Shelley H.

Shelley is an experienced mathematics tutor with more than 25 years of intermittent tutoring expertise, supporting students from kindergarten through grade 12 as well as those preparing for the SAT, ACT, and advanced math courses including Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Calculus, and Statistics. She holds four academic degrees—Mathematics, Physics, Information Technology, and Opticianry—and spent over a decade as a computer programmer and systems analyst before becoming a Licensed Optician in Florida. Shelley’s lifelong passion for analytical thinking has shaped every chapter of her life, from excelling academically and earning induction into the National Honor Society to her success as a competitive athlete. A decorated golfer, she has won numerous championships, including titles at Pinehurst Country Club, and has achieved an impressive eight hole-in-ones.

Shelley’s background is equally defined by her dedication to children and learning. As a mother of five, she gained deep insight into supporting students with learning differences, including her own children who faced unique educational challenges. Her
experiences fueled her desire to help other families navigate academic struggles with empathy, structure, and high expectations. Over the years, Shelley has tutored with
several agencies and independently, helping many students achieve remarkable progress—including four students who earned perfect standardized-test scores under her guidance. She brings to her work a blend of humor, warmth, and discipline, drawing
from a lifetime of teaching skills developed through athletics, equestrian training, parenting, and her STEM-driven career.

In her tutoring practice, Shelley emphasizes the logic and clarity that make mathematics both approachable and empowering. She believes that math is only complicated when the steps are unclear—and she excels at breaking those steps into understandable and
repeatable processes. She expects students to arrive prepared, focused, and ready to work, encouraging habits that mirror the discipline required for college, careers, and personal achievement. Shelley is excited to bring her passion for teaching, her analytical expertise, and her unwavering commitment to student success to Prep Academy Tutors, where she strives to help every learner build confidence, master essential skills, and realize their full potential.

Valery D.

Valery is a current student at the University of Miami, where she is pursuing degrees in Economics and Health Science. With four years of experience working in tutoring centers, Vale brings a strong background in supporting students across elementary and middle school subjects, along with high school English and Science. She has extensive experience working with children ages 8–12 and is CPR certified. Born and raised in Miami, Valery is known for making learning fun and engaging, helping students enjoy their work and build the confidence they need to excel. Outside of tutoring, she loves exploring new cafés around the city and going on runs.

Sandra M.

Sandra holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Sciences from the University of South Florida and brings a strong academic foundation to her role as a tutor. For the past three years, she has worked with students ranging from Pre-K to college, teaching subjects such as English, chemistry, organic chemistry, and various math courses.

Sandra’s unique experience spans early childhood education and college-level tutoring, giving her a versatile and adaptive teaching style. She takes pride in making complex topics approachable and believes in creating a supportive, engaging learning environment tailored to each student’s needs.

She recently graduated in May 2025 and is currently pursuing a nursing degree at Nova Southeastern University. Sandra is passionate about helping students build both confidence and competence in their academic journeys. In her free time, she enjoys dancing, staying active, and spending time with friends and family.

Sophie G.

Sophie G. is an educator with a strong background in teaching, mentorship, and student support across K-12 and higher education settings. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from Hamilton College, where she graduated cum laude with minors in French and Government, and she is currently completing her M.S.Ed. in Education Policy at the University of Pennsylvania.

Sophie has taught writing to incoming high school students through Breakthrough Collaborative and AmeriCorps, supported Algebra II learners as an Ignite Fellow with Teach For America, and served as a Teaching Assistant in Hamilton College’s Archaeology Department, where she led labs, supported student learning, and facilitated hands-on instruction.

Her work in admissions at both Hamilton College and Penn GSE has strengthened her communication skills, public speaking abilities, and commitment to educational access. Sophie prioritizes building confidence through individualized instruction and focuses on helping students connect classroom material to their own interests and motivations, fostering deeper engagement and genuine understanding.

Outside of teaching, she enjoys cooking, creative writing, and searching for four-leaf clovers.

Courtney Z.

Courtney is a dynamic, student-focused mathematics educator with over 15 years of classroom experience supporting middle and high school learners. With a Bachelor’s in Mathematics and a Master’s in Teaching, she brings deep content knowledge and a passion for making math accessible, meaningful, and engaging for all students.
Outside of teaching, Courtney enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and hitting the tennis courts. She is also a music enthusiast and devoted Red Sox fan, and strives to weave students’ personal interests into her lessons to make learning more engaging and meaningful.

Allison A.

