Read more about our instructors and hiring practices.
While working on a Ph.D. in English Language and Literature at Columbia University in the City of New York, Matthew Pietrafetta instructed hundreds of college and high school students in a variety of academic subjects and standardized tests. At Columbia, Matthew was selected as a Writing Fellow in the English Composition Department to instruct Columbia undergraduates in a number of composition courses. His work with students concentrated on logic, reasoning, and argumentation. At the same time, Matthew prepared hundreds of New York City high school students in standardized tests and numerous academic subjects. His teaching experience includes tutoring standardized tests such as the SAT, the SAT Subject Tests, the ACT, the SSAT, the ISEE, the LSAT, the GMAT, the GRE, and the MCAT. Through his work with high school and college students, Matthew found that the logic skills required for successful test taking were also necessary rudiments for success with the more complicated tasks of reasoning, analysis, and argument on the college level. The Academic Approach is Matthew's attempt to bridge these two levels of education by developing a standardized testing curriculum that imparts both sound academic knowledge and the salient reasoning skills necessary for optimal test performance and sophisticated critical thinking in the classroom.
^ Back to top of Chicago tutorsTim graduated from Loyola University Chicago with a Masters in Education and a secondary school certification in the social sciences. He received a Bachelor's of Arts degree in political science with a minor in history from Loyola University Chicago, where he graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. Tim has experience teaching in both public and private schools in the Chicago area. After teaching and tutoring high school students, Tim joined The Academic Approach as both an instructor and administrator. He has been instrumental in developing hundreds of pages of training materials, defining specific curriculum protocols to perfect the administration of our programs, and designing specific one-on-one programs to help students identify their particular needs and create the most effective courses of study to meet their goals. Tim is an instructor of the ISEE, SSAT, SAT, ACT, numerous SAT Subject Tests, and the GRE. As Assistant Director, Tim represents all programs, designs courses for students, meets with clients to explain Academic Approach services, trains instructors, and serves as the main liaison between clients and instructors.
^ Back to top of Chicago tutorsAndrew holds a B.S. in Chemistry and an M.S. in Chemistry from Wichita State University. Andrew is a member of the American Chemical Society and holds Master's Certification in the following areas: Physical, Analytical, Organic, Inorganic, Electrical, and Biochemical chemistry. Andrew has spent the last five years teaching at Our Lady of Tepeyac High School in Chicago. He teaches a variety of mathematics and science classes, including AP Calculus, Physics, and Chemistry. Andrew has been the Department Chairperson in Math and Science since 2002 and is also the National Honor Society Induction Committee Chairperson and the Advanced Placement College Board Coordinator. Instructor in mathematics, verbal, and writing for a variety of standardized tests and mathematics and science for academic subjects.
^ Back to top of Chicago tutorsPrescott graduated from Northwestern's Medill School of Journalism. He has served as an editor and reporter for several publications. Working for The Academic Approach for the past four years, he has gained extensive experience and a solid reputation as a proficient instructor for the SSAT, ISEE, SAT and ACT. He also has assisted many students in writing personal essays for college applications. In 2006, he won tutor of the year. In addition to tutoring, Prescott has pursued stand-up comedy for the past 10 years, making his television debut on Comedy Central's Premium Blend in 2006. He recently sold a pilot to Warner Bros 2.0.
^ Back to top of Chicago tutorsPaul graduated with departmental honors from Northwestern University with a B.A. in Comparative Literary Studies. He began his studies in Northwestern's rigorous Integrated Science Program, where his studies included physics, chemistry, biology, and experimental mathematics. His work in science inspired Paul's interest in the history of mathematics and science, an interest that culminated in his comparative literature thesis: "The Paradox of Self-Reference in Scientific Methodology". Paul has worked for Fermilab, the nation's leading high-energy physics laboratory, and currently works, as a jazz pianist/producer, at the Old Town School of Folk Music and the Elastic Arts Foundation, a non-profit organization he co-founded. Instructor for physics, chemistry, biology and mathematics as well as all sections of the ACT, SAT, SSAT, ISEE.
^ Back to top of Chicago tutorsAmanda graduated from The University of Chicago with an MA in the Humanities in June of 2007. Her graduate work primarily focused on contemporary North American fiction; her thesis explored notions of secrecy, identity, and intimacy in the work of Alice Munro. Amanda did her undergraduate work in English and philosophy at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, spending a semester abroad in Budapest, Hungary. Amanda has experience tutoring ESL and teaching in the Grand Rapids Public School System; she has also taught a variety of writing courses at North Central State College in Mansfield, Ohio and Triton College in River Grove, Illinois. Amanda teaches academic English, as well as teaching all sections of the SAT/ACT.
