Read more about our instructors and hiring practices.
Matthew holds an M.A., M.Phil and Ph.D. in English Language and Literature from Columbia University in the City of New York. 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. Matthew supervises the training of all Academic Approach instructors, produces all materials for student instruction, and works constantly to ensure the quality and efficacy of all Academic Approach programs to fulfill the company's mission of improving student achievement for all students.
^ Back to top of Chicago tutorsAmy graduated from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill as a Morehead-Cain Scholar with a BA in psychology. She has taught English in a school for monks in Thailand and in a primary school in Peru. Amy has also taught Suzuki violin lessons for the past three years and was an anatomy teaching assistant at UNC. As an undergraduate, Amy conducted neuroscience research at the MRC Centre for Developmental Neurobiology in London and completed a thesis with highest honors in UNC’s Department of Psychiatry. She also enjoys volunteering as a doula, running, and learning the mandolin. Amy teaches all sections of the ACT and SAT.
^ Back to top of Chicago tutorsSamantha holds a B.S. degree in Mathematics from Haverford College and is currently completing her Master in the Science of Education degree from Northwestern University. Samantha has taught math and general subjects in a variety of settings including Philadelphia and the Boston area. Samantha taught for over two years in the Chicago Public Schools system as a high school math teacher. Samantha was the curriculum developer and lead teacher for Geometry, Algebra II and College Algebra courses. Samantha teaches all subject areas of the ACT/SAT.
^ Back to top of Chicago tutorsAmanda graduated from the University of Chicago with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Psychology. She completed her Masters of Arts in Teaching at Dominican University. She has endorsements in teaching social science and Spanish. Before coming to Academic Approach, she taught for two years with Teach for America, where her 8th graders made 1.7 years of reading growth in 9 months of classroom instruction. Amanda teaches all sections of the ACT, SAT, HSPT, ISEE, and SSAT. Amanda also serves as an Academic Approach Director, representing programs to families, customizing solutions for each student, and supporting families and tutors throughout the course of instruction to ensure the most successful outcomes for all Academic Approach students.
^ Back to top of Chicago tutorsAdam holds a bachelors degree in Secondary Education from DePaul University’s College of Education. Having completed over 100 hours of field experience and student teaching within Chicago Public Schools, Adam is certified by the State of Illinois in Secondary Teaching with endorsements in Social Science and History for both Middle and High Schools. Adam became a certified AVID tutor during his time in CPS. Throughout college he also worked for the America Reads program, tutoring K-8 students in reading. Adam teaches all sections of the ACT/SAT as well as the History SAT II.
^ Back to top of Chicago tutorsSarah has four years of teaching experience and is an alumna of the Teach for America program. She is certified to teach in Illinois as well as Arizona, and is currently completing her ESL endorsement. Sarah joins us from the Museum of Science and Industry where she worked as a Coordinator of Teacher Programs, leading teacher workshops and developing science curricula. She holds a B.S. degree in nutrition and a M.A. degree in curriculum and instruction. Sarah serves as an Academic Approach Director, representing programs to families, customizing solutions for each student, and supporting families and tutors throughout the course of instruction to ensure the most successful outcomes for all Academic Approach students.
^ Back to top of Chicago tutorsCarol Kohlman is an Illinois certified secondary mathematics teacher and is highly qualified in all areas of high school mathematics, according to NCLB standards. She has sixteen years teaching experience at both the middle school and high school levels. For twelve years, she developed the middle school math curriculum at Baker Demonstration School when it was the laboratory school for National-Louis University. For the past three years she has been teaching in Chicago schools, currently at Walter Payton High School. She has Bachelor’s and M.A.T. degrees in mathematics from Cornell University and a doctorate in Curriculum and Social Inquiry from National-Louis University. She has taught at the graduate level for many years, teaching students who are preparing to be teachers. Currently, she teaches a course titled “Critical Literacy for Students with Disabilities” at National-Louis for students who are earning their certification as Learning Behavior Specialists. She enjoys working one-on-one with students, helping them to recognize their own capabilities and strengths. She teaches all levels of academic mathematics and all sections of the ACT and SAT.
^ Back to top of Chicago tutorsJonathon holds a Master's of Arts in Linguistics from the University of Chicago, a Bachelor's of Science degree in Scientific and Technical Communications, and a Bachelor's of Science degree in Spanish and Portuguese. He has been teaching in classroom and one-on-one settings, working with students of varying ages since 2002. He taught advanced undergraduate writing in the University of Chicago's Writing Program and was honored in 2004 with the Francis X. Kinahan Award for Excellence in Teaching Undergraduate Writing. He then taught Spanish for four years at local colleges in the Chicagoland area. During the summer of 2006 Jonathon shared his passion for teaching and technology by directing a technology summer camp for students aged 7-17. Besides tutoring, Jonathon also serves as an Academic Approach Director who represents programs to families and helps design effective preparation programs that meet students' unique needs. He teaches all sections of the ACT and SAT as well as Spanish.
^ Back to top of Chicago tutorsChristine holds an M.A. in Teaching and B.S. in Biology both from Aurora University. She is currently in the research phase of an Ed.D. in Curriculum and Instruction at Loyola University Chicago. Her dissertation studies the motivational factors for females pursuing STEM degrees. Christine worked as a science teacher for three years, and taught sections of Earth Science, Physical Science, Chemistry, and Honors Biology. She has also worked as an elementary mathematics curriculum designer. Prior to joining the Academic Approach team, Christine independently tutored individuals in math, science, and ACT/SAT preparation.
^ 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 tutorsAlex holds a bachelors degree in Economics from Northwestern University and completed a Language and Culture Program at the Universidad de Sevilla in Seville, Spain. In 2010 Alex served in Peace Corps Ecuador working with youth and families. She taught sex education, parenting classes, and basic economics courses and initiated programs to boost self-esteem and provide support for young people in the area. Alex is currently employed in the financial services industry and is pursuing a degree in psychology. Alex teaches academic Spanish and all sections of the ACT/SAT.
^ Back to top of Chicago tutorsMegan earned an M.A.T. in Secondary Science Education from National-Louis University. She also holds a B.S. in Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology from Emory University, where she taught chemistry at a college prep summer program and spent three years as a chemistry lab teaching assistant. Megan spent the past two years as a Teach for America Chicago corps member, teaching ninth through eleventh grade biology and chemistry and working with her school to create a rigorous, ACT-aligned science curriculum. Megan teaches all sections of the ACT and SAT.
^ Back to top of Chicago tutorsJustin holds a B.S. in Biology and a B.A. in Theology with Honors from Valparaiso University, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude. He is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Bioethics at Trinity International University. Justin has had opportunities in a variety of educational settings throughout the past 6 years. His collegiate experiences included tutoring students in an array of biology and chemistry classes and aiding freshmen biology labs. Upon graduation, he worked closely with students through AVID (an in-school tutoring program), volunteered at the Saint Louis Science Center, and worked as a substitute teacher in the Sioux Falls School District. Justin teaches all sections of the ACT and SAT, along with a variety of SAT Subject Exams.
