Jessica S.

Jessica has a PhD in Applied Linguistics from the University of Cambridge. She grew up in Connecticut and has worked or studied in the US, Canada, Mexico, and the UK. As an undergraduate, Jessica was a tutor and mentor at a bilingual (English/Spanish) middle school, where she was awarded “Mentor of the Semester” for her dedication to students’ success and wellbeing. In the years since, Jessica has taught English as a Second Language (ESL) to children, teenagers, and adults from around the world. She has experience with all levels of ESL, from absolute beginners to very advanced learners. For several years, Jessica was a teaching assistant for a university-level linguistics course. She worked closely with small groups of first-year college students on linguistics exercises, study skills, essay writing, and exam preparation. Jessica also has extensive experience in writing and editing. She has copyedited academic papers, including PhD dissertations, in a variety of humanities and social sciences subjects. She has also worked with international educational publishing companies as writer, editor, and content developer. Jessica’s publishing work focused on elementary school and high school textbooks and included first-hand experience with multiple literacy skills, social-emotional learning, public speaking and presentation skills, and project-based learning. She is also fluent in Spanish. Jessica is a lifelong dog lover and has an adorable, sweet, and very playful Shih Tzu-Maltese mix named Shana.

Halle M.

Halle obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Music with a certificate in Statistics and Machine Learning from Princeton University, where she graduated with high honors. Halle was awarded multiple prizes for her senior thesis musical and a prize for outstanding work by underclassmen in musical theater. With her strong background in and passion for mathematics, she has had professional employment experience in the data analytics sector. Along with her years of tutoring experience in a variety of subjects, Halle has experience guiding and mentoring students as they approach the college application process. Halle believes strongly in the importance of developing a relationship founded on trust and respect with her students. As a high-achieving student from a rural community, Halle’s passion is providing students with the support and resources they need to succeed, just as her mentors did for her. A fun fact about Halle is that she completed a virtual internship entirely in Spanish for a non-profit organization based out of Argentina, and hopes to visit the country soon!

Lauren H.

Lauren is a native New Yorker who spent her life steeped in all the art and culture the city has to offer. She is a born educator, lifelong learner, and giant nerd who is obsessed with music, literature, history, technology, and social justice. Lauren spent her formative years dedicated to writing and visual and performing arts, and still had time to get a perfect score on the SAT. She also worked as the Vocal Director and Science Lab Instructor at a camp for gifted and talented children. While studying studio production and composition at the Conservatory of Music at SUNY Purchase she began tutoring students to prepare them for various standardized tests and subjects. Rather than attend law school, Lauren became a full-time tutor, and has been one for over 15 years. Lauren truly loves what she does, and aims for every student to become confident, intellectually curious, and passionate about learning. She believes education is holistic, enthusiasm infectious, and this is what keeps students engaged and excited to pursue their goals as they become better critical thinkers, readers, and problem solvers who are always pushing the boundaries of what is possible. In addition to tutoring and advising, she also teaches a robotics class in which elementary school children build and program their own Lego robots. Lauren’s passions include eating her way across every continent, collecting records, and curling. She has been playing the game, known as chess on ice, for 6 years, is a certified USA Curling instructor, and is also Co-Director of Education at Brooklyn Lakeside Curling Club.

Rafael F.

Rafael F. is a NYS Certified Secondary Spanish and ESL teacher. Growing up and attending a very ethnically diverse high school, Rafael found the love of learning and speaking the Spanish language. He tutors all levels of middle and secondary school Spanish with a particular focus on proficiency for the Regents Second Language Proficiency (SLP) competencies as well as AP Spanish. Rafael also enjoys supporting second language learners through ESL support. In order to learn the language as uniquely as possible, he attended world language school in Guadalajara, Mexico for three summers in a row and, while there, he immersed himself in the language by living with Mexican families. Rafael worked in the NYC Department of Education for 30 years, teaching Spanish, ESL and as an administrator. Rafael retired in 2015 and following that, he worked in a residential facility as a teacher and in other various academic settings. Rafael is an avid cyclist and loves sampling foods of hispanic culture and travel.

Jessica K.

Jessica is a passionate Spanish teacher with a diverse range of experiences in both local and international settings. Her journey includes studying Spanish in college, residing in Madrid, Spain for four years, and contributing to the learning community through tutoring and teaching English abroad. At present, Jessica teaches Spanish at the middle school level, having embraced the opportunity to teach students from Spanish 1 to Heritage 3 honors in both middle and high school environments.

