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.

Brook L.

Brook L. is a certified teacher with a Master’s degree in Teaching and Bachelor’s degree in Arts and Humanities. She is a certified TESOL instructor, and accredited by the American Tap Dance Society.

She has 15 years of experience teaching English Language Arts (ELA). Six of those years were spent teaching middle-school English. In addition, she has worked as a technology instructor, theater director, International Baccalaureate Primary and Diploma instructor, an academic advisor, and an ESL tutor.

Brook’s strengths include grammar and punctuation, language proficiency, SAT and ACT test prep, and helping students embrace new reading-comprehension strategies rooted in the Science of Reading.

She also created a Girl, Awake! Project: a mentorship program that advocates for girls’ education.

When Brook is not teaching, tutoring, or writing YA and dystopian fiction, you’ll find her crocheting, reading, or walking her Golden Retriever pup: Salvador Doggie

Tessa H.

Tessa H. is a lifelong learner who became a teacher so she could grow personally and professionally. She loves meeting new people and sharing her interests with students while they solve problems together.

Tessa has taught everything from swim lessons for young children to college-level Geology labs to reading and math to elementary students with learning disabilities.

As an undergraduate at the University of Binghamton in New York, Tessa discovered her passion for science and the environment, which led to two bachelor’s degrees: one in Geology and one in Environmental Studies.

After graduating, her first “real job” was teaching reading and math to children with autism and other learning disabilities. Tessa enjoyed seeing her students grow so much that she stayed in that job for more than 7 years.

“Pairing with each student and learning how to integrate their interests into my lesson plans has helped me become a better teacher and made learning more fun for everyone.”

Tessa recently moved from New York to Colorado to pursue a career in science. Tutoring gives her the opportunity to continue her love of teaching and her passion for giving back to the community.

When she’s not teaching or tutoring, Tessa loves getting out into nature, going for a hike, or going on a picnic. I also love learning new skills — anything from knitting to breadmaking.

Chris R.

Chris R. is research scientist in the Biochemistry Department at the University of Colorado Boulder, where he studies gene regulation and teaches biochemistry.

As a teacher/tutor, Chris enjoys creating a dynamic learning environment and mentoring students through examples of chemistry and biochemistry in the real world.

Chris’s interest in science started in high school biology, where he became fascinated with the molecules that make up life and how they all work together (to the point of asking for a microscope for Christmas).

He went on to pursue this interest at Boston College where he earned a B.S. in Biochemistry. While in Boston, Chris did cancer research at Harvard Medical School and had his work published.

After graduating, Chris pursued his passion for teaching at Cristo Rey College Prep High School in Fort Worth, Texas — where he taught Chemistry and AP Chemistry. Concurrently, Chris received his M.Ed. from the University of Notre Dame in Secondary Science Education.

While teaching, Chris decided to take his passion for science to the next level by pursuing a Ph.D. in Biochemistry.

Outside of work and school, Chris likes to play golf, ski, fish, play guitar, and make the most of the outdoor recreation available in Boulder!

Dr. Michelina N-O.

Dr. Michelina Nelson-Olivieri developed a lifelong love of reading and writing as a child growing up in rural East Texas. Her favorite writers include Jeanette Winterson, Emily Austin, and Joy Harjo.

She received her B.A. and M.A. in English from Sam Houston State University, and her Ph.D. in English from the University of Denver. During her time at DU, she taught several English courses and tutored in after-school programs and at the University Writing Center.

Michelina’s passion is helping students of all ages find their written voices and learn to understand the world around them through other literary voices.

When she is not helping students learn to read and write with confidence and ease, you can find Michelina hiking with her family on trails all over the Front Range.

Dr. Katina W.

Dr. Katina Walton views her enthusiasm for teaching as a calling and a responsibility that is driven by her commitment to student growth, equity, and excellence. Her desire to be a better teacher is fueled by the her personal experience of how effective instruction transforms lives and unlocks the potential in every learner.

She holds a Ph.D. in Literacy, Reading, Assessment, and Evaluation from Walden University, and has taught in a variety of classrooms from elementary schools to universities since 2001.

Outside of teaching, Dr. Walton finds joy in her faith, family, and community. She also enjoys encouraging others and engaging in activities that renew her spirit and strengthen her passion for education.

Travis McG.

Travis McGinnis has a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Regis University, with endorsements in both Gifted and Talented Education and Social Studies. With 15 years of classroom experience in the Adams 12 and Jeffco School Districts, Travis is an expert at guiding students through Reading, Writing, and Math using goal-setting and arts-integrated methods.

In 2017, Travis was awarded the Talented Teacher Award by the Jeffco School District, and recognized for “100% student achievement,” as all his students met or exceeded their goals in Reading, Writing, and Math. In 2016, he also contributed to Devinney Elementary School winning the National Blue Ribbon Award.

Outside the classroom, Travis enjoys playing soccer, boardgames, baking sourdough bread, and writing fantasy and science fiction novels. When he’s not writing, gaming, or baking masterpieces in the kitchen, he enjoys quality time with his wife, four children, and their mini-goldendoodle puppy.

Travis’s experience as an educator, his enthusiasm for learning, and zest for life make him an ideal “smart friend” for elementary and middle-school students who could use a little inspiration to overcome challenges and master the learning process.

McCall D.

McCall D. is exceptional at helping students grasp concepts and gain confidence in Middle-School Math, Trigonometry, Pre-Calculus, and English Composition.

McCall enjoys helping students learn how to bridge the gap between big-picture mathematical concepts and solving specific problems using those concepts.

Her goal is to help students gain confidence, improve their understanding, and realize, “Hey, wait a minute. I’m actually good at math!”

As a graduating honor-roll senior at Silver Creek High School in Longmont, McCall will be attending Colorado State University in the fall, where she plans to major in Biomedical Engineering and Biochemistry.

In her spare time, McCall works with a local equine veterinarian and spends time with her friends, family, and her three dogs: Anzu, Zeke, and ZuZu.

Zach L.

Zachery Lundgren received his Ph.D. in Rhetoric, Writing, and Composition from East Carolina University. He also has an MFA from the University of South Florida, and a BA from the University of Colorado, Boulder.

Zach has taught at the college level for seven years, and has tutored students from middle school to graduate school in a variety of subjects. His primary areas of expertise are English, Essay Writing, and Science.

When he isn’t teaching or tutoring, Zach loves hiking, camping, and backpacking in the Colorado backcountry. He is also an avid reader and has published a book of poetry: Turkey Vulture, published by Meadowlark Press.

Andrew D.

Andrew D. has a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from Princeton University — where studied with some of the top Math professors in the world. While at Princeton, Andrew worked as an assistant instructor for a summer course for incoming freshmen, and he was a math tutor for all four years.

Andrew is a certified substitute teacher in Colorado, and will begin his Ph.D. program in Mathematics in Fall 2026 at Princeton. His goal is to become a full-time math professor at a major university.

In addition to his skills in math, Andrew also speaks fluent Spanish.

When he’s not focused on math, Andrew enjoys writing, going to the movies, and playing Dungeons and Dragons with the same group he’s been playing with for the past five years.