Allison A., known as “Dr. Ali” by her students, earned a PhD in Microbiology & Immunology from UTHSCSA, an MBA from UTSA, and a BA in Microbiology from the University of Kansas. When not studying, Dr. Ali was a Teaching Assistant for medical and dental students. After overachieving in school, Dr. Ali became a military contractor (Scientist) and spent many years researching things she can’t tell you about. When the pandemic hit, Dr. Ali began homeschooling her own children. Inspired by this experience, she launched a STEM enrichment business that offers hands-on classes for San Antonio homeschoolers. Dr. Ali is committed to building a meaningful connection with each of her students to make learning more enjoyable and engaging. Learning comes in many forms, including playing games and building projects. It doesn’t have to be a chore or a bore. Dr. Ali is the kind of person who took Calculus 3 in college for funsies. With the right instructor, Science and Math can be fun, interactive, and spark curiosity.

Nate T.

Nathan (goes by Nate) knows math and loves math, inside and out. He spent 15 years earning his doctorate and pursuing primary mathematics research, teaching and tutoring at the high school and college level all along the way. He’s currently serving as Adjunct Faculty at the College of DuPage and Waubonsee Community College tutoring high school students in math. However, he has taught and tutored students in places as far-flung as the University of Michigan, Duke University, UMass Amherst and the University of Miami.

With Nate, you won’t just get a tutor that knows the material in a few high school courses. You’ll get someone who …

… tutors from a place of understanding and with a growth mindset: where mistakes are a normal, and even essential, part of learning something new,

… is familiar with the whole high school curriculum: not just your student’s class, but the classes preceding it, and so can diagnose knowledge gaps and fill them with mini-lessons on the fly,

… can prep for college entrance exams including the SAT and ACT,

… knows the undergraduate mathematics curriculum and can tutor for students enrolled in dual credit or enrichment courses, and welcomes tutoring college students as well.

In his spare time, Nate likes to play table top role playing games, and is an amateur bodybuilder, although he still thinks about research questions in math from time to time too.

With Nate, your student’s math education is in the best hands!

Faraz K.

Faraz holds a Bachelor of Arts from Northwestern University, double majoring in Biology and Chemistry, and has completed graduate studies in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. He brings over five years of teaching experience, covering everything from elementary math and science to advanced undergraduate mathematics and standardized test prep. As a former teaching assistant at the University of Illinois at Chicago, Faraz has led classrooms, worked with small groups, delivered lectures, and graded exams.
A Chicagoland native, Faraz discovered his passion for teaching in college while introducing gifted children to LEGO robotics and computer programming. Outside the classroom, he is a dedicated runner—once a cross-country athlete, now a regular jogger—and a grilling enthusiast who insists barbecuing is equal parts science and art. Faraz’s teaching philosophy revolves around creating independent learners. He believes the best classroom isn’t the one where you are taught, but the one where you learn to teach yourself—though his students don’t have to grade their own homework… yet.

Kyle H.

Kyle is a primary English educator and aspiring film professor with more than six years of teaching and tutoring experience across multiple classrooms, workshops, online platforms, and subjects. While he has been pursuing his masters degree in education at National Louis University, he has also been supporting grades 9–12 as a permanent substitute teacher at Hinsdale South High School. Kyle also has led screenwriting, creative writing, and public speaking sessions for Cardinal Filmworks, a student owned and ran film collective at Ball State University (his alma mater). Finally, after his undergrad, he also tutored poetry, Spanish, photography, and videography for learners of all ages with Varsity Tutors as one of their Creative Writing Experts. His style tends to center on building up confidence and problem solving skills through lessons that connect his students’ work to their interests. Creativity is a core tenet of his and because of that he loves to design personalized, engaging sessions that balance creative freedom with structured feedback so that each student grows as both thinker and creator. Because of this more creativity-focused approach, crafting relationships with my students is paramount to me. Learning about their lives and helping them succeed is just as important to me as their academics. Kyle is a lifelong reader, film buff, devoted sci‑fi and fantasy fan, bass guitar player, and avid Chicago & New York sports fan (Cubs/Sox Mets/Jets).

Jayden D.

Jayden is a college junior at the age of 19 and is studying Electrical Engineering with a passion for STEM education. Jayden specializes his tutoring abilities in math and physics at the high school level and lower. Jayden benefits from hands-on experience gained through lab work, projects, and academic programs and is excellent at simplifying difficult concepts. Jayden seeks to empower students to become more confident, improve problem-solving capabilities, and achieve their potential. From high school algebra to geometry, he creates customized, interactive lessons that are not only enjoyable but also highly effective.