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!
Ellis S.
Dr. Ellis S. brings a unique combination of advanced mathematical training, engineering expertise, university teaching, and more than 25 years of experience teaching and tutoring mathematics.
Ellis began his professional career as an engineer and ultimately served as a Senior Principal Engineer at Raytheon Systems Company, where he specialized in the design and analysis of airborne radar systems. During his engineering career, he also developed and conducted technical training programs for engineers at Raytheon, various University Extension courses, and at Air Force and Navy bases throughout the continental United States, including training for a group from the Israeli Air Force. He holds a PhD in Engineering from UCLA.
Following his retirement from engineering, Ellis pursued his longstanding passion for mathematics education. He earned an MS in Applied Mathematics from California State University, Northridge (CSUN), and went on to teach and tutor mathematics extensively. His teaching experience encompasses mathematics through Calculus, Differential Equations, Linear Algebra, and Statistics. His most recent university teaching position was at California State University, Northridge.
Ellis particularly enjoys helping students who initially find mathematics challenging. His engineering and teaching backgrounds have taught him to approach difficult mathematical ideas from multiple perspectives and to explain them in clear, understandable terms. He emphasizes genuine understanding and problem-solving skills rather than simply memorizing formulas and procedures.
Now retired from full-time teaching, Ellis finds tutoring especially rewarding. He takes great satisfaction in seeing students gain confidence, overcome obstacles, and discover that mathematical concepts they once found intimidating can become understandable and manageable.
His combination of extensive mathematical knowledge, real-world engineering experience, university-level teaching, and a genuine passion for helping students makes Ellis a dedicated and an effective Mathematics tutor.
Danielle D.
Danielle is a Los Angeles native with a BA in Spanish and a MA in TESOL, as well as the CertTESOL Level 5 Certificate (the highest certificate for teaching English to speakers of other languages). English literature has been a source of fascination for Danielle ever since childhood, when she read hundreds of books, both scholastically and extracurricularly. In her travels to over 25 countries, Danielle has gained wisdom about the world, and studied abroad in both Chile and Greece for a total of 4.5 years. She has worked as a tutor since 2009, providing guidance to her pupils in ESL, English, Spanish, History, essay writing, grammar, reading comprehension, test preparation & more. Working with young learners and learners with difficulties are Danielle’s areas of expertise. She worked as a full-time K-12 teacher and tutor for over 16 years as well as a developmental speech therapist. Through creativity, gamification, the lexical approach, project-based learning and more, Danielle is always dreaming up novel ways to engage her learners. She is currently in the process of authoring her own original course books, and continues to enjoy her work as a tutor.
Maggie B.
Maggie is an accomplished educator and school leader with more than 19 years of experience helping students and teachers achieve academic success. Her career has included roles as a high school English and Drama teacher, instructional coach, English Department Coordinator, Academic Dean, Assistant Principal, and Principal. This extensive experience gives Maggie a unique understanding of not only how students learn, but also how to identify academic challenges, develop effective strategies, and help students become more confident and independent learners.
Maggie earned her Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of North Florida and her Master of Education in Educational Leadership from the University of Texas at San Antonio. She holds Texas credentials in English Language Arts and Reading for grades 8–12 as well as school leadership and instructional evaluation.
Maggie spent many years teaching high school English, including Pre-AP, AP, and College Board curriculum, and has extensive experience preparing students for challenging coursework and standardized assessments. She has developed STAAR preparation strategies for high school English, supported AP students, led English curriculum development, and coached other teachers in research-based instructional practices. Later in her career, as an Academic Dean, she also served as a campus testing coordinator overseeing EOC, SAT, and AP assessments.
Maggie specializes in English, reading and writing, college essay development, and standardized test preparation, including the English and verbal components of the SAT and ACT, as well as PSAT and Regents preparation. Her background in English, literature, drama, and curriculum development makes her particularly effective at helping students strengthen reading comprehension, analytical thinking, essay organization, grammar, and written communication.
Her expertise also extends beyond English and writing. Maggie supports students in Biology, Earth Science, Environmental Science, and World History, making her a versatile option for students who need assistance across multiple academic areas.
