their thinking, and build their confidence in learning.

Outside of teaching, Candace has a love of the performing arts with acting, stepping, film and theatre. She has pursued all of these areas through teaching theatre and stepping to students in afterschool and summer programs. Working on a couple of episodes of Sesame Street to perform with her step team. She has performed in Off Broadway productions, and worked behind the scenes of a webseries through script writing, casting and directing. She loves to travel, maintain close relationships with family and friends, being in water for the pool and beach, and on weekends going to the movies.

Sadia A.

Sadia is a credentialed elementary school teacher and current substitute teacher with a Master of Education from High Tech High Graduate School of Education and a bachelor’s degree in Public Health from Sacramento State. She has experience working with students across grade levels in classroom, small-group, and hands-on learning environments.

Sadia believes students learn best when they feel comfortable asking questions, making mistakes, and being themselves. She is patient and adaptable and enjoys finding different ways to explain a concept until it clicks. She values getting to know each student as an individual and helping them become more confident and independent learners.

Outside of teaching, Sadia enjoys exploring San Diego, spending time outdoors, staying active, listening to music, and volunteering in her community.

Kimberly K.

Experienced and energetic teacher with 10 years of classroom teaching. Masters degree in cross cultural teaching, Barton and Waldorf trained. Expert with Adhd, dyslexia and Asd students. Together we can work with challenges to create life long and confident learners.

Trupti P.

Trupti’s background is unique, and it reflects in her teaching approach. She completed the math program at Kumon Learning Center by the 8th grade, after which she immediately began working as an Assistant Grader. Since then, Trupti has been teaching a diverse range of students, from elementary level to higher education. Her teaching philosophy is understanding students and creating a safe space to meet each other halfway. She finds joy in motivating students and being a stepping stone in their academic journey.

Trupti holds an M.S. in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Illinois Chicago and in Biology from the University of West Florida. She received her B.S. in Environmental Science with a minor in Spanish at Benedictine University. She has studied abroad in Spain and the Bahamas.

Currently, Trupti is a new adjunct instructor teaching Introduction to Biology at Harold Washington College. Outside the classroom, Trupti is an artist at heart. She loves dancing, yoga, music, and venturing to museums and plays. In her free time, she volunteers at the Blind Services Association, reading to the visually impaired.

In all, Trupti is a dedicated, empathetic, and passionate educator. She applauds students who show up, even when it seems impossible. Everyone is welcome in this classroom!