LILY A.

Lily is a NYS-certified Special Education Teacher and Literacy Specialist with 21 years of classroom experience teaching students with a variety of learning needs. In addition, she has extensive experience privately tutoring students, from elementary to high school, to address their unique learning styles. Over the years, she has developed a passion for helping students who struggle with learning how to read, particularly those with learning disabilities such as dyslexia. Lily understands that reading is the foundation of success in both the academic and career world. She believes that all children can learn to read, but for some, the road will be more difficult. These are the students that she is passionate about helping to find their way to becoming skilled, fluent readers. She is a strong believer in a “structured literacy” approach to teaching reading as this is a necessary method of instruction for many students. In addition to her New York State teaching certifications, Lily is certified as a Level One Dyslexia Practitioner in the Wilson Reading System. She is also CERI certified by the International Dyslexia Association as a Structured Literacy Dyslexia Interventionist.

JAMILLA F.

Jamilla F. is an experienced educator with two master’s degrees, Elementary Education and Special Education, from Lesley University and a Post-Graduate Certificate in Educational Leadership from Loyola University Maryland. She began her career teaching elementary and middle school, where she consistently exceeded district-wide growth expectations by using data-driven strategies to meet the needs of diverse learners.

Recognized as a “Teacher of the Year” finalist for Baltimore City Public Schools, Jamilla is passionate about creating equitable learning environments and empowering educators to achieve excellence in teaching and learning.

In her current role as an Educational Consultant with Generation Ready, Jamilla partners with school leaders across New York City to provide instructional coaching and professional development for teachers and principals, design effective instructional systems, and implement data-driven strategies to improve student and educator outcomes.

MATTHEW D.

Matthew graduated from Manhattan’s prestigious Regis High School and SUNY Binghamton for college, where he earned a Summa Cum Laude distinction. In the years since, he has coached subject and test prep private clients in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Los Angeles; tutored low-to-middle income children via the Kennedy Child Study Center; taught an after-school enrichment course at the Women’s Housing And Economic Development Corporation (WHEDco) in The Bronx, NY; and developed a community center’s first SAT Prep Course. Currently, Matthew leads several Math Olympiad teams in Darien, CT and has a steady math and test prep roster of both private clients and those via Fairfield County’s top placement firms. In addition to his tutoring work, Matthew continues an active professional career in the arts and entertainment industry.

JEFF Q.

Jeff has taught in both NYC and Westchester schools for over 25 years. He began teaching with the U.S. Peace Corps before obtaining a Master’s Degree in American Literature as well as a Master’s in School Administration/Educational Leadership. He has also spent over 10 years helping Westchester families navigate the SAT, ACT, and the college application process.

DIANA R.

Diana is a dedicated teacher who is passionate about creating a learning environment that is encouraging and instills confidence in students. Diana has worked as a classroom educator and private tutor for over 15 years. She is adept at implementing various strategies and techniques that differentiate learning so that each student can achieve success and develop skills for lifelong learning. Diana received her Master of Science and Certification in Elementary Education in 2006 and worked as a fourth-grade teacher at a Connecticut public school for over 10 years. As a classroom teacher, Diana instructed students with various learning needs in all subjects and has extensive experience in accommodating varying learning styles. She strongly believes that students thrive in an environment that helps them feel confident and successful. As a private tutor, Diana continues to implement her philosophy of teaching. She has worked with students from grades 1-6, and grades 7-10 in language arts. She believes in strong communication with parents and collaborates with classroom teachers to ensure student success. In her free time, Diana enjoys spending time with her family, reading and playing tennis. She also volunteers in local community literacy programs for adults and children.

DENICE H.

With a passion for mathematics and a commitment to student success, Denice has taught a variety of courses including AP Statistics, AP Calculus AB & BC, AP Precalculus, Geometry, Algebra, Finance, and Economics, over her distinguished 24 years as a high school Mathematics Instructor on Long Island. Her teaching philosophy centers on utilizing multisensory techniques to enhance understanding and engagement, catering to diverse learning styles. She creates a supportive and interactive environment where students feel empowered to explore mathematical concepts and develop critical thinking skills.
Over the years, Denice has consistently achieved outstanding results in AP exams and NYS Mathematics Regents Exams, helping students not only excel academically, but also develop a deep appreciation for the subject. She is exceptionally qualified to help students excel in NYS Regents exams due to the fact that she works as an Educational Specialist for the NYS Board of Education, helping to create Math Regents Exams.
She also enjoys exploring real-world applications of mathematics and integrating technology to make learning more dynamic. Mrs. Halpern is dedicated to inspiring the next generation of mathematicians and problem solvers!

ERIC R.

ZACHARY K.

KRISTEN P.

Kristen just retired after 32 years of teaching in the Ardsley School District. She started out in a self-contained Life Skills program for 8 years and then moved on to the CORE program in grades 2,3,4 where students were pulled out of their mainstream classes for direct instruction in ELA and math. She co-taught in grades 1, 2 and 3. Kristen was a Direct Teacher Consultant in K-4 and did direct reading instruction for grade 5. Kristen has a great deal of experience supporting students with Emotional and/or Behavioral needs both in and out of the mainstream classroom. She also directed an extended school year program for students needing summer services. In addition to planning and adapting curriculum, differentiating lessons, completing assessments and evaluations and collaborating with teachers and parents, Kristen has participated in a great deal of professional development and is trained in Fundations, Thinking Maps, LLI reading programs, Envisions, Do The Math and Investigations math programs and more. She has created curriculum for and taught after school Mindfulness and Introduction to French classes for K-2 students. Kristen mentored teachers and worked with staff to help develop their co – taught programs. She has pretty much done it all! Kristen enjoys baking, traveling, hiking, biking, reading and watching movies. Kristen is excited to be able to work with students to help facilitate their learning in fun and engaging activities!

TAEVON R.