^ Back to top of Chicago tutorsJennifer holds a Masters degree in Education and a Bachelors degree in Communications from Northwestern University. She began her career in book publishing, working in publicity at Random House in New York and as a promotions manager at the University of Chicago Press. After five years of promoting books, she returned to the classroom to focus on reading and discussing literature. Jennifer has taught English to all levels of secondary students at both private and public high schools in the Chicago and North Shore area. Since August of 2006, she has volunteered at 826 CHI as a tutor, workshop leader, and teaching assistant. Jennifer teachs academic English and all sections of the ACT/SAT.
^ Back to top of Chicago tutorsCourtney Federle holds a BA, MA, and PhD from The University of California at Berkeley. Since completing his Ph.D in German Literature, Courtney Federle has been an Assistant Professor in the departments of Humanities, German, and Film Studies at the University of Chicago, Director of the German Film Institute at the University of Chicago, Director of International Student Admissions in the Office of College Admissions at the University of Chicago, and a teacher of English and Humanities in the Upper School at the Latin School of Chicago. Courtney taught in the American History, Culture and Literature Department at the Goettinger University in Germany for three years while working towards his Ph.D. Courtney most recently taught at the Latin School of Chicago from 2002-2007 where he was twice selected by the senior class to speak at commencement and senior day ceremonies. This past Summer, Courtney taught high school students at the Stanford University Great Books Program. Courtney also teaches in the Newberry Library Humanities Seminar series where he has led seminars on such works as Flaubert's Madame Bovary, Garcia-Marquez's Love in the Time of Cholera, Shakespeare's Hamlet, and Dostoevky's Crime and Punishment. At Academic Approach, Courtney has helped develop the curriculum for several of our courses. He teaches the reading, writing, rhetoric, grammar and mechanics sections of the SSAT, ACT, and SAT exams. He also works one-on-one with students on course material in English, Humanities, and History, which includes developing reading, writing, and critical thinking skills. Because of his experience as a university professor, high school teacher, and college admissions officer, Courtney is often sought out as a consultant to families looking for help with the various aspects of the college admissions process.
^ Back to top of Chicago tutorsSheryl holds a B.S. in Public Relations from Boston University and a Masters in Human Services and Counseling from DePaul University. Sheryl's research at DePaul focused on college readiness among freshmen and prompted the development of a student manual and curriculum designed to improve organizational skills, time management, note-taking, critical thinking, and reading comprehension. Sheryl is the mother of an Ivy-leaguer and therefore understands the college preparation process both as an advisor and as a consumer. Sheryl is also spear-heading many of The Academic Approach's outreach efforts into the Chicago Public School system. Instructor in study skills, organization and time-management techniques, verbal and writing for all standardized tests.
^ Back to top of Chicago tutorsJames holds a Ph.D. in applied mathematics from Northwestern University and a B.S. in theoretical and applied mechanics from the University of Illinois. He has studied a variety of subjects in physics and mathematics, and his doctoral work focused on problems involving the fluid dynamics of thin films. James has taught classes at Roosevelt University and recently worked for a textbook publisher. James teaches academic math.
^ Back to top of Chicago tutorsRussell holds an M.A. in the Humanities from The University of Chicago and a B.A. in English and Philosophy from Calvin College. In the fall of 2002, he lived in Marburg, Germany, where he spent a semester teaching English as a second language. He spent two years working as an English teacher at Somerset Christian Academy in Somerset, NJ. He spent one year teaching English Composition at Trinity College in Palos Heights, IL. Russell teaches academic English and the verbal sections of the ACT/SAT.
^ Back to top of Chicago tutorsGeorge received a B.A. in Physics from Bowdoin College. He completed his thesis in environmental physics entitled “Inferring Temperature Records from Phenology Data by Means of Time Series Analysis.” Following graduation, George spent two years teaching high school physics at St. Johnsbury Academy in Vermont. He taught several sections of standard, accelerated and AP physics while coaching the school’s ski and lacrosse teams. For the past two years George has been performing, writing and directing sketch and improv comedy throughout Chicago. George tutors the math and verbal sections of the SAT/ACT.
^ Back to top of Chicago tutorsSarah received a B.A, in Pure Mathematics, from DePaul University and is working toward a degree in Elementary & Secondary Education from National Louis University. She also spent a semester in the Rocky Mountains with the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS). Sarah currently works as a credit analyst, in the commercial banking department, at BankFinancial. Over the past several years she has spent much of her free time prepping, tutoring, and mentoring High School Students, along the North Shore. She teaches academic math and the mathematics portion of the SAT/ACT.
^ Back to top of Chicago tutorsCarrie Wasinger received a Ph.D. in literature from Northwestern University and a B.A. in English with an emphasis in writing from Pomona College. Her academic specializations are nineteenth-century fiction and children's literature. She has published articles on topics ranging from the Victorian detective novel to Peter Pan. Before joining The Academic Approach, Carrie taught literature and composition courses at Michigan State University and Northwestern University. Carrie teaches ACT/SAT.
