VIVIENNE A.

Hi! My name is Vivienne, and I’m a recent graduate of the University of Colorado Boulder, where I earned my degree in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology. Throughout my undergraduate years, I worked as a biology TA, helping students work through everything from foundational concepts to challenging upper-level material.

Along the way, I learned that success in science is rarely about memorizing more. It’s about understanding how you learn best and building study habits that fit the way your brain actually works. That’s the approach I bring to every student I work with.

I’m passionate about supporting students, building their confidence, and helping them find strategies that make learning feel manageable, and even enjoyable. Whether you’re preparing for an exam, catching up on a tough unit, or simply want to feel more confident in class, I’d love to help you get there!

Sana T.

Sana grew up in Illinois and received her Bachelors Degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago with a major in biological sciences and a double minor in mathematics and psychology. Her zeal for learning is what drove her to study mathematics and psychology alongside biology. She has a fervor to learn about science and math, stay up to date with advancements in the fields, and teach that knowledge to others.

She started off her journey as a tutor while she was just in middle school! She was a private academic tutor for 15+ years and tutored on a variety of subjects, including math, science, English, and reading at the elementary, middle, high school, and undergraduate levels. She started off her teaching experience as a mathematics instructor for K-12 math subjects and moved on to the role of a test prep instructor specializing in helping adolescents prepare for all subjects covered by the SAT and ACT. She gained most of her specialized teaching skills while being a STEM teacher and mentor at Fusion Academy, a school that specializes in giving personalized instruction to students that caters to their individual learning styles and patterns. While here, she was really able to hone in on identifying students’ individual needs and preferences and allow for them to reach their maximum learning potential. Sana values the student-teacher relationship and believes that true learning can only happen in an environment of acceptance, trust, and comfort. She puts importance on developing rhetoric, engaging with her students, and allowing them to feel at ease and ask any questions that facilitate and spark their learning. Teaching and connecting with students is truly a passion for Sana!

In her free time, Sana loves spending time playing with her toddler and nieces and nephews, engaging them in wonderful discoveries of the magnificent world around them! She admires nature and enjoys taking walks outdoors and sightseeing. She also has a passion for the arts, whether that’s in the form of movies, books, painting, drawing, and more!

Sana can’t wait to meet you and help you on your journey of growth and development to reach your full potential! 🙂

Kylie N.

Kylie is a passionate middle grades educator dedicated to helping students build confidence, strengthen their academic skills, and discover that learning can be both engaging and enjoyable. She began her educational journey at Mohave Community College before continuing her studies at Murray State University and later transferring to the University of St. Francis, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Middle Grade Education with a concentration in English Language Arts, graduating cum laude. Kylie completed a year-long teaching internship in an 8th grade ELA classroom and now works as a paraprofessional supporting students in grades 6–8 through classroom instruction and individualized academic support. Her strengths include reading, writing, grammar, and helping students develop confidence through engaging and interactive lessons.

Kylie believes strong relationships are the foundation of successful education and strives to incorporate students’ interests and learning styles into every lesson while supporting Illinois learning standards. She loves seeing the “light bulb moment” when students fully understand new material and begin believing in their own abilities. Outside of education, you can usually find Kylie with a book in hand, exploring hiking trails, or playing PC and Xbox games. These hobbies often help her connect with students and make learning more relatable. She also enjoys spending time with her family and young son. At home, her two dogs and two cats always keep life entertaining.

Deborah B.

Debbie has dedicated her life to teaching and can’t imagine it any other way. Currently a reading specialist, her long career has included a wide variety of educational experiences and learning opportunities. To begin her career, she earned a B.S.Ed. in Special Education from NIU and taught for six years in instructional classrooms in which elementary and middle school students had a variety of special needs. Given the unique struggles that the students in her classes had learning to read and write, Debbie returned to NIU and achieved her M.S.Ed. in Reading Education. She then taught reading and writing in a middle school general education classroom for two years.

