Maria S.

Maria is an experienced educator who specializes in helping students build strong academic skills, confidence, and effective learning habits. She has taught across elementary and middle school and brings deep expertise in reading, writing, vocabulary development, and academic language growth.

Maria’s tutoring approach is centered on how students learn best. For example:

Clear and achievable learning goals
Explicit instruction with guided practice
Reading comprehension strategies that make texts accessible
Writing routines that strengthen structure, clarity, and organization
Vocabulary practices that support deeper understanding
Academic language supports such as sentence frames, thinking routines, and modeled responses
Ongoing progress monitoring to celebrate growth and adjust instruction

Her students consistently make strong progress, and her classroom achieved the highest STAAR pass rate in her school (2023–2024). This success reflects her commitment to purposeful planning, high expectations, and meeting students exactly where they are.

Maria brings extensive experience in curriculum design to her tutoring, having created writing units, interdisciplinary lessons, and language-based supports that help students access challenging content. She uses this background to tailor every session to a child’s individual needs, strengths, and goals.

Although Maria is biliterate in English and Spanish, she uses this expertise only when helpful. Her understanding of how language functions in learning benefits all students—whether monolingual or multilingual—by strengthening their reading, writing, and communication skills.

Across all roles, Maria is recognized for her collaboration with families and communities, her strategic instructional planning, and her commitment to ensuring every student has the language, skills, and confidence to succeed.

Outside of teaching, Maria enjoys spending time with her family, relaxing with her dog, and staying active. She brings the same warmth, patience, and encouragement from her home life into every tutoring session.

Allison A.

Allison A., known as “Dr. Ali” by her students, earned a PhD in Microbiology & Immunology from UTHSCSA, an MBA from UTSA, and a BA in Microbiology from the University of Kansas. When not studying, Dr. Ali was a Teaching Assistant for medical and dental students. After overachieving in school, Dr. Ali became a military contractor (Scientist) and spent many years researching things she can’t tell you about. When the pandemic hit, Dr. Ali began homeschooling her own children. Inspired by this experience, she launched a STEM enrichment business that offers hands-on classes for San Antonio homeschoolers. Dr. Ali is committed to building a meaningful connection with each of her students to make learning more enjoyable and engaging. Learning comes in many forms, including playing games and building projects. It doesn’t have to be a chore or a bore. Dr. Ali is the kind of person who took Calculus 3 in college for funsies. With the right instructor, Science and Math can be fun, interactive, and spark curiosity.

Viacheslav L.

Viacheslav is an education professional with nine years of college-level tutoring experience. His background and knowledge base is broad, spanning legal studies, ESL, Science, Algebra, Physics, Computer Science, Biology, and Astronomy. He focuses on clear explanations, structured practice, and real-world examples to build confidence and results. He is also fluent in Russian.

EDUCATION:
MS, Computer Science, Russia
PhD, Social Studies, Russia
JD, Russia
BS, Mechanical Engineering, Russia

A. Garza

Howdy! My name is Ms. Garza and I have been working in education for close to 6 years now. This is my 5th year teaching and I have experience in working with all grade levels, from pre-k to 11th grade. I am currently an AP English Language/English 1 teacher and taught middle school Social Studies for 4 years. One of my favorite things about teaching is helping students achieve that “a-ha!” moment and getting them to reach that next level in their learning. I enjoy building connections and learning more about my students, as I firmly believe that kids want to learn from people they enjoy being with. I’m looking forward to this next chapter of helping students one-on-one and to possibly working with yours!

Gilbert H.

Howdy! Gilbert H. is a former high school math teacher with nine years of experience. Before becoming a teacher, he was in the Marine Corps as an artillery officer for over 10 years. He currently works as a data analyst for the Air Force. One of the greatest joys he’s experienced is helping young adults discover they can overcome any obstacle with the proper mindset. As a math teacher, it was not just understanding the numbers and processes, but why it works and how to simplify a problem by having a strategy. Being a leader of Marines, Gilbert learned that individuals are motivated and learn based on their experiences and personality. He has helped many individuals overcome adversity, gain confidence, and mature as professionals and individuals.

