Stephanie Y.
Stephanie specializes in elementary mathematics and has 12 years of teaching experience in Colorado public and charter schools. She is dedicated to helping 2nd- through 6th-grade mathematicians multiply their confidence and excitement about math.
She is recognized for growing her students at an average of two academic years in a single year. This success led to her current role as Lead Math Curriculum Developer for a nationally recognized charter school network. In this role, she designs learning materials, instructional slides, assessments, and engaging math content for both students and teachers.
Stephanie holds a Master of Urban Education from Regis University with an Endorsement in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education. Her educational philosophy is that all students can learn effectively — regardless of race, individual challenges, or social status. For every student to succeed, Stephanie believes that both children and educators must be held to high standards. Her approach emphasizes creative instruction, critical thinking, and building on each student’s foundational skills.
Beyond her work as an educator, Stephanie enjoys being a mom, indulging in foodie adventures, and escaping into the mountains.
Anthony (AJ) L.B.
Anthony (“AJ”) La Barca is a Ph.D. student in Aerospace Engineering at the University of Colorado Boulder. He holds a B.S. in Physics & Astronomy with minors in Computer Science, Mathematics, and Music from the University of Rochester. AJ has extensive experience tutoring and teaching at the middle-school, high-school, and collegiate levels, serving as a teaching assistant in both physics and aerospace engineering courses. Proficient across math, physics, computer science, and engineering topics, he strives to make complex concepts accessible and engaging for students of all levels. Outside of academia, AJ is an avid rock climber, skier, and photographer, often combining his love for science and the outdoors through astrophotography.
Dr. Rob R.
Dr. Rob R. brings 44 years of experience in education to his work with students and families at Prep Academy Tutors.
Having grown up in Yugoslavia, Austria, Lebanon, Turkey, and Germany, Rob learned early on how to adapt to new cultures, languages, and expectations. This experience shaped his ability to support students who may be facing transitions, language challenges, or unfamiliar learning environments.
Rob holds a doctorate in Educational Leadership (Ed.D.) from Lehigh University, a Master’s degree in Education from the University of Vermont, and a B.A. from Middlebury College. For 20 years, he taught all subjects in grades 1 – 6 in Vermont public schools, also serving as a teaching-principal.
He then spent 23 years in international education, teaching and leading schools in Spain, Pakistan, Jordan, Switzerland, Japan, and Serbia. Working with students from more than 50 nationalities gave him a deep appreciation for how children learn across cultures and backgrounds. He understands that every student brings curiosity, potential, and a need for encouragement – and he excels at creating supportive, individualized learning experiences.
Since moving to Superior, Colorado, Rob taught as a substitute in the Boulder Valley School District and is excited to continue working 1:1 with students. Families who work with Rob benefit from his global perspective, decades of teaching expertise, and a compassionate approach that helps students build confidence, adapt to challenges, and discover joy in learning.
Madison R.
Madison is a 3rd year Ph.D. student studying Aerospace Engineering at the University of Colorado Boulder. Her research is on fixed-wing drones that provide aerial information gathering. Throughout undergrad and graduate school, Madison has been a Teaching Assistant in the aerospace department for various aerodynamics and aircraft dynamics classes.
She has spent the last 5 years tutoring middle and high school math and science, as well as SAT/ACT prep. During her time as an undergraduate student, she has worked for Disability Services at CU Boulder, where she was a peer mentor for students in applied math. Needless to say, she has an immense passion for education and mentorship!
Outside of school, Madison can be found with her two horses, Penelope and Daisy, who she trains and competes in three-day eventing and show jumping — or coaching young equestrians!
Adam B.
Adam Briesacher has a B.S. in Mathematics from Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, and a proven track record of helping students excel in high-school mathematics. With eight years of classroom experience, Adam is an expert at guiding students through Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2, and Precalculus.
Adam’s commitment to student success began in high school during his National Honor Society days, when he discovered his love for teaching. His passion for education grew while working at the Tutoring Resource Center (three years) at SIU. This experience gave Adam the opportunity to support students from all backgrounds and help them reach their full potential.
In addition to his academic pursuits, Adam enjoys the thrill of sports, the beauty of the Colorado outdoors, and the companionship of his beloved dogs, Hector (Black Lab/Border Collie) and Beau (Golden Retriever). When he’s not immersed in the “math world,” you find him exploring the mountains, cheering on his favorite teams, or enjoying quality time with friends and family.
Adam’s expertise in math, combined with his genuine enthusiasm for learning, make him an invaluable asset for any student looking to catch up, keep up, or get ahead.
Clyde K.
Clyde Kertzer is a Boulder native with more than eight years of tutoring experience.
During high school, Clyde founded the Number Theory club to share his love for the subject with his classmates. Today, he is pursuing Number Theory at CU Boulder, where he is now a published mathematician.
Clyde believes that the “creativity of mathematics” is not only severely overlooked in modern math education — it’s the most important piece in a student’s understanding of higher mathematics. Moreover, he believes that this application of “creativity” is not some fringe math theory, but an important skill to be learned.
When Clyde’s not doing math, he’s probably playing soccer or hockey, watching the USMNT (U.S. men’s national soccer team), or playing the trombone.
Tangelica C.
Tangelica is an experienced and passionate educator.
Tangelica has a B.A. in English from California State University, Sacramento, a M.Ed in Multicultural Education from National University, a California Single Subject Teaching Credential in English with an ELD endorsement and Reading Specialist endorsement.
She has taught at the junior high school level for over 15 years and for three years as a Certificated Student Learning Coach (working with more than 1,000 students). Today, Tangelica is a full-time online English teacher and tutor.
Tangelica strives to help students achieve the self-confidence they need to succeed in school — and beyond. She supports students with their academics (reading, writing, and grammar), but also with their motivation, organization, study skills, self-reliance, and perseverance.
She thrives on helpings students learn how to fill in their learning gaps, because the skills learned in overcoming those “gaps” are often the ones that will help them succeed in all their future endeavors.
Tracy S.
Tracy has a B.S. in mathematics at Arkansas State University and a M.S. in Education a Northcentral University.
In her 23 years of teaching algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and calculus, her greatest satisfaction is having former students (especially the ones who struggled) tell her that she was the one teacher who believed in them, and that made all the difference.
Tracy’s approach to tutoring is very similar. She doesn’t just teach math — she teaches students of all ages how to think and reason.
She truly believe that confidence is the key to success — in school and in life. That’s why Tracy always begins each tutoring assignment with an assessment of what each student knows and doesn’t know. She then builds on that information as students go from confusion to confidence, confidence to competence, and competence to mastery.
Benjamin C.
Benjamin Cooper is a motivated math tutor with 11 years of experience teaching in the Pee Dee region of South Carolina. He has a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from Francis Marion University.
Benjamin is dedicated to building a deep understanding and appreciation for mathematics among his students. Patient and thorough, Benjamin brings mathematical concepts to life in engaging ways. Benjamin’s superpower is tailoring mathematical tools and resources to suit the needs of individual students.
Whether guiding students through algebraic equations or unraveling the complexities of geometry, he is committed to empowering his students with the knowledge and skills they need to excel in math — and in life. Outside of tutoring, Benjamin enjoys indulging in his passion for cinema, and enjoys spending time with his two dogs, Ziggy and Rosie.
Benjamin is available for online algebra and geometry tutoring.
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.