As a teacher of both special education and general education, Debbie yearned to work with students who would benefit from individual or specialized instruction in order to thrive. Her decision to become a middle school reading specialist allows her to do this. An additional part of her role is to provide professional learning for other educators in how to embed best literacy practices into their classrooms.

Debbie has two daughters – one who is grown and the other in college. Both girls were diagnosed with anxiety disorders while in school. So Debbie knows, from the perspective of a parent, the complexities of meeting the needs of a child who struggles. Debbie believes in the importance of forming positive relationships with students, which is dependent on seeing each student as a whole person. Each student brings unique experiences, strengths, and fears to every learning situation. It is through recognizing a child’s strengths and interests that they learn that it is safe to make mistakes. That is how we learn. It’s how we learn to master skills and enjoy learning.

Debbie lives with her family, dogs, and cats, in Elburn. She loves playing with her pets, walking in the woods, watching baseball, and working with children.

Julia T.

Julia is a recent graduate student and experienced educator who is kind, passionate and motivated in helping all students achieve their educational goals. She is originally from Michigan where she completed her BA in Arts and Humanities and Global History from Michigan State University and her MA in history from Eastern Michigan University. Before moving to North Carolina, she was an academic advisor, helping students of all ages navigate the transition into collegiate level studies, and a Museum Assistant where she focused on engaging and educating the local community with their history and stories. She currently lives in Chapel Hill, where she has been working with University of North Carolina students in and outside of classrooms for two years. Her previous research work in her academic life focused on Polish women’s roles during the Second World War, and she is adept and willing to tutor students of all ages in history, the writing process, SAT and ACT prep, and college admissions. As someone who considers herself a lifelong learner and what her mom jokes is a “professional student,” she understands both the challenges and rewards of working towards ones educational journey. She lives with her husband and cat, and in her spare time enjoys baking, back country camping, reading the latest fantasy book, and Detroit Lions football.

Tim G.

Tim G. has extensive experience in math and science, graduating with a PhD in Physics from the University of California, Riverside where he conducted research in galaxy evolution using the world’s premier ground and space-based telescopes. During his studies, Tim also discovered and nurtured his passion for teaching and mentoring while instructing numerous introductory physics and astronomy courses over a 5.5-year period as an award-winning Teaching Assistant (TA). Educating students with a wide range of skills, backgrounds, and interest in STEM, and majors ranging from liberal arts to engineering, Tim approached each student with engaging energy, adaptability to meet their needs, and patience, whether in class or one-on-one during office hours. Beyond simply teaching the material, Tim focused on building students’ critical-thinking skills and problem-solving abilities as well as on fostering an appreciation of the material by connecting it to real-world scenarios. Tim also sought to build positive relationships by being a mentor in addition to a teacher, leveraging his experiences to help students with questions regarding college and beyond. This personalized teaching style was well received by Tim’s students, a sentiment reflected in the 2 Outstanding Teaching Assistant awards Tim received from his department.

Now back in the suburbs of Chicago where Tim grew up, he continues to exercise his passion for teaching, tutoring math and science to local middle and high school students with the same care and energy as when he was a TA. In his free time, Tim is pursuing data science and picking up hobbies like gardening. He is an avid sports fan, loves watching movies and going to the theater, and enjoys hiking, camping, and road tripping with his family and dog, Ralph. He also especially enjoys having seasons again (even winter!) and partaking in seasonal activities.

Melissa D.

Melissa has more than 15 years of experience working for major media organizations as a journalist and in educational standardized testing and assessment. She has also worked with English Language Learners, gifted/twice-exceptional students, and served as a parent and academic coach. A graduate of the University of Missouri School of Journalism, she enjoys mentoring students in research, writing, analysis, and visual storytelling.

She believes a successful writing partnership begins with the development of a shared visual calendar of goals that helps students break down tasks into manageable steps. She enjoys helping students develop a system of visual organization, color coding, and time management paired with technology to encourage accountability and help manage the writing process.

