Blake has been a tutor since 2015. An honors student and National Merit Scholar, he started working with his peers to improve their SAT scores.

With a passion for developing confident learners, Peggy Khoury brings two decades of MCPS experience to her tutoring sessions. She earned her Master's Degree in Math Education from the University of Maryland and has a career marked by instructional leadership. As a former Math Content Specialist in middle school and Math Content Coach in elementary school, Peggy Khoury excels at understanding how students learn, focusing on building deep comprehension and foundation of the standard rather than just memorization.

James Knuuttila’s career has been profoundly shaped by his passion for connecting people to high level mathematics. Over the course of the last 15 years, he has had the privilege of working as a mathematics teacher from grade 5 to AP Calculus, while also tutoring college level mathematics.

Driven by an authentic passion for supporting K–12 students in reaching their full potential, Anna-Marie earned a B.S. in Elementary Education and an M.Ed. in Reading Education from Towson University. For the past 25 years, she has been a dedicated Learning Specialist and Reading Specialist with Orton-Gillingham certification, with experience in both public and independent schools.

Beth Crowley has worked in education, journalism and communications for over 25 years. When she’s not tutoring, she teaches English and runs a journalism and writing program for high school students.

Catherine Murray received her bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education and Special Education at York College of PA. She recently earned her master's degree in Reading Education from Towson University. Catherine has been a classroom teacher in MCPS for the past five years. She is currently teaching 1st grade Special Education and she has previously taught middle school Special Education for 6th and 8th grade, co-teaching math.

David is currently a Spanish teacher in MCPS. He grew up as a heritage speaker learning Spanish at home through his family then continued his growth by taking coursework at Wootton HS and the University of Maryland

Dr. Anna Johnson is a child development professor and researcher at Georgetown University. She is also a mom and DC native. A graduate of DC private schools herself, Anna is now parenting two kids across both DC public and private schools.

Elon believes every student possesses a unique voice and a distinct way of processing the world. With more than nineteen years of experience teaching high school English in Montgomery County Public Schools, his mission as a tutor is to help students discover that voice, gain confidence in their academic abilities, and develop systems that reduce the stress surrounding schoolwork.

Gilma is a high school Spanish teacher with Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS). Originally from El Salvador, she has lived in Maryland since 2000. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Spanish Language, Literatures, and Cultures, along with a Certificate in Latin American Studies, from the University of Maryland. During her time at UMD, she served as a language tutor for the College of Arts and Humanities. After graduating, Gilma was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship and worked as an English Teaching Assistant at the University of San Juan in Argentina.

Heather was an elementary special education teacher and phonics specialist at a charter school in Boston for 7 years until the pandemic hit. Now she’s at home with her two little boys. She has degrees from Smith College and Lesley University and is a certified Orton Gillingham instructor. Heather loves helping students find books they love and watching their excitement as they discover the joy of reading.

Jamie grew up in New Rochelle, New York right outside of the city. Jamie has enjoyed teaching for 5 years now in Montgomery County. She graduated from American University with a degree in Secondary Education and Mathematics.

Julie Nguyen began tutoring younger students during her freshman year of college and has continued since, helping learners build confidence and mastery in math, reading, writing, and science. She also worked as a tutor at the Kumon Math and Reading Center, where she supported students K-12 in developing foundational skills.

Kayla Cooper holds dual degrees in English Literature and Communication from Mount St. Mary’s
University. During her undergraduate years, she spent three years as a writing tutor at the campus Writing
Center, working with students one-on-one and in small groups.

Lauren grew up in Montgomery County and recently graduated from Villanova University with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. She has experience working with college and high school level English and writing as a Villanova Writing Center tutor, online writing tutor, and high school English Honors Society tutor. Lauren is prepared to work with students on college application essays, SAT and ACT English and Reading sections, and developing skills for AP level writing. Lauren believes in making the writing process collaborative and rewarding for students to help them feel confident and enthusiastic about their writing.

After graduating from UMBC with his Bachelors of Arts in History and Economics, Matthew spent two years teaching and mentoring students in diverse humanities subjects such as English, United States and World History, Latin, Economics, and developed his own Roman History course.

Molly is an experienced educator with a BS in Elementary and Special Education from Mount St. Mary’s University. She has taught 2nd and 3rd grade and worked as a Reading Specialist, supporting students with diverse learning needs.

Rebecca Poyatt holds a BA in history education from The Catholic University of America and both a Masters in children’s literature and language arts and an Education Specialist degree in educational theory and practice from the University of Georgia

Ryan is currently in his third year as a high school Spanish teacher in MCPS. A native of Montgomery County, Ryan completed the Spanish Immersion program in the Bethesda-Chevy Chase cluster; he continued with the language at Muhlenberg College, where he received a Bachelor’s Degree in Spanish and in Education

Tori is in her second year at an MCPS middle school. After working at the elementary and middle school levels, Tori found her new passion in supporting and mentoring students as a member of the media center team. She is able to provide academic, emotional, and organizational support to students across grades, and enjoys building positive relationships with individuals outside of the traditional classroom environment. She also works in the Special Education department in an administrative role, supporting case managers and IEP students throughout the day.

Glenna Abend has worked in education and learning & development for nineteen years, with experience in both the high school classroom and corporate world. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in History and Film Studies and a Master of Science in Adolescence Social Studies Education.

Driven by a deep commitment to helping students access meaningful, individualized learning experiences, Rachel Freeman is a dedicated Special Education English teacher and Learning Specialist serving students in Fairfax County Public Schools. She earned her degree from the University of Maryland and is Orton-Gillingham certified, bringing extensive experience supporting diverse learners in grades K–12 in both inclusion and self-contained settings.


