Davina R.

This is Davina, an Exercise Physiologist with a passion not only for helping people move better, but also for teaching and mentoring. She discovered this passion while serving as a Teaching Assistant at the University of Connecticut during her Master’s program. In that role, she supported the course instructor through grading, facilitating labs, holding office hours, and fostering a positive and engaging learning environment. Through this experience, she quickly realized that supporting students’ learning was one of her true callings.

Her academic journey began at Hampton University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology in 2021. After taking a gap year to gain hands-on experience in the field, she returned to pursue her Master’s in Exercise Science at the University of Connecticut, graduating in 2024.

Her educational background has provided her with a strong foundation in the sciences and mathematics, making her confident in tutoring students in these subjects. Her approach to tutoring is centered on meeting students where they are and helping them discover the most effective ways to understand and retain information.

Throughout her education, she remained committed to serving her community. As an undergraduate, she was actively involved in an organization called G.I.R.L., where she served as the Community Service Chair, working with students from elementary through high school to promote confidence, identity development, and positivity. During her graduate studies, she volunteered with her church’s youth ministry and continues to mentor and support students in their personal and spiritual growth. In her spare time, she enjoys rollerskating, baking, and spending time with her loved ones.

Ti’Air C-R.

Ti’Air, PhD is a neural engineering researcher and STEM educator who just recently became the first Black Biomedical Engineering PhD recipient from MSU. She received her bachelors in Biomedical Engineering from The Ohio State University in 2011, also becoming the first black undergraduate student to receive a bachelors in science in BME from OSU, and proceeded to earn a master’s from the University of Cincinnati in 2013. Beginning her PhD at Purdue in 2014, she transferred to Michigan State in January 2019. Her research focus is integrating tissue engineering with implantable electrodes to tune immune response in the brain, in the REIL lab under the direction of Dr. Erin Purcell. She is a co-founder for Black In Neuro, serves as the Academia Chair for the Health Innovations special interest group of the National Society of Black Engineers, is a local organizer for Com Sci Con MI, and is in the speaker’s bureau for the Rape And Incest National Network. She has also served in the community under her platforms of sexual assault awareness and exposing underrepresented students to STEM as Miss Indiana United States 2015 and has received awards for her Social Justice in 2016 and Humanitarianism in 2018. She was named a fellow in the Society for Neuroscience from 2016 – 2018 and is also a NIH F99/K00 fellowship awardee. She completed her postdoc at Case Western Reserve University and her second at Yale University. She has vast experience with neurodegeneration, brain computer interfaces research and is interested in the ethical implications of neurotechnology.

Annika P.

Annika is a dedicated educator with a passion for helping learners build confidence and achieve academic success. She is a certified elementary school teacher with a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Connecticut. During her Master’s program she studied abroad in London, and has traveled to a total of 9 different countries! Annika currently serves as a Reading Acceleration Specialist, supporting K–5 students in strengthening foundational literacy skills while fostering a love of reading. In addition to her school-year role, Annika works as the Alternate Director of a summer camp, where she helps create and manage sports-focused activities for children. With her strong academic background and classroom experience, Annika is committed to providing individualized support that meets each student’s unique learning needs.

James O.

James is a veteran educator with 25 years of experience in the High School English Language Arts classroom, where he has taught every grade and ability level. While his formal teaching background is rooted in ELA, he is a versatile scholar capable of tutoring across the broader Humanities, including History, Government, Social Studies, and Philosophy. A double alumnus of Quinnipiac University, James holds both a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Master of Arts in Education, and he furthered his expertise by earning a Sixth-Year Degree from the University of New England. From guiding honors students through complex literary analysis to helping reluctant learners find their voice, James has a proven track record of making even the most daunting subjects accessible and engaging. He has spent over two decades mastering a wide variety of curricula and has extensive experience with standardized test prep and the high-stakes art of the college essay. James believes that tutoring is most effective when it fosters true student agency and confidence, and he treats every session as a partnership tailored to each student’s unique learning style. When he isn’t helping students unpack the complexities of a well-crafted thesis statement, James can almost certainly be found on the water. An avid boater with a passion for warmer climates and the great outdoors, he brings that same sense of adventure and steady navigation to his work with his students. With James at the helm, students don’t just survive their coursework; they master the skills to chart their own course to academic success.

Cheryl D.

Cheryl has been a passionate educator for over twenty years at the middle school and high school levels in Connecticut public schools. She completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Delaware (majors in English and French, minor in Religious Studies) and her graduate degree in Secondary English Education at Teachers College, Columbia University. Since then, she has spent her time honing her skills as a classroom teacher, tutor, and literacy coach who cares deeply about the success of every student she meets. Cheryl has a talent for working with a very diverse range of students, and her main goal for each child is to help them gain the self-assurance and academic skills to be successful in school and in life. In her spare time, Cheryl enjoys hiking, walking her dogs, reading, writing, beekeeping, renovating an 18th century home, and hanging out with her husband and three teenaged children. Cheryl looks forward to meeting your child and working in partnership with you to best support them in pursuit of their goals.

