Jaden A.

Jaden graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and a minor in French. During her studies, she had the opportunity to work on research in a chemistry lab during a five-month study abroad in Strasbourg, France. Jaden has worked in teaching roles for children all her life, and she’s spent the last year teaching middle school science (6th-8th grade) at a K-12 school. She helped further develop the curricula and increased the emphasis on laboratory experiments each class, convicted to teach through hands-on experience. Whether she is teaching horseback riding or forces and work, Jaden believes that allowing students to forge their own way to understanding Nature’s laws helps them develop confidence and fires their curiosity.

Emily P.

Emily is a certified teacher in Texas with a minor in teaching English as a Second Language. She also has experience as a behavioral therapist for children with autism. Passionate about personalized learning, she finds tutoring to be the perfect opportunity to support students at their individual levels.

As a tutor, Emily has primarily focused on reading, writing, math, and social studies, helping students achieve significant growth both in and out of the classroom. She strives to build confidence in her students, fostering a love for learning in a fun and engaging environment.

A mother of two young children, Emily is beginning her homeschooling journey with her oldest son this year. With plans to homeschool long-term, she deeply values meaningful, impactful lessons tailored to each child’s unique learning needs.

Brooke B.

Brooke B. is an experienced educator with a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in English, a teaching credential, and extensive tutoring experience. She has worked with students of all ages, specializing in English language arts, writing, and college application essays. Brooke is passionate about helping students develop strong writing skills and confidence in their abilities by tailoring lessons to their individual learning styles and interests.

In addition to tutoring, Brooke is currently furthering her expertise with certifications in addiction counseling and mental health first aid. She believes that a supportive and engaging learning environment is key to student success.

When she’s not helping students master the art of writing, Brooke can be found discussing Star Trek theories, collecting art she insists is “an investment,” or dramatically singing show tunes—sometimes all at once.

Ishita B.

Ishita is a passionate, licensed educator with over seven years of experience teaching students of all ages. Holding a Master’s in Elementary Education from DePaul University and a Bachelor’s in Theatre from Loyola University Chicago, she brings warmth, creativity, and engagement to every learning experience.
With a deep belief that learning should be joyful, meaningful, and student-driven, Ishita tailors instruction to each child’s unique strengths and interests. She specializes in play-based learning, social-emotional development, and meditation techniques, creating a nurturing environment where students feel safe, confident, and excited to explore. To Ishita, learning isn’t confined to a classroom—it happens everywhere, in every moment, and she strives to help students recognize and embrace that with their own learning.
Through years of experience in homeschooling, learning pods, and one-on-one tutoring, Ishita has developed a whole-child approach that blends real-world applications with hands-on exploration. Whether leading field trips, designing personalized curriculums, or fostering critical thinking, she is dedicated to cultivating curiosity and resilience in every student. She deeply believes in the power of each child’s unique creativity and “genius.” She also encourages a growth mindset, reminding students that while learning can sometimes be challenging, they are capable of achieving great things.
At the heart of Ishita’s teaching is a genuine love for helping children discover their own potential and build confidence in their abilities. She is dedicated to creating a learning experience where students feel seen, heard, and valued. Above all, she hopes to inspire a lifelong love of learning in every student she works with.

Matthew R.

Matthew’s journey into education was an unexpected yet deeply rewarding path. After earning a BA in Television, Film, and New Media, he initially pursued a career in the film industry. However, in 2013, while teaching a film course at the Digital Media Academy summer tech camp, he discovered a passion for guiding young scholars toward academic, creative, and professional success. This experience inspired him to pursue a single-subject teaching credential, leading him to a fulfilling career in education.

Since 2018, Matthew has been an educator at The Preuss School, UC San Diego, where he has honed his teaching philosophy and instructional methods. Initially stepping in to fill a vacancy in the Drama department, he transformed the curriculum into a film-based program that integrates Art, English, and History. His courses reinforce grade-level ELA comprehension and writing skills through in-depth units on story structure, plot development, character analysis, and thematic content. Students apply these skills to writing their own screenplays, while Film I students explore film theory and cinema history. In his advanced Film II/Honors Film course, students engage in collaborative, hands-on projects that guide them through all stages of video production, from pre-production to post-production.

Matthew’s adaptability and innovation were especially evident during the pandemic when The Preuss School transitioned to remote learning for two years. While many educators faced challenges, he embraced the format, finding new ways to engage students and enhance learning through strategic virtual instruction. He firmly believes that, when thoughtfully designed, virtual learning can be just as impactful—if not more—than in-person instruction.

His passion lies in inviting students into the vibrant world of poetry, literature, and history and watching them engage with enthusiasm. Through teaching, he hopes to foster a deep sense of global awareness, empathy, and compassion in his students, empowering them to express themselves through both written and visual storytelling.