^ Back to top of Chicago tutorsMelinda holds a B.E in Biomedical Engineering with a minor in Mathematics from Vanderbilt University and is currently working on her MD at University of Illinois at Chicago. While at Vanderbilt she was awarded the Thomas G. Arnold Prize for Biomedical Engineering design for her work on an imaging project. Melinda has experience tutoring at the high school level in the subjects of Math, Chemistry and Biology. Prior to returning to school, she spent a year volunteering at a school through AmeriCorps where she implemented a math tutoring program and helped to raise the standardized test average by five percentage points. Melinda teaches Chemistry, Biology, Physics, and the Math I and IIC SAT subject tests as well as academic subjects.
^ 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 serves as an Academic Approach Director, representing programs to families, customizing solutions for each student, and supporting families and tutors throughout the course of instruction to ensure the most successful outcomes for all Academic Approach students.
^ Back to top of Chicago tutorsJesse holds a B.A. in Biblical Languages from the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. After college he taught English to students and professionals in New Delhi, India for two years, where he also developed courses in English grammar. Before coming to Academic Approach, Jesse worked as a senior instructor at Second Nature Wilderness Program in Duchesne, Utah, where he mentored high school students and provided instruction in both academic subjects and wilderness skills. In addition to serving students at Academic Approach, he currently is accredited in statistics and probability with the Society of Actuaries and is working towards further accreditation in the field. Jesse teaches all sections of the ACT and SAT and academic math.
^ Back to top of Chicago tutorsCatherine holds a B.A. in Chemistry and Mathematics from Pomona College and an M.S. in Mathematics from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Her chemistry thesis, conducted jointly at Pomona College and the University of Padua, analyzed the structural effect of ring-closing metathesis reactions on helical peptides. In 2009 she was awarded thesis honors in mathematics for proving an original knot theory result and presented her work at a conference in Tokyo. She has 10 years of tutoring experience with all levels of high school math as well as all subject areas of the SAT I. She has also taught college mathematics at UIC for 2 years and was selected to conduct enrichment workshops for the Emerging Scholars Program. She currently volunteers in Guest Experiences at the Museum of Science and Industry, where she engages guests in discussions about anatomy and genetics. Catherine teaches all sections of the ACT and SAT.
^ 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 tutorsKalen graduated with honors from Wesleyan University with a double major in German Studies and the College of Letters, an interdisciplinary program for the study of history, literature, and philosophy. She is currently enrolled in a pre-health post-baccalaureate program at Loyola University Chicago and hopes to become a physician. Kalen is a dual American and Swedish citizen. In addition to spending a great deal of time in Sweden, she has participated in study abroad programs in Spain and Germany. After graduation, Kalen spent a year in Berlin, Germany on a research fellowship in the philosophy of history. As an undergraduate, she was selected to tutor in the Wesleyan Writing Workshop for three semesters, where she worked individually with students ranging from freshmen to honors thesis writers. She has volunteered as an English teaching assistant in Mexico and Germany and as a reading tutor in Connecticut. Kalen tutors all sections of the ACT and SAT.
^ Back to top of Chicago tutorsSean holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Washington, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude with Departmental Honors. His thesis in American Politics, entitled "Electoral Spending Shifts in a Post-Citizens United America," received the Daniel S. Lev Award for best departmental research paper. While attending the University of Washington, Sean worked for two years as a writing instructor for undergraduate students, as a campaign manager for a political candidate at the national level, and as a research fellow at the Center for American Politics and Public Policy. Sean has also worked as a private government and economics tutor. In addition to his B.A., he holds a certificate in audio engineering. Sean teaches all sections of the ACT and SAT.
^ Back to top of Chicago tutorsAshlee graduated with honors from the University of Chicago in Interdisciplinary Slavic Studies, with a concentration on Polish language and literature. She has lived and taught middle and high school mathematics as well as English as a Second Language in Poland. After graduation, she moved to New York and taught Algebra, Geometry and Trigonometry for the New York City Department of Education. She has spent the last few years in education consulting, facilitating professional development programs in special education policy for teachers and administrators. Ashlee volunteers her time with organizations like the Jane Addams Resource Corporation, the Chicago Foundation for Education and Chicago Public Schools. Ashlee is currently pursuing a Master of Public Policy at the University of Chicago, where her focus is health and education policy. She teaches all sections of the ACT and SAT.
^ Back to top of Chicago tutorsAnand holds a Bachelors degree in Communications from UC Los Angeles and is currently pursuing a Masters in Religious Studies at the University of Chicago. He has been teaching and working with students one-on-one since 2004 and has previously taught for Kaplan also. He has helped students prepare for the MCAT, the GRE and the ACT/SAT, and has also taught math and science, including AP Biology, Chemistry, and Calculus. He has a passion for journalism, sports, travel and dance. He teaches all sections of the ACT/SAT as well as a variety of science and social science subjects.
^ 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 tutorsGreg holds a B.A. in physics from Washington University in St. Louis. He has been tutoring for over six years and has been with Academic Approach since 2008, first starting with our Boston office and now tutoring full time in Chicago. Before moving to the Midwest, Greg worked as a program director for the Boy Scouts of America in New Hampshire, where he developed over 200 hours of educational curriculum for both traditional and outdoor environments. Outside of tutoring, Greg can be seen performing improv comedy at various locations throughout Chicago. Greg teaches physics, chemistry, biology, and mathematics (algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics) as well as high school placement exams and all sections of the ACT/SAT.
^ Back to top of Chicago tutorsChris holds an M.F.A in classroom pedagogy and education law from the University of Texas-Pan-American, a J.D./M.A. from the University of Texas at Austin, and a B.A. in international affairs from George Washington University. Over the past ten years, he has worked as a project coordinator for Americorps, an immigration attorney for the UT law clinic, and a pro bono attorney for the Asylum Representation Project (PROBAR) in Texas. He has traveled extensively in Mexico and Central America and most recently taught middle school in the Edinburg Independent School District in Texas. Chris teaches all sections of the ACT/SAT as well as academic Spanish.
^ Back to top of Chicago tutorsMaggie holds a B.A. in English/Creative Writing from Rhodes College. While at Rhodes, she served as a Pan-Hellenic Counselor, member of the College Publications Board, columnist for the Sou'westerner and as assistant to the dean of European Studies. She holds teaching certifications in English and AP Literature. Having previously taught through Kentucky's Transition to Teaching program which places educators in high needs school districts, Maggie has extensive training in test prep and diversified instruction. While teaching in Kentucky, Maggie created a New Media Department for the high school where she served, taught the first AP classes offered by the district and raised the school's NCLB Reading scores from the 30th to the 90th percentile. After four wonderful years within this school system, Maggie moved to Chicago to attend the Second City Conservatory. In her spare time, she performs, directs and writes shows throughout the city. Maggie teaches all sections of the ACT, SAT, HSPT, ISEE, and SSAT.