Jenifer L.

Jenifer is a 25 year veteran of the CT public school system. A former speech and language pathologist, she acquired a Masters of Science in Speech and Language Pathology from Southern Connecticut State University. From there, she dove into a rewarding career in the support of students with disabilities and their families, working tirelessly to achieve improved learning outcomes both in academics and speech and language. Working closely with special education teams, classroom teachers (often in a collaborative and coteaching format) and families, she supported student’s acquisition of reading, comprehension, phonological and phonemic awareness, vocabulary and concept knowledge, written language, math skills and social skills. During the last 10 years of her career in public school, she also worked with students with more complex diagnoses, helping to acquire daily living skills, improve behavior, and acquire core communication skills, often through the use of augmentative and assistive communication tools. Additionally, Jenifer is experienced in supporting students with college essay writing and identifying and implementing strategies for improved executive functioning. She values the collaborative effort between families, schools, and herself. She prides herself on implementing lessons in a student centered and fun atmosphere that is engaging, that increases focus and attention, and activates learning. Dedicated to families and students with learning challenges, she continues her work by supporting their needs through tutoring, coaching families and advocating for educational resources and plans that will lead to improved learning and stronger academic achievements.

Lauren W-R.

Lauren is a certified teacher in three languages (French, Spanish and Latin) and also teaches Italian. She studied these languages throughout high school and college, earning a Bachelor of Arts in French Language & Culture with a minor in the Classics, and a Master’s degree in Secondary Education (Vassar College, SUNY Purchase and Mercy College). She spent two semesters living abroad in France. She taught for 20 years in a New York State public high school, taking students on trips out of the country (to France, Italy and Canada) when possible to experience the language and culture authentically.

Lauren enjoys getting to know each student she teaches. She uses various tools to diagnose where the student stands along their continuum of language learning, so that she can address their needs and provide a customized teaching plan that will ensure their progress in learning the language. Lauren makes language learning fun by using an interactive approach that will have the student speaking and understanding the language in a short period of time.

Gamal M.

With over 30 years of classroom experience and a deep passion for student success, Gamal M. brings a wealth of mathematical expertise to our tutoring team. Gamal holds a B.S. in Mathematics and is a State-Certified Educator for grades 7 through 12.

His career spans from teaching honors-level programs internationally to providing dedicated homebound and after-school support right here in the Waterbury community. Whether a student is navigating the foundations of Algebra and Geometry or tackling advanced Calculus and Trigonometry, Gamal excels at breaking down complex concepts into manageable, “lightbulb” moments. His patient, student-centered approach ensures that every learner—from middle schoolers to high school seniors—gains the confidence and skills needed to excel in the classroom and beyond.

Jonah B.

Jonah B. PhD is an educator, technologist and author who grew up in New York City. He currently works as a Software Consultant and has recently become a suburban dad. He lives with his partner and their young son in New Haven, CT.

Jonah studied Communications at Columbia University and in 2016 defended his doctoral dissertation, Dangerous Gifts: Towards a New Wave of Psychiatric Resistance, which examines significant shifts in the politics of psychiatric resistance and mental health activism. He has been organizing around mental health issues for over a decade, and cares deeply about the environment, social justice and privacy.

He has over 20+ years of experience as a professional software architect, designer, and developer. He is an active free/open source contributor whose technical interests include ethical AI, algorithmic fairness, Linux, Python, Content/Learning Management, and Annotations. He loves to bike ride, travel, scuba dive, and play the bass. He earned a masters in Communication and Education at Teachers College (’07) and graduated from Princeton University (’97) with a BA Cum Laude in Philosophy, and certificates in Computer Science and Cognitive Studies.

Harini B.

Harini B. (Lily) is a dedicated science tutor with a strong academic background in microbiology, biotechnology, and public health. She holds double master’s degrees—a Master of Science in Biotechnology and a Master of Public Health in Epidemiology. Currently a data analyst at Yale University, she also trains graduate fellows in managing and analyzing healthcare data using tools like SAS and SQL. Harini has helped students at all levels gain confidence across a range of science subjects—from life sciences to data-driven research methods—by breaking down complex concepts and making them more approachable. She adapts to each student’s learning style and brings real-world experience into her teaching. Fun fact: Harini played national-level tennis in high school, an experience that taught her how to balance focus and flexibility—skills she now uses to help students succeed in both science and study habits.