Jazzmin O.
Jazzmin is a dedicated educator and behavioral health professional with a strong background in psychology and a passion for supporting students both academically and emotionally. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Texas at San Antonio and her Master of Science in Applied Psychology from Angelo State University, with plans to pursue law school in the future.
Jazzmin brings a unique, well-rounded perspective to tutoring, combining her academic training with hands-on experience in education and behavioral support. She previously worked as an After-School Care Teacher, where she supported students ages 5–12 with homework, enrichment activities, and skill-building in a structured and engaging environment. In addition, her professional experience in mental health and case management has strengthened her ability to connect with students, support diverse learning needs, and foster resilience and confidence.
She specializes in elementary and middle school instruction (K–8), including math, reading, and writing, as well as English Language Arts, psychology, and test preparation such as STAAR and GED. Jazzmin is particularly skilled at working with students who need additional support with focus, organization, and confidence, including those with ADHD or other learning challenges.
As both a graduate-level professional and a parent, Jazzmin understands the importance of patience, encouragement, and creating a positive, supportive learning environment tailored to each child’s unique personality and needs. She focuses on building strong relationships with her students while helping them develop effective study habits, strengthen foundational skills, and gain confidence in their abilities.
Families appreciate Jazzmin’s warm, approachable style and her ability to make learning both engaging and enjoyable. Outside of tutoring, Jazzmin enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, listening to music, and exploring the outdoors.
TheCarey L.
TheCarey is an experienced English educator and instructional leader with a proven track record of helping students strengthen their reading, writing, and critical thinking skills. He currently teaches 9th Grade English at IDEA Public Schools in San Antonio, where he helps students build strong reading comprehension, literary analysis, and writing skills while preparing them for STAAR End-of-Course exams. Since stepping into his current classroom mid-year, his students have already shown strong academic growth, including impressive gains on interim STAAR assessments.
Prior to returning to the classroom, TheCarey served in multiple school leadership roles, including Assistant Principal and Regional ELA Content Coach, where he supported teachers across multiple campuses, improved instructional systems, and helped raise student achievement. Earlier in his career, he taught in Harlem and the Bronx, where he built a reputation for making English Language Arts engaging, culturally relevant, and meaningful for students. His students have earned national recognition, including winning Best High School Podcast and Best East Coast Podcast through the StudySync curriculum.
TheCarey holds a Master’s degree in Special Education and has extensive experience supporting students with diverse learning needs, including those with ADHD, dyslexia, and students on the autism spectrum. He specializes in English Language Arts, writing, college essay support, ACT preparation, STAAR and Regents test prep, social studies, technical writing, and helping students develop stronger test-taking and study skills.
He also brings a unique creative perspective to tutoring through his dual bachelor’s degrees in Film & Video and Africana Studies, often helping students connect literature, writing, and history to real-world issues, media, and storytelling in ways that make learning more engaging.
Families appreciate TheCarey’s ability to challenge students academically while building their confidence and making learning feel relevant and enjoyable. His goal is to help students become stronger readers, writers, and thinkers both inside and outside the classroom.
Outside of education, TheCarey enjoys spending time with his wife and infant daughter, exploring San Antonio’s parks and restaurants, watching films, and cheering on his hometown Chicago sports teams.
Diana W.
Diana is a bilingual educator with over 10 years of experience teaching, tutoring, and mentoring students across a wide range of ages and learning needs. Fluent in both English and Spanish, she brings a unique combination of cultural insight, strong communication skills, and a warm, engaging teaching style to every session.
Diana earned her Bachelor of Science in Education from the College of Charleston and a Master of Science in Management from Southern Wesleyan University. She has extensive experience teaching in both traditional classroom settings and one-on-one environments, including working with elementary students (K–5), English Language Arts, ESL learners, and Spanish language students at both the middle and high school levels. She has also supported students with dyslexia and served as a bilingual liaison, helping bridge communication between schools and families.
Her areas of expertise include reading, writing, college essay support, English Language Arts, ESL, Spanish (conversational through advanced), test-taking strategies, and GED preparation. Diana is especially skilled at building strong relationships with her students and tailoring instruction to meet each child’s individual learning style, helping them gain both academic skills and confidence.
In addition to her educational background, Diana brings over 20 years of professional experience in customer service, training, and curriculum development across multiple industries. She has developed Spanish curriculum and training materials, led workshops, and provided individualized instruction to both students and adults.
Diana is also a published co-author of two women’s empowerment books, reflecting her passion for personal growth and helping others reach their full potential. She believes that every student can succeed with the right encouragement, structure, and support, and she strives to create a positive, engaging learning environment where students feel confident and motivated.
Outside of tutoring, Diana enjoys spending time with her family, including her children and grandson, and continues to pursue her passion for teaching and connecting with others.
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.
Todd P.
Todd P. is a highly experienced science and test preparation specialist with nearly two decades of experience in education. Since beginning his career in 2006, he has taught Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and AP Physics, helping students develop deep conceptual understanding and lasting confidence in challenging subjects.
In addition to his classroom teaching, Todd has served as a content coordinator for both Judson ISD and Houston ISD, giving him strong insight into curriculum standards, assessment design, and academic expectations across grade levels.