One of Maggie’s greatest strengths is her ability to recognize what is preventing an individual student from succeeding and adjust instruction accordingly. Having spent years coaching both students and teachers, she knows there is rarely a single approach that works for everyone. She breaks difficult material into manageable steps, provides clear and constructive feedback, and helps students develop strategies they can eventually use independently.
Families appreciate Maggie’s combination of warmth, professionalism, high expectations, and extensive educational experience. Whether she is helping a student strengthen an essay, prepare for the SAT or ACT, tackle an advanced English course, or regain confidence after struggling academically, Maggie’s goal is to help students recognize their capabilities and develop the skills necessary for lasting success.
Having spent much of her own school years living in Europe, Maggie developed an early appreciation for travel, history, and different cultures. She later shared that passion with her students by leading educational travel experiences to destinations around the world. Outside of education, she continues to enjoy traveling, learning about other cultures, and spending time with her family.
Iniya K.
Iniya Kannan is a cum laude graduate from the University of California, Irvine, where she completed a B.A. in Business Administration with an emphasis in finance and management. During college, she was involved in the Accounting Association and the Undergraduate Finance Association, which greatly improved her ability to network with professionals and host events. Additionally, during her senior year of college, she was a Peer Academic Advisor for the Paul Merage School of Business, where she advised undergraduate students on planning their class schedule, transferring community college credits, adding a minor/double major, and applying for graduation. She can help your student in a variety of subjects, from APs such as AP Biology, AP Statistics, AP Calculus AB/BC, AP English Language, and AP World History. She can also help with business-related college-level subjects, career counseling, and college essays/applications. She hopes to help your student soon! Thank you!
Ali S.
Ali is an accomplished medical student, neuroscience researcher, and educator who is passionate about helping students build confidence while mastering challenging academic subjects. She is currently pursuing her Doctor of Medicine degree at UT Health San Antonio’s Long School of Medicine with plans to specialize in neurology. Her medical education has reinforced her belief that the ability to teach complex ideas clearly is one of the most valuable skills an educator—or physician—can possess.
Ali graduated with honors from Michigan State University, earning bachelor’s degrees in Neuroscience, Genomics & Molecular Genetics, and Spanish, while also completing the university’s Honors College program. Before beginning medical school, she spent two years as a full-time research fellow at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) studying neurodegenerative diseases. Her research experience also includes work at Stanford University, Michigan State University, and UT Health San Antonio, where she continues to contribute to neuroscience and stroke research. She has co-authored numerous peer-reviewed scientific publications and has presented her research at national scientific conferences.
Throughout college, her research career, and medical school, Ali has consistently served as a mentor and educator for fellow students. She enjoys breaking difficult concepts into manageable pieces and believes every student can succeed when material is presented in a way that matches their learning style. Her patient, encouraging approach creates a supportive environment where students feel comfortable asking questions, working through mistakes, and developing lasting confidence.
Ali provides tutoring across a wide range of subjects from elementary school through college, making her an excellent choice for families seeking support in multiple areas. Her specialties include:
- Mathematics: Pre-Algebra, Algebra I & II, Geometry, Trigonometry, Pre-Calculus, Statistics, and AP Statistics
- Science: Biology, AP Biology, Chemistry, Anatomy, Physiology, Genetics, Cell Biology, Neuroscience, Pathophysiology, Earth Science, Environmental Science, Physical Science, and Health Sciences
- English & Humanities: Reading, English Language Arts, Writing, Technical Writing, College Essay Coaching, AP English, U.S. History, World History, Geography, Psychology, Sociology, and Social Studies
- Test Preparation: ACT, PSAT/SAT, STAAR, GED, TEAS, MCAT, and advanced study and test-taking strategies
Ali is particularly passionate about helping students develop the critical thinking, study habits, and problem-solving skills that lead to long-term academic success. Whether she’s preparing a middle school student for STAAR exams, helping a high school student succeed in AP Biology, guiding a college applicant through personal statement revisions, or mentoring a future healthcare professional preparing for the MCAT, she tailors every lesson to the individual student’s goals and learning style.
