Pawel K.

I am Pawel and I have a PhD in mechanical engineering and work as a research scientist and lecturer at UBC. I’m passionate about math and science, especially when it comes to applying these subjects to real-world problems. As an engineering enthusiast, I love exploring how mathematical concepts and scientific principles can be used to innovate in fields like rehabilitation and sports technology. My experience in programming and biomechanics allows me to break down complex ideas into understandable parts, making learning both accessible and exciting. I enjoy taking new ideas, testing them, and seeing how they can make a difference in people’s lives. As a tutor, my goal is to inspire students by showing them the practical applications of what they’re learning in class. Whether it’s using algebra to optimize a sports technique or applying physics to design better rehabilitation tools, I’m here to help students see the real-world impact of their studies and nurture their problem-solving skills.

Ivan L.

With more than 20 years of experience as a teacher and tutor, Ivan has a rich background in education, spanning various countries and educational levels. As an engineer, he brings a unique approach to helping students succeed and boosting their self-confidence, particularly in quantitative subjects. Ivan is known for his patience and his ability to understand each student’s unique perspective. He emphasizes the importance of mastering the basics to foster deep understanding, avoiding mere memorization and promoting genuine learning.

Rachel B.

Rachel is a former teacher and nanny with a passion for helping students succeed. With a master’s degree from DePaul University, and a 4.0 GPA, Rachel loves to learn and share her knowledge. She gets to know her students’ background and interests before starting her lessons, as to make the information at hand pertinent to each child. With kindness and enthusiasm, Rachel strives to make learning a fun and comfortable experience for both the student and their families. Communication is her strong suit, as she enjoys sharing milestones and challenges with parents to ensure student success. In her spare time, Rachel travels the world with her husband, Cole. The pair resides in the Northwest suburbs with their two cats, and in her spare time, Rachel runs a successful photography studio out of her home office. Get in touch with Rachel today – she cannot wait to get to know you!

Lindsay L.

Lindsay has been assisting students with math since she was a student herself. She began tutoring in college as a way to make money; however, it evolved into more of a hobby than a job. She fell in love with helping students understand the complexities of mathematics and witnessing that lightbulb turn on inside their heads. Lindsay earned her BS in Mathematics from Virginia Tech in 2016. However, she wanted to continue learning how best to teach math. She worked her way to complete her MA in Education by 2022. Lindsay has been working with students of all ages for over a decade, both in person and virtually, while maintaining a full-time job as a Cost Analyst for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). She is excited to join the Prep Academy Tutors team and help more students in need.

Annie D.

Annie is a current MD/PhD student at UT Health San Antonio. She holds a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Georgia Tech and an M.S. in Medical Science from UNT Health Science Center. She has tutored and taught math, science, and engineering courses since 2012. Annie enjoys one-on-one or small group interactions, preferring to personalize her tutoring to the student(s). She also enjoys getting to know students and providing help in tutoring-adjacent skills such as time management, prioritization, and organizational skills. In her spare time, Annie enjoys spending time with her partner and dog, doing barre and yoga, playing the piano, reading, figure skating, and discovering new board games.

SHADMAN H.

Shadman holds a Bachelor of Engineering (B.E.) degree in Mechanical Engineering from the City College of New York (CCNY). As a graduate of NYC’s top public specialized high school, Stuyvesant, and Valedictorian of his engineering university at the Grove School of Engineering at CCNY, Shadman has demonstrated extraordinary success in his educational endeavors. Shadman has taught students (elementary, middle, high school, and college) 1-on-1, in small groups, and in larger classrooms (both online and in-person) for 10+ years. His experience includes teaching all mathematics subjects through high school and early college (pre-algebra, algebra I, algebra II, trigonometry, precalculus, calculus, statistics), standardized test preparation (SHSAT/PSAT/SAT/ACT), and various other STEM subjects. Shadman is extremely passionate about assessing each student’s specific needs and tailoring a custom plan for them to not only succeed in the classroom, but develop a similar love for learning that they can take with them for the rest of their lives.

Dr. John J.

John Jaros is a highly experienced mathematics teacher with an AS in Respiratory Therapy, a BA in Mathematics, an MS in Physics, and a PhD in Computer Science. His extensive teaching background includes helping students in elementary school, middle school, high school, and college. If you are having difficulty with arithmetic, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or calculus, he is confident that he can answer your questions, eliminate your confusion, and set you on the road to mathematics excellency. Dr. J. loves math because it is one of the few areas of knowledge that has both practical applications as well as theoretical investigations. In addition to enjoying teaching, Dr. J. is an avid computer programmer, a big admirer of his and his wife’s cat Copernicus, and an “exercise junky” on his home treadmill.

Thad F.

With a bachelor’s degree from the Air Force Academy and a master’s from theUniversity of Dayton, Thad’s credentials and experience run broad and deep. For over 30 years he has taught math, science, and English at the university level–all the way down through first grade. Thad’s passion and joy is helping students and their families overcome academic challenges and grow to thrive at the highest levels of their potential.

In his free time, Thad enjoys his six children and three grandchildren, tennis, hiking, photography, swing dancing, and food with his wife, Beth. He almost never meets a student with whom he does not enjoy working, and he hopes to continue teaching as long as his health allows–at least 50 more years!

“My son has had such a positive experience with his tutor from San Antonio Prep Academy! His SAT scores increased just after a few sessions. His tutor is diligent in working on exactly what my son needs, and it’s super convenient that he comes to our house! We love it!”

– Parent

“Prep Academy Tutors has been such a big help for our daughter this school year! Chemistry tutors are difficult to find in the area, but we were blessed to have found Thad at Prep Academy! He is so knowledgeable, patient, and calm when working with students. He truly loves his job. We love Thad and we know you will too!”

– Parent

Casey M.

Casey is an accomplished tutor with a diverse academic background: dual Bachelor’s degrees in Philosophy and Mathematics, a Master’s of Science in Applied Mathematics (with a minor in Astrophysics), Casey brings a wealth of knowledge to his tutoring lessons.

With over a decade of experience as a math instructor and possessing a Level 2 tutoring certificate, Casey is adept at teaching in both classroom and one-on-one settings.

His expertise extends beyond traditional mathematics; Casey’s research and publications span complex domains such as computer science, operations research, software engineering, data science, and the application of artificial intelligence, showcasing his ability to translate mathematical concepts into real-world applications.

What sets Casey apart is his philosophy-driven approach to teaching mathematics, enabling him to establish meaningful connections with his students and ignite their passion for learning.

Beyond academia, Casey holds a second-degree black belt in Taekwondo, reflecting his commitment to discipline and excellence in all endeavors.

Leah P.

Leah is a second year college student at College of Dupage. Prior to this semester, Leah was majoring in applied mathematics at the University of Colorado Boulder, and still very much enjoys math despite stepping away from it as a major. While at Colorado and in high school at Downers Grove North, Leah took Calculus 1-3, Linear Algebra, Differential Equations, Statistics, Fourier Series/Boundary Value Problems, and various other engineering and science classes. Leah enjoys helping kids to understand math and learn to enjoy it as they have throughout their academic life. Tutoring allows Leah to keep math in their life as well as help others, two things that make them happy. Leah understands that each student understands things differently, and they are able to cater their teaching style and explanations to meet each student’s needs. As Leah is still a student themselves, they are very understanding and will work to make sure each student feels heard as well as answer any and all questions they might have. Outside of school, Leah likes to read, do puzzles, work out, and discover new music.