^ Back to top of Chicago tutorsJulia Green holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Columbia University and a master’s degree in fiction writing from the Writers’ Workshop at the University of Iowa, where she was a Truman Capote Fellow. Before attending graduate school, she lived in New York, where she tutored high school students in English, French, Spanish, and the SAT. She also taught an SAT preparatory class at a charter school in Harlem. As a graduate student, Julia taught composition, literature, and creative writing to undergraduates. She has also spent time abroad, including a year in western France, where she taught English to high school students. For three years, Julia volunteered as a writing instructor at the Iowa City Senior Center and currently devotes her volunteering efforts to Support1000, a nonprofit organization that serves women in need. Julia teaches many academic subjects, including English, French, and Spanish, and also teaches all sections of the ACT and SAT.
^ Back to top of Chicago tutorsTim holds a B.A. in Political Science from Loyola University Chicago, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa. He also holds a Master of Arts in Education from Loyola University Chicago. Tim has experience working in both private and public schools in the Chicago area and is one of the most experienced instructors with Academic Approach. Tim teaches all sections of the ACT and SAT, a variety of SAT Subject Exams, and high school placement exams.
^ Back to top of Chicago tutorsVince holds a B.A. in History from the University of Illinois-Chicago and is pursuing his masters in teaching social studies in secondary education as well as an endorsement to teach mathematics. He has spent most of his time over the last several years working as a tutor and Director of Education. ACT and SAT prep has been his concentration, but he has also spent a considerable amount of time working with students of all ages on math skills, reading comprehension, and writing/language arts. Certified to teach English as a foreign language, Vince has volunteered with World Relief as a teacher's aide in ESL classrooms and has spent some time abroad teaching English. He teaches all sections of the ACT and SAT, academic history and writing, and SAT II math subject tests.
^ Back to top of Chicago tutorsEric holds a bachelors degree in Math Education from Bethel College in Northern Indiana. He also has a minor in Spanish and spent time in Spain during college. He began his career as a substitute teacher in multiple school districts before getting a teaching job at the Crossing, an alternative high school in South Bend. While at the Crossing, Eric taught students in all subject areas in both individual and small group settings. Outside of the classroom, he worked in the Leadership Academy as a mentor and role model for his students. He has also been tutoring students for the past five years, mostly in math. Eric teaches all sections of the ACT and SAT.
^ Back to top of Chicago tutorsJessica holds a B.S. in communication and English from Boston College, where she graduated cum laude, and is currently pursuing a master’s of journalism from the Medill School at Northwestern University. She has served as an editor, production assistant, and reporter for such organizations as The Heights Inc. (MA), the Boston Globe, and the New England Sports Network. By managing a staff of writers and participating in writing workshops, she has over four years experience in mentoring students and peers in honing their writing skills and mastering the copyediting process. Jessica teaches academic English and writing, college essay writing, and all sections of the ACT and SAT.
^ 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 teaches academic English and all sections of the ACT/SAT.
^ Back to top of Chicago tutorsKaren holds a Ph.D. in Virology from Harvard Medical School. She graduated cum laude from Bucknell University with a B.S. in Biology and minor concentrations in physics, math-statistics, and biochemistry. While at Harvard, Karen served as a Teaching fellow, leading discussion sections, writing exam questions, and holding office hours to help support students working through college biology and biochemistry. Karen has extensive tutoring experience and possesses a strong command of standardized test content. Karen provides ACT & SAT instruction as well as academic math and science tutoring.
^ Back to top of Chicago tutorsRebecca holds a bachelors degree in Communications from Northwestern University, where she also earned a minor in Computing and Information Systems and an adjunct major in Animate Arts. An Evanston native currently living in Chicago's Andersonville neighborhood, Rebecca has taught circus arts skills at The Actors Gymnasium and continues to teach theatre, acting, and directing skills at the Piven Theatre Workshop. She teaches all sections of the ACT and SAT.
^ Back to top of Chicago tutorsJessica graduated magna cum laude from DePauw University where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and also received Phi Beta Kappa honors. Jessica began her career designing educational programs for children in low income communities. After three years working in school programming, Jessica received her K-12 teaching certificate from National Louis University with an endorsement in learning and behavior disorders. Jessica also spent three years working for the Indiana Reading Corps as a tutor for students needing early intervention in reading. Currently, Jessica works for Chicago Cares as a coordinator to help improve the physical learning environments for students across Chicagoland. In her spare time, Jessica enjoys volunteering as a Girl Scout leader and a little league softball coach. Jessica teaches all sections of the ACT and SAT.
^ Back to top of Chicago tutorsKara holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the Eastman School of Music, and currently, she is studying toward an MM in Bassoon Performance at Northwestern University. She began her academic career at Harvard University before transferring to support her aspiration to play in an orchestra. Her seven years of teaching experience include peer tutoring, private music lessons, and even group fitness courses. In the summer of 2011, Kara added a new element to her educational repertoire by embarking with her bassoon quartet on a 40-concert tour of school band programs in Texas. She has served as resident artist and faculty member at Bocal Majority Bassoon Camp. A seasoned test-taker, Kara teaches all sections of the PSAT, ACT, and SAT.
^ Back to top of Chicago tutorsMcKendry holds B.S. degrees in Mathematics and Computer Science from University of Richmond and a M.T. in Secondary Mathematics Education from University of Virginia. . After graduate school, McKendry spent two years volunteering in Philadelphia with the AmeriCorps program City Year, providing tutoring, mentoring, and after-school programs at K-8 school. Since September of 2009, he has taught mathematics at Walter Payton College Prep & coached the mathematics team, which has won the state title in 2010 and 2011. Prior to joining Academic Approach, McKendry has done part-time mathematics tutoring for over 5 years. McKendry specializes in academic math and teaches the math and science sections of the ACT, math for the SAT, and math SAT II tests.
^ 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 tutorsKatherine McGuire holds a B.A. in Anthropology from New York University. After completing this degree she worked as a private tutor for a small test prep company in southern California before getting her M.F.A. in Visual Arts from the University of Georgia. While she has a background as an artist and educator, Katherine spent three years working for an investment management firm in New York before relocating to the Chicago area. Katherine teaches all sections of the ACT/SAT.
^ Back to top of Chicago tutorsScott holds a B.A. in Theatre from Arizona State University, and is an alumnus of The American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Manhattan. Scott is currently the Artistic Director of a non-profit, education-based theatre company in Chicago, where he specializes in the development of emerging talent. Scott has extensive private classroom experience and has been a guest lecturer in Literature and Performing Arts History. He has also served as a mentor in performing arts organizations throughout the country. He teaches all sections of the ACT and SAT.
^ Back to top of Chicago tutorsVeronica Metz holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Chicago. Since 2006, she has tutored students ages 12-24 in a variety of subjects , including all areas of mathematics, English, Spanish, and physics. Veronica is also a competitive chess player, and she has worked as a professional chess teacher. She is an avid swimmer and participated on the swim team and championship water polo team at the University of Chicago. Veronica teaches all sections of the ACT and SAT as well as all areas of mathematics, academic writing, Spanish, and physics.