Families especially appreciate Ali’s ability to connect ideas across disciplines. She can explain biology through chemistry, strengthen scientific writing while teaching critical thinking, or connect mathematics to real-world medical applications. Her interdisciplinary background allows her to help students build a deeper understanding rather than simply memorizing information.
Ali believes great tutoring should do more than improve grades—it should help students become confident, independent learners who enjoy tackling new challenges. Her goal is to equip every student with the knowledge, study strategies, and self-confidence they need to succeed well beyond the classroom.
Outside of academics, Ali enjoys reading, traveling, golfing, paddle boarding, spending time with her family and cats, and returning home to Wyoming whenever she has the opportunity.
Karen P.
Karen Perez is a Certified Teacher. She grew up in Melrose Park, moving to Chicago to complete an Undergraduate Degree in Secondary English Education. Karen grew up with a deep love of reading and writing. When she decided to pursue teaching as a career, Karen completed a Bachelor of Education at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Through teaching, Karen has been able to foster her love of reading and writing. During the summer months, she teaches High School Connection, a program designated to prepare incoming 9th graders for 9th grade ELA. Karen has also taught various ACT and SAT Prep courses for 11th grade students. She has supported improving their reading, writing, vocabulary and test-taking skills. Karen believes that by building a solid relationship with her students, she can better meet their needs and grow their learning. In her spare time, Karen enjoys strength-training, jogging, and the occasional donut or two because she believes that life is all about balance.
Andrea A.
Andrea is a mathematics and technology tutor who brings a combination of academic depth, real-world engineering experience, and youth mentoring to her students. Andrea earned a B.S. in Mathematics/Economics, completed Ph.D.-level work in mathematics at the University of Tennessee, and taught university courses independently while still very young. She later built a career as an Engineering Systems Engineer, Quality Assurance Engineer, and AI Automation Architect, designing complex software, cloud, and AI-driven systems for major organizations—experience that helps her show students how math, logic, problem-solving, and technology connect to the real world. As Andrea transitions from full-time engineering into education, she has chosen to work with students as a private tutor and substitute teacher in Wake County Schools. Andrea believes students learn best when classroom instruction is supported by personalized guidance, varied approaches, clear explanations, and steady encouragement. She works to discover the right combination of instruction, practice, structure, and motivation that helps each student move toward success. Outside of tutoring and technology, Andrea has coached youth athletics, supported community education, volunteered with youth science programs, and sponsored Team Europe in youth international baseball through her technology company, Blue Ridge Gateways.
Asana O.
Asana grew up in Louisa County, Virginia, and has built much of her career around helping students become more confident and effective learners. She earned a full scholarship to the University of Pennsylvania, where she graduated magna cum laude with a degree in Cognitive Science and a minor in Deaf Studies. While at Penn, she mentored first-year college students, provided after-school support for K–12 students in Philadelphia schools, and conducted developmental research at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s Center for Autism Research. After graduation, Asana moved to Johannesburg, South Africa, where she designed and taught a year-long study skills course at the African Leadership Academy. The course helped first-year students strengthen their executive functioning, organization, and time management skills. She later earned a master’s degree in Psychology from Princeton University, where she received the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship for her research in cognitive development. Asana believes every student can succeed with the right support and is passionate about helping students build lifelong learning skills. She currently lives in Richmond with her best friend from high school.
Ekene B.
Ekene is a certified educator with extensive experience teaching and supporting students across elementary and middle school grade levels. She specializes in building strong foundational skills in reading, writing, and mathematics while creating engaging, student-centered learning experiences. With a background in both classroom instruction and individualized academic support, she is committed to helping students build confidence, master challenging concepts, and achieve meaningful academic growth.
Ekene believes that every student can succeed when provided with personalized instruction, encouragement, and high expectations. She tailors each tutoring session to meet the unique needs and learning styles of her students, using research-based strategies to foster critical thinking, problem-solving, and independent learning. Her goal is to create a positive and supportive environment where students feel motivated, capable, and empowered to reach their full potential.