^ Back to top of Chicago tutorsKeith is working on a PhD in Clinical Psychology at Northwestern. He has teaching experience at Northwestern and at the University of Virginia. He has been helping students improve their standardized test scores for over a decade. Along the way he has co-authored two books on test prep: one on the SAT, and one on the GRE. He also has a real interest in exploring far flung corners of the world. He has lived in East and West Africa and currently travels to Nicaragua on a regular basis.
^ Back to top of Chicago tutorsDan holds a B.S. in Radio/TV/Film from Northwestern University, where he made the Dean's List multiple times. As an undergraduate, he wrote screenplays, directed and edited two documentary films, and was the co-founder and head writer of a student-run sketch comedy group. He later worked for several years in Los Angeles as a screenwriter and professional reader for several Hollywood production companies. During this time, he also taught test-prep classes at a private institution, which he found immensely enjoyable. In 2007, Dan moved to Chicago, where he has continued to pursue his writing, while also working as both a classroom instructor and one-on-one tutor. He has taught all subjects for the ACT, SAT, and HSPT, as well as SAT II's (Literature, U.S. History), academic Geometry, English, and college essays.
^ Back to top of Chicago tutorsCary holds a Master's Degree in English from Columbia University in New York and has taught numerous undergraduate writing courses at Columbia College, while working towards his doctorate. Cary was selected in 2001 as a Writing Fellow to tutor at Columbia University's Writing Center. There, he instructed undergraduate and graduate students on writing projects, ranging from first-year composition course work to doctoral dissertation chapters. In both his one-on-one and his classroom instruction, Cary has always sought to explore the relationship between sound reasoning and good writing, emphasizing the importance of both the logical reasoning and the rhetorical skills necessary for constructing sound arguments. Cary is an instructor of the ISEE, SSAT, SAT Reasoning Test, ACT, the SAT Subject Test in Literature, the GRE and GMAT. As Director, Cary represents programs, designs courses for students, meets with clients to explain Academic Approach services, trains instructors, and serves as a liaison between clients and instructors.
^ Back to top of New York tutorsAli holds a Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Chicago. His doctoral research has been focused on developing new methods to explore and understand the mechanisms of protein folding. Ali applies his passion and cultivated understanding of science and mathematics to his one-on-one work with our students. When teaching, Ali does not merely impart science content; he contextualizes it within a broader landscape of scientific purpose and meaning. As a result, he can effectively breathe life into subjects that often appear irrelevant or isolated to students. Ali is an instructor of the ISEE, SSAT, SAT, ACT, numerous SAT Subject Tests, the GMAT, and the MCAT as well as numerous academic subjects in science. As Assistant Director, Ali represents all programs, designs courses for students, meets with clients to explain Academic Approach services, trains instructors, and serves as the main liaison between clients and instructors.
^ Back to top of New York tutorsLisa graduated from Columbia University with a B.A. in Art History and Pre-Medical Studies. While at Columbia, Lisa organized and participated in an after-school mentoring and tutoring program for HIV positive 11-15 year olds with the organization UJIMA. She has tutored dozens of NYC school children in math and the sciences. After working for two years as a financial consultant for MMG Partners, Lisa has decided to return to teaching and to actively pursue her interest in acting and singing. She is an instructor of ISEE, SSAT, SAT Reasoning Test, GMAT and SAT Subject Tests in Biology, Chemistry, and Math. She also tutors in academic math.
^ Back to top of New York tutorsNicole holds a BA in English from Columbia University and is currently working toward her MA in Theatre Studies at Hunter College in New York. As an undergraduate she worked for The New York Times as an editorial intern, researching articles for the magazine section. Nicole spent the summer of 2002 in Milan teaching English as a second language. She spent the following year in Florence, where she worked at Vallecchi Publishing, translating book synopses from Italian to English. Nicole spent two years teaching English at Mid-Peninsula High in Menlo Park, CA. During this same period of time, she volunteered her time as a tutor with the non-profit literacy organization 826 Valencia in San Francisco, CA. Nicole teaches academic English and SAT/ACT verbal.
^ Back to top of New York tutorsAmy received a Bachelor of Arts with honors in history from Harvard College. As an undergraduate, she worked for the Museum of Jewish Heritage as a Lipper Intern, teaching about the Holocaust in Boston public schools. She was a recipient of a research grant from the Harvard University Center for Jewish Studies for her senior thesis, which focused on United States rescue and refugee policy during World War II. Her thesis was awarded the Lillian Bell Prize in history. Amy is currently pursuing a career in musical theater and comedy, and has sung the national anthem solo for the Florida Marlins. Amy is a generalist; she teaches the full programs for ISEE/SSAT and SAT/ACT.
