Caroline F.

Caroline, an educator with a degree from Brigham Young University, brings a unique blend of enthusiasm and expertise to her tutoring sessions. To Caroline, learning is an exciting challenge, and she strives to cultivate that attitude in her students by making each session engaging and enjoyable for her students. She believes that her students have just as much to teach her as she does to teach them, fostering an environment of mutual respect and curiosity. She is deeply committed to helping children not only excel academically but also develop essential life skills that will serve them far beyond the classroom. Caroline’s goal is to inspire her students to see learning as an adventure, empowering them to approach each new challenge with confidence and a sense of fun. In her spare time, Caroline enjoys channeling her inner grandma by completing puzzles and reading dusty history books.

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.”

Juan F.

Juan F. is a highly experienced tutor with over seven years of expertise in guiding students through Mathematics, English, and Reading. With a M.S. in Data Science and a B.S. in Operations Research, he helps students develop strategic problem-solving skills, ensuring they approach the Test/Exam with confidence and efficiency.

His proficiency in mathematics, data analysis, and reading comprehension allows him to craft tailored lesson plans that emphasize critical thinking, time management, and test-taking strategies. Juan understands the challenges students face and focuses on ensuring students maximize their scores by understanding question patterns rather than just memorizing formulas. Juan also makes learning engaging, whether through interactive problem-solving or real-world applications of test concepts. His ability to connect with students and his expertise makes him a dedicated and highly effective tutor who helps students unlock their full potential.

Luami M.

Luami is a student at Montclair State University pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in English Secondary Education alongside a minor in Linguistics with fluency in both English and Spanish. She is immensely passionate in her pursuit to strengthen students’ reading and writing skills, deepening their understanding of literature’s connection to real-world concepts. Having received a perfect score on the AP Literature & Composition exam, Luami is well suited to help students navigate the aforementioned college level course and those similar to it. Despite having an education focused in the humanities, she often spends most of her time working alongside P-12 students in math subjects up to Algebra 2. From foundational math to advanced literature, Luami is a dynamic and engaging tutor dedicated to helping her students succeed. By putting students’ goals first and working hard in collaboration to achieve them, students walk away with a long lasting, positive impact on their education. In her spare time, Luami can be found reading a novel, relaxing with her 12-year-old Chihuahua named Lola, or running the registered student organization she founded: the Montclair State Music Club!

Sarah J.

Sarah is a Colorado native who moved to Idaho 15 years ago and found a home here. She recently relocated from Hailey to the Boise area for more educational options for her children. Sarah received her BA in Secondary Education/Biology from Concordia University Wisconsin, taught high school for a few years and attended the University of Northern Colorado to achieve her MS in Biology. Since then, Sarah has worked in bioresearch, taught at a preschool, directed Sunday School, and worked as a bookkeeper for the family business. Sarah is married with two daughters who all loved living in the Wood River Valley, skiing, hiking, and playing outside. They are now having fun exploring the Treasure Valley.

Christine F.

Christine is a certified math teacher with a Bachelor of Science degree in Math Education from Southeastern Louisiana University in 2005.   Christine’s journey into teaching was inspired by her own math teachers, who went above and beyond to help her succeed. Their willingness to offer extra help before and after school left a lasting impression on Christine, showing the power of patience and personalized support.  Christine Fontenot strives to bring that same dedication and compassion to her tutoring sessions.

As an energetic, down-to-earth educator, Christine enjoys connecting with students on their level and making math approachable.  Her creativity allows her to find engaging and unique ways to explain concepts, while her compassion ensures that every student feels supported and encouraged.   Christine believes that learning should be enjoyable and that every student has the potential to excel with the right guidance.

Ultimately, Christine Fontenot wants to be a math tutor to inspire students just as her former teachers inspired her–to show them that with effort, encouragement, and the right approach, they can achieve more than they imagined.

Sai N.

Sai is a motivated graduate student at the University of Texas at San Antonio where he is pursuing a Master’s degree in biomedical engineering with the ultimate goal of applying to medical school and becoming a physician. He is hoping to work at the intersection of patient care and cutting edge medical technology. Sai graduated high school with 37 transferable AP credits; this in conjunction with his Biology undergraduate background and Engineering graduate background makes Sai a strong candidate for STEM subjects with a solid understanding of Math up to Calculus 2/BC, Chemistry from high school to Organic Chemistry 2 at the collegiate level, AP Physics, and PSAT/SAT and ACT Prep.
Alongside his academic pursuits, Sai has copious experience volunteering and working with special needs children over multiple summers between academic seasons as well volunteering experience at multiple free clinics in San Antonio that provide medical care to those in need completely free of charge to the patient. Through these activities, Sai has developed a deep affinity for working with people of all kinds of people and sharing a love for learning through companionship. In his free time, Sai enjoys training in boxing/muay thai and singing.

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?

Fernanda V.

Fernanda V. graduated from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi with Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science and is currently enrolled in a post-graduate Medical Laboratory Science program in hopes of being a professor. Experienced in teaching students from middle school to undergraduate levels, Fernanda hopes to instill a deeper understanding and confidence in the material to empower students to reach their goals and find a love of learning using an individualized approach. When she’s not in the lab or teaching, Fernanda enjoys hiking, reading, and winning trivia competitions.