David graduated with Summa Cum Laude honors from the College of the Ozarks, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art. He has been actively involved in the education realm since 1999; he began tutoring in 2005 and successfully owned and operated his tutoring business, HELP Tutoring, from 2009 to 2020. He has tutored approximately 500 students over the last couple of decades. David’s enduring commitment to tutoring stems from his joy in witnessing students succeed and the realization that tutoring is a powerful avenue to facilitate that success.
David specializes in tutoring at all levels of math, up to Calculus 1 and SAT and ACT prep. Motivated by a passion for inspiring students and helping them unlock their potential, he strongly believes that having a caring mentor invested in students' success yields benefits beyond the academic realm.
As a tutor, David actively engages in his students' educational journeys. His genuine care for their success is evident from the start, as he assists them in charting a clear path to achievement. Employing a direct and uncomplicated tutoring style, David effectively identifies what truly contributes to student success and what doesn't. He identifies the root of students' challenges and fills in any learning gaps. Beyond immediate academic concerns, he emphasizes the broader perspective, aiding students in recognizing the significance of their education—whether it be meeting graduation requirements or acing standardized tests. David ensures students grasp the real-world applications of these concepts and the enduring advantages of mastering them for long-term success.
David excels at customizing his tutoring approach to suit the age and specific needs of his students. He has discovered that maintaining a blend of casual yet professional interaction is most effective, particularly when working with teenagers.
When he’s not tutoring, David enjoys spending time with his wife and six kids. He also enjoys playing Madden football and has been DJing at various gigs for the past eight years.
Mark earned a Bachelor’s degree from Cornell University. His passion for helping students led him to become an admissions coach, aiming to make the college application process less stressful and daunting. Professionally, he has served as a consultant at IBM.
Mark finds coaching to be dynamic and exciting. He believes it's enriching for both himself and the students; he helps ease their stress while they reflect, ask tough questions, and grow through the process.
As a coach, Mark compares himself to a therapist; to help students achieve success, he aims to understand each one deeply. By doing so, he can help match them with the perfect college and enable them to build a more comprehensive application narrative. If a student is involved in a club, Mike enjoys learning about what inspired that interest. If students play sports, he determines whether that interest is driven by competitiveness or a desire for community. Mark believes every application should paint a clear picture so that the admissions board gains a sincere understanding of the student.
Marks believes that inculcating a growth mindset is incredibly important. He emphasizes that nothing is permanent and reminds students that their starting point isn't fixed; improvement is always possible with effort.
In his free time, Mark enjoys going to the gym, long-distance running, recreational tennis, reading, writing short stories, and spending time with his two pet bunnies, Luna and Benny!
Jane completed her Bachelor of Science from the University of Pennsylvania and is an MBA candidate at Harvard Business School. She has mentored students through the college application process, helping students with college match and fit, career exploration, financial aid and more. Her guidance has led students to gain admission to prestigious schools, including Cornell, UC Berkeley, and UPenn. Professionally, Jane has served as a consultant at Boston Consulting Group.
Jane is passionate about paying forward the support she received to help other students navigate the complex college application process. She aims to make a difference by empowering young lives and maximizing their chances of achieving a top education. She finds it deeply fulfilling to see students achieve their goals and become better-equipped citizens of the world through her guidance.
As a coach, Jane takes a collaborative approach, actively listening to and empathizing with students. She prioritizes trust, self-empowerment, and individualized guidance tailored to each student's needs and goals. By using project trackers with deadlines, she ensures students stay accountable and on track. Understanding how challenging the process is, Jane breaks down the application into bite-sized steps and continuously encourages students with words of affirmation, celebrating every milestone.
In her free time, Jane enjoys reading, golfing, meditating, people-watching, cafe-hopping, traveling, and music. She was even part of the same college a cappella group as John Legend!
Our chemistry tutors have substantial teaching/tutoring experience or hold a science-related degree. All our tutors are chemistry content experts.
Yes, Foundation Learning aims to make it easy for parents to check their child’s progress using our progress tracker. This tracker shows you precisely what your child is working on and allows you to see tutor comments and feedback after sessions.
Our matching process is based on what we learn about students, including their needs, strengths, and aspirations. We aim to pair students with the tutor we think best aligns with what level of support they need and the areas they want to improve in most.
The best program depends on what students and families aim to accomplish through our programs and what level of support they’re looking for. If you’re not sure which package is best, our team is here to answer your questions!