Our Team

At Academic Approach since 2010

Amanda Aisen

Chief Education Officer

Amanda Aisen has worked with Academic Approach since 2010. After serving as an Instructor and Associate Director for one-on-one services, Amanda began working with the curriculum team in 2011, leading the research and development efforts to design Academic Approach’s world-class curriculum. In 2012, Amanda also took on the role as one of the Directors of the School Programs team, where she served as a partner to school leaders to improve college readiness and student achievement in schools across the country. Currently, Amanda serves as Academic Approach’s Chief Education Officer, where she ensures the curriculum, instructors, and practices of our team provide the best educational opportunities for students and schools.

Amanda earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Psychology from the University of Chicago. She then went on to teach eighth grade on Chicago’s south side while completing her Master of Arts in Teaching from Dominican University’s School of Education. Through her work with students in Chicago’s schools, Amanda ensured her students improved their college readiness and were prepared for greater academic challenges. Through her ongoing work with teachers, she continues to not only improve student performance, but also to raise the bar for rigor in diverse classrooms.

Academic Approach Tutoring and Test Prep | Blue logo for Chicago Public Schools featuring silhouettes of two children and a graduate in a cap and gown inside a circle, with the text "Chicago Public Schools" to the right.

Major Changes to Chicago Public School Testing

CPS Moves to PreACT 9 Secure for Selective Enrollment Testing THIS FALL. 

If you want to learn more about these changes and how Academic Approach can help, CLICK HERE

ACT Scoring Error:
School Day Testers Impacted

2026–27 ACT Registration Is Open

Popular ACT testing sites fill quickly.

Start with a free ACT diagnostic and personalized consultation from Academic Approach to build the right testing timeline and prep plan for your student.

FREE WEBINAR

Enhanced ACT:
What Families Need to Know

With Matthew Pietrafetta, CEO & Founder
DATE
June 10
TIME
7PM CST
FORMAT
Live on Zoom
Days
Hours
Minutes
Seconds

Whether your student took the PreACT as a sophomore, the ACT as a junior, or is preparing to test soon, this session will help you navigate the new test with confidence.

Can't make it live? Register anyway and we'll send the recording.

Hey — we've seen you around.

That tells us you’re serious about your student’s future.

So are we. Let’s stop circling and start a real conversation.

Chicago Public High School Applications open now!