Learn Lifelong Skills For Academic Success With Our Study Skills Program

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!

Bria is a distinguished alumna of the University of California, Berkeley, earning both a  Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts degrees. While at UC Berkeley, she served as a mentor and application guide for students within TAMID.

Bria intimately understands the stress and uncertainty of the college application process. As an only child, she lacked a role model to turn to for advice, ultimately navigating the process without the guidance she now provides. This personal experience fuels her passion to be that guiding light for others.

As a coach, Bria excels at being supportive and giving constructive feedback. When editing resumes or essays, she always tries to do what she calls a compliment sandwich – start with a compliment, add what needs to be changed/fixed, and then end with another compliment. Bria knows criticism can sometimes come off as harsh or offensive, even if it is not meant to be, so she found this is a good way to get the message across and have students feel good about themselves and their writing.

When working with students who are hitting a learning block,  Bria uses positive reinforcement and encouragement to remind them of their end goal and that all their hard work will pay off. She is always optimistic, outgoing, kind, compassionate, and empathetic.

Outside of counseling Bria is a travel agent as a side hustle because she is passionate about travel and helping others travel, too. She’s been fortunate enough to visit 26 countries so far! When she’s not working or traveling, she loves to cook and bake, hike and be in nature, spend time with friends, watch TV, paint, and do puzzles.

Sophia completed her Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry with a minor in Social and Economic Justice at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She also completed her Master of Public Health at UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health and is an MD candidate at UNC Chapel Hill School of Medicine. Sophia has nine years of tutoring experience and has tutored over 50 students. She has also served as a teaching assistant for chemistry and calculus courses, helping students grasp complex concepts and achieve their academic goals. Her ongoing commitment to tutoring is fueled by her passion for science and desire to empower others through education. 

Having experienced the transformative power of education herself, Sophia considers it a gift she is passionate about sharing. She specializes in ACT and SAT tutoring, chemistry at all levels, including AP and IB, and pre-health courses. 

Sophia's tutoring approach is rooted in the Socratic method, where she focuses on nurturing both confidence and curiosity. She assumes the roles of a supportive coach and an enthusiastic cheerleader and supplements student learning by consistently asking thoughtful questions.

Sophia’s greatest strengths as a tutor are her intuition and resourcefulness. Sophia adeptly reads body language, ensures breaks are taken as needed, and incorporates mindfulness into her lessons to help students reset and fully engage with the material. Equipped with a diverse set of tools, she not only facilitates academic success but also strives to instill genuine enthusiasm for the subjects.

In her free time, Sophia enjoys shopping, playing basketball, cooking new dishes, and collecting elephants.