^ Back to top of Chicago tutorsAnnie holds a B.A. in American Studies from Columbia University where she graduated summa cum laude. As an undergraduate, she tutored juniors at New York's Frederick Douglas Academy in the verbal sections of the SAT. She also served as one of two undergraduate teaching fellows in the Columbia University / Teagle Foundation "Freedom and Citizenship" summer philosophy program, helping to expose New York City high school students to college-level academics. In addition to tutoring, Annie works as a production assistant for public radio in Chicago. She teaches all sections of the ACT/SAT.
^ Back to top of Chicago tutorsKatherine holds a B.A. in Communication Studies, with a minor in Business Institutions, from Northwestern University, where she graduated cum laude. Throughout her undergraduate career, she volunteered as a Family Focus tutor and Special Olympics organizer, while spending summers as an archery and swimming counselor. These experiences afforded her the opportunity to work with children of all ages and with different needs. After college, Katherine began her career in advertising, working for Chicago agency Energy BBDO for two years. Katherine is currently pursuing education to become a speech language pathologist. With a strong liberal arts and science background, Katherine prepares students for all sections of the SAT and ACT.
^ Back to top of Chicago tutorsBrandon holds a B.A. in English and Rhetoric from The University of Illinois @ Urbana-Champaign and a Master's Degree in Education from DePaul University. Brandon is a member of the National Council of Teachers of English. He has spent the last three years teaching at Walter Payton College Prep teaching a variety of courses: Honors American Studies, Honors American Literature, Honors World Literature, and AP English Language and Composition. Brandon has also been an instructor in Payton's writing center (a one-on-one writing tutoring program), and taught various academic seminars such as Graphic Novels as Literature and Philosophy in Harry Potter. The last two years, Brandon has taken Payton students on literary international trips to Ghana and Prague, focusing on Globalization in literature and the influences of daily life on Franz Kafka. Additionally, Brandon spent the summer of 2010 teaching at the University of Chicago's Center for International Studies. He teaches essay writing and the SAT II test in literature.
^ Back to top of Chicago tutorsJose holds a B.A. in African American Studies from Harvard University. An accomplished poet and educator, Jose has been published by the Harvard Voice, The Acentos Review and other literary journals. Jose is a two-time Louder Than A Bomb Chicago Youth Poetry Slam winner and a participant in the Brave New Voices National Poetry Slam. Beginning in 2006, he taught poetry for two years at the Community Charter School of Cambridge. He has been volunteering, tutoring, and teaching ever since. In 2010-2011, Jose lived on the third floor of the MATCH Charter Public High School with 42 other recent college graduates. In that position he mentored and tutored ten high school students in all of their academic subjects. Jose teaches all sections of the ACT/SAT.
^ Back to top of Chicago tutorsCaroline holds a B.S. in biological sciences, a B.A. in general psychology, and a minor in Spanish from the Honors College at the University of Illinois at Chicago. She is finishing up the process of applying to medical school in hopes of becoming involved with public health policy. Currently, she is a research assistant at the Feinberg College of Medicine at Northwestern and a volunteer in the radiology department at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Caroline has been tutoring since high school and has experience with diverse students between the ages of seven and seventy in such diverse topic areas as creating research proposals and teaching English grammar to ESL students. She has held tutoring positions at the UIC Writing Center, Lincoln Park High School, and with various volunteer organizations in Chicago. She currently teaches Life Science and Beginning Spanish with the Veterans Upward Bound program at Roosevelt University. She teaches academic science and all sections of the ACT and SAT.
^ Back to top of Chicago tutorsTony holds a B.S. in applied mathematics with a minor in math and science education from the Illinois Institute of Technology, where he served as an undergraduate teaching assistant for upper level math courses and as president of the Math Club. For the past three years, he has helped students to improve their math SAT and ACT scores through both tutoring and classroom instruction. He received a perfect score on the math sections of both the ACT and SAT. Tony specializes in academic math and teaches the math and science sections of the ACT, math for the SAT, and math SAT II tests.
^ Back to top of Chicago tutorsPaul Pinto holds a BA in Economics, History and Mathematical Methods in the Social Sciences from Northwestern University and an M.A. and M.Phil in Political Science from Yale University. Based in Chicago, he is currently completing his PhD, and has conducted archival research in London and fieldwork in Botswana and South Africa in support of his dissertation work on the topic of religion and politics in southern Africa. Paul has served as a teaching assistant for multiple courses at Yale, and has significant one-on-one experience in helping students fulfill their academic potential. He teaches all sections of the ACT and SAT as well as academic US/world history, government and politics, and statistics.
^ Back to top of Chicago tutorsJessica holds a B.A. (cum laude) in English from Duke University. She has worked for 15 years as an editor and reporter at a variety of publications, including TIME magazine, TIME.com, The Chicago Tribune, The Los Angeles Times and the Chicago News Cooperative (in collaboration with the New York Times). Her specialties include medical, health and political reporting as well as book and film criticism. She is the recipient of numerous journalism awards, including the 2009 Peter Lisagor award for Feature writing. In 2007, she won an International Reporting Project fellowship and traveled to Senegal, West Africa, where she reported on challenges to women's health. Jessica teaches college essay writing.
^ Back to top of Chicago tutorsJean holds a Master of Social Work degree from the Jane Addams College of Social Work at the University of Illinois–Chicago with a certification in School Social Work and a Bachelor’s degree from the University of California–Berkeley in Mass Communications. Jean has been working with youth for over 10 years through organizations including Big Brothers Big Sisters, Catholic Charities, and the Y.M.C.A. This past year she interned as a School Social Worker at Lane Technical High School where she worked individually with students to develop their school functioning skills. Jean has been tutoring high school students in mathematics for over 6 years in Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry and AP Calculus. Jean teaches all sections of the ACT and SAT as well as academic math and writing.
^ 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 and mathematics sections of the ACT/SAT as well as all middle school exams.
^ Back to top of Chicago tutorsPeter attended school at the University of Michigan, where he earned a BA in Economics and a MPH in Health Management and Policy. After obtaining his master’s degree, he returned to his hometown of Chicago to work as a clinical data analyst with Advocate Health Care. Currently, he is pursuing his PhD at the University of Illinois at Chicago’s School of Public Health, with a focus on Environmental Epidemiology. Peter’s expertise is in statistics and quantitative reasoning. When he is not tutoring or working, Peter keeps himself busy with soccer, history books, and his ukulele. He teaches all sections of the ACT and SAT.
^ Back to top of Chicago tutorsNasir holds an M.B.A. in finance and a B.A. in economics from Loyola University Chicago. He began his career at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. He then went on to work at the Chicago Stock Exchange as a specialist. After 8 years of being in the business world, he has returned to school to focus on the sciences. He is currently preparing to take the MCAT and will be applying to medical school in 2013. Nasir has volunteered as a tutor since 1998, working with students of varying ages and abilities, to help increase their confidence in academic areas of math and science. Nasir also tutors college students at Benedictine University in Biology and Chemistry. As an Academic Approach tutor, Nasir teaches academic math, chemistry, and biology.