^ Back to top of New York tutorsAfter receiving a B.A. in both Biology and English from Bates College in 2002, Jed graduated from NYU's Masters of Fine Arts program for creative writing. While at NYU he worked with the Academic Opportunities Program as a specialized SAT prep instructor, assisted the editors of The Washington Square Review (the university's literary periodical), and taught as an adjunct instructor at NYU's Undergraduate College of Arts and Sciences. Before entering graduate school, Jed held positions at Random House's Vintage Books imprint as a publicity assistant, at McSweeney's Quarterly (the notable literary magazine) as an editorial intern and events coordinator, and at Harvard Medical School as a research assistant on a number of medical studies. Jed teaches the verbal portions of the SAT, ACT, ISEE, SSAT, GRE and GMAT.
^ Back to top of New York tutorsJim Mather graduated magna cum laude from NYU in 2004. He was a Founder's Day Honors Scholar and received the French Book Award. After graduating, he moved to London where he hung his paintings and performed his music around the city before getting his Master's Degree in Comparative Literature from University College London. He resides in Harlem. Jim tutors academically in literature and the humanities as well as in Spanish. He also tutors the SAT, SSAT, SAT II, ISEE and ACT.
^ Back to top of New York tutorsAnthony holds a BA in biology from Colgate University (2003) and a Master's degree in biology from Villanova University (2008). He is currently working toward his doctorate in biology at Fordham University. Anthony has taught undergraduate biology laboratory courses at both Villanova and Fordham, and has experience as a one-on-one SAT and academic tutor. Anthony is a generalist and represents all programs.
^ Back to top of New York tutorsJay holds an M.A. in the History of Religions from the University of Chicago and is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Clinical Psychology at the Derner Institute of Advanced Psychological Studies at Adelphi University. In addition to practicing psychotherapy with children and adults, Jay has taught English in Ecuador, worked in the editorial department of a division of Random House, and has mentored, counseled or taught adolescents for the past twelve years. Jay teaches the SAT, ACT, SSAT and ISEE.
^ Back to top of New York tutorsTracy holds a Masters Degree from Columbia University and a Bachelors Degree in Social Science Education from the University of Georgia. As an undergraduate, she studied in Segovia, Spain and went on to earn a Minor in Spanish. From 2003-2008 Tracy taught social studies/ history at the middle school level in the New York City Public School System; there she mentored countless students, provided professional development for new teachers and served as head coach of the championship track team she created. Currently, Tracy is an instructor of the ISSE, SSAT, History subject tests, and several academic subjects.
^ Back to top of New York tutorsSteve received a B.S. with Honors from Trinity College and a M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. Steve joined The Academic Approach after 20 years of consulting experience for a wide range of industries. He is the co-founder of Third Path Consulting and Research. Prior to co-founding Third Path, he was a Senior Practitioner in Tower Perrin’s Strategy and Organization practice and a Vice-President at Mars & Co., a strategy consulting firm. Other pursuits have included building a house, publishing a book, teaching at Choate-Rosemary Hall School, competing in international rowing regattas, enjoying extensive travel, and raising bees. Steve teaches the mathematics sections of the SAT,ACT, ISEE and SSAT.
^ Back to top of New York tutorsEiman holds a BA with Honors in Computer Science and a minor in Mathematics from the University Of North Texas. She is currently working on her Masters Degree in pure Mathematics at NYU. She hopes to continue her education and receive a PhD, to meet her ultimate goal of becoming a college professor. While in Texas, she taught math to college students and worked as a TA at UNT. Right after graduation she moved to California where she worked as a math program manager and instructed high school students with a focus on SAT/ACT college prep. Eiman teaches the math sections of the ISEE, SSAT, ACT and SAT, and also works with middle and high school students in academic math.
^ Back to top of New York tutorsHilary holds a BA in Spanish, Italian and Philosophy from Kenyon College and a MA in Linguistics and TESOL from the University of Florida. As an undergraduate, Hilary taught Spanish and spent a summer in Kibwezi, Kenya teaching English as a Second Language. After graduating from college, Hilary worked as an instructor at Lado International College for two years teaching expository writing, grammar and TOEFL preparatory courses. During graduate school, she taught at the English Language Institute on campus and privately tutored a studio of twelve high school students. She currently works as an editor for Oxford University Press in New York and develops English language teaching materials. Hilary teaches the verbal portions of the SSAT, ISEE, SAT and ACT.
^ Back to top of New York tutorsDaniel Levine received a BA in English Literature and Creative Writing from Brown University, and a Masters in Fiction Writing from the University of Florida. He has taught in a private school in Manhattan, and has worked as an instructor at the University of Florida and Montclair State University, where he is currently teaching composition and creative writing courses.
^ Back to top of New York tutorsAlexandra (Alex) Dickson graduated from Emory University in 2003, earning a B.A. in Religion and a Minor in Spanish after studying abroad in Spain and Scotland. After graduating, she moved to Chicago where she worked as a grant writer for a nonprofit consulting company by day and as an actor/improv comedian by night. After working with the famous Second City Touring Company for a little over a year, Alex moved back to the East (she was raised in Connecticut) to attend Circle in the Square Theatre School here in Manhattan. Thus far, she has enjoyed her first year with Academic Approach. Alex teaches all sections of the SAT, SSAT and ISEE.
