Amy B.

Amy has been in the field of education for over 20 years. Currently, she is a professor of elementary education courses at Loyola University Chicago, where she is also completing her dissertation for a doctorate in Curriculum, Communities, and Culture. Additionally, she holds a master’s degree in Literacy instruction, and endorsements in English as a Second Language and Learning Behavior Specialist I (LBS1) for special education. She has spent 22 years as an elementary classroom teacher, reading interventionist, and Literacy coach in public schools. She has a passion for culturally relevant teaching, and matching evidence-based practices with individual students to bring joy and efficiency to learning new skills. She believes in using assessment and children’s interests to help design individualized experiences that meet each learner’s unique needs.
While not teaching, Amy enjoys traveling and exploring the Chicago area with her spouse and two children. She is also an avid reader and bike rider. In addition to her 22 years in public schools, she has spent time teaching in schools and daycares in Sydney, Australia, Glasgow, Scotland, and Shanghai, China.

Yaman J.

Yaman is a Doctor of Medicine who graduated from medical school overseas and is currently taking a gap year while conducting neurology research and preparing to pursue a neurology residency. With more than 1,500 hours of teaching experience across private tutoring and educational institutions, he has taught learners from kindergarten through college and adulthood, including physicians older than himself. Passionate about teaching and public speaking from a young age, Yaman finds great purpose in helping students move from feeling overwhelmed to confidently saying, “I finally understand it, and I want to keep getting better.” He makes learning organized, engaging, and enjoyable while sharing practical, evidence-based strategies for studying, memorization, and exam preparation, including active recall, spaced repetition, targeted practice questions, and structured review. His goal is not only to help students succeed on an assignment or exam, but also to build confidence and develop study skills they can use independently for years. Outside of tutoring, Yaman enjoys playing video games, spending time with friends, and staying active through table tennis, soccer, and basketball.

Karen P.

Karen Perez is a Certified Teacher. She grew up in Melrose Park, moving to Chicago to complete an Undergraduate Degree in Secondary English Education. Karen grew up with a deep love of reading and writing. When she decided to pursue teaching as a career, Karen completed a Bachelor of Education at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Through teaching, Karen has been able to foster her love of reading and writing. During the summer months, she teaches High School Connection, a program designated to prepare incoming 9th graders for 9th grade ELA. Karen has also taught various ACT and SAT Prep courses for 11th grade students. She has supported improving their reading, writing, vocabulary and test-taking skills. Karen believes that by building a solid relationship with her students, she can better meet their needs and grow their learning. In her spare time, Karen enjoys strength-training, jogging, and the occasional donut or two because she believes that life is all about balance.

Melissa G.

Melissa is a dedicated and experienced educator with nearly 25 years of teaching experience, including almost 20 years focused on Special Education Reading. As a resource teacher working with students in grades 3–6, she is deeply committed to supporting learners who struggle with reading and helping them build confidence and independence.

She holds an LBS1 certification and has earned a Bachelor of Arts from North Central College, a Master’s in Teaching from Concordia, and a Master’s degree as a Reading Specialist from Olivet Nazarene University. Her extensive classroom experience, combined with her specialized training, allows her to provide targeted, effective instruction that meets the diverse needs of her students.

Melissa is a passionate reader herself and brings that enthusiasm into her teaching every day. She is especially driven to ensure that all students develop strong literacy skills, recognizing how critical reading is for lifelong success.

Outside of the classroom, Melissa enjoys traveling, reading, attending concerts, and spending quality time with her family. She is also currently training her dog to become a therapy reading dog, combining her love of literacy and animals to further support and inspire young readers.

Chelsey B.

Chelsey Baker is a certified teacher and has been teaching for 7 years now! She obtained her Bachelor’s of Science in Special Education with an LBS1 certification from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Her teaching career kicked off in Urbana, IL where she worked for 4 years in a self-contained setting with students with autism and other unique learning
needs. Chelsey then moved to Chicago where she has worked for 3 years in Chicago Public Schools as a resource and co-teacher for grades K-3. Chelsey was born and raised in Tennessee but through her college career she discovered she had a passion for urban education. She is driven to create equitable opportunities for all students by building relationships, assuming competence, and creating access. Chelsey has tutored both
privately and for tutoring franchises and enjoys getting to work individually with students to create fun and meaningful learning opportunities outside of school. In her free time Chelsey enjoys reading a good book, being outdoors, and playing board games.

Cheyenne R.

Cheyenne is a veteran Chicago Public Schools special education teacher with 13 years of experience supporting diverse learners across preschool through 8th grade. Originally from a small rural town in Michigan, she obtained her undergraduate degree in Sociology and Women’s Studies from the University of Michigan before entering the classroom through AmeriCorps-The New Teacher Project. While initially drawn to education policy reform, Cheyenne quickly discovered her passion lies in working directly with students and families. She went on to earn her English as a Second Language endorsement and a Master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis to better meet the wide-ranging needs of her students. Cheyenne is especially passionate about building executive functioning skills to help students access opportunities beyond the classroom, and her work is grounded in a holistic, relationship-centered approach. Outside of teaching, she can usually be found traveling, playing golf, volleyball, or pickleball, exploring the outdoors, spending time with friends and family, or attempting to keep her 30+ houseplants thriving.

Mariah M.

Pragati P.

Pragati is a passionate and dedicated educator with a strong background in Chemical Engineering and a deep love for math and science. Her academic training has equipped her with a solid foundation in problem-solving, analytical thinking, and real-world applications of scientific concepts, which Pragati brings into every tutoring session.

Currently, teaching 8th-grade science, Pragati focuses on making complex ideas engaging, accessible, and meaningful for her students. In addition, she has experience teaching 10th-grade chemistry and 9th-grade biology, and can support students across a wide range of scientific subjects and grade levels. She is also pursuing a Master’s degree in Education, working toward becoming a high school science and math teacher. This ongoing training helps her stay up-to-date with effective teaching strategies and student-centered learning approaches.

As a tutor, Pragati’s goal is to build confidence, strengthen understanding, and help students develop a genuine interest in math and science. She strives to create a supportive and encouraging learning environment where students feel comfortable asking questions and growing academically.

Brendan F.

Brendan is a dedicated and passionate STEM educator with over seven years of experience inspiring students in the classroom and lab. Holding a PhD and specializing in Chemistry and Biology, Brendan has a proven track record of helping students develop critical thinking skills and a love for learning. He has been an educator at various levels and recognized for his innovative lesson planning and engaging teaching style. Beyond the classroom, Brendan brings creativity and personality to everything he does. When he’s not grading papers, Brendan can often be found reading, exploring local coffee shops, or working on his chess skills.

Leslie S.

Leslie earned her doctorate in English from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 2017, following an M.A. from The University of Louisville in 2008. Originally from Cincinnati, Leslie has been teaching college courses in the Chicago area for the last 15 years. Her fields
include American Literature, African American Literature, ESL, and composition. She’s also a proud history nerd and loves some pub trivia. In her free time, she enjoys reading, traveling, and playing sports with her two sons.