Jessica’s approach to language education is rooted in fostering genuine connections with her students. She strives to create a supportive and engaging learning environment, viewing her role not just as a teacher but as a mentor dedicated to understanding her students’ needs and facilitating their growth.

As a language enthusiast fluent in multiple languages, Jessica brings a global perspective to her teaching, influenced by her experiences abroad. Her lessons incorporate an appreciation for cultural diversity. Beyond the classroom, Jessica is recognized for her commitment to students’ success, with a history of tutoring that reflects her dedication. Her one-on-one sessions are tailored to each student’s unique needs, ensuring a personalized and effective learning experience.

In her spare time, she finds joy in reading, exercise, sports, travel, and spending time with her family. Jessica’s diverse and fulfilling lifestyle extends beyond the classroom, where she aims not only to teach Spanish but also to inspire a genuine appreciation for language and culture in every student she encounters.

Lucía L.

Lucía L. was born and raised in Bogotá, Colombia. In Colombia, she attended an Italian immersion school for twelve years. She moved to Canada in 2014 and graduated from York University with a BFA in Dance. Since graduation, Lucía has worked as a professional dancer and teacher for over five years. Simultaneously she worked as a Student Recruiting Associate at The Bishop Strachan School, interviewing and assessing Junior School and Boarding School student applicants. At BSS, she developed strong relationships with incoming students and families and learned different teaching and learning methods from exceptional faculty. Lucía is a Master of Teaching (Primary/Junior) candidate at OISE, University of Toronto. She enjoys teaching Math, Spanish and Italian, supporting students studying skills and strategies. She is an enthusiastic and creative teacher passionate about building confidence in students learning.

TARA A.

Tara is a dynamic and engaging instructor with over 20 years of experience as a classroom teacher and tutor. Holding a State of Connecticut certification for grades 7-12, she has navigated diverse educational settings, including public and independent schools. Tara excels at understanding students’ needs and guiding them to the next level, encouraging them to take language risks along the way. She graduated with a degree in Dietetics from the University of Rhode Island, leading her to Guatemala as a Peace Corps Volunteer. There, she fell in love with teaching and the Spanish language. Tara received her Master of Arts in Spanish from Middlebury College and now shares her passion as an adjunct professor at UCONN Stamford.

John W.

John is an English teacher with a passion for literature and writing. John studied at the Legion of Christ College in Cheshire, CT, where he was the valedictorian of his graduating class. John’s teaching experience is diverse, including a role as a fifth-grade religion teacher at St. Anthony’s Parish in Prospect, CT. During his years in Connecticut, he tutored international students in English, Art history, Biology, Geometry, and ancient languages such as Koine Greek and Latin.

Currently, John teaches high school English literature and Creative Writing at Mary Mother of God School in Toronto. John brings a wide variety of practical experience to his teaching as well. He has contributed a number of literary articles to various publications and also worked as a journalist for The Catholic Register. John combines his experience and education to help his students get excited about writing, literature math, science and art. John’s teaching style is marked by joy and energy, and he seeks to help his students develop their interests along with a love for their studies. He is fluent in Spanish, which complements his academic interests and teaching.

Sylvia D.

Sylvia D. is a dedicated individual with a passion for tutoring students of all ages and abilities, aiming to help them reach their maximum psychosocial and academic potential. While serving as a full-time certified teacher in Chicago, Illinois, Sylvia taught all levels of mathematics. Leveraging her clinical background in Psychology, she implemented strategies to enhance self-esteem and foster confidence among her students.

As a trained behavioral specialist, Sylvia has valuable experience working with students with special needs. Beyond her commitment to education, she is also an avid animal lover, using her knowledge to care for them. Sylvia looks forward to the opportunity to serve and make a positive impact on the academic and emotional growth of those she works with.

LAURA R.

Laura is an aspiring high-school math and science teacher who has a passion for education. She is currently completing a Master of Teaching from OISE and has a Master of Education in Educational Leadership and Policy with a focus on diversity in education. Over her 8 years of experience, Laura has worked with students of all academic backgrounds and lived experiences. As she is bilingual, Laura has tutored many students in Spanish, in addition to working with students in her future teachables of math and science. Given her experience, Laura can adapt to any student’s learning style and work in tandem with their curriculum to create a personalized learning plan for each student. Her love for education and math has fueled her desire to reduce math anxiety and dispel the idea that there is such a thing as a “math person”. She fervently believes math is always achievable, with just a little encouragement and some hard work. Laura is looking forward to working with you and finding ways to make learning more fun!