Marie H.
Marie attended Temple University on scholarship for her postbaccalaureate teacher certification in Elementary Education, K-6. Prior to graduate studies, Marie earned a BFA in Dance and has enjoyed a long career in fitness working with children, teens, professionals, and older adults in Philadelphia. With such a vast background in arts, education, and fitness, it’s easy to imagine that Marie brings energy, creativity, and engagement when working with her students. She has worked in classrooms at both public and charter elementary schools and was a lead fitness teacher at a local charter high school. Marie is an experienced tutor, having led an afterschool program where she brought underperforming students up to grade level, and instructed after-school enrichment programs. Marie is a music lover, smiles a lot, reads a lot of books, loves cooking, and most importantly, she loves sharing her passion for education with her students.
Simone T.
Ms. Timbers joins Prep Academy Tutors with 10 years of teaching experience and has taught Preschool through Fourth grade in two different states. Ms. Timbers graduated From West Chester University of Pennsylvania in 2014 with a degree in Elementary Education and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership at St. Joseph’s University. She won the “Most Valuable Teacher Award” for elevating her student’s math scores tremendously during her time as a third-grade teacher in Arizona.
Outside of the classroom, Ms. Timbers is a new mom and an only child. Her personal goal is to write a cookbook and she collects healing crystals.
John R.
John Rogers began his teaching journey as a Peace Corps Volunteer in West Africa in the 1990s. He then embarked on a 25-year career as a chemist in the pharmaceutical industry, while also teaching chemistry at Temple and Villanova. Now, he teaches in Temple University’s engineering department, and he has taught physics, biology and math at the high school level. Driven by his passion for inspiring young minds, John left the pharmaceutical field to start a company focused on science and robotics training for youth. In his spare time, John likes playing guitar and cooking exotic foods (a handy springboard for discussing thermodynamics). He is dedicated to helping students discover the wonders of the world through science.
Valentine F.
Valentine Faseemo is a passionate and innovative teacher with over five years of teaching experience as a Professor of Law. Valentine graduated from Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria before proceeding to the Nigerian Law School where he was called to the Nigerian Bar as the Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court. He obtained a Masters in International Business Law at the Tilburg University, Netherlands where his curiosity for scholarship and research led him to write his Master’s thesis on Non-Interest Banking as an Alternative to Conventional Banking. Valentine is also a co-author of Company Law and Practice in Nigeria, as well as many academic articles.
Valentine’s impactful, innovative and dynamic teaching methods as well as positive student feedback earned him the award of the Best Lecturer in the College of Law of the Afe Babalola University, Nigeria, where he taught various courses such as Commercial Law, Banking Law, Application of Computer to Law, ICT Law and Alternative Dispute Resolution. His personable approach to teaching and mentoring also led him to be appointed as the Staff Advisor to the Law Student Society in the University.
Valentine’s other research and teaching interests and practice areas include Competition Law, Immigration Law, Entertainment Law, History and Current Affairs.
Shaylee C.
Shaylee Chen is a dedicated and passionate educator with a B.A. in Education, Communities, and Organizations (ECO) from the University of Washington. She is currently pursuing her M.S. in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) at the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education. Having grown up in various countries and immersed in diverse cultures, Shaylee has cultivated a profound appreciation for multiculturalism and linguistic diversity. This international background has not only refined her mastery of Mandarin Chinese but also developed her fluency in French. Her global upbringing enriches her teaching with a unique and inclusive perspective. With three years of experience in multilingual teaching environments, Shaylee possesses the skills necessary to support and inspire students from diverse backgrounds. Her commitment to fostering engaging, personalized lessons, is driven by her belief that curiosity and interest are key to student success. Shaylee is eager to bring her expertise and passion for education to new opportunities and make a positive impact on the lives of her students. Outside of her professional and academic endeavors, Shaylee enjoys exploring new cultures, playing billiards, and swimming.