Technology today offers emerging tools for gathering information and feedback. Melissa believes it is essential that a student develop a unique voice along with research and executive function skills that build confidence across all means of communication, independent of technology. The positive habits that a student develops working with a writing coach pay off in high school, college, and professionally.

Outside of mentoring and serving as a writing coach, Melissa also helps students develop data analysis, presentation, and visual storytelling skills that yield impact beyond the classroom. Her goal is to foster a student’s love of communication and analysis.

Her most rewarding role has been guiding her sons through their academic journeys with diligence, transparency, and humor. She remains passionate about helping students of all backgrounds build confidence and succeed.

Corinne B.

Throughout her 25+ years of classroom teaching, Corinne B. relied upon several core principles to ensure successful student learning. First, students are participants in the learning process; they bring themselves and their experiences to it. They are not empty vessels for expert instructors to fill with information. Whether the student is 5 years of age, or 50, each holds a wealth of ideas, memories, skills and feelings – and these form the ground of all learning. Second, she values questions and answers equally; a student’s evolving intellectual confidence means demonstrating both ways of knowing. Finally, a student should be able to apply what they are studying to the everyday world; to make the abstract into something observable or measurable. Corinne’s instructional approach has been validated by the academic success of hundreds of her students, and by twice being granted the DePaul University Excellence in Teaching Award (2007 & 2024). Corinne holds a doctorate in sociology from the University of Chicago, and has designed multi-disciplinary teaching curricula and lessons for many years. Her work in single-student education is marked by an individualized approach emphasizing the interests and talents of the pupil. Learning goals and metrics for successful evaluation are shared with students and parents/guardians at the outset of the tutoring relationship, and updated as the pupil’s educational experience unfolds.

Olivier B-L

EN: Olivier holds a PhD in Classics from Columbia University and has over four years of teaching experience at the college level, along with extensive experience tutoring and mentoring students from elementary school through graduate studies.
Passionate about education, Olivier specializes in French, English, and the humanities. He believes that academic success comes less from innate talent than from developing the right mindset and effective study habits, and he is committed to helping students build the skills and confidence needed to reach their goals.
Outside of teaching, Olivier enjoys travelling, fencing, and creative writing. His strong communication skills and academic background allow him to make complex concepts accessible and engaging for learners of all ages.

FR: Olivier est titulaire d’un doctorat en études classiques de l’Columbia University et possède plus de quatre années d’expérience en enseignement au niveau collégial, en plus d’une vaste expérience en tutorat et en mentorat auprès d’élèves du primaire jusqu’aux études supérieures.
Passionné par l’éducation, Olivier se spécialise en français, en anglais et dans les sciences humaines. Il est convaincu que la réussite scolaire repose moins sur le talent inné que sur le développement d’un bon état d’esprit et de méthodes de travail efficaces. Il s’engage à aider ses élèves à acquérir les compétences et la confiance nécessaires pour atteindre leurs objectifs.
En dehors de l’enseignement, Olivier aime voyager, pratiquer l’escrime et écrire. Grâce à ses solides compétences en communication et à son parcours universitaire, il sait rendre les concepts complexes accessibles et stimulants pour des apprenants de tous âges.

Faraz K.

Faraz holds a Bachelor of Arts from Northwestern University, double majoring in Biology and Chemistry, and has completed graduate studies in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. He brings over five years of teaching experience, covering everything from elementary math and science to advanced undergraduate mathematics and standardized test prep. As a former teaching assistant at the University of Illinois at Chicago, Faraz has led classrooms, worked with small groups, delivered lectures, and graded exams.
A Chicagoland native, Faraz discovered his passion for teaching in college while introducing gifted children to LEGO robotics and computer programming. Outside the classroom, he is a dedicated runner—once a cross-country athlete, now a regular jogger—and a grilling enthusiast who insists barbecuing is equal parts science and art. Faraz’s teaching philosophy revolves around creating independent learners. He believes the best classroom isn’t the one where you are taught, but the one where you learn to teach yourself—though his students don’t have to grade their own homework… yet.