Carrie F.

Carrie is a highly experienced educator with more than 15 years of experience supporting students from diverse academic, cultural, and language backgrounds. She holds a Master of Arts in Multicultural Education from California State University, Sacramento, and a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Communication from Bob Jones University. Carrie is also a certified Texas educator with certifications in EC–6 ESL, ELAR (4–8), and Speech (4–12).

Carrie’s teaching career has spanned multiple states, beginning after graduate school in California and continuing in Texas, where she has served in a variety of roles including ELAR classroom teacher, emergent bilingual tutor, adult ESL instructor, and private academic tutor. She has extensive experience working with elementary students (K–5), as well as supporting reading, writing, and language development at all levels. She also specializes in college essay writing and helping students clearly express their ideas with confidence.

Throughout her career, Carrie has demonstrated a strong ability to develop personalized learning plans, implement effective instructional strategies, and support students with a wide range of learning needs, including English language learners. She is known for her strong communication skills and her ability to build meaningful relationships with students and families, creating a supportive environment where students feel encouraged to grow and succeed.

Carrie believes that engaging students through their natural curiosity and individual interests is key to building both confidence and academic success. She is passionate about helping students strengthen their skills, develop effective study habits, and take ownership of their learning.

Outside of education, Carrie enjoys teaching yoga, thrifting, traveling, and spending time exploring new experiences.

 

“Carrie was reliable, kind and knowledgeable. We greatly appreciated her tutoring our 15 year old daughter.”

– Parent Review

Monika S.

Monika is an experienced educator and former high school Spanish teacher with more than 15 years of experience helping students build confidence and achieve academic success. She has also served as a College Readiness Coach, guiding students as they develop the skills and strategies needed to succeed both in the classroom and beyond.

Spanish was Monika’s first language, a result of growing up in a military family and experiencing a wide range of cultures from an early age. This background gives her not only strong language fluency but also meaningful cultural insight that she brings to every lesson, helping students connect more deeply with the language and its real-world context.

Monika is passionate about helping students experience those powerful “aha” moments when a concept finally clicks. She tailors each tutoring session to the individual student’s strengths and learning style, creating a supportive, engaging environment where students feel encouraged to ask questions, take risks, and grow in confidence.

Outside of education, Monika enjoys traveling, gardening, exploring new cultures and cuisines, and spending time outdoors with her husband, friends, and her dog.

Marcus C.

Marcus is an experienced education professional with more than a decade of service in the public school system. Over the course of his career, he has held a variety of roles including After-School Care Site Manager, Instructional Assistant, Classroom Teacher, and currently serves as a Special Education Coordinator and Campus Testing Coordinator. Marcus has worked with students across all grade levels, from elementary through high school, giving him a well-rounded understanding of student development and diverse learning needs.

Marcus earned both his Bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies and his Master’s degree in Special Education with a concentration as an Instructional Specialist from Texas A&M University–San Antonio. He currently holds Texas teaching certifications in Early Childhood through 12th Grade Special Education and 4th through 8th Grade Mathematics.

His passion for education began while working as an after-school program site manager and AVID tutor, where he regularly supported students in developing stronger math skills. Seeing students gain confidence after mastering a concept that once seemed difficult remains one of the most rewarding parts of his work and continues to inspire his dedication to teaching mathematics and supporting diverse learners.

Marcus firmly believes that every student has the potential to succeed when given the right support, encouragement, and instructional approach. He often reminds his students of a favorite line from the film Ratatouille: “Anyone can math.” This philosophy reflects his commitment to focusing on students’ strengths and helping them build the confidence needed to overcome academic challenges.

Outside of education, Marcus enjoys spending time with his family, making barbecue, and bowling.

Todd P.

Todd P. is a highly experienced science and test preparation specialist with nearly two decades of experience in education. Since beginning his career in 2006, he has taught Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and AP Physics, helping students develop deep conceptual understanding and lasting confidence in challenging subjects.

