Samantha completed her Bachelor of Arts at the University of Florida, her Master of Education at Nova Southeastern University, and her Doctor of Education at Grand Canyon University. She boasts over 20 years of teaching experience: 10 years teaching secondary English for one of the 50 largest districts in the United States and 12 years teaching at the college level. She has created over thirty-five unique college courses, edited high school English test preparation textbooks for Barron's Educational Series, and has worked as a full-time staff writer for a newspaper. Her interest in tutoring stems from a profound belief in the transformative power of education.
Having been inspired by several exceptional teachers in her own journey, Samantha aims to pay it forward by acting as a mentor and guide for students. Her tutoring expertise spans SAT, ACT, and HSPT prep, as well as English, reading, writing, communications, ethics, and humanities.
Samantha's teaching style is highly personable; she values establishing relationships with students and conversing with them on a relatable level. Infusing humor into her teaching, she strives to create an engaging and enjoyable learning environment. Central to her teaching philosophy is the emphasis on connection, especially in subjects like English, which she believes can be easily connected to students' interests. By understanding students' interests, hobbies, and learning styles, Samantha ensures she can make connections to course content, even if it may seem dull or mundane, leading to those crucial "light bulb moments."
Drawing on her extensive education and experience, Samantha offers a nuanced perspective on learning and employs effective teaching strategies to help students achieve their goals. She excels at forming genuine bonds with students, providing them with agency in their learning to foster intrinsic motivation. Samantha's creativity shines through her ability to adapt to learning challenges quickly by presenting concepts in fresh and innovative ways.
When she’s not tutoring or teaching, Samantha creates art out of recycled beach debris, donated materials, trash, seashells, and just about anything she can find. She also loves spending time with her three dogs and husband, traveling (especially on cruises), and reading.
Kelli graduated with a Bachelor’s from the University of Pennsylvania. She has several years of experience as a tutor and has guided dozens of students through college admissions. Students Kelli has coached have gained admission to several top-tier schools, including the University of Michigan, the University of California—Berkeley, and the University of Pennsylvania.
What truly ignites Kelli’s passion for admissions counseling is the profound opportunity it presents to shape students' lives. Witnessing their growth and success and knowing she has played a part in their journey to higher education is an incredibly rewarding experience.
Kelli’s teaching style is collaborative, engaging, and student-centered. She believes in creating a supportive environment where students feel encouraged to participate, ask questions, and explore new ideas. Kelli strives to make complex concepts understandable and relevant to students' lives. She excels at setting clear goals to keep students motivated, provide feedback, and celebrate their achievements.
As a counselor, Kelli is empathetic, patient, and supportive. She endeavors to create a safe, non-judgmental space where students feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and feelings. Kelli believes in the power of active listening and fully understanding a student’s perspective before offering guidance or advice. In fact, Kelli has been told that she has a gift for connecting with students and inspiring them to reach their full potential.
Outside of counseling, Kelli is an avid traveler who aims to visit every continent. She loves being outdoors and spends as much time in nature as possible. She also enjoys spending time with friends and family and hiking in her free time.
Shawn earned his Bachelor of Arts in Cellular and Molecular Biology from the University of California, Berkeley. Motivated by the belief that 90% of learning occurs beyond the classroom, he embarked on his tutoring journey several years ago. His extensive experience includes tutoring math, science, and reading for low-income students, teaching English to students in China, tutoring for UC Berkeley's Molecular and Cell Biology department, and serving as a teaching assistant for a biology course at Berkeley.
Shawn's passion for tutoring stems from his belief that true understanding of subjects goes beyond the confines of the classroom. He considers it a privilege to facilitate the learning of others, finding immense fulfillment in assisting others to grow, flourish, and grasp challenging concepts. He specializes in ACT, SAT, and HSPT tutoring, as well as biology, chemistry, math, and computer science at all levels, including AP.
Shawn adopts a hands-on tutoring approach, tailoring his sessions to suit each student's unique needs. He firmly believes that engaging in thorough discussions and providing well-curated resources enables students to attain academic success more efficiently. Shawn's sessions feature active discussions, rigorous practice problems, and comprehensive textbook readings. He prioritizes individualized attention, rejecting the notion of speed limits or predefined approaches to content. With his interdisciplinary professional expertise, he adeptly guides students to discover their own learning paths across science, math, and reading.
Shawn excels at providing positive reinforcement and fostering a supportive environment where students feel encouraged to make mistakes and embrace the learning process. When students encounter challenging subjects, he employs various strategies to break them down into manageable problems. He emphasizes understanding the broader significance of learning and relates concepts to real-world applications, hobbies, or interests to enhance engagement. By incorporating analogies, humor, or pop culture references, he offers fresh perspectives on topics, motivating students to stay focused. Additionally, Shawn utilizes visual aids, drawings, diagrams, and mnemonics to provide new insights and facilitate comprehension from various angles.
In his free time, Shawn likes playing electric guitar with his friends in their band and biking the trails around the East Bay area. He also enjoys creating video games, writing stories, and collecting interesting books and textbooks. One time he stuffed so many books in a box that it disintegrated and he had to pick through a book-valanche!
Our geometry tutors are well-versed in all related subject matter and have tutoring/teaching experience or math-related college degrees – all our tutors are experts in geometric topics.
Yes, your parents can see your progress using our progress tracker. From the activities you’re working on to tutor comments and next steps, your parents can feel confident knowing you’re receiving the high-class instruction you deserve.
We always begin by learning more about you, your goals, needs, and preferences to formulate the basis of your customized tutoring plan. This information helps us determine which tutor fits you best.
It depends on the level of support you’re looking for. Our personalized tutoring plans are built with student needs in mind. If you’re unsure which program is best for you, our team is ready to help you explore your options!