^ Back to top of New York tutorsMelody completed a B.S. at Louisiana State University with a double major in mathematics and French. She also earned a Certificat des Études from two semesters of intensive language study abroad at l’Université de Caen, France, where she taught English to French students at the Lycée de Potigny. After graduation from LSU, she was directly commissioned as an officer in the United States Navy to teach enlisted and officer sailors in the underlying math and physics principles fundamental to nuclear propulsion at the Naval Nuclear Power Training Command. Upon completion of active duty, she relocated to New York, where she presently teaches the math sections of the SAT and ACT for Academic Approach. Melody is also TEFL certified to teach English as a second language.
^ Back to top of New York tutorsJason graduated from the University of Michigan with a B.A. in Political Science and History, earning University Honors as a senior. While at Michigan, he served as President of his fraternity and spent his summers interning for financial services companies including Morgan Stanley and Fortress Investment Group. He has previously tutored high school students in Math and Physics, and is currently interning at a marketing agency while applying to several J.D. programs. Jason teaches the SAT, ACT, SSAT and ISEE.
^ Back to top of New York tutorsDoug graduated from Union College with a B.S. in neuroscience and a minor in mathematics. He is an aspiring physician and is finishing his pre-medical requirements at Columbia University. Doug is currently investigating the hormonal and neurological causes of binge eating at St. Luke’s Hospital in New York. In the past, he has worked closely with autistic and Down syndrome children. With a strong foundation in psychology, Doug is very adaptive to students’ learning styles. He has tutored a number of high school students in science and math. With a strong liberal arts and science education, Doug prepares students for the SAT/ACT, SSAT/ISEE, and numerous subject tests.
^ Back to top of New York tutorsDavid graduated from Cornell University with a BS in Design & Environmental Analysis. As an undergraduate he worked for Bach 2 Rock, instructing beginning and intermediate musicians ages 6-14 on how to rehearse, perform and record as a band. David is currently promoting local NYC bands and working in production at a well known music venue in NYC. David teaches the full programs for ISEE/SSAT and ACT/SAT.
^ Back to top of New York tutorsA native of the Boston area, Anna is a graduate of Waltham High School, Dartmouth College, and Harvard University. Anna is the director of the Boston Office and represents all programs, designs courses for students, meets with clients to explain Academic Approach services, trains instructors, and serves as the main liaison between clients and instructors. A reading and literacy specialist, Anna has taught in both public and private schools, most recently at The Meadowbrook School of Weston where she served as English department curriculum coordinator. Previously, she taught at The Bishop\'s School in La Jolla, CA where she co-chaired the middle school\'s Curriculum Committee. After receiving her M.Ed. from Harvard, Anna served as a literacy coach for the Waltham Public Schools training, supporting, and consulting with classroom teachers in an effort to improve the teaching of English/language arts and ultimately to improve student outcomes. Anna's creativity, sense of humor, and intellect allow her to engage even the most reluctant English student. Anna is an instructor of the ISEE, SSAT, SAT, and ACT. Anna resides in Watertown with her husband, Michael Seegers, and her sons, Teddy and Alex. In her spare time, Anna enjoys reading, the outdoors, and rooting on the Red Sox.
^ Back to top of Boston tutorsStephanie graduated cum laude from Williams College with a BA in Biology and earned her MFA in photography from the Rochester Institute of Technology. Her varied teaching background includes teaching in Japan, at the Riverdale Country School in New York City, and at the Meadowbrook School of Weston in the Boston area. Stephanie continues to pursue photography and images from a project on middle school students have been included in juried photography exhibitions around the country. At Academic Approach she teaches academic math and science, and the math sections of the SSAT/ISEE and SAT/ACT.
^ Back to top of Boston tutorsOrah earned a BA in English from from Bryn Mawr with a joint degree in religion from Haverford. She spent the summer semester of 2004 studying Hebrew in Jerusalem. She has traveled extensively in Israel, Poland and the Czech Republic focusing on Jewish History. Orah is currently pursuing an MA in English at Middlebury College. Orah teaches English and Hebrew, as well as the Verbal portions of the SSAT and SAT.
^ Back to top of Boston tutorsNancy graduated cum laude from Bryn Mawr College with a B.A. in English. She currently works as the Program Administrator for the Academic Approach Boston office. Nancy is an active volunteer with Citizens School's 8th Grade Academy Writing Program and the Legal Apprenticeship Program. Nancy teaches verbal portions of the SSAT and SAT. She also teaches academic English.
^ Back to top of Boston tutorsTricia graduated with honors from Wesleyan University with a BA from the College of Letters. She has earned an MA in Comparative Literature from Cornell University and is now working on a doctoral dissertation that explores the concept of organic being in medieval English literature. Her studies also require that she acquire proficiency in several languages, including French (modern and Old), Latin, Old and Middle English, Spanish, and Italian. In addition to research, Tricia has been teaching English literature and writing, starting with 9th and 11th grade classes at The Governor's Academy and more recently instructing several different literary seminars at Cornell. Tricia teaches academic English as well as the verbal portions of the SSAT and SAT.