Todd provides expert tutoring in:
- Science: Biology (including AP Biology), Chemistry, Physics, Physical Science, Earth Science, Environmental Science (including middle school 6–8), and Genetics
- Mathematics: Algebra, Algebra II, Trigonometry, and math foundations that support science success
- College-Level Coursework: BIOL 111, BIOL 112, BIOL 213, CHEM 119
- Standardized Test Prep: ACT, PSAT/SAT, ASVAB, SSAT/ISEE, STAAR, TSI, GRE, and AP exams
He also helps students strengthen core academic and technical skills, including graphing, data interpretation, Excel, Microsoft Office, Google Docs, Google Slides, and PowerPoint — tools that are essential for modern academic success.
Families value Todd’s ability to simplify complex material, build effective test-taking strategies, and tailor instruction to each student’s learning style. His goal is not only to improve grades and test scores, but to equip students with the confidence and independent thinking skills needed for long-term success.
Outside of education, Todd enjoys art, writing, reading, and spending time outdoors.
Raven E.
Raven is a graduate student at Southern Methodist University (2026), pursuing a Master’s in Education with a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) concentration. She is also a proud graduate of the University of Richmond (2023), where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Rhetoric and Communication Studies with a minor in Business Administration and Dance. While completing her masters program, she received her teaching certification and committed to becoming a SAISD educator for 2 years. In this short timeframe, she was moved by her students’ stories, their passions and interests, and found purpose in helping younger minds flourish. She prioritizes tailoring instruction to meet individual student needs and incorporates practices that inspire curiosity and empower thinkers. In her spare time, Raven enjoys exercising, creating art, baking, and reading. She loves the San Antonio Spurs, and has fond memories of her youth as their #1 fan. She listens to music of all genres, but 80s alternative, dark wave, and electronic are her favorites (a sucker for synths, obviously).
Banke F.
Banke F. is a Certified Teacher with a strong passion for education, science, and student success. She is currently in the process of obtaining her bachelor’s degree, graduating early, while building a solid foundation in both the humanities and advanced STEM disciplines. Banke tutors a wide range of subjects, from introductory History and English courses to advanced STEM classes, including Biology, Biochemistry, and Organic Chemistry, with over a year of experience tutoring Organic Chemistry I and II. She is deeply committed to creating a safe, inclusive, and supportive learning environment, tailoring her teaching approach to each student’s unique learning style—whether auditory, visual, or hands-on—to ensure they feel comfortable, confident, and heard. Alongside her tutoring work, Banke is actively involved in scientific research and was selected as one of only two students out of thousands applicants to participate as a BIO SENS intern at the University of New England this past summer. Outside of tutoring, she enjoys traveling and dedicates time to studying for the MCAT, bringing both discipline and curiosity into everything she does. Banke believes that strong relationships and personalized instruction are the foundation of meaningful learning, and she finds guiding students toward confidence and academic growth both fulfilling and rewarding.
Maria S.
Maria is an experienced educator who specializes in helping students build strong academic skills, confidence, and effective learning habits. She has taught across elementary and middle school and brings deep expertise in reading, writing, vocabulary development, and academic language growth.
Maria’s tutoring approach is centered on how students learn best. For example:
- Clear and achievable learning goals
- Explicit instruction with guided practice
- Reading comprehension strategies that make texts accessible
- Writing routines that strengthen structure, clarity, and organization
- Vocabulary practices that support deeper understanding
- Academic language supports such as sentence frames, thinking routines, and modeled responses
- Ongoing progress monitoring to celebrate growth and adjust instruction
Her students consistently make strong progress, and her classroom achieved the highest STAAR pass rate in her school (2023–2024). This success reflects her commitment to purposeful planning, high expectations, and meeting students exactly where they are.
Maria brings extensive experience in curriculum design to her tutoring, having created writing units, interdisciplinary lessons, and language-based supports that help students access challenging content. She uses this background to tailor every session to a child’s individual needs, strengths, and goals.
Although Maria is biliterate in English and Spanish, she uses this expertise only when helpful. Her understanding of how language functions in learning benefits all students—whether monolingual or multilingual—by strengthening their reading, writing, and communication skills.
Across all roles, Maria is recognized for her collaboration with families and communities, her strategic instructional planning, and her commitment to ensuring every student has the language, skills, and confidence to succeed.
Outside of teaching, Maria enjoys spending time with her family, relaxing with her dog, and staying active. She brings the same warmth, patience, and encouragement from her home life into every tutoring session.
Kyle H.
Kyle is a primary English educator and aspiring film professor with more than six years of teaching and tutoring experience across multiple classrooms, workshops, online platforms, and subjects. While he has been pursuing his masters degree in education at National Louis University, he has also been supporting grades 9–12 as a permanent substitute teacher at Hinsdale South High School. Kyle also has led screenwriting, creative writing, and public speaking sessions for Cardinal Filmworks, a student owned and ran film collective at Ball State University (his alma mater). Finally, after his undergrad, he also tutored poetry, Spanish, photography, and videography for learners of all ages with Varsity Tutors as one of their Creative Writing Experts. His style tends to center on building up confidence and problem solving skills through lessons that connect his students’ work to their interests. Creativity is a core tenet of his and because of that he loves to design personalized, engaging sessions that balance creative freedom with structured feedback so that each student grows as both thinker and creator. Because of this more creativity-focused approach, crafting relationships with my students is paramount to me. Learning about their lives and helping them succeed is just as important to me as their academics. Kyle is a lifelong reader, film buff, devoted sci‑fi and fantasy fan, bass guitar player, and avid Chicago & New York sports fan (Cubs/Sox Mets/Jets).