Cassidy P.

Cassidy earned a B.S. with a double major in Physics and Mathematics from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology while playing varsity softball and working in Residence Life. After graduation, she worked as a scientist for the Department of Defense for three years. During that time, she earned an M.Th. in Theological Studies from Liberty University. Cassidy then served as an Assistant Pastor for four years, enjoying mentoring students and teaching all ages. Her husband’s career as an Army nurse relocated them to San Antonio, where they had their first child.

Cassidy has tutored, formally and informally, throughout high school and college. Passionate about learning and, consequently, teaching, she is always gaining new knowledge and skills — from coding to music to cooking and beyond. Her other passions include her faith, motherhood, and health and fitness. She also enjoys reading and doing puzzles.

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.

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.

Sai N.

Sai is a motivated graduate student at the University of Texas at San Antonio where he is pursuing a Master’s degree in biomedical engineering with the ultimate goal of applying to medical school and becoming a physician. He is hoping to work at the intersection of patient care and cutting edge medical technology. Sai graduated high school with 37 transferable AP credits; this in conjunction with his Biology undergraduate background and Engineering graduate background makes Sai a strong candidate for STEM subjects with a solid understanding of Math up to Calculus 2/BC, Chemistry from high school to Organic Chemistry 2 at the collegiate level, AP Physics, and PSAT/SAT and ACT Prep.
Alongside his academic pursuits, Sai has copious experience volunteering and working with special needs children over multiple summers between academic seasons as well volunteering experience at multiple free clinics in San Antonio that provide medical care to those in need completely free of charge to the patient. Through these activities, Sai has developed a deep affinity for working with people of all kinds of people and sharing a love for learning through companionship. In his free time, Sai enjoys training in boxing/muay thai and singing.

“Working with one of these tutors has been a game changer for my son. Professional and always listening to understand my son is learning not only how to master the content, but tips and tools to study in the ways which work best for him. I highly recommend working with one of these talented tutors!”

– Parent Testimonial

Rachel P.

Rachel graduated Phi Beta Kappa and Summa cum Laude from Reed College before going on to earn her Masters and become a Doctoral Candidate in Classics at UC Berkeley–she can also train a wild horse, work concrete, and process game. With more than ten years’ teaching experience at the high school level, and even more at the collegiate level, you’re in good hands with Rachel, across subjects from Anatomy to Zoology. Rachel is a voracious learner and credits this authentic curiosity to her success in connecting with young people during her career. She is a neurospicy Boise native who loves animals and playing with her amazing kiddo. Rachel believes that being human is too hard to do alone, and that powerful things are possible through connection. For her, the purpose of tutoring is to meet students where they are and support them in developing transferable strategies and tools that foster independence, confidence, and achievement as they progress along their educational journeys.

Vito S.

Vito has over 25 years of experience in the electrical engineering field where he utilized analytical and problem-solving skills on a daily basis. Born and raised in New Jersey, Vito holds a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in electrical engineering from New Jersey Institute of Technology. He is also a licensed Professional Engineer in the state of New Jersey.

Later in his career, Vito worked as a manager where he had the opportunity to mentor and train
his staff into the engineers they yearned to become. Vito guided a variety of professionals with diverse technical backgrounds by tailoring his teaching approach to the specific needs and skill sets of each individual.

Vito also has experience tutoring middle and high school level mathematics. He finds great joy in teaching a subject that he strongly utilized throughout his profession as an engineer. Not only does Vito boost students’ confidence, but he is also able to provide them with a practical understanding of the subject matter. Whether it is solving an equation or balancing a checkbook, Vito excels at bridging the gap between theory and application.

In his spare time, Vito enjoys exercising, reading, and spending time with his family. Vito puts his heart into everything that he does, which makes him an authentic and dedicated tutor.

Janella S-R

Janella holds a Bachelor’s degree with Honors in Environmental Sciences and a specialization in Wildlife Biology from McGill University. She is a recipient of the prestigious McCall MacBain International Fellowship, through which she spent two years in South Korea. During this time, she developed advanced Korean language skills, translated at science exhibitions, and taught English fluency to students.

With over four years of tutoring experience at the elementary level, as well as several years assisting high school and college students in mathematics and science-based courses, Janella has honed her ability to make complex subjects accessible and engaging. She utilizes practical, relatable, and enjoyable methods to ignite curiosity and a passion for learning in her students.

Janella also holds a TEFL certification and brings additional expertise in scientific writing, research, and proofreading. Her strong foundation in science subjects, combined with her experience in language education, allows her to provide well-rounded support to students across various academic levels.

Whether working with young learners or college students, Janella is committed to helping each student achieve their academic goals and develop a deeper appreciation for the subjects she teaches.

Michael Z.

Michael A. Zaucedo graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry in 2021. He grew up in Chicago, IL and attended a boarding High school at Lake Forest Academy in 2011. Michael grew up with a deep love for Science and Mathematics and took a study abroad opportunity in Costa Rica in the summer of 2018 to study an indigenous plant called Jatoba. During the summer of 2019, he discovered his passion for teaching and working with children when completing his teaching internship at High Jump Chicago as a teaching assistant (TA) for Chemistry––through teaching, he fostered his love for Chemistry and Mathematics. In his spare time, Michael works one-on-one with students ranging from middle through High School. He encouraged and supported the improvement of their Chemistry, and Mathematics skills ranging from Algebra, Trigonometry and Calculus. As a mentor, Michael continues to develop strategies for working with students and believes that building strong relationships will grow their learning and help guide them to reach their full potential toward being a well rounded student. Michael enjoys playing sports like baseball, basketball and football, watching suspense movies, as well as spending time with his family and friends.

Dr. Howard C.

Dr. Howard C. received his BS with Cum Laude, MS, and PhD in Electrical Engineering from the University of Washington (UW) in Seattle. While he was attending UW, he worked as a teaching and research assistant at the University of Washington Graduate School. He spent a better part of his career as a research engineer in fingerprinting audio, image and video streams. He has received a total of three U.S. patents. After his retirement from industry, Dr. C. started tutoring students in all levels of math, physics, and statistics. It is his pleasure to help students to appreciate the mechanics behind learning these subjects. His students come from many prominent schools and school districts. To Dr. C., math is a passion. He always encourages students “to see” instead of “to memorize”. A picture is worth more than 1,000 words.

Ashley H.

Ashley is a seasoned industrial engineer with almost 20 years of experience in optimizing processes, driving efficiency, performing data analytics, and managing budgets across various industries. Passionate about problem-solving, she has successfully led numerous projects that enhanced productivity and reduced costs. As a dedicated mother of one, Ashley balances her professional life with family, instilling the values of hard work and compassion in her daughter. Committed to giving back, she mentored young engineers and led community initiatives to provide for those in need while pursuing her career. Now, Ashley runs her own business to spread literacy & learning as well as organizes fundraisers and sponsorships to help others achieve their potential and foster a spirit of collaboration.