^ Back to top of Chicago tutorsYusuf holds a B.A. in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations from Yale University. After graduating, Yusuf spent a year in Syria on a Fulbright Scholarship. He has also worked as an administrative fellow at Yale, where he worked with student groups to foster a diverse and tolerant atmosphere on campus. In 2009-2010 he spent a year in South Korea, where he taught English reading, writing, and speaking courses, as well as intensive SAT verbal lessons, to students at the K-12 levels. In his free time, Yusuf enjoys traveling, playing soccer, and reading. Yusuf teaches all sections of the ACT and SAT.
^ Back to top of Chicago tutorsLaura received her B.A. in psychology from Colorado College, and she also holds an M.S. in clinical psychology from the University of Florida and a M.A. in special education from Roosevelt University. Laura began teaching in December of 2007 and has a wide range of experience. She has taught ages 7 to 16, and she also tutors on the college level in writing, literature, and the social sciences. Laura has experience teaching students with learning disabilities and ADHD, as well as students on the autism spectrum. In 2004, Laura co-authored a chapter on working with parents in the Psychologists’ Desk Reference. Laura teaches all areas of the ACT, SAT, ISEE, and SSAT.
^ Back to top of Chicago tutorsEric holds a Bachelors degree in Education, as well as middle school endorsements in Social Studies, Language Arts, and Spanish, from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign. He has taught a variety of subjects to a variety of age groups, most recently teaching seventh grade Social Studies and Language Arts in the Chicago Public School system. After teaching over one hundred students in a single grade level, he is excited to return to the world of tutoring so that he can have the chance to work with students on a more focused, individual level. Eric teaches all sections of the ACT/SAT, in addition to Mathematics as an academic subject.
^ Back to top of Chicago tutorsAmy graduated Summa Cum Laude with highest honors from Brandeis University in 2011, receiving her BA in both English and Theater Arts. She first began working with students while in high school as a summer camp counselor in the San Francisco Bay Area and later in college as a Senior Admissions Interviewer for Brandeis University, interviewing potential admissions candidates for the class of 2015. Amy relocated to Chicago to pursue her passions for sketch comedy, creative writing, improvisation, and teaching. She writes and performs at various venues around Chicago, and studies with both the Second City Conservatory and iO training center programs. Amy teaches all sections of the ACT/SAT as well as academic English.
^ Back to top of Chicago tutorsEric graduated magna cum laude from Carleton College with a B.A. in mathematics and an educational background in courses ranging from economics to Shakespeare. At Carleton, Eric tutored students in calculus, physics, and computer science, while serving as captain of the ice hockey team. Eric understands the importance of a well rounded student; at Carleton he was awarded the prestigious Patricia V. Damon Scholarship for excellence in academics and dedication to extracurricular activities. Eric has researched in mathematics and statistics at Iowa State University and UCLA, and he is a member of the American Statistical Association and the Mathematical Association of America. After graduating college, Eric taught sailing to cancer patients and members of disadvantaged groups in Seattle then moved to Chicago to work in a medical clinic for social security disability applicants. Eric teaches all sections of the ACT and SAT, as well as academic math and science.
^ 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 8 years, he has gained extensive experience and a solid reputation as an excellent instructor for the SSAT, ISEE, SAT and ACT. He also has assisted many students in writing personal essays for college applications. 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. Prescott has served hundreds of Academic Approach families as an inspiring mentor and responsible guide through the test preparation process. Prescott also serves as an Academic Approach Director, representing programs to families, customizing solutions for each student, and supporting families and tutors throughout the course of instruction to ensure the most successful outcomes for all Academic Approach students.
^ 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. After college, he worked for several years in Los Angeles as a screenwriter and professional reader for several Hollywood production companies. During this time, he also gained experience teaching test-prep classes at a private institution. 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. Instructor for the ACT, SAT, ISEE, SSAT, and HSPT, as well as SAT II's (Literature, U.S. History, World History, Math I and II), academic Geometry, English, and college essays.
^ Back to top of Chicago tutorsLaura holds a Ph.D. in Russian Literature from the University of Chicago, where she taught and assisted courses in the humanities, Russian language, and Russian culture, and served as writing lector in Chicago's Academic/Professional Writing course. She has taught ESL in Romania and the US., and has taught Russian language at DePaul University. Laura is the author of several published articles and book reviews. While at the University of Chicago, Laura also worked part-time conducting interviews and evaluating applications in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. She teaches essay writing as well as verbal sections of the ACT and SAT.
^ Back to top of Chicago tutorsLindsey holds a B.S. in Biology, a B.A. in Chemistry, and a Minor in Mathematics from California State University, Fresno. She also possesses both California and Illinois Teaching Credentials in Biology and Chemistry. Over three years after her college graduation, Lindsey was involved in a variety of science-based internships around the world. Her experiences led her to choose the education field as her career focus. Lindsey has since taught middle and high school science and math for the past 5 years. During her career as a teacher, she was Science Department Chair, started an after-school engineering club, and won many grants and awards for her classroom teaching. Lindsey has also tutored all subjects, both in the corporate and private realm for the last 7 years. Lindsey teaches academic math, science, and all sections of the ACT and SAT.
^ Back to top of Chicago tutorsEmily holds a Bachelor of Arts in History with Honors from the University of Chicago. Her thesis, a study of African-American migration to Liberia following the Civil War, was a finalist for the Anna M. and George N. Barnard Prize in American History. While in school, she volunteered as an after-school tutor—assisting with creative writing workshops and giving homework help. Emily teaches academic English, History, writing, and all portions of the SAT and ACT.
^ Back to top of Chicago tutorsChrystal holds a Masters degree in Teaching from Lewis and Clark College, and a Bachelors degree (double major) in the Comparative History of Ideas and International Studies from the University of Washington. Chrystal has been an educator since 2007, where she got her start teaching middle school English and Language Arts in Portland, Oregon. Since then, she has spent time teaching English to junior high school students in Fukuoka prefecture in southwestern Japan and, more recently, taught English and Journalism at South Shore High School in Chicago. In addition to classroom teaching, Chrystal has tutored students in reading, led an after-school newspaper program, and volunteered as a running coach for young girls through Girls on the Run. Chrystal teaches academic English and all sections of the SSAT, ISEE, ACT, and SAT.
^ 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 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, ACT, SSAT, and academic tutor. Anthony tutors all aspects of the SAT, ACT, SSAT and ISEE with Academic Approach.
^ Back to top of New York tutorsNicholas Chung graduated with honors in creative non-fiction writing from Brown University. At Brown (and also in France and Scotland), he also studied digital poetry, linguistics, literature, and semiotics. Currently, Nick attends the Teacher's College at Columbia University for an MA in education policy. He has years of tutoring experience, as well as class-room experience from teaching at the Lycee Francais New York, an alternative school in Los Angeles, and various public school after-school programs in Providence. He has years of professional writing experience and teaches the SAT, ACT, and humanities-oriented subject tests with Academic Approach.
