Tamara O.

Mrs. Tamara is a seasoned K–12 teacher based in North County San Diego, with a focus on Language Arts, Reading and Writing, as well as Spanish and German. She has experience teaching AP English and History, and her students have successfully earned college credits through her instruction. Before shifting to one-on-one and small group tutoring, she taught 5th grade and Kindergarten at a private school in San Diego.

Tamara is also a homeschool teacher and has led small group classes with a creative and student-centered approach. She designs engaging lessons that incorporate her students’ interests, helping them build both skills and confidence. In addition to academic support, she has successfully worked with students on executive functioning, motivation, Dyslexia, and ADD/ADHD.

Colleen C-Q.

I am a college professor of Mathematics at SUNY Erie Community College in Buffalo, NY. I am also a NYS permanently certified 7-12 secondary Mathematics teacher (since 2000), with a Bachelors and Masters degrees in Mathematics Secondary Education and a PhD in Mathematics and Curriculum.  I’ve taught all levels of mathematics in high school and higher education, as well as run a successful tutoring business that focuses on success on the NYS regents’ math exams.

William W.

A UT graduate and published author, William has been tutoring for over 6 years and specializes in Digital SAT/ACT Test Prep. His teaching style is personal, relaxed, engaging, and most of all, fun. “I believe that the student’s comfortability is essential to their learning,” William says, “They have to actually enjoy being there.” All of William’s students have seen large increases in SAT and ACT scores, with the vast majority being accepted to at least one of the schools of their choice. “I attribute most of my success with my students to my ability to relate to them on a personal level. Creating a comfortable and engaging environment in which they can be themselves and open up is the only way to really help them find their drive. After that everything sort of comes easily.” William believes he has a natural affinity for young students primarily because he has always remained “young at heart”, and “genuinely enjoy(s)” his work. However, he admits that “the most rewarding part of my job is seeing my students succeed.”

Madeline B.

Madeline has been tutoring mathematics since she was in high school. She graduated from University of Idaho in 2022 with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and has been working in academic intervention at the secondary level since then. She believes the “Eureka!” moments students have when they finally understand something are the most beautiful and magical thing in the world. She believes it is important to treat students as the multi-faceted individuals they are, spiral in old material when teaching the new, and try new approaches if a student does not understand something. Madeline attends game nights every Sunday, book club every Wednesday, and paints when she can find the time.

Jaden A.

Jaden graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and a minor in French. During her studies, she had the opportunity to work on research in a chemistry lab during a five-month study abroad in Strasbourg, France. Jaden has worked in teaching roles for children all her life, and she’s spent the last year teaching middle school science (6th-8th grade) at a K-12 school. She helped further develop the curricula and increased the emphasis on laboratory experiments each class, convicted to teach through hands-on experience. Whether she is teaching horseback riding or forces and work, Jaden believes that allowing students to forge their own way to understanding Nature’s laws helps them develop confidence and fires their curiosity.

Stacey C.

With a robust foundation in early childhood and special education, along with her credentials as a licensed learning consultant specializing in neurodiversity, Stacey brings expertise and passion to her work with students.

As a Neurodivergent Specialist, Stacey’s approach, grounded in the constructivist theory, prioritizes experiential learning through dynamic, hands-on activities, social and emotional engagement, and meaningful project-based outcomes.

François-Michel L.

François-Michel L. discovered his love of teaching and tutoring when he taught a computer class while still in high school and has resided in the Washington DC area since 1991. He graduated with High Honors from Princeton University with an AB in Classics and wrote his senior thesis on ancient Greek epic poems (it wasn’t all Greek to him ). He then obtained an MSE degree in Computer and Information Science from the University of Pennsylvania, where he was a sought-after tutor in both French and Computer Science. After graduating, he worked for ten years as an IT director at Fannie Mae before becoming a Scientific Systems Developer at the National Institutes of Health. At every job he has worked, he has had the great privilege of teaching technical and/or business classes to junior staff and providing one-on-one coaching as a corporate mentor. He is known as a dynamic and entertaining presenter and public speaker, holds both French and American citizenship, and is qualified to teach and tutor English, French, Latin, Math, and Linux. François is also allergic to cats, so please let him know if you have furry feline friends so he can take his allergy eyedrops ahead of time!

