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Carla earned her Bachelor of Arts in English Language and Literature from the University of Texas and has accumulated over a decade of teaching and tutoring experience, boasting several thousand success stories and counting. Her passion for teaching is rooted in her desire to support individuals and help them realize their dreams, emphasizing the importance of early intervention in the learning process. For Carla, elevating students, nurturing a lifelong love of learning, fostering a growth mindset, and instilling the confidence that achievement brings are all illuminating aspects of being an educator.

Specializing in English Language Arts (ELAR) and writing, Carla's commitment to student success is evident in her unwavering dedication. She believes that being a cheerleader for students requires energy and an unwavering desire to help others improve, even in challenging circumstances.

As a certified teacher with both classroom and online teaching experience, Carla’s teaching methods stand out. Fun is a serious component of her tutoring philosophy. She believes in removing strict rules and pressure from the learning process, allowing learners to enjoy and retain knowledge. Celebrating her learners' milestones, driven by hard work and surpassing their goals, brings her immense joy. Witnessing their confident strides into the next phase of their academic journey fulfills her, and she infinitely believes in the promise of every individual she supports.

Carla excels at surpassing students' expectations and accelerating their progress beyond traditional timelines. Her methodology is grounded in data-driven techniques, scientifically validated methods, and best practices. Understanding the impact of emotion on learning, she adopts a lively and engaging teaching approach, transforming lessons into enjoyable games, embracing mistakes with laughter, and sustaining a dynamic learning atmosphere. Confronting challenges head-on, Carla employs innovative solutions, providing words of wisdom and encouragement during difficulties, simplifying intricate concepts, and addressing mental barriers. Her classroom experience has sharpened her ability to keenly observe struggling learners, while her one-on-one interactions have equipped her with valuable insights into what it takes to keep students motivated. 

In her free time, Carla enjoys reconnecting with nature. She lives near the beach with her husband and dog, where they enjoy camping, fishing, dolphin watching, and taking pictures of the animals they encounter. She and her husband also volunteer with the National Park Service at the Padre Island National Seashore as part of a rescue and nesting program for the critically endangered Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle.

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.

Eraka completed her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a focus on Legal Studies from Sam Houston State University. She is an experienced elementary school leader with a demonstrated history of working in the education management industry. Her journey into tutoring began as a means of giving back to others.

Eraka's tutoring passion is fueled by her desire to help students reach their academic aspirations, particularly in gaining admission to their dream colleges. Specializing in ACT and SAT preparation, she understands the pivotal role these exams play in the college application process.

As a tutor, Eraka excels at fostering an encouraging and interactive learning environment that enhances student retention. She adeptly meets students at their individual learning levels, ensuring personalized attention. 

One of Eraka’s standout qualities as a tutor is her knack for making lessons relatable. Leveraging her outgoing personality, she establishes rapport with students by connecting over shared interests, which she seamlessly integrates into her lessons.

Outside of tutoring, Eraka is a major Marvel fan and enjoys being creative.