Sharon C.
Sharon is a certified teacher from San Antonio who studied at Abilene Christian University where she earned her Bachelor of Science in History and Social Studies (2004). She has taught students in the classroom as a World History, US History II, and Sociology Teacher and as a substitute teacher from PreK to 12th Grade. She was also a Librarian Assistant for a few years. She guided students through the research process by showing them how to find information in books and computers and create a final product in a written paper, a project with pictures on poster board, or a slide show presentation. She has also tutored students in Math, Science, and Reading. Since 2021, she has homeschooled her three children.
She cares for her family of one husband, three kids, and two dogs. She enjoys using her skills to craft things, singing soprano, occupying her mind through reading books, and stepping into a different mindset by playing TTORPGs with friends and family.
Nicole D.
Nicole graduated from New Mexico Highlands University with two Bachelor’s degrees, one in History and one in Elementary Education, with a minor in Bilingual Education. Nicole taught for eleven years, over the course of which she excelled at math and reading instruction. In addition to math and reading intervention, Nicole was a bilingual educator (Spanish) and a dyslexia interventionist. However, her real passion lies in Robotics and Computer Science.
Nicole has written Robotics/Computer Science curriculum for two districts. She has also taken several teams to competition with VEX and FIRST(tm) who have successfully won awards over the years.
In her spare time, Nicole enjoys visiting her daughter, who attends LSU, and spending time with her two dogs.
Ann S.
Ann Stec grew up teaching. As the oldest of four children, and the only girl, she would often create a “classroom” for her younger brother, taking them through practice with letters and numbers. Her mom would buy used workbooks at thrift stores for her to use with her “pupils” each week. Ann loved it–her brothers were decidedly on the fence!
When it was time to officially choose a career, Ann went to Illinois State and graduated with a B.S. in Education with concentrations in Language Arts and Reading. Her plan was to teach junior high school students to love reading and learning. But a few years into teaching, Ann was recruited to teach teachers at the elementary level how to teach reading in their classrooms. It was a leap–big kids to little–but it turned out to be a game changer!
While working at the elementary level, Ann found that some students continued to struggle to acquire literacy skills, despite receiving intervention. She realized she needed to learn more about how to help these students and decided to pursue her Wilson Level 1 certification. She credits that decision as the single best decision of her professional career and she has spent the last nineteen years of her career helping kids who learn differently master how to read.
Ann believes that the best instruction–at any level–empowers students to be reflective learners and goal setters. She believes that teacher, parent and student comprise the learning team and is an advocate of working with parents and students together in order to help all kids reach their academic potential.
Ann is in her 29th year of teaching and currently works as a Reading Specialist/Literacy Coach in Naperville 203. She holds a Master of Arts in Teaching, is ELL certified and is a certified Wilson Level 1 Instructor. In her free time, she volunteers with animal welfare agencies (she has nine pets!), READS, thrifts, travels, and hangs out with her favorite people as much as possible.
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.
MICAELA M.
Micaela holds a bachelor’s degree in French with a minor in education, equipping her with a strong foundation in language instruction and pedagogy. She has also earned the DALF C1 (Diplôme Approfondi de Langue Française), an internationally recognized certification that demonstrates her advanced proficiency in French.
With a deep understanding of writing, grammar, and reading in both English and French, Micaela is passionate about helping students develop strong literacy skills and a love for language learning. She tailors her teaching approach to meet each child’s unique needs, ensuring they feel confident, supported, and motivated in their academics.
Beyond language instruction, Micaela is well-equipped to support students in Kindergarten through Grade 7 across all subjects. Whether helping with French language acquisition, English composition, or general coursework, she is committed to fostering a positive and encouraging learning environment where students can thrive.
Cian L.
Cian is a dedicated and enthusiastic educator with a passion for helping young learners build confidence and excel in their studies. With four years of experience working with elementary students, he specializes in creating dynamic and engaging learning experiences that make complex concepts easy to understand. His ability to break down challenging topics into manageable, relatable lessons ensures that students feel supported and motivated every step of the way.
With a patient, encouraging, and student-centered approach, Cian tailors his teaching to accommodate a wide range of learning styles and abilities. Whether working with struggling learners who need extra reinforcement or advanced students seeking new challenges, he adapts lessons to meet each child’s unique needs. His focus on strengthening reading, writing, and math skills is complemented by an emphasis on building positive study habits and critical thinking skills, equipping students with the tools they need for long-term success.
Beyond academics, Cian believes that fostering a growth mindset and a love for learning is just as important as mastering core subjects. By creating a warm, supportive environment where students feel safe to take risks and ask questions, he helps them develop resilience, curiosity, and confidence in their abilities. His goal is not just to help students succeed in school, but to inspire a lifelong passion for learning that will benefit them far beyond the classroom.
Dilene W-N.
Dilene has a love of Art and Art History, which led her to obtain an Associate of Arts in Studio Art. She has experience as a military wife and mom, as well as experience working with military families. While her husband was still on active duty, Dilene completed her Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies with a concentration in Special Education at Texas A&M University in Corpus Christi. She has worked with students at all levels and abilities during her 15 years in education. Dilene completed her Master of Education in Educational Technology Leadership through Lamar University, Beaumont. She completed the Texas Reading Academy and Reading by Design, the state of Texas designed Dyslexia program, in 2022. Dilene taught students in grades K-7 in Dyslexia support services and Reading Intervention while teaching at Great Hearts Live Oak. Her most recent position was teaching 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students in Reading Resource and 4th grade Math Resource. She has a passion for helping her students meet their personal learning goals. Dilene has also coached students in executive functioning skills such as organization and planning to help them learn to meet project deadlines. When not supporting her students, she enjoys a bit of anime, creating things by hand, and volunteering with the National Archives.
Available for in-person or online tutoring
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!
LILY A.
Lily is a NYS-certified Special Education Teacher and Literacy Specialist with 21 years of classroom experience teaching students with a variety of learning needs. In addition, she has extensive experience privately tutoring students, from elementary to high school, to address their unique learning styles. Over the years, she has developed a passion for helping students who struggle with learning how to read, particularly those with learning disabilities such as dyslexia. Lily understands that reading is the foundation of success in both the academic and career world. She believes that all children can learn to read, but for some, the road will be more difficult. These are the students that she is passionate about helping to find their way to becoming skilled, fluent readers. She is a strong believer in a “structured literacy” approach to teaching reading as this is a necessary method of instruction for many students. In addition to her New York State teaching certifications, Lily is certified as a Level One Dyslexia Practitioner in the Wilson Reading System. She is also CERI certified by the International Dyslexia Association as a Structured Literacy Dyslexia Interventionist.