IB Program and Exam Support: Actionable Prep, Reinvented

Hannah earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Pennsylvania before obtaining a Master of Science from Johns Hopkins University. With extensive experience in student guidance, including five years as a high school mathematics teacher and tutor and teaching college bridge courses to high school graduates, Hannah brings a wealth of knowledge to her coaching role.

As a classroom teacher, Hannah built interpersonal, communication, and problem-solving skills while providing high-quality support to students, their families, and colleagues. After constantly answering college and financial aid questions, she realized her passion for counseling students toward their higher education goals. 

As a coach, Hannah loves getting to know students holistically to understand their interests and passions and help uplift those skills. She is a cheerleader and motivator, believing in students even when they don't believe in themselves. Recognizing the anxiety and overwhelm that can accompany the admissions process, she aims to alleviate stress and always lends a listening ear when students need to vent. One of her go-to mentoring methods for helping students manage tasks is the Pomodoro Technique: 25 minutes of focused work, followed by a 5-minute break, with a longer 30-minute break every 90 minutes. This approach allows her to help students break down large tasks into manageable, bite-sized chunks.

Hannah is excited to support students in the admissions process and ensure they submit compelling applications to schools where they can thrive and contribute to a diverse school community!

In her free time, Hannah enjoys being outdoors as much as possible, where she rock climbs, runs, skateboards, hikes, and surfs. She lived in Hawaii for three and a half years and learned how to surf there. Now, she surfs in a wetsuit in the freezing cold water of New York City at Rockaways Beach! She is also an avid reader, puzzle-solver, and cook.

Alison completed her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Linguistics from Columbia College before completing a Master of Arts in Music, Science, and Technology at Stanford University. She has around five years of tutoring experience and has played an integral role in the educational journeys of numerous students, supporting them through everything from test prep to college essays. She began tutoring out of a genuine passion for sharing her knowledge and intellectual interests with others.

Alison acknowledges the privilege of having had exceptional teachers who inspired, enriched, and challenged her. This profound influence fuels her passion for tutoring, as she aims to provide similar support to other students on their learning journeys. She also learns a lot from students and sincerely appreciates their perspectives on the world. Alison specializes in SAT prep, with an emphasis on the Reading and Writing sections, AP courses in languages such as English, Spanish, and French, and other subjects.

As a tutor, Alison is energetic, enthusiastic, and highly perceptive. She tailors her approach to meet each student at their unique level, crafting engaging learning experiences based on their interests. With great care, she endeavors to understand the world from their perspective. Alison's goal is to empower her students rather than simply instruct them. She guides them by pointing out directions rather than leading the way, fostering the development of their cognitive abilities. 

One of Alison’s greatest strengths as a tutor is her ability to guide students through learning blocks. She believes it's very important to approach learning blocks from a stance of curiosity rather than judgment. The academic world can feel very high-stakes, and fear of embarrassment or failure can make the block feel even more intractable, like a knot that grows harder to untangle when more tension is applied. She approaches conversations about learning blocks very much like she would approach a real knot: first, she takes the tension off. Then, she rotates the problem into three dimensions to identify where the thread is lost and what alternative approaches or knowledge might provide leverage. Her ultimate goal in this iterative process of examination, gentle experimentation, and gradual loosening is to help students approach these moments as puzzles rather than roadblocks, fostering metacognitive troubleshooting skills that enhance learning and resilience.

In her free time, Alison is a novice knitter and macramé hobbyist. She also practices aerial skills and is learning how to play the mandolin.

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.