Our Team
- All
- Department of Education
- East Coast Team
- Executive Leadership
- Instructor Management
- One-On-One Tutoring
- Resource Management
- School Programs
- Executive Leadership |
- One-On-One Tutoring |
Matthew Pietrafetta
Matthew Pietrafetta founded Academic Approach in 2001 and currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer.…
- Executive Leadership |
- Resource Management |
Varun Aggarwal
Varun Aggarwal currently serves as the Vice President of Operations. In this role, Varun leads…
- Curriculum |
- Department of Education |
Amanda Aisen
Amanda Aisen has worked with Academic Approach since 2010. After serving as an Instructor and…
- One-On-One Tutoring |
Denise Alagna
Denise Alagna currently serves as the Associate Director of One-on-One Tutoring in the Clarendon Hills…
- School Programs |
Anna Brandes
Anna Brandes is currently the Director of Professional Development on the School Programs team at…
- Department of Education |
- Instructor Management |
Sarah Burrichter
Sarah Burrichter serves as an Instructional Manager for School Programs. In this role, Sarah provides…
- One-On-One Tutoring |
Andrew Ferguson
Andrew Ferguson currently serves as the Director of Client Services as well as an ACT…
- Department of Education |
- Instructor Management |
Brian Forster
Brian Forster has worked at Academic Approach since 2015, initially as a one-on-one tutor and…
- Department of Education |
- Instructor Management |
Katie Hammen
Katie Hammen currently serves as the Associate Director of One-on-One Tutoring. In this role, Katie…
- Resource Management |
- Technology |
Ivan Heemskerk
Ivan Heemskerk currently works as a Software Engineer for Academic Approach and is based in…
- One-On-One Tutoring |
Ben Hendren
Ben Hendren currently serves as an Associate Director of One-on-One tutoring. Ben joined the Academic…
- School Programs |
Sadaf Javaid
Sadaf Javaid is Director of School Engagement at Academic Approach. Sadaf joined the team in…
- Executive Leadership |
- Resource Management |
Brad Kessler
Bradley Kessler serves as Chief Strategy Officer and General Counsel. In this role, Bradley participates…
- Resource Management |
- Technology |
James Kriegsmann
James Kriegsmann is currently the Director of Data Management. In this role, he primarily ensures…
- Resource Management |
- Technology |
Brian McAuliffe
Brian McAuliffe currently serves as a Software Developer. In this role, Brian develops new features…
- East Coast Team |
- One-On-One Tutoring |
Ian Milliken
Ian Milliken is an Associate Director of One-on-One Tutoring in New York City. He currently…
- School Programs |
Meagan Moore
Meagan Moore currently serves as the Manager of School Programs. In this role, Meagan works…
- Curriculum |
- Department of Education |
Hayley Notter
Hayley Notter joined Academic Approach in 2015 as a Curriculum Developer Team Lead and currently…
- Department of Education |
- Instructor Management |
Jeremy Palmer
Jeremy Palmer currently serves as a Director of One-on-One Tutoring. Since joining the team in…
- One-On-One Tutoring |
Carla Pedersen
Carla Pedersen currently serves as the Regional Director of One-on-One Tutoring. In this role, she…
- Finance |
- Resource Management |
Mary Petrassi
Mary Petrassi is the Accounting Manager and has been with Academic Approach for over five…
- Operations |
- Resource Management |
Jasmine Rahman
Jasmine Rahman is currently the Program Administrator at the Academic Approach Clarendon Hills office. Jasmine…
- Curriculum |
- Department of Education |
TJ Sassorossi
TJ Sassorossi currently serves as the Director of Curriculum and Assessment. In this position, TJ…
- Human Resources |
- Resource Management |
Phyllis Watson
Phyllis Watson is the Human Resource Manager at Academic Approach. In this role, she handles…
- One-On-One Tutoring |
Wade Weeldreyer
Wade Weeldreyer currently serves as an Associate Director of One-on-One Tutoring in the North Shore…
- Resource Management |
Sean Wesslund
Sean Wesslund serves as Academic Approach’s Recruitment Manager. In this role, Sean oversees the organization’s…
Innovators
We understand that all great things start with a groundbreaking idea/strategy and are followed with diligent and collaborative execution and insight.
Explorers
We relentlessly pursue the knowledge needed to shape and influence student and school performance.
Problem-Solvers
We are dedicated to finding concrete and actionable solutions to the education challenges facing students. We embrace difficulties with optimism and teamwork.
Organizers
We prioritize all our activities around what’s best for students and schools and organize our activities to turn great ideas into reality.
Builders
We are committed to the success of the mission. We believe nothing should be done without purpose and a focus on the future.
Collaborators
We collaborate with schools to understand the unique needs of their students so that we may tailor a customized solution to drive their student achievement.