In addition to his classroom teaching, Todd has served as a content coordinator for both Judson ISD and Houston ISD, giving him strong insight into curriculum standards, assessment design, and academic expectations across grade levels.

Todd provides expert tutoring in:

  • Science: Biology (including AP Biology), Chemistry, Physics, Physical Science, Earth Science, Environmental Science (including middle school 6–8), and Genetics
  • Mathematics: Algebra, Algebra II, Trigonometry, and math foundations that support science success
  • College-Level Coursework: BIOL 111, BIOL 112, BIOL 213, CHEM 119
  • Standardized Test Prep: ACT, PSAT/SAT, ASVAB, SSAT/ISEE, STAAR, TSI, GRE, and AP exams

He also helps students strengthen core academic and technical skills, including graphing, data interpretation, Excel, Microsoft Office, Google Docs, Google Slides, and PowerPoint — tools that are essential for modern academic success.

Families value Todd’s ability to simplify complex material, build effective test-taking strategies, and tailor instruction to each student’s learning style. His goal is not only to improve grades and test scores, but to equip students with the confidence and independent thinking skills needed for long-term success.

Outside of education, Todd enjoys art, writing, reading, and spending time outdoors.

Benjamin N.

Benjamin N. is a highly experienced educator, healthcare professional, and retired United States Army veteran with more than 30 years of experience teaching health sciences and medical technology. His career has combined military service, higher education leadership, clinical laboratory science, and student mentorship, giving him a unique ability to connect academic concepts to real-world applications in healthcare and science.

Benjamin began his teaching career while serving in the United States Army, where he was selected as an instructor for an Advanced Medical Laboratory Program. He served in that role for six years before continuing his career in both healthcare and higher education leadership following his military retirement. Throughout his career, he has remained deeply passionate about teaching, mentoring, and helping students build confidence in challenging subjects.

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology, a Master of Arts in Health Services Management, and a Master of Science in Healthcare Administration. In addition to his teaching background, Benjamin has served in numerous leadership roles within higher education and healthcare, including Department Chair for Allied Health programs at San Jacinto College, where he oversaw multiple healthcare training programs and helped significantly improve student success, enrollment, and certification pass rates.

Benjamin specializes in science and health-related subjects including Anatomy, Biology, Genetics, Pathophysiology, Environmental Science, Earth Science, Physical Science, Geography, and Health. He also supports students in middle school mathematics, STAAR math preparation, elementary education, and academic writing. His broad educational and professional background allows him to adapt his instruction to students with a variety of learning styles and academic goals.

Known for his structured, supportive teaching style, Benjamin focuses on helping students truly understand concepts rather than simply memorize information. Families appreciate his patience, professionalism, and ability to encourage students to believe in their abilities while developing stronger study habits and academic confidence.

Benjamin is excited to continue sharing his knowledge and experience with students and helping them achieve long-term academic success.

Antonio V.

Antonio is a physics graduate with a minor in computer science and extensive tutoring experience with students from elementary school through college. He specializes in making complex concepts clear, intuitive, and approachable—whether the focus is calculus, physics, programming, data analysis, or exam preparation. His goal is to help students build real understanding, not rely on memorization.

He earned a Bachelor of Science in Physics from the University of Texas at San Antonio, completing advanced coursework in Quantum Mechanics, Electrodynamics, Nanophotonics, Data Structures, and Computational Science. Antonio also has strong research experience, including serving as a Department of Energy Research Intern at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, where he worked in computational physics, machine learning, network theory, and protein modeling using Python, R, and high-performance computing resources.

Antonio has provided both one-on-one and group tutoring in math (from pre-algebra through differential equations), physics (including AP Physics), computer programming, and data analysis. At UTSA, he also served as a MATLAB Tutor and a Thermal Physics Reader/Grader, supporting students with debugging, interpreting data, and building confidence in rigorous technical courses.

