Shannon B.
As a Certified Bilingual Orton Gillingham Tutor, Shannon is an expert at designing personalized multi-sensory lessons for students with dyslexia and other learning disabilities. Shannon holds a Master of Arts in Bilingual Education and a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish.
One of Shannon’s many strengths is in helping neurodivergent readers solidify decoding skills in their dominant language first, and then helping these students translate their new decoding skills into English.
As a late bloomer who was diagnosed with ADHD later in life, Shannon teaches with the empathy of someone who understands cognitive overload firsthand. This lived experience has helped her become a more compassionate educator who knows first-hand that learning should be clear, enjoyable, and not overwhelming.
In her spare time, Shannon enjoys playing pickleball, gardening, and crafting with her two daughters.
Luke T.
Luke is passionate about teaching and helping learners build confidence in their abilities. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Mathematics and a Master’s degree in Cybersecurity with a Mathematics emphasis, both earned from Boise State University. His strong academic background allows him to break down complex concepts in a way that feels approachable and encouraging for students of all ages.
Outside of academics, Luke is an avid sports fan and has a well‑known appreciation for great desserts. His friendly personality and patient teaching style create a supportive environment where students feel comfortable asking questions and growing at their own pace.
Luke looks forward to partnering with you or your child on a meaningful and successful educational journey.
Mirella C.
Mirella is a Spanish and Italian tutor and educator with more than 20 years of experience helping students build confidence in language learning. She holds a Master’s degree in Spanish from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and is fluent in English, Spanish, and Italian. Mirella has worked with students of all ages, from elementary school through college, in both classroom and one-on-one settings.
Known for her patient and encouraging approach, Mirella creates a relaxed learning environment where students feel comfortable asking questions, practicing conversation, and learning at their own pace. She tailors each session to the student’s individual needs, whether they need support with grammar, conversation, reading comprehension, homework, or test preparation.
Mirella believes language learning should feel approachable and engaging, not stressful. She enjoys bringing culture, conversation, and real-world examples into her lessons to help students feel more connected to the language and more confident using it every day.
Courtney P.
Courtney brings over 12 years of experience as a certified educator working in early childhood, elementary, and higher education settings. She holds a dual bachelor’s degree in elementary education and Spanish, a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction with a bilingual education specialization, and a doctorate degree in early childhood education and leadership. Courtney also brings extensive experience training and coaching early childhood and elementary educators on the topics of structured literacy, early math, and self-regulation. Courtney is passionate about building relationships with students and families, and cultivating confidence in learners. When not working with students, Courtney enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, and reading.
Deb B.
Deborah has been a dedicated teacher for 33 years, beginning her career after graduating from the University of Idaho with a Bachelor’s in Spanish. She has taught in rural communities and large cities, teaching every grade and subject, which has allowed her to hone her teaching skills. Upon moving to Boise, she contributed to district training initiatives and earned her Master’s degree during her nine years teaching first grade. Seeking more family time, Deborah transitioned to the Lee Pesky Learning Center, where she has worked for nearly eight years, supporting and collaborating with educators. Outside of work, Deborah enjoys the outdoors, spending time at her cabin in Featherville/Pine, and cherishing moments with her blended family. Now an empty nester, she continues to find joy in reading, traveling, and managing a couple of home-based businesses.
Dr. Samantha N.
Dr. Samantha N. is an interdisciplinary archaeologist with years of tutoring and teaching experience in social science, natural science, and math. She graduated from Cornell College in 2019 with a Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry and Archaeology. In 2026, she graduated from Boston University with a Ph.D. in Anthropological Archaeology. Throughout this time, she gained experience in tutoring and teaching students at the collegiate, high school, and middle school levels. She loves archaeology because of the way that it connects to so many other disciplines: chemistry, geography, history, and economics, just to name a few! As a teaching fellow in Boston University’s Department of Anthropology, she used hands-on activities and guided questions to help her students learn how to learn. She believes that this allows students to comprehend and retain information better than if they had relied solely on rote memorization. In 2022, she received Boston University’s Outstanding Teaching Fellow in Archaeology Award for her dedication to her students and her contributions to the course material. In her spare time, Samantha enjoys knitting, spending time with her cats, and gardening.
Lauren W-R.
Lauren is a certified teacher in three languages (French, Spanish and Latin) and also teaches Italian. She studied these languages throughout high school and college, earning a Bachelor of Arts in French Language & Culture with a minor in the Classics, and a Master’s degree in Secondary Education (Vassar College, SUNY Purchase and Mercy College). She spent two semesters living abroad in France. She taught for 20 years in a New York State public high school, taking students on trips out of the country (to France, Italy and Canada) when possible to experience the language and culture authentically.
Lauren enjoys getting to know each student she teaches. She uses various tools to diagnose where the student stands along their continuum of language learning, so that she can address their needs and provide a customized teaching plan that will ensure their progress in learning the language. Lauren makes language learning fun by using an interactive approach that will have the student speaking and understanding the language in a short period of time.
Ayush M.
Ayush is an Honours Arts and Business student at the University of Waterloo, majoring in Economics with a Diploma in Sustainability. He has developed a strong foundation in academic mentorship through his role as a Peer Leader for Campus Housing, where he supported students in navigating their educational goals and developing effective learning habits. With a diverse professional background that includes experience in investment management, tax accounting, and marketing, Ayush specializes in making complex, technical subjects approachable and relevant to everyday life.
His tutoring philosophy centers on building a genuine connection with his students to foster the confidence they need to succeed independently. By combining his analytical skills from the world of finance with a personalized, one-on-one approach, Ayush ensures that lessons are both engaging and results-oriented. When he isn’t helping students master new concepts, Ayush can be found strategically climbing the ranks in Clash Royale and proving that his competitive spirit and analytical mind never truly take a day off.
Shauna K.
Helping students succeed is Shauna K.’s true passion.
Shauna has been teaching, tutoring, and helping students achieve academic success for more than a decade.
A California native, Shauna has a graduate and undergraduate degree in Biological Sciences from UCSD. She also has a TESOL certificate to teach English as a foreign language, and many years of in-person and online SAT and ACT coaching — which is her specialty.
Shauna is highly skilled in helping students excel in a wide range of subjects from science and math to language arts and Spanish.
She is an expert at helping all students learn (and master) executive functioning skills such as planning, time management, study habits, and effective study techniques (how to study). She believes that the confidence gained through these skills propel students forward and lay the groundwork for lifelong success.
When Shauna is not teaching or tutoring, you will find her hiking, biking, or camping the Rockies.
Monika S.
Monika is an experienced educator and former high school Spanish teacher with more than 15 years of experience helping students build confidence and achieve academic success. She has also served as a College Readiness Coach, guiding students as they develop the skills and strategies needed to succeed both in the classroom and beyond.
Spanish was Monika’s first language, a result of growing up in a military family and experiencing a wide range of cultures from an early age. This background gives her not only strong language fluency but also meaningful cultural insight that she brings to every lesson, helping students connect more deeply with the language and its real-world context.
Monika is passionate about helping students experience those powerful “aha” moments when a concept finally clicks. She tailors each tutoring session to the individual student’s strengths and learning style, creating a supportive, engaging environment where students feel encouraged to ask questions, take risks, and grow in confidence.
Outside of education, Monika enjoys traveling, gardening, exploring new cultures and cuisines, and spending time outdoors with her husband, friends, and her dog.
“We love working with Monika! She is incredibly patient, knowledgeable and has a remarkable ability to keep my child engaged throughout each session. She explains concepts in a way that is easy to understand and creates a positive, encouraging learning environment that builds both confidence and skills.”