^ Back to top of New York tutorsDrew graduated from Cornell University in 2008 with his Bachelors in Policy Analysis and Management and a minor in Inequality Studies. He ust completed his Masters of Education at Harvard University and hopes to eventually earn his doctorate in school administration and leadership. While earning his M.Ed., Drew worked as a social studies assistant teacher at Cambridge Rindge & Latin High School. He also has teaching experience with the Cambridge Harvard Summer Academy and is an experienced tutor of the SAT and ACT. Originally from Palmyra, NY, Drew has since worked across the country for Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) in Washington, D.C., the AFL-CIO in Los Angeles, and The CauseWay Agency in Westport, CT. Starting the Fall of 2011, Drew will be teaching at Coleytown Middle School in Westport, CT.
^ 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 tutorsA native of Connecticut, Alexandra (Alex) Dickson holds a BA in Religion with a Spanish minor from Emory University. 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 east to attend Circle in the Square Theatre School in New York. Since July 2010, she has been working at Academic Approach as the Program Administrator. Alex teaches all sections of the SAT, ACT, SSAT and ISEE and the Literature and Math I SAT II subject tests. She also has classroom experience teaching SAT prep to sophomores at the Lycee Francais New York.
^ Back to top of New York tutorsShonni Enelow is a doctoral candidate in Comparative Literature and Literary Theory at the University of Pennsylvania (Penn), where she has designed and taught writing and literature courses to undergraduates in Penn's Comparative Literature department and landmark critical writing program. At Penn she was selected, for her skills and dedication, to train new teaching assistants at the Center for Teaching and Learning. Her academic research is focused on 20th Century dramatic literature and philosophy. Shonni graduated with honors from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts in Theater in 2005, where she concentrated on playwriting and critical theory, and received the Department of French book award. Shonni has taught college admissions essay writing and creative writing to high school students at academic summer programs for four years in California. She is also a playwright and freelance writer and editor. Shonni teaches literature, SAT/ACT verbal, and the humanities.
^ Back to top of New York tutorsBrett holds a Bachelor of Engineering from Dartmouth College and a BA in Biochemistry from Colby College. After graduating, Brett began a job for a biotechnology company in Westchester County and tutors on nights and weekends in the surrounding area. Brett has extensive experience tutoring for the International Baccalaureate, ACT and SAT. Brett also tutors math/science SAT IIs and all sections of the ISEE and SSAT.
^ Back to top of New York tutorsSophia Janowitz recently received her BA with distinction in the literature major from Yale University. Along with the humanities, Sophia also enjoys tutoring math and science, and in high school received the Rensselaer Medal for these subjects. In college, she studied a wide range of fields from cognitive science and philosophy to physics and multivariable calculus. She has assisted four professional artists, edited video, and designed theater sets. At the moment, she is working on a number of projects in art and design. Sophia tutors all sections of the SAT and ACT.
^ Back to top of New York tutorsOriginally from Colorado, Alex moved to New York to pursue her BS in Childhood Education and Special Education at NYU. She is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in Childhood Special Education at Bank Street College of Education. Alex has worked in four elementary school classrooms over two years throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn as a student teacher and was also a tutor for a year and a half in a special education classroom at a middle school. Alex teaches all sections of the SAT, ACT, SSAT and ISEE as well as math and science SAT subject tests.
^ Back to top of New York tutorsJamil holds a Master's degree in Mathematics and Education from Columbia University. He also holds a Bachelor's degree in Mathematics, with a minor in Economics, from Queens College. Starting in the Spring of 2012, Jamil will be working on his PhD in Mathematics Education at Columbia. He plans to do research on the psychological and neurological aspects of math performance among school children. Jamil also plans on researching integrating the latest technology with math education. His passion for teaching mathematics started when he was in high school, where he volunteered as a tutor to struggling students. He also tutored as an undergraduate at Queens College tutoring centers while also tutoring students in the SAT and ACT for a local nonprofit tutoring company. Jamil taught Integrated Algebra, Geometry, Algebra II/Trigonometry, Calculus and Statistics at La Guardia High School and MS 326 from 2009-2011. At Academic Approach, Jamil tutors students in all levels of Mathematics academically and for the SAT/ACT/SAT II subject tests.
^ Back to top of New York tutorsAsher graduated from Tufts University with a B.S. in Biopsychology. As an undergraduate, he split his time between mastering pre-med requirements, volunteering at the Tufts-run free health clinic, and taking photos for the campus newsmagazine. Since graduating, Asher has performed research for a major Bronx-based hospital studying their patient safety protocol, and has worked as a photographer in his spare time. With years of working as a camp counselor, Asher hopes to meld his penchant for working with kids and his interest in psychology to study how special education can be improved to better serve developmentally disabled children. Asher teaches all aspects of the ACT, SAT, ISEE and SSAT.
^ Back to top of New York tutorsLev studied as an undergraduate at Brown University and Columbia University. He received his BA in English from Columbia, graduating Phi Beta Kappa, Magna Cum Laude. He was also the recipient of the Professor John Angus Burrell Memorial Prize for distinction in English and Comparative Literature. Currently, he is enrolled in Columbia's postbaccalaureate premedical program. Lev has extensive experience working with high school and college students on their academic writing. In addition, he has trained as a visual artist and has worked as a teaching assistant at a number of New York City art schools. Lev teaches all aspects of the SAT/ACT as well as a number of science and humanities-based subject tests.
^ Back to top of New York tutorsVaughan Meyer holds a BA with honors from Stanford University, where he majored in Interdisciplinary Studies in Humanities. Vaughan has also studied various disciplines throughout the world: through Stanford, he studied literature at Oxford University and biodiversity at the Chamela-Cuixmala Biosphere Reserve in Mexico; and he has independently studied in Rennes, France. Since graduating college, Vaughan has tutored at 826 CHI and worked as an analyst in the financial services industry. Currently, he tutors all sections of the SAT, ACT, SSAT and ISEE.
^ Back to top of New York tutorsOriginally from Chicago, Rachael holds a Master's degree in Special Education from George Mason University and a B.A. in Political Science with concentrations in Art History and Psychology from University of Illinois-Urbana/Champaign. Rachael has spent the past two years teaching ninth grade Environmental Science and English-Language Arts in Washington, DC as a part of the Teach for America program. While teaching, she worked on developing novel-based curriculum for urban ninth-grade students. She teaches all sections of the ACT, SAT, ISEE, SSAT and a variety of SAT subject tests.
^ Back to top of New York tutorsDave has a BA in Psychology from NYU and recently earned his MBA from Washington University in St. Louis where he concentrated in Marketing and Entrepreneurship. Dave has tutored students in the verbal portions of the various standardized tests in both one-on-one and classroom settings. When he's not debating the merits of the semicolon, Dave works for a fast-growing start-up company called bobbysue's nuts! In between degrees, Dave worked in the feature film division for 20th Century Fox and also dabbled in screenwriting and freelance writing. With Academic Approach, Dave tutors all things reading and writing, including the verbal sections of the SSAT, ISEE, SAT, and ACT as well as the Literature SAT II Subject Test.