Students and families appreciate Antonio’s patience and adaptability. He tailors explanations to each student’s learning style, breaking problems down step by step while reinforcing the bigger-picture concepts. He brings a rare combination of strong academic credentials, real research experience, and a supportive teaching approach to help students succeed.

Raven E.

Raven is a graduate student at Southern Methodist University (2026), pursuing a Master’s in Education with a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) concentration. She is also a proud graduate of the University of Richmond (2023), where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Rhetoric and Communication Studies with a minor in Business Administration and Dance. While completing her masters program, she received her teaching certification and committed to becoming a SAISD educator for 2 years. In this short timeframe, she was moved by her students’ stories, their passions and interests, and found purpose in helping younger minds flourish. She prioritizes tailoring instruction to meet individual student needs and incorporates practices that inspire curiosity and empower thinkers.  In her spare time, Raven enjoys exercising, creating art, baking, and reading. She loves the San Antonio Spurs, and has fond memories of her youth as their #1 fan. She listens to music of all genres, but 80s alternative, dark wave, and electronic are her favorites (a sucker for synths, obviously).

Eddy V.

Eduardo “Eddy” V. is a passionate educator with a B.S. in Physics with a Minor in Mathematics from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio. With over 5 years of teaching in the classroom across all subjects in science (including Biology, Chemistry, and Physics), Eddy is a powerhouse of rigor and foundational teaching. Eddy’s love of teaching comes from a young age, being a leader, and showing everyone the way. Throughout College he would hold his own tutoring sessions in his University physics course where other students would struggle. Now he teaches over 100+ students AP Physics and Biology, and he enjoys time with his cats.

Estrella H.

Estrella is an engineering student through the Alamo Colleges District and plans to continue her studies at UTSA. Her psychology degree from Wayland Baptist University has given her a strong foundation in understanding how students learn, think, and process information.

Because she has worked closely with many neurodivergent learners, Estrella is especially skilled at adapting explanations to fit different learning styles. She loves problem-solving and brings that same curiosity into her tutoring by finding clear, engaging, and flexible ways to explain concepts. Through creative problem-solving and adaptive teaching, she uses her understanding that every brain works differently to make sessions inclusive, encouraging, and confidence-building.

A kid at heart, Estrella is an avid Pokémon fan, a collector of sensory toys, and a board game enthusiast. When she isn’t studying or tutoring, she enjoys binging psychological thrillers and listening to music. Her goal is to make learning feel less like a chore and more like a puzzle to be solved.

 

“We could not thank Prep Academy Tutors enough! From the initial contact to the last tutoring session, Taira made us feel comfortable and confident for choosing them as a tutor for my daughter. Taira matched us up with Estrella and the match was absolutely perfect! Estrella was efficient, on time and kind to my daughter. The connection was there and we appreciate her! She worked well with my daughter, adjusted to her personality and learning style, gave feedback and encouraged her the entire time. We miss her and were sad to have completed tutoring sessions haha! I’m sure we will be reaching out again to Prep Academy Tutors in the future. We highly recommend them! Signed, a happy mom.”

– Parent Review

Reagan R.

Reagan R. is a recent and proud graduate of Houston’s Rice University. It is here that she earned her Bachelors of Arts in both English Literature and Psychology. With this background, Reagan utilizes a personalized approach to tutoring that recognizes that teaching is not a one-size-fits-all job. Rather, Reagan tutors with adaptability, patience, and individualized lesson plans tailored to each student’s needs. With a calm and encouraging approach, she teaches with the belief that every student learns best when they feel capable and understood. Reagan tutored extensively for her neighborhood and friends of neighbors in her hometown of Dripping Springs, Texas. Now, she is seeking to tutor closer to her new home in New Braunfels, Texas. In her free time, Reagan enjoys staying active with at-home Pilates and taking her dog Travis to the park. No, she is not related to Ryan Reynolds, but she is flattered that you asked. She can’t wait to get acquainted with new faces and promises a genuine investment in each student’s success.