^ Back to top of Boston tutorsKirsten holds a B.A. from Wellesley College, where she graduated cum laude, and a M.Ed. in Secondary Education specializing in Spanish and English as a Second Language from The George Washington University. For the last fifteen years, she has taught in both public and independent schools, most recently in the Boston area and previously in Northern Virginia. Kirsten is in her seventh year at The Meadowbrook School where she teaches Spanish, Human Growth and Development, and is a grade level coordinator. She teaches Spanish and verbal portions of the SSAT and the SAT.
^ Back to top of Boston tutorsElizabeth has a BA in English from Connecticut College and recently graduated with highest honors from Salem State College with an MA in English. She has taught 10th, 11th, and 12th grade English and currently teaches College Writing and Basic Writing at Salem State College. In addition to teaching academic English and the verbal portions of the SAT, ACT, and SSAT, Elizabeth works at Salem State developing events and programming for the Graduate School and English department.
^ Back to top of Boston tutorsEugene graduated from MIT with S.B. and M.Eng degrees in electrical engineering. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. at MIT, with his doctoral work focused on developing a reliable, low-cost microchip device that can diagnose tuberculosis in developing countries. Eugene is also the graduate resident advisor at one of the undergraduate living groups on MIT's campus, and his hobbies include journalism, running marathons, and cheering on his beloved Detroit Tigers baseball team (no offense, Red Sox fans). Eugene is an instructor for the ACT/SAT and academic math.
^ Back to top of Boston tutorsMichael holds a BA in Urban Education from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and a Masters of Education from Boston State College. Michael taught for thirty-five years as a mathematics teacher at Northeast Metro Tech in Wakefield, MA. During his long teaching tenure he coached soccer and basketball, and upon "retirement" he taught science and math at Beacon Scholastic Academy. Michael teaches the math sections of the SAT/ACT and SSAT/ISEE, as well as academic math.
^ Back to top of Boston tutorsAdam graduated cum laude from Union College in Schenectady, NY with a BS in Physics in 2000, and then received his MAT in 2001. For the past seven years, he has taught junior and senior level Physics classes, as well as Biology to freshmen at Norwell High School. Additionally, he has spent the past two summers teaching Physical Science at Whitman-Hanson Regional High School. Adam’s teaching extends beyond the classroom as he also coaches football at Norwell High. Adam teaches the math portions of the SAT, ACT, SSAT; the science portion of the ACT, as well as academic science and math.
^ Back to top of Boston tutorsHarvard has taught for many years in the English Department at Phillips Exeter Academy, where he also served as a dormitory adviser, and coach. He continues to teach each spring at Exeter a senior course in Moby Dick. He also teaches a seminar in Moby Dick for Exeter faculty on site at Mystic, CT. Harvard has a BA in English from Tufts and a an MA in English from Duke. He also received, while at Exeter, a Klingenstein Fellowship for a year's study at Columbia. A tenured member of the English faculty at Exeter, Harvard was appointed in 1989 the Thomas and Elinor Lamont Professor of English. He is a two-time recipient of the Brown Award for distinguished teaching at Exeter, and in 1999 he received the US Presidential Scholars Teacher Recognition Award. A long-time reader of the AP English examination, both Literature and Language, he was also a member of the AP Development Committee for Literature and Language, 2001-2006. Harvard teaches in the verbal sections of the SAT and ACT.
^ Back to top of Boston tutorsAndrew Swan graduated magna cum laude from Yale University with a BA in History, and earned an MA in Education from Simmons College. Andrew has taught 8th grade English full-time at a Newton middle school for four years. He has also taught middle schoolers in Weston and Brookline, and at a high school in New Haven, Connecticut. He worked part-time for two years on proofreading and developing standardized test items for an educational publishing company. Andrew teaches the verbal sections of the ISEE, SSAT, ACT and SAT, and also aids middle and high school students in academic English, History, and essay writing.
^ Back to top of Boston tutorsAlex earned a B.A. in Biology with a minor in Psychology from Boston University. While at BU, he coordinated SpeakEasy, an anonymous peer-listening service on campus. Currently, Alex is the Program Assistant for the Boston office. Alex has tutored high school students in the Boston area for the past three years in a variety of subjects. He teaches the SAT/ACT, SSAT/ISEE, and academic math and science.
^ Back to top of Boston tutorsRaymond received a B.A. in Chemistry from Dartmouth College. Upon graduating, he spent five years doing technological consulting for financial services firms with Accenture. His work was mostly in data conversion for venture capital accounting systems and report generation for broker compensation systems. In 2005, he left the business world to teach mathematics at his high school alma mater, The Governor's Academy in Byfield, MA. He is a teacher, dorm parent and coach. He teaches SAT Math, ACT Math and ACT Science.