^ Back to top of New York tutorsErika Oppenheimer holds a BA in English and Psychology from Georgetown University and graduated in the top 1% of her class. While at Georgetown, she tutored classmates in writing and statistics, interned at National Geographic Channel, and created and implemented a program that worked in conjunction with the Georgetown Admissions Ambassadors Program to help prospective freshmen to navigate the admissions process. Erika is a member of the Phi Beta Kappa, Psi Chi, and National Society of Collegiate Scholars academic honors societies. She is also the recipient of the National Council of Teachers of English Writing Award. Since moving to New York in 2008, she has worked as a financial analyst at a private wealth management firm and graduated from a two-year Meisner acting program at the William Esper Studio. Erika teaches the SAT, ACT, ISEE, SSAT and the Literature and Math I/II subject tests.
^ Back to top of New York tutorsJamie holds a Masters Degree in English Literature from UC Riverside, and has taught various undergraduate composition and literature courses while working towards her doctorate. Jamie also holds a Multiple-Subject Teaching Credential from California State University Fullerton. She has been a private in-home tutor for over 10 years and has also taught in classrooms of various levels (elementary, junior high, high school, university, adult education). Jamie teaches all sections of the SAT, ACT, ISEE, and SSAT.
^ Back to top of New York tutorsA native Californian, Nathan holds a dual BA in Fine Art and Italian (focus on Business) from the University of Southern California. He is an active and internationally-exhibiting artist with a vibrant studio practice. After graduating from college, Nathan taught in public and private schools and prepared students for standardized tests in Los Angeles. From 2006 until 2010, Nathan lived in Italy facilitating active travel vacations. Upon his return to the United States, he began working with Academic Approach where he teaches all sections of the SAT, ACT, SSAT and ISEE as well as Literature and Math I SAT IIs. Nathan also enjoys teaching in several of Academic Approach's classroom programs.
^ Back to top of New York tutorsJames Seol holds a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Virginia and a Diploma in Acting from the The Juilliard School Drama Division. He has extensive classroom instruction experience and has tutored privately, both in the United States and abroad. From 2007 - 2010, he taught SAT reading and writing in Seoul, South Korea. While in Seoul, he also had the opportunity to work in curriculum research and development. Integrating dynamic lectures/discussions, guided, in-depth text analysis and multimedia presentations, his programming focused on providing students with a more immediate understanding of and facility with the plays of William Shakespeare. The semester-long programs also sought to introduce students to plays not conventionally taught in the classroom, among them, Richard III, Twelfth Night and Titus Andronicus. James teaches the reading and writing sections of the ACT, SAT, ISEE and SSAT, as well as the Literature SAT II Subject Test.
^ 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 tutorsA native of St. Louis, MO, Alex graduated from Columbia University with a BA in Drama/Theatre Arts. He has tutored middle school and high school level Mathematics, Science and English. Alex taught Academic Approach's summer 2011 SAT prep class at George Jackson Academy and will be teaching at the Lycée Francais during the 2011-2012 academic year. As a director and actor, Alex has performed in/worked with the Incubator Arts Project, the New York International Fringe Festival, and a number of dance/theatre companies throughout New York City. He tutors all sections of the ISEE, SSAT, SAT and ACT, as well as a variety of SAT II Subject tests.
^ 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 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 several years, he has taught junior and senior level Physics classes, as well as Biology to freshmen at Norwell High School. Additionally, he has spent 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 has extensive experience teaching the math portions of the SAT, ACT, SSAT; the science portion of the ACT; and academic science and math to students individually as well as in classroom settings.
^ Back to top of Boston tutorsPhil Cook holds his B.A. in History from Gordon College and his M.A. in Teaching History from Salem State College. A tenth and eleventh grade history teacher at Gloucester High School, Phil is an experienced teacher, tutor and coach. Phil also enjoys sports, music and movies. He lives in Beverly, Massachusetts with his wife, baby daughter and golden retriever.
^ Back to top of Boston tutorsBen holds a BA in Chemistry and Theology and an MA in Theology from Saint John's University in Collegeville, MN. During his undergraduate studies, Ben was a TA for general and organic chemistry and also tutored students in those subjects. Additionally, while at Saint John's, Ben volunteered as a tutor/mentor for the Fast Forward Youth Program (an after school/college prep program for Latino/a youth), Big Brothers/Big Sisters, and Saint Joseph's Parish. Currently, Ben is in his third year pursuing a PhD in Theology at Boston College. At Academic Approach, Ben tutors academic math and science and all sections of the SAT, ACT, SSAT and ISEE. He also tutors the math and science SAT II Subject Tests.
^ Back to top of Boston tutorsNancy Evans received her BA in English with honors from Bryn Mawr College and is just shy of receiving her M.Ed. in Higher Education from Harvard University. In fact, she recently received the Harvard University Graduate School of Education’s 2011 Intellectual Contribution/Faculty Tribute Award. Nancy has extensive experience teaching and mentoring students from elementary through high school, having taught SSAT, SAT, ACT, academic writing and college readiness courses at schools in New York, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. At Academic Approach, Nancy tutors all aspects of the SSAT and ISEE as well as the verbal sections of the SAT and ACT.
^ Back to top of Boston tutorsMary is originally from Tacoma, Washington but has lived in Massachusetts for twelve years. A 2002 Boston College Carroll School of Management graduate, Mary began her working career as an Auditor at PricewaterhouseCoopers. After two years there, Mary made a career change into teaching and began a Master's program at Simmons College in Boston. During her graduate studies, Mary spent time tutoring students from all over Massachusetts in the SAT and ACT. After finishing her Master's, Mary began teaching high school math at Framingham High School and has worked there for the past six years. She currently teaches AP Statistics, Geometry, and Pre-Calculus. With Academic Approach, Mary tutors the Verbal and Math portions of the ACT, SAT, SSAT and ISEE. In her free time, Mary coaches high school volleyball and enjoys playing soccer and running.
^ 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 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 tutorsBilly Jackson graduated cum laude from Westfield State College in 2006 with a BA in Mathematics and from Salem State College in 2010 with a MAT in Mathematics. He has learned most, though, from travelling to Guatemala to volunteer his teaching for impoverished children in Guatemala City. He grew up in Swampscott, MA and has taught high school mathematics for two years in the North Shore area. He currently is enjoying teaching at Bunker Hill Community College and enjoys watching the Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox in his free time. Billy teaches academic math as well as test preparation for the math sections of the SSAT, SAT, ACT, and ISEE.
^ Back to top of Boston tutorsMythri holds a Masters degree in Anthropology from Columbia University and a Bachelors degree in Classics and Anthropology from Georgetown University. She is currently writing her doctoral thesis in Cultural Anthropology at Columbia and completed her dissertation research with funding from the National Science Foundation. At Columbia, she was a teaching fellow, instructing undergraduates in culture, theory, media, and colonial studies. At Georgetown, she was a Latin tutor, working with high school and undergraduate students in all levels of language study. She has held positions at Sakhi for South Asian Women, Funders Concerned About AIDS, and Barnard College and is also a co-founder of Lanka Solidarity, a space of dialogue and writing on Sri Lanka. She has volunteered as an English and Math teacher with tsunami survivors in Sri Lanka and as an ESL instructor with recent immigrants in Washington, DC. With Academic Approach, Mythri tutors Latin, the verbal sections of the ACT and SAT and all sections of the ISEE and SSAT.
