Brian V.

Brian holds a Ph.D. in Physics from UC San Diego, where he spent over five years as a graduate teaching assistant. With the long-term goal of becoming a professor, he is deeply committed to teaching and mentoring others to “give back” his knowledge. In 2023, he received the Distinguished Senior Graduate Teaching Award from the department in recognition of his dedication in this area.

Having both studied and taught math and physics for many years, Brian understands the challenges that often come when learning these subjects. His approach is to guide students through example problems by breaking them down into clear, manageable steps. He believes that, with the right guidance, every student can develop the skills and confidence to solve problems independently.

In his free time, Brian enjoys sailing with the Maritime Museum of San Diego—a hobby that, much like teaching, requires patience and a good sense of direction!

Anna B.

Anna is a credentialed Special Education teacher and certified Dyslexia Specialist. She studied Special Education at Baylor University, where she gained hands-on experience teaching in a variety of classrooms and conducting research on dyslexia interventions. Her work focused on how students generalize reading skills across different contexts.

She is passionate about creating supportive and engaging learning environments that help students feel confident in their abilities and reach their goals. Anna focuses on building strong relationships with her students, going the extra mile to ensure their individual needs are met through evidence-based, structured literacy instruction.

She is both an effective teacher and a positive role model who inspires her students to believe in themselves and take pride in their progress. Outside of teaching, Anna enjoys going to the beach, taking walks, and spending time outdoors with her husband and their dog.

Diana A.

Diana A. is a passionate English and Spanish educator with over 17 years of experience helping students develop their academic writing, reading comprehension, and communication skills. She holds a Master’s in TESOL, Literacy, and Culture from the University of San Diego and has taught across both high school and college settings. Diana empowers students to become confident, independent writers through engaging, student-centered lessons that make complex ideas accessible. Her approach combines structured skill-building with creativity—whether she’s guiding students through persuasive essays, college application writing, or literary analysis. Beyond academics, Diana fosters a supportive environment where learners build confidence in expressing their own voices. When she’s not teaching, she enjoys discovering new authors and designing lessons that connect language learning to real-world experiences.

Cheryl O.

With over 20 years of classroom experience in English as a Second Language (ESL) instruction and educational administration, Cheryl brings a strong blend of classroom teaching, online instruction, and individualized tutoring to help learners achieve their academic goals. She holds a Master’s Degree in Education, TESOL certification, and a prior Special Education credential.

Over the past decade, Cheryl has supported students from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds through online ESL instruction and one-on-one tutoring. She specializes in creating engaging, personalized lessons that meet each student’s unique needs. Cheryl is deeply dedicated to fostering language and academic growth, promoting cultural understanding, and building confidence in communication across academic, professional, and personal settings. She looks forward to continuing her work with students and helping them succeed in today’s world.

Dani J.

Dani is a teacher who lives and works in the heart of San Diego. She earned her B.A. in Elementary Education and her Multiple Subject Teaching Credential in May 2024 and is currently a Transitional Kindergarten teacher in San Diego Unified. Known for her playful and lighthearted approach, Dani loves connecting with new students and supporting them in becoming the best versions of themselves. She is excited to join Prep Academy Tutors to continue fostering the growth and learning of San Diego’s youth.

Kevin W.

Kevin is a former high school math teacher with over 30 years of teaching and tutoring experience. He has created and taught three math courses for a local California college and has previously taught at Palm Beach State College in Florida and CT State Community College in Norwalk, Connecticut. Kevin is also the author of two math books: The SAT Mathematics Solution Guide and Quantitative Reasoning. In addition to teaching, he consults and provides corporate training in Excel and Microsoft Office products, and he conducts a series of courses at MiraCosta College.

Andrew L.

Andrew holds an MFA in Creative Writing from The City College of New York (CCNY). He has experience teaching AP English courses, adjunct lecturing in First-Year Writing Composition to freshmen college students, and teaching advanced extracurricular grammar, writing, and vocabulary workshops to San Diego elementary and middle school students. Andrew is an editor at Fiction magazine, a literary publication headquartered in Harlem, New York.

Giovanni M.

Giovanni is an experienced educator with six years of teaching experience, holding both a Master’s degree in Education from Pacific Oaks College and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from California State University San Bernardino. He brings a combination of classroom teaching expertise and clinical intervention skills using ABA and occupational therapy methodologies.

Throughout his career, Giovanni developed and implemented lessons across core Elementry subjects including literacy, math, science, and phonics. His background as a behavioral therapist has equipped him with specialized strategies for breaking down concepts and adapting instruction to individual learning profiles to support student learning. When he’s not teaching, Giovanni enjoys visiting art galleries, playing music, and discovering the city’s best coffee shops.

Kiseme P.

Kiseme holds a Master’s in Teaching along with dual credentials as a Multiple Subject Teacher and Education Specialist. He has a gift for making learning fun and engaging, often bringing project-based activities and critical thinking into his lessons. Kiseme loves working with students of all abilities, including those in special education, and takes pride in helping each child feel confident and capable. His favorite subjects to teach are reading, writing, and math, where he focuses on building strong foundations and encouraging problem-solving in meaningful, practical ways.

Dao N.

Dr. Dao N. is a tenure-track Assistant Professor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at San Diego State University. His teaching philosophy centers on cultivating student enthusiasm and motivation, which he sees as essential to academic success.

Dao earned his Ph.D. in Mathematics from Wayne State University. His research interests include optimization, control theory, and data science, and he is currently writing a book on machine learning. He’s passionate about both the theoretical and applied sides of mathematics. Outside academia, he enjoys singing, playing instruments, hiking, cooking, swimming, and spending time with friends.