M. Galal

Mr. Galal is not your average educator—he’s a dynamic force in the classroom, blending the discipline and focus of a black belt martial artist with the passion and dedication of an experienced educator. With a distinguished background in teaching English as a second language (ESOL), standardized test preparation such as SAT, GMAT & GRE, and Advanced Placement (AP) exams, Mr. Galal holds a Master’s of Arts degree with honors in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) from the University of Maryland Baltimore County, and is certified as a PREK-12/ESOL teacher in both Washington, D.C. and the State of Maryland.

With over two decades of experience in education, Mr. Galal has taught and trained students across a wide array of settings—from K-12 schools to community colleges and universities. He is currently a full-time multilingual educator who teaches English as a second language, AP US History, and SAT preparation at Theodore Roosevelt High School in Washington, D.C. and he is a test preparation instructor at the American University. In addition, he serves as an AP test reader for ETS (Educational Testing Service) while managing a couple of test preparation centers he founded in Cairo, Egypt. He has also been recognized with multiple honors, including the United Nations Honor Medals for his service during peacekeeping missions. Besides his witty personality, Mr. Galal has also been known as “the teacher you don’t want to mess with!” since he once was a black belt, internationally ranked Karate player!

Caleb W.

Caleb is from Billings, Montana and was the first Native American Valedictorian at West High School. He has mentored and tutored high school students for nearly a decade to help them prepare for and apply to college. A few of the elite universities his students have been accepted to are: Stanford, Harvard, Columbia, and Amherst College. Caleb has a M.A in Native Food Systems from Montana State University and a B.A in Environmental Studies from Amherst College. His relevant professional career experience has ranged from being a college prep coach to working as a graduate research and teaching assistant. Having recently graduated, he is young enough to relate to your child while being old enough to have the lived experience to share. Caleb believes that academic success comes from a holistic understanding of one’s personal goals and playing off of one’s strengths. Outside of work he enjoys camping, trivia, and getting friends together to play board games.

Matthew R.

Matthew’s journey into education was an unexpected yet deeply rewarding path. After earning a BA in Television, Film, and New Media, he initially pursued a career in the film industry. However, in 2013, while teaching a film course at the Digital Media Academy summer tech camp, he discovered a passion for guiding young scholars toward academic, creative, and professional success. This experience inspired him to pursue a single-subject teaching credential, leading him to a fulfilling career in education.

Since 2018, Matthew has been an educator at The Preuss School, UC San Diego, where he has honed his teaching philosophy and instructional methods. Initially stepping in to fill a vacancy in the Drama department, he transformed the curriculum into a film-based program that integrates Art, English, and History. His courses reinforce grade-level ELA comprehension and writing skills through in-depth units on story structure, plot development, character analysis, and thematic content. Students apply these skills to writing their own screenplays, while Film I students explore film theory and cinema history. In his advanced Film II/Honors Film course, students engage in collaborative, hands-on projects that guide them through all stages of video production, from pre-production to post-production.

Matthew’s adaptability and innovation were especially evident during the pandemic when The Preuss School transitioned to remote learning for two years. While many educators faced challenges, he embraced the format, finding new ways to engage students and enhance learning through strategic virtual instruction. He firmly believes that, when thoughtfully designed, virtual learning can be just as impactful—if not more—than in-person instruction.

His passion lies in inviting students into the vibrant world of poetry, literature, and history and watching them engage with enthusiasm. Through teaching, he hopes to foster a deep sense of global awareness, empathy, and compassion in his students, empowering them to express themselves through both written and visual storytelling.

Matthew is eager to begin the tutoring process for students in need of support in English, reading, writing, history, social studies, college essay writing, and test prep. Additionally, with his background in Film, he is thrilled to assist students seeking help with video production, editing, or acting. His expertise also extends to Public Speaking and Debate courses, providing students with valuable skills to enhance their speaking abilities.

Matthew is excited to bring his expertise and passion for education to Prep Academy Tutors, where he continues to support students in their academic journeys.