^ 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 tutorsTimothy graduated Magna Cum Laude from Boston College with a B.S. in Biology and is applying to medical school for 2013 matriculation. He has been tutoring for the last three years in the Greater Boston area, working with students ranging from 5th grade to college and graduate school. Timothy has a lot of outside volunteer experience working with children: he is a volunteer ambassador at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, a coordinator of Boston College’s annual “Festival of Friendship” that benefits special needs children, and a co-Founder of a program that provides free tutoring to cancer patients at Tufts Medical Center’s Floating Hospital. With Academic Approach, Timothy tutors all sections of the SAT, SAT, ISEE and SSAT, as well as academic math, chemistry, organic chemistry, physics and biology.
^ Back to top of Boston tutorsKaren holds an AB in Religion from Duke University, an MA in Old Testament (magna cum laude) from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and a PhD in Eastern Languages and Civilizations from Harvard University. She has taught courses at Boston College, Phillips Academy (Andover), Harvard University and St. Mary’s College of California. With Academic Approach, Karen tutors all aspects of the SSAT, ISEE, SAT and ACT. She also tutors the SAT II Literature and World History subject tests.
^ 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 tutorsAmod Lele has a PhD from Harvard in Asian religions, as well as an MS from Cornell in development sociology and a BA from McGill in urban geography. He has eight years of teaching experience, having taught freshman classes at Harvard, Cornell, Colorado College and Stonehill College. He lives in Cambridge with his wife. In his spare time he writes a blog in cross-cultural philosophy (loveofallwisdom.com).
^ 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 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 tutorsDavid holds a Bachelor's degree in English and Italian Studies from Wesleyan University. He has tutored both Italian and English at nearly all levels of learning. For the past two years he has also worked as a Course Assistant for Intermediate Italian at Wesleyan. Through Wesleyan, he continues to mentor former students remotely, and in Italian, as they venture off to study in Bologna. This spring, David was inducted into Connecticut's Gamma Chapter of the Phi Beta Kappa Society. At Academic Approach, David tutors all aspects of the SAT, ACT, ISEE, SSAT as well as the Literature and Italian SAT II Subject Tests.
^ Back to top of Boston tutorsEric holds a B.A. in English from Tufts University and an M.A. in English from Washington University. He has over ten years' experience in teaching and tutoring, having taught English and math for two years at Revere High School in Revere, MA, and undergraduate writing and literature for several years at Washington University where he also worked as a writing tutor. In 2004 he received an English Department Award for Excellence in Teaching from Washington University. At Academic Approach, Eric tutors academic English and all sections of the ACT, SAT, ISEE and SSAT.
^ 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 tutorsBailey Pickens received her BA in East Asian Languages and Civilizations from the University of Chicago, earning honors for her thesis on contemporary Japanese religious pilgrimage. While planning her graduate path, she runs, cooks, bakes, translates, and regularly gets lost in the greater Boston area. She has developed curriculum for and taught both the exploratory and high school credit portions of a summertime immersion Japanese-language program over the past several years. Bailey teaches Japanese as well as all sections of the ACT, SAT, ISEE and SSAT.
^ Back to top of Boston tutorsArlene holds a Masters degree in English literature from the University of New Hampshire and a BA in English from the College of the Holy Cross. She also earned a Masters degree in library science from Simmons College and worked in academic libraries for ten years, providing reference service and conducting instructional programs. She then switched careers, and is now an adjunct instructor of English at St. Anselm College as well as a published writer. Arlene is the author of "The College Student's Research Companion" and "Rachel Carson: A Biography" and has also contributed a number of essays to "The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives". At Academic Appraoch, Arlene tutors the verbal sections of ACT, SAT, ISEE and SSAT.
^ Back to top of Boston tutorsAdam holds a B.A. in Political Science from Yale University. Within the field of Political Science, he specializes in the interaction between security and international development. He spent six months of 2010-2011 in Kabul, Afghanistan where he did research and writing work for an Afghan-run organization. Adam was a National Merit semi-finalist and an AP Scholar with Distinction at BB&N, and he lived and studied in Italy for a semester in high school. He has experience tutoring high school students in writing, history and English. With Academic Approach, Adam tutors Latin, math through Pre-calculus and all sections of the ACT, SAT, ISEE and SSAT.
^ Back to top of Boston tutorsCynthia graduated cum laude from UMASS Amherst with a BA in English and Early Childhood Education. She also received her M.Ed. with honors from Salem State College in Early Childhood Education, and her CAGS in Educational Leadership with high honors. During her CAGS, she completed a two-year action research study on parent involvement in education. Cynthia has been a classroom teacher for ten years, and currently acts as the lead teacher at an elementary school in Melrose. In addition to teaching, Cynthia has extensive experience working one-on-one with middle and high school students; she has tutored in a variety of subjects and test formats for over nine years. Cynthia teaches all sections of the SSAT, SAT, and ACT.
^ Back to top of Boston tutorsMatthew is an Ed.D. candidate at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. A licensed attorney, Matthew also holds a J.D. from the Columbia University School of Law, and an A.B. in Romance Languages and History from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. While at Columbia, Matthew tutored middle and high school students in English grammar and writing, history (American, European and World), LSAT prep and Spanish grammar/conversation. He also has experience teaching ESL to native Spanish speakers. At Academic Approach, Matthew tutors the verbal side of the SAT/ACT and all sections of the ISEE/SSAT.
^ 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 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 also completed 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. Adding to her accolades, Natalie was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship this spring. At Academic Approach, she teaches all sections of the ISEE/SSAT and ACT/SAT, as well as a variety of academic subjects.
^ Back to top of Boston tutorsAlyssa holds a B.S. in Physics and a B.A. in Spanish from Pepperdine University. At Pepperdine, she was a member of the Sigma Delta Pi Spanish Honor Society and graduated Magna Cum Laude. She began her career in education as a tutor for high school and middle school students, focusing particularly on math, science, and study skills. Later she taught English as a second language in Taiyuan, China where she helped students as young as age four up through adults improve their English fluency. with Academic Approach, Alyssa teaches all sections of the SAT, ACT, ISEE and SSAT as well as a variety of SAT II subject tests.
^ Back to top of Boston tutorsMatt Waldron is a Summa Cum Laude graduate of Northeastern University with a Bachelor of Science degree in the Music Industry. He is a co-founder and the chief operating officer of Pine Knot Capital Management LLC, an investment advisory company focused on intrinsic value realization in common equity. Additionally, Matt works as a freelance commercial music/audio composer and producer and holds certificates from Berklee College of Music in Studio Production and in Music and Sound for Film, Television and Video Games. Matt lives in Wellesley and tutors all sections of the SAT, ACT, ISEE and SSAT.
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