Kate

I am a certified Science, Mathematics, and Psychology teacher with over 15 years of experience teaching and tutoring online (and in-person) to students in Science, Math, and ELA ranging from 1st grade through adulthood. I have a bachelor's degree in Biology from Bryn Mawr College and a Master of Arts in Secondary Education from Rockhurst University.

Tutoring Style

I am an enthusiastic and empathetic teacher who prides myself on meeting each individual student in their own unique place. I excel at using real-world metaphors to bring concepts alive for students. I like to use questioning to help clarify concepts, and always work to improve students' confidence in their own skills and abilities.

Success Story

Science

I have worked with many science students who were paralyzed by the thought of independent lab work and genuine inquiry. They were so afraid of making mistakes or facing criticism that they lost their natural sense of curiosity, leaving them overwhelmed and disengaged.

I create a supportive environment where making mistakes is part of the learning process. By asking gentle guiding questions and giving students the freedom to approach problems creatively, I help them move past their fears. I love using relatable metaphors to help scientific concepts become more approachable.

One of my science students, in particular, flourished under this approach. Her newfound confidence and capability in self-driven inquiry led her to pursue an Engineering degree. She eventually secured a job at a leading aircraft company in our city and was invited back to lecture current students, a true testament to her outstanding growth.

Math

I had a student who would completely shut down when faced with a difficult math problem. He felt lost and didn't know where to begin. After a few sessions, I realized that his struggle was not just with the math concepts themselves, but also with reading comprehension. I began by breaking down complex word problems into small, manageable chunks, which helped him build confidence in his ability to tackle each step. As he grew more comfortable with the process, he learned to see challenging problems not as an obstacle, but as a solvable puzzle. By the time he graduated, he had become a peer mentor to other students. He could complete most of his advanced assignments with minimal assistance, only requiring a quick check-in on the trickier parts. He had evolved from a struggling student to an independent and capable scholar.

ELA

One of my most memorable students was a remarkable woman in her eighties. She was working towards her high school diploma to set a powerful example for her grandchildren, but her high personal standards and sophisticated questions challenged me to be my best. Rather than just helping her complete her English assignments, I worked to meet her high intellectual curiosity, engaging with her advanced questions and helping her to dig beyond the superficial meaning of the text to understand the author's purpose, symbolism, and themes. She never settled for anything less than her best, and I was honored to help her on that journey. She eventually graduated from high school with honors, and chose to enroll in college immediately.

Social Studies

One of my favorite success stories is my first AP Psychology student. This student had always been a solid science student, but I saw her confidence and her abilities grow exponentially as she worked through her AP course. I saw her go from being afraid to be wrong, to enjoying being challenged academically and becoming empowered by the process. Today she works at the National Institutes of Health, and she told me that her love for science first blossomed when she took that course with me.