^ Back to top of Boston tutorsHannah earned a BA from Middlebury College and an MFA in creative writing from Bennington College. For six years she worked in the marketing departments at Houghton Mifflin and Harcourt publishers. She then lived in Uganda for a year and a half, where she completed her first novel and wrote travel articles for the in-flight magazine for Air Uganda. She currently volunteers at 826 Boston and is at work on her second novel. She teaches the verbal sections of the SAT and SSAT.
^ Back to top of Boston tutorsA native of the Boston area, Sarah Mackin graduated cum laude from Bryn Mawr College in 2007 with a BA in Sociology. Over the past 5 years, she has had a range of teaching experiences. From designing and implementing an ESL curriculum for a local Boston women's shelter in 2004, as a public health and ESL educator in rural Guatemala in 2005 and most recently as an English and Sociology teacher in Vietnam, Sarah has experience working with a diverse array of students. Sarah teaches academic English as well as the verbal portions of the SSAT and SAT.
^ Back to top of Boston tutorsCarol holds a B.A. in English from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and a M.Ed from the University of Massachusetts Boston. She has taught middle school Writing and Language Arts in the Everett Public Schools. Carol has also taught after school and summer MCAS preparation classes in Cambridge Public Schools. Carol has worked one-on-one with students as a homework coach and writing tutor. Carol has also helped students with application essays for private schools. Prior to teaching Carol worked in public relations and healthcare information systems. Carol teaches the verbal sections of the ISSE/SSAT and SAT/ACT as well as academic English, MCAS and writing.
^ Back to top of Boston tutorsJessica holds an A.B. cum laude from Harvard College and an Ed.M. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She began her educational career at Children’s Television Workshop, as a researcher for Sesame Street. More recently, she worked at Tom Snyder Productions, a Scholastic company, designing and producing mathematics software for schools. Jessica has taught and tutored for over 10 years. At Academic Approach, she teaches academic math, and the math sections of the SSAT/ISEE and SAT/ACT.
^ Back to top of Boston tutorsA native of the Boston area, Natalie graduated magna cum laude from Boston College with a degree in History, Theology and Women’s Studies. She is currently enrolled in a post-baccalaureate pre-medical program at Harvard Extension School with the intent of continuing on to medical school in the near future. Throughout her time at Boston College, she tutored fellow students through the Learning Resource Center, and volunteered as a tutor and mentor to area high school students. Natalie has experience teaching HIV/AIDS education to students in rural Kenya, and serves as a volunteer through the Citizen Schools 8th Grade Writing Academy. Natalie teaches both the math and English portions of the SSAT and SAT.
^ Back to top of Boston tutorsEmily has a BA in English from Skidmore College and recently graduated from Northeastern University with a MS in Organizational Communication. She is currently pursuing a MEd in School Counseling at the University of Massachusetts - Boston and is working as a guidance intern in the Boston Public School system. Prior to working with Academic Approach, Emily worked as an admissions officer for universities in the Boston area. Emily tutors the verbal portions of the SSAT, SAT, and ACT.
^ Back to top of Boston tutorsJenee is a double-eagle from Boston College with a B.A. in English and secondary education and a Master's degree in Reading. She has been working in public education for twelve years, first as an A.P. English teacher at the Boston Latin School and currently as a creative writing teacher at Brookline High. She also teaches American and British literature and over the years has enjoyed exploring classic and contemporary novels with all levels of secondary students. In the summers, Jenee conducts college essay writing workshops at Boston University and works with Boston public twelfth graders on advanced placement curriculum and open-response essays for the SAT. At Brookline High she is frequently involved in professional development opportunities that address issues of educational equity. Her team is making strides to close the achievement gap in the town through teaching higher order thinking, emphasizing reading and requiring rigor. The methodology at Academic Approach aligns with Jenee's belief that the power of a robust vocabulary and strong reasoning and analytic skills are critical for professional success beyond high school. When she's not studying or teaching, Jenee enjoys spending time with her precocious six-year old daughter, writing short fiction, and honky-tonkin to her favorite country music tunes. She is an instructor for the verbal portion of the SAT/ACT.
^ Back to top of Boston tutorsChyanne graduated magna cum laude from Gordon College with a BS in education and mathematics. During her experience in the classroom she completed an action-research study on the effects of math anxiety in the classroom and developed an implementation plan to combat the negative climate. Chyanne has earned both an elementary education and elementary mathematics license from Massachusetts State. She is now teaching 8th grade algebra, 10th grade geometry, and 12th grade calculus at Covenant Christian Academy. Chyanne is the assistant coach for the Gordon College field hockey team.