Abigail B.

Abigail has been working with children of all ages as a teacher’s assistant for the past 2 years. She has over 5 plus years of tutoring experience where she has been able to nurture her student’s skills. Abigail believes in meeting the students where they’re at and helping them learn and grow from there. As no struggle is too small or too big to conquer. As well as in using the students own interests and curiosity to convey an interest and understanding of the material being studied. As a published author Abigail believes in the importance of literacy and the understanding of it. However history is her true passion and what she is getting her degree in. Being able to help her students understand those subjects is very rewarding. In her free time, Abigail enjoys spending time with her family, friends and cats. As well researching/ studying history, and writing/ illustrating for her family’s small business.

Muskaan T.

Hi, I’m Muskaan, a graduate student in Bioengineering at Rice University with a strong interdisciplinary foundation in bioinformatics, biology, chemistry, and mathematics. With over five years of tutoring experience, I’ve had the opportunity to guide high school, undergraduate, and graduate students through subjects such as organic chemistry, biology, genetics, calculus, biostatistics etc. My teaching philosophy centers on turning complex topics into clear, engaging lessons that connect theory to real-world applications. Beyond tutoring, my professional experience spans both academic research and clinical practice from analyzing genetic risk factors for cardiovascular disease as a Graduate Researcher at UTHealth Houston, to assisting with pain management and pediatric clinics. These experiences have strengthened my ability to bridge scientific knowledge with practical understanding, which I strive to bring into every session. I’m passionate about helping students not only master challenging material but also build lasting confidence, curiosity, and a genuine appreciation for learning.

Samantha S.

Samantha is a bilingual educator with more than 20 years of experience helping students of all ages discover their strengths and enjoy learning. She has taught everything from core subjects in Elementary to Social Studies and English in Middle School to English as a Second Language (ESL) to adults and is known for turning challenges into confidence-building wins through social-emotional learning (SEL). With a Master’s in Positive Education and certifications in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL), English as a Second Language (ESL), Neurolinguistic Programming (NLP) and Family Coaching, Samantha combines expertise with a warm, encouraging approach that brings out the best in every learner. Samantha combines strong academic expertise with a supportive, student-focused approach. She partners with families to ensure students not only improve their grades but also grow in confidence, motivation, and prevailing learning skills. A lifelong student herself, she’s always taking new courses to keep life (and learning) exciting. When she’s not teaching, you’ll probably find her traveling with her family to eco-destinations where she can connect with nature, reading a thrilling novel, or singing her heart out—sometimes all at once!

Isabella M.

Isabella is a third-year medical student at the Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine and a Master of Healthcare Administration candidate at Dartmouth College. She has a natural love for teaching and has tutored students of all ages, from elementary school through college. Isabella was chosen by her medical school faculty as a peer tutor, where she became known for her ability to turn complicated topics into clear, manageable steps (and sometimes even fun!). She believes learning should feel empowering, not intimidating, and focuses on helping students gain confidence as much as knowledge. When she’s not studying or tutoring, Isabella enjoys testing out new recipes, planning her wedding, and spending time with her two cats—who like to “help” by sitting on open books and laptops.

Anvitha E.

Anvitha Ellanki is a dedicated tutor from San Antonio, Texas, who blends academic excellence with a deep passion for mentoring and service. Graduated in the top 2% of her class at Health Careers High School and an AP Scholar, she has completed 15 AP courses and earned college credits in subjects like medical terminology, calculus, and English. Beyond the classroom, she’s led health fairs, coached debate students, and conducted research on everything from cactus moths to stem cell therapy for neurodegenerative diseases. Whether she’s tutoring students, prepping students for UIL, or editing essays, Anvitha strives to create engaging, supportive, and personalized learning experiences. She’s fluent in English, Telugu, Tamil, and Spanish, trained in classical Indian dance, and believes that confidence and curiosity are the foundation of any student’s success. When she’s not tutoring, you’ll likely find her volunteering at a local hospital, performing Bharatanatyam on stage, or enthusiastically color-coding yet another planner.