Sarah completed her Bachelor of Arts in Language and Cultural Studies and Plant Biology at Sarah Lawrence College. She boasts five years of professional teaching experience but began her tutoring journey early in her high school career, fueled by the gratifying experience of witnessing students grasp challenging material.
Sarah's enthusiasm for tutoring stems from her belief that any subject can be enjoyable when presented in an appealing way to students. She is proficient in a diverse range of subjects, including K–6 math, all levels of biology (including AP), reading, writing, English Language Arts (ELA), ESL, AP Language and Literature, creative writing, and SAT reading and writing.
At the core of Sarah's tutoring philosophy is the empowerment of students through consistent encouragement. She believes students have been programmed to fear failure instead of embracing it as a part of the learning process. So, she takes a unique approach by celebrating mistakes, considering them stepping stones for growth rather than obstacles. Sarah's adaptability in the face of these stepping stones shines in her lessons, where she breaks down complex problems into manageable pieces for better understanding. Beyond being informative, Sarah’s lessons are also highly engaging; she connects academic concepts with students' interests to keep them motivated.
Sarah is adept at guiding students towards becoming confident and independent learners. Instead of simply providing them with answers, she equips students with the tools and information necessary to independently solve problems, fostering a sense of self-assurance.
Besides tutoring, Sarah is deeply interested in plant biology. She even worked as a research assistant at the New York Botanical Garden on an algae-based project! She also enjoys reading, creative writing, and spending time with her cat, named President. When he misbehaves, she likes to pretend to be a member of the Secret Service—Mister President, don't climb on the fence!
Zachary earned his Bachelor of Arts in English Language and Literature on a full-ride scholarship at the University of Florida, followed by his JD at Cornell Law School. With over a decade of tutoring experience, Zachary has also worked as a college and law school admissions counselor, providing him with a comprehensive understanding of how to support students in achieving their aspirations.
Zachary's life was forever changed by the influence of exceptional tutors, leading him to believe that it only takes one person to change someone’s life trajectory. Driven by this conviction, he is committed to offering the same transformative guidance to students. He specializes in SAT prep and AP and IB courses, including human geography.
As a tutor, Zachary is easy-going, patient, ambitious, and creative. He recognizes the limitations of conventional learning models, especially for neurodivergent and differently-abled individuals. His teaching methodology goes beyond identifying knowledge gaps; it aims to reprogram behavioral routines. Zachary firmly believes that 99% of academic success is rooted in ordinary habits. He also acknowledges the emotional aspect of the learning process, understanding that feelings of shame or guilt can impede meaningful progress. Therefore, he adopts a holistic approach to academic and standardized testing improvement.
Zachary's tutoring methods are grounded in scientifically proven learning principles, ensuring their effectiveness. He emphasizes Socratic dialogue, cognitive reframing, and the importance of taking breaks. To keep sessions engaging, he incorporates humor, personal anecdotes, introspection, and contextualization. Zachary also excels at customizing sessions for each student, always taking the time to understand their unique profile before diving in, as he knows that a one-size-fits-all approach rarely works.
In his free time, Zachary enjoys playing video games, doodling, cooking, learning foreign languages, watching movies and TV shows, and collecting consumer product packaging from around the world.
Samantha completed her Bachelor of Arts at the University of Florida, her Master of Education at Nova Southeastern University, and her Doctor of Education at Grand Canyon University. She boasts over 20 years of teaching experience: 10 years teaching secondary English for one of the 50 largest districts in the United States and 12 years teaching at the college level. She has created over thirty-five unique college courses, edited high school English test preparation textbooks for Barron's Educational Series, and has worked as a full-time staff writer for a newspaper. Her interest in tutoring stems from a profound belief in the transformative power of education.
Having been inspired by several exceptional teachers in her own journey, Samantha aims to pay it forward by acting as a mentor and guide for students. Her tutoring expertise spans SAT, ACT, and HSPT prep, as well as English, reading, writing, communications, ethics, and humanities.
Samantha's teaching style is highly personable; she values establishing relationships with students and conversing with them on a relatable level. Infusing humor into her teaching, she strives to create an engaging and enjoyable learning environment. Central to her teaching philosophy is the emphasis on connection, especially in subjects like English, which she believes can be easily connected to students' interests. By understanding students' interests, hobbies, and learning styles, Samantha ensures she can make connections to course content, even if it may seem dull or mundane, leading to those crucial "light bulb moments."
Drawing on her extensive education and experience, Samantha offers a nuanced perspective on learning and employs effective teaching strategies to help students achieve their goals. She excels at forming genuine bonds with students, providing them with agency in their learning to foster intrinsic motivation. Samantha's creativity shines through her ability to adapt to learning challenges quickly by presenting concepts in fresh and innovative ways.
When she’s not tutoring or teaching, Samantha creates art out of recycled beach debris, donated materials, trash, seashells, and just about anything she can find. She also loves spending time with her three dogs and husband, traveling (especially on cruises), and reading.
Foundation Learning’s math tutors have teaching experience or hold a college degree in math.
Yes, parent involvement is always welcomed! Our tutors always aim to keep families and students on the same page to minimize confusion and maximize progress and open communication.
We pair students with their best-fit tutor using the information supplied in the intake form and input from families and students. Our math tutoring programs focus on rectifying areas where students struggle before helping them excel in key math concepts. Tutors are selected based on family/student needs, preferences, and goals.
The tutoring package best suited for your child depends on the level of support they need, what specific concepts they need help with, and the schedule that works best for you and them. Unsure how much support your child needs? Speak with us today to learn more about your options!