Natalia graduated summa cum laude from Vanderbilt University with a Bachelor of Science in English/Language Arts Teacher Education. With a passion for student success, she has been tutoring for over 12 years. Her experience includes teaching middle school English language arts for nine years, instructing English as a second language online to students in China for two years, tutoring for an afterschool program for two years, assisting adult students with high school equivalency exams for nearly a decade, and teaching an ACT class in college.
Natalie's passion for tutoring stems from her belief that personalized learning is difficult to achieve in a classroom setting. Through tutoring, she can adapt her approach to meet the specific strengths and needs of each student. She specializes in ACT and SAT tutoring.
Natalie keeps her tutoring sessions light to make the learning and testing process less stressful. She aims to create a warm, welcoming, and comfortable learning environment, even through a computer screen. By breaking down complex concepts into manageable ideas, Natalie helps students grasp challenging material with confidence and ease. Leveraging diagnostics and data analysis, she pinpoints areas of potential growth for each student. She expertly selects appropriate challenges that maintain student motivation while ensuring they experience success and growth without feeling overwhelmed or defeated.
Natalie’s strengths as a tutor lie in her ability to make SAT and ACT concepts relatable and engaging for students. By tapping into their interests, she helps them form meaningful connections to the material. She's also adept at helping students overcome learning obstacles by recognizing when they need a break and shifting focus to a more manageable topic. This allows students to return to challenging areas with a fresh perspective. Natalie is committed to understanding the root cause of any obstacles students face. Once identified, she works diligently to untangle these barriers, providing tailored support and scaffolding to help students navigate them effectively.
Some fun facts about Natalie are that her hero is Dolly Parton, she's been a dedicated Taylor Swift fan for years, she showcased her musical talents by playing the flute in high school band, and to add to the harmony, her husband is a musician. Vanderbilt was her dream school, and she cherished every moment as a Commodore, forming lifelong bonds with friends she’s still close with today.
Francis earned his Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Maryland. He started his tutoring journey when a friend's brother sought his help for SAT preparation, impressed by Francis's perfect score in the math section. Since then, Francis has continued to enjoy and actively engage in tutoring.
Francis's passion for tutoring originates from his own educational experiences. As a student, he wished for teachers to explain concepts in a simple way, using more visual aids, similar to how one would explain a concept to a 5-year-old. Now, as a tutor, he strives to offer this kind of accessible learning experience to students who may be struggling in the classroom. He specializes in tutoring for the ACT, SAT, SSAT, ISEE, and AP.
Sebastian's tutoring philosophy is grounded in the belief that everyone is capable of success. He tailors his approach to the students' pace, employing straightforward language to enhance understanding. Sebastian identifies the root of the problem, breaks down complex concepts, and empowers students through consistent positive reinforcement. He aims to uplift students when they’re feeling overwhelmed and create an environment where questions are encouraged, curiosity is celebrated, and every interaction is an opportunity for mutual growth.
One of Sebastian’s greatest strengths as a tutor is his ability to relate challenging concepts to the real world. This provides students with a greater sense of agency in their learning and fosters a stronger connection to the material.
In his free time, Francis enjoys powerlifting, hanging out with friends, watching sports, specifically the NFL and NBA, and watching Netflix. He is also classically trained in piano and cello.
Leah graduated with a double major in Mathematics and Writing from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. During her time at MIT, she won multiple writing awards and was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society. She also served as a teaching assistant for calculus and differential equations, where she conducted office hours, led recitations, and provided additional problem-solving sessions to help students grasp difficult concepts. One of her most notable contributions was co-developing and co-leading a rapid prototyping workshop aimed at cultivating problem-solving skills and facilitating quick iteration and testing of solutions. With eight years of teaching and tutoring experience working with over 100 students, Leah looks forward to building a supportive relationship with Foundation Learning students and helping them take charge of their education.
Leah’s passion for tutoring is rooted in the profound satisfaction she experiences when witnessing students' transformative "ah-ha!" moments as they conquer concepts they once found daunting. She finds it deeply fulfilling to guide students through challenges and see their knowledge and confidence grow. She specializes in tutoring for the SAT and ACT and for AP calculus, pre-calculus, trigonometry, and algebra.
Leah’s tutoring approach prioritizes student-centered learning, fostering critical thinking, and promoting active engagement. She places a strong emphasis on problem-solving and instills a growth mindset, urging students to ask questions, challenge assumptions, and think creatively. She aims to create a supportive and inclusive atmosphere where students feel empowered to become independent learners, equipped with the skills and confidence to excel academically and beyond. With a commitment to transparency, she actively seeks feedback on her teaching methods and consistently offers positive reinforcement and constructive feedback to students. She sees setbacks as opportunities for growth, working closely with students to pinpoint the root of their challenges and explore alternative learning strategies, including taking breaks when necessary.
Acknowledging that no two learners are alike, Leah excels at adapting her teaching methods to match individual learning styles. By incorporating hands-on activities and real-world examples tailored to students' interests, she ensures optimal engagement and understanding. She also prioritizes granting students autonomy and choice, empowering them to take ownership of their learning journey.
In addition to being a tutor, Leah is a versatile artist. She is proficient in pottery-making, screen printing, and digital art. She also aims to hone her skills in tufting and sewing to make her own rug clothing.
Foundation Learning’s physics tutors have extensive tutoring experience or hold physics/science-related degrees. Our tutors are knowledgeable, friendly, and confident.
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.
Yes, Foundation Learning ensures families, students, and tutors stay on the same page using our progress tracker. Families can check the tracker to gauge student progress and view tutor comments.
We always start by learning more about students’ needs, educational goals, commitments, and preferences. Learning more about students helps us match students to a tutor we think will work best with them.
The best package for you is the one that best fits your needs and goals. We work with students needing varying levels of support. If you’re unsure which plan is best for you, our team is happy to help you explore your options!