^ Back to top of Boston tutorsOriginally from New York, Ross earned a BA in Studio Arts from Binghamton University and an MSEd. in School Counseling from C.W. Post. He also recently graduated from Fitchburg State College with a C.A.G.S. in Educational Leadership and Management. Ross has been a high school guidance counselor for the last six years and has gained much experience guiding students through the college selection process, as well as counseling them through the SAT and ACT. His varied professional background includes working previously as an accountant as well as in educational publishing. He also recently welcomed his daughter, Lindsay, who was just born in May 2009. Ross’s creative and analytical skills make for a unique tutoring experience, helping students build their math skills in new ways. Ross teaches the math portions of the SAT, ACT, SSAT and ISEE.
^ Back to top of Boston tutorsAdrienne lives in Newburyport with her son, Teddy. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa, Magna Cum Laude from Columbia University where she received her BA in English. She was a professional dancer in NY and trained at the Alvin Ailey School as a merit scholarship student. In addition to teaching Pilates and dance, Adrienne works as a K-12 substitute teacher at the Sparhawk School in Amesbury. As an actress and model, Adrienne has appeared in commercials, films, plays, web videos and print ads. Adrienne teaches the verbal portion of the SSAT, ISEE, SAT, and ACT.
^ Back to top of Boston tutorsCurrently a writing teacher and graduate student at Boston College, David Mitchell is originally from Upstate New York. He graduated from Hobart College and taught high school English in Syracuse, NY before moving to Boston. David believes that every student is brilliant in some way and tutoring gives him the opportunity to work closely with students whose particular skills and needs do not always get full attention in a larger classroom setting. Amiable and passionate about learning, David views his role as an educator as twofold: to demand excellence, hard work, and rigorous study while at the same time being supportive and believing in his students. Outside of the classroom David is an active soccer and tennis player, a member of a symphonic band, and an avid outdoorsman. While he enjoys sharing his experience and education he is also eager to continue learning from each new encounter.
^ Back to top of Boston tutorsJason Leary graduated with high honors from from Nebraska Wesleyan University with a BA in History. He has an MA in Professional Writing from University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth, where he also taught English. In addition to his tutoring work, Jason is also the Director of Publications at AMR Research. For more than 10 years, he has educated students and clients in academic and professional settings on writing improvement. Jason was also the co-creator and editor of Some Other Magazine, an online culture publication. He lives in the North Shore with his wife and two children.
^ Back to top of Boston tutorsRachel Van Wylen graduated summa cum laude from Gordon College with a double major in English Literature and Studio Art. While at Gordon, she spent a semester abroad in Orvieto, Italy, where she studied Art History, Italian, and painting. Rachel also served as co-captain of the women's cross country team in college. After graduating, she spent two years in New York City, where she earned her M.F.A. in painting from the New York Academy of Art. Currently, she teaches art at Beacon Christian Academy. Rachel tutors the verbal portions of the SAT, ACT, and SSAT.
^ Back to top of Boston tutorsChristian graduated from University of Rochester in 2005 with concentrations in English & Biology. He earned a MA in Secondary Science Education from Loyola Marymount University (2007) while he was a corps member in Teach for America. He has more recently earned an MPH from Boston University (2009), and has aspirations to continue on to medical school in 2010 in the Boston area. He is currently teaching middle school science full-time in the Medford school district. Other teaching experience includes two years in the Los Angeles Unified School District and one year at MATCH Public Charter School in Jamaica Plain. Christian teaches math & science, including the math sections of the SAT, ACT, ISEE, SSAT, and the science section of the ACT.
^ Back to top of Boston tutorsMelissa graduated from Lafayette College with a B.S. in Civil Engineering. After working as an engineering consultant for three years, Melissa realized that her true passion was teaching. She is currently pursuing an M.A. in Teaching from Northeastern University, which she is scheduled to complete in April. She recently completed her practicum teaching experience at Watertown High School where she taught Algebra and Geometry. Melissa tutors the math portions of the SAT, SSAT/ISEE, and ACT, and the science section of the ACT.
^ Back to top of Boston tutorsMatt graduated Summa Cum Laude from Northeastern University with a BS from the College of Arts and Sciences. He has further earned a Professional’s Certificate in Audio Production as well as a Specialist’s Certificate in Music Production for Film and Television, both from Berklee College of Music. Matt works in operations management at United Parcel Service as a Package Center Supervisor and composes/produces commercial music as a contractor. His recreational pursuits include computer programming, graphic design, music composition and audio production, studies in physics, and academic writing. Matt teaches both the mathematic and verbal portions of the SAT, ACT, ISEE and SSAT.
^ Back to top of Boston tutorsKerry is a mechanical design engineer at GE Aviation. She graduated with a B.S. in mechanical engineering from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst and is currently pursuing her M.S. at Boston University in manufacturing engineering concentrating in operations management. As an undergraduate, Kerry was a teaching assistant for six semesters in the Economics and Engineering departments. She received three fellowships from the Massachusetts Space Grant Consortium and was awarded an NSF grant for research in the aerospace and wind energy fields resulting in three publications. Kerry is an avid equestrian and was a horsemanship camp counselor for several years. Kerry teaches the SAT/ACT Math and ACT Science.
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