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.
Eric is pursuing his Master’s degree and PhD from the University of Illinois Chicago. He has an extensive background in education, working as a Graduate Teaching Assistant at The University of British Columbia and the University of Illinois Chicago. Throughout his career, Eric has assisted undergraduates with graduate/professional admissions and helped high school students with their undergraduate applications.
Eric has dedicated his career to education due to his deep curiosity about the world around him. He is passionate about coaching college applicants and strives to help students access an environment where they can shape their unique education, often for the first time. Recognizing the immense stress of the admissions process at every level, from undergraduate to doctorate, Eric understands that students must market themselves and create materials while juggling current courses, jobs, and hobbies. Having personally benefited from the guidance of others, he appreciates the comfort and support that coaching provides.
His ultimate goal as a college admissions coach is to provide direction for successful applications and offer unwavering support and guidance during this exciting and transformative period in students' lives. As a coach, one of Eric’s greatest strengths is his strong personal connection to the university environment. It allows him to help students discover their intrinsic motivations for pursuing higher education, enabling them to craft compelling narratives for their applications. His diverse educational background also allows him to relate to various students and cater to their needs.
Eric’s solid professional background in coaching and teaching helps him approach students with experience, confidence, and a sense of security. Notably, candidates Eric has coached have gained acceptance to prestigious institutions such as Caltech, Dartmouth, Harvard, and Columbia.
In his spare time, Eric enjoys practicing and coaching Taekwondo, rock climbing and running, playing the piano and guitar, embarking on hiking and backpacking adventures, and indulging his passion for travel.
Tikiera earned her Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Elizabeth City State University, followed by an MAT in Mathematics from RELAY Graduate School of Education. With seven years of experience teaching math, she has held various roles such as STEM Special Projects Lead, Lead Teacher, Grade Team Lead, and Special Education Teacher. Her motivation to start tutoring stemmed from a sincere commitment to helping students succeed.
For Tikiera, nothing compares to witnessing a student grasp and master content they once found challenging. This passion for student success and the significance of mathematics drives her ACT, SAT, and math tutoring. She firmly believes that everyone possesses mathematical abilities, as we utilize math in our daily lives without even realizing it.
As a tutor, Tikiera maintains high expectations but is fun, easygoing, passionate, consistent, and adaptable. She loves what she does, and it’s evident in her tutoring approach! Central to her philosophy is the success of the whole student; she doesn't just focus on teaching content but strives to support every aspect of the individual. Recognizing that a student's overall well-being directly impacts their ability to retain knowledge, Tikiera prioritizes holistic support. Moreover, Tikiera firmly believes in involving students actively in their learning journey. By collaborating with them to set goals and metrics, she ensures they remain engaged and motivated. She keeps students informed every step of the way, celebrating their successes and adjusting strategies when faced with challenges. This inclusive approach fosters a sense of ownership in students, leading to increased motivation and deeper learning.
One of Tikiera's greatest strengths as a tutor lies in her ability to simplify complex concepts. She firmly believes in the capability of every individual; when given the right support, any student can believe in and execute their goals. Guided by this perspective, Tikiera contends that the material is never truly hard or uninteresting; it's that the student just doesn’t understand it yet. So, she begins by reshaping the language around the topic. She then breaks down the material into easily digestible segments, grounding concepts with relatable examples. Consistency is paramount to Tikiera; she maintains her passion for the subject matter and ensures sessions are always enjoyable. She also recognizes the importance of breaks and keeps students engaged by relating content to real-life situations and incorporating non-academic activities for mental refreshment. Her genuine enthusiasm for teaching is contagious, empowering students to cultivate confidence as they persist in their learning journey.
In her free time, Tikiera can be found watching movies, enjoying nature, listening to music, traveling, and testing out new recipes.
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