Kenya G.
Kenya has been an educator for 4 years with a Bachelor’s of Music in Music Education. Her tutoring and teaching experience include Music (both piano and vocal training), Music Theory, Pre-Algebra, Algebra I and II, Calculus, and English & Language Arts. She has worked with students at the middle school, high school, and university levels in these areas. Kenya’s approach to tutoring is strength-based and collaborative, as it is important to her to work with students to create goals towards academic success. She also specializes in test-taking strategies and test prep for standardized testing, SAT, and the GRE. She enjoys reading mysteries and thrillers, and playing sudoku.
Dr. Ashley M.
Ashley is an accomplished educator with a passion for teaching. With a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from the New Jersey Institute of Technology and experience as a professor, Ashley brings a deep understanding of complex scientific concepts to her tutoring sessions. Over the years, she has honed her ability to break down challenging subjects, making them accessible and engaging to students of all levels.
Ashley’s teaching philosophy is rooted in the belief that learning should be enjoyable and enriching! She specializes in math and science subjects, providing support that extends through college-level courses. Her highly personalized approach fosters a supportive and confidence-building learning environment that encourages students to excel and embrace the joys of discovery.
Beyond the classroom, Ashley is an avid reader. She also cherishes spending quality time with her dog. Ashley is dedicated to nurturing growth, understanding, and a lifelong love for learning in all her students, whether inside or outside the classroom.
Dr. Brandy P.
Dr. Brandy S. Pickens is a distinguished biochemist and dedicated educator with extensive experience in scientific research and environmental advocacy. Having earned a BA in Biochemistry from Oberlin College and a Ph.D. from Temple University School of Medicine, Dr. Pickens is proficient in making complex scientific concepts accessible and engaging to diverse audiences.
Dr. Pickens has dedicated over 15 years to biomedical research, specializing in biomedical research studies at institutions including the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. This background equips her with a robust understanding of the STEM disciplines, which she brings to the classroom to inspire and educate future scientists and STEM professionals.
Currently, Dr. Pickens serves as a Toxicologist at the United States Environmental Protection Agency, where she conducts technical analyses and reviews concerning the cleanup of hazardous waste sites. Her role at the EPA underscores her commitment to public health and safety, themes she emphasizes in her educational outreach.
Passionate about fostering a love for science and environmental stewardship among young people, Dr. Pickens actively engages with community groups and schools. She organizes and leads educational programs and STEM initiatives, aiming to instill a sense of enthusiasm for STEM disciplines, particularly environmental science, and stewardship in the younger generation.
Dr. Pickens is not only a scientist and advocate but also a mentor who strives to encourage students, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds, to pursue careers in STEM and public service. Her commitment to education, combined with her expertise in biomedical sciences and environmental sustainability, makes her a great match for organizations dedicated to cultivating knowledgeable, responsible, and motivated students.
Samantha S.
Samantha is an expert in the STEM areas/test prep and has been tutoring for over 10 years. She hopes to eventually be a professor. Her biggest strength is being able to making daunting or complex subjects into simple, understandable material, and show her students that STEM can be applied to any of your passions and isn’t all that scary! She likes to be able to apply her wit and sense of humor to help students feel comfortable as well. She has a BS in Chemistry/Physics from the University of Miami with minors in math and philosophy, and is starting her PhD at Drexel in the fall. In her free time, Samantha enjoys writing and eventually wants to write a book, cuddling her adorable dog, and exploring the city!
Kate R.
Kate is a certified teacher with her Bachelor’s degree in Special Education and certifications in Special Education K-8 and Early Childhood PK-4. Along with her Bachelor’s degree, Kate recently obtained her Master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis. Kate has always had a love for supporting various learners inside and outside of the classroom.
She has worked in various settings, including preschools, mental health settings and alternative learning settings. Kate loves sports and the outdoors, she takes her passions and creates hands-on and engaging lessons geared to all learners.