Matthew is eager to begin the tutoring process for students in need of support in English, reading, writing, history, social studies, college essay writing, and test prep. Additionally, with his background in Film, he is thrilled to assist students seeking help with video production, editing, or acting. His expertise also extends to Public Speaking and Debate courses, providing students with valuable skills to enhance their speaking abilities.

Matthew is excited to bring his expertise and passion for education to Prep Academy Tutors, where he continues to support students in their academic journeys.

Christy C.

Christy graduated with honors from Texas State University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in middle school education. As a certified teacher for grades 4-8, she taught writing and mathematics in public school classrooms. After marrying her active-duty military husband, Christy continued to educate through private tutoring and substitute teaching at various duty stations nationwide. She has worked with ages Pre-K – 8th grade with extensive experience in improving students ability to understand and solve multistep and mathematical word problems.

For the past eight years, she has focused on raising her two children, with whom she loves to go on adventures. Christy enjoys exploring new playgrounds, restaurants, and theme parks with her family, as well as practicing yoga and Pilates for personal relaxation.

Michael B.

Michael graduated from The University of Texas at San Antonio with a Masters of Science in Mathematics, a Bachelors of Science in Mathematics, and a Bachelors of Science in Physics. He is currently finishing up a Masters in Philosophy.

Before joining Prep Academy Tutors, Michael had 4 years of experience as a Teaching Assistant and Tutor in both Mathematics and Philosophy. He also has served as a guest lecturer in philosophy courses. Michael’s commitment to his students is strong, and he cares deeply about teaching and helping people learn.

Shelley R.

Shelley R. is a certified English and German Teacher, grades 8-12. She grew up in Casper, Wyoming and completed an Undergraduate Degree in Secondary Education at University of Wyoming in 1994. She grew up with a deep love of travel and took the opportunity to be an exchange student in Germany in 1992-3. After returning and graduating, Shelley then wanted to use her passion for teaching and working with children. Starting in 1997, she taught English Language Arts in many states being a former military wife. She also taught German for 1 year in Kansas. As well, she completed a Postgraduate Degree in Secondary Education: Classroom Technology in 2003 at Kansas State University.
She has supported and invested in improving students’ academic skills using her passion for writing and reading. She believes that by building a solid relationship with her students, she can better meet their needs and grow their learning. As a former teacher of 18 years and a tutor, she continues to develop strategies for working with children. She finds working with children to be rewarding and fulfilling.

Courtney P.

Courtney P. holds a Bachelor’s degree in Nutritional Science from the University of Texas at Austin and is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Pharmacy at the same institution, having successfully completed three out of four years of the program. During a recent break from her doctoral studies, she taught mathematics and science to 4th and 5th grade students at Prairie Lea ISD, where she also provided after-school tutoring for students in grades K–12 across a variety of STAAR-tested subjects.

Courtney has extensive experience delivering small-group and one-on-one interventions for students needing remedial support, as well as for bilingual emergent learners and those with special education needs. While her formal classroom experience is still growing, she brings a wealth of tutoring experience that began during her freshman year of high school. Over the years, she has supported students in mastering challenging Advanced Placement courses, including Calculus, Biology, Chemistry, Statistics, U.S. History, and World History.

Outside of education, Courtney leads an active and dynamic lifestyle. She manages the 35-acre farm where she lives, enjoys kickboxing, and spends time with her two dogs. A talented cook and avid baker, she also enjoys sketching and has developed a strong knowledge of war and military collectibles, antique firearms, sports card trading, and coin collecting—interests she shares with her fiancée through their family business.

Ann S.

Ann Stec grew up teaching.  As the oldest of four children, and the only girl, she would often create a “classroom” for her younger brother, taking them through practice with letters and numbers.  Her mom would buy used workbooks at thrift stores for her to use with her “pupils” each week. Ann loved it–her brothers were decidedly on the fence! 

When it was time to officially choose a career, Ann went to Illinois State and graduated with a B.S. in Education with concentrations in Language Arts and Reading.  Her plan was to teach junior high school students to love reading and learning.  But a few years into teaching, Ann was recruited to teach teachers at the elementary level how to teach reading in their classrooms.  It was a leap–big kids to little–but it turned out to be a game changer!

While working at the elementary level, Ann found that some students continued to struggle to acquire literacy skills, despite receiving intervention.  She realized she needed to learn more about how to help these students and decided to pursue her Wilson Level 1 certification.  She credits that decision as the single best decision of her professional career and she has spent the last nineteen years of her career helping kids who learn differently master how to read.

Ann believes that the best instruction–at any level–empowers students to be reflective learners and goal setters.  She believes that teacher, parent and student comprise the learning team and is an advocate of working with parents and students together in order to help all kids reach their academic potential.

Ann is in her 29th year of teaching and  currently works as a Reading Specialist/Literacy Coach in Naperville 203.  She holds a Master of Arts in Teaching, is ELL certified and is a certified Wilson Level 1 Instructor. In her free time, she volunteers with animal welfare agencies (she has nine pets!), READS, thrifts, travels, and hangs out with her favorite people as much as possible.