As a Special Education English teacher and case manager, Rachel provides explicit, evidence-based instruction in reading comprehension, written expression, vocabulary development, and executive functioning. She specializes in structured, multisensory literacy instruction that supports students with dyslexia and other language-based learning differences, while also breaking down complex texts and writing tasks into manageable, scaffolded steps.

Alex Grant is an educator, Learning Support Specialist, Director of Student Activities, and athletics coach at Edmund Burke School in Washington, D.C. In his role as Learning Support Specialist, he works closely with students to address a wide range of learning needs, helping them develop the academic strategies, organization, and confidence they need to thrive both in and out of the classroom. As Director of Student Activities, he mentors student leaders while supporting student government, clubs, and school-wide initiatives that foster engagement and community.

April grew up in Westchester, New York right outside of the city. April has enjoyed teaching for the past 5 years in a non-public school in Maryland, Alaska and now in Montgomery County Public Schools

Brian Sims has been a classroom teacher for ten years and is currently a High School Social Studies teacher with MCPS. Brian has a unique teaching background, being the first several years of his teaching career he served as a Special Education teacher, teaching both self-contained and co-taught History classes. Brian’s first five years were spent teaching in Virginia and then he moved to Maryland and began teaching with MCPS. In Brian’s teaching career so far, he has taught Ancient World History, Modern World History, and United States History at the High School level. At the Middle School level, Brian has taught both 6th and 7th grade World Studies.

Christiana graduated with Honors from the University of Michigan with dual Bachelor's degrees
in Biomolecular Science and Spanish Language, Literature, and Culture. She recently
completed a graduate program at Georgetown Medical School.

Delaney is in her fourth year of teaching middle school Spanish in MCPS. Her experience is primarily with 7th and 8th grade students at the Spanish 1 and 2 level, but she has tutored privately for students in Spanish through level 5. Additionally, Delaney worked as a student intern in a two-way immersion program at the elementary level. In this role, she specialized in teaching literacy, math, and science in Spanish with a focus on supporting and building academic foundations in both languages. In addition to Spanish, Delaney has also tutored students in English and History through the 10th grade level.

Elissa Vinnik is a graduate of Macalester College (American Studies) and Bard College’s Masters in the Arts of Teaching program. She spent the better part of a decade working in New York City public schools, where she taught 10th and 11th grade English for seven years. As a certified 7-12 grade English educator, Elissa taught classrooms of high school students who brought a wide variety of interests and learning needs, including IEPs, ADHD, anxiety, and those with organizational challenges.

Evan Smith holds a BS in engineering from the University of Vermont and is certified in Multisensory Mathematics.

Grant Brown is a veteran educator with 14 years of experience at St. Albans School, where he currently teaches 6th grade history, serves as a homeroom teacher, and is the Form Leader for the 6th grade.

  Hope Neyer graduated magna cum laude from American University with a degree in Public Health. Hope worked as a teaching assistant and tutor at American and after graduating, was hired as an adjunct biology lab instructor. She is currently working as a medical assistant at a local pediatrics practice while applying to medical school.

Jenna Gallo holds an M.Ed in both Teaching, Learning and Advocacy (College of Charleston) and in Leadership Administration (Charleston Southern University.) She is a certified K-12 Special Educator and Reading Coach. Ms. Gallo holds her Orton Gillingham certification and is currently a Special Education Coordinator in Arlington County.

Justin is currently a 6th grade math teacher in Montgomery County Public Schools. Before switching to middle school, Justin spent his first couple years teaching in Elementary school in MCPS as well. Justin is very familiar with Montgomery County as he was a graduate from Wootton High School.

Kimberly Menefee’s career as an educator has been shaped by more than 20 years of helping students develop confidence and become successful mathematics learners. A National Board Certified Teacher, Kimberly has taught mathematics courses ranging from Algebra 1 and Geometry through Algebra 2, Precalculus, AP Precalculus, and Statistics. She also has extensive experience providing individualized tutoring to middle and high school students, including SAT and ACT Math preparation.
Kimberly believes that students are most successful when they understand not only how to solve a problem, but also how to approach learning itself. Her tutoring incorporates executive functioning skills such as organization, time management, planning, task initiation, study strategies, and self-monitoring. She helps students learn how to break larger or more challenging tasks into manageable steps, recognize when a strategy is not working, and develop the independence and confidence to adjust their approach.

Lisa helps students find the best fit using tools to identify a list of schools, review high school transcripts/advise on course selections, support students as they write their college essay/supplemental essays/scholarship essays/honors program essays, navigate the Common App

Michael has been a teacher in Montgomery County Public Schools for six years. His primary experience is teaching fourth and fifth grade, but he has also tutored and worked with students ages 4 and up. For the past two years, Michael has served as the Math Engagement Coordinator at his school, where he has developed a deep understanding of mathematical progressions and instruction from kindergarten through sixth grade.

Paige is an experienced educator with a passion for teaching students of all ages. Paige graduated from Towson University with a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology and a minor in Deaf Studies. She loves teaching middle school math, especially Algebra.

Reilly has been teaching middle school science in MCPS for 6 years. She graduated from the University of Florida with an undergraduate degree in Biology and minors in Chemistry and UFTeach (education). In addition, she holds a master's degree from UF in Secondary Science Education that focused on internships and long term substitute positions in higher level sciences. She is certified to teach 6-12 science and math in MCPS.

Siobhan Alexander has worked in education for over 25 years. She holds a BS in Elementary Education and Math & Science Studies from Vanderbilt University, as well as a Masters of Education from John Hopkins University.

Julie Ingoglia is an experienced professional with 10 years of experience working in elementary and middle schools. She came to education as a second career (from a public health focus on writing and curriculum development), working in two DMV private schools. Julie has supported students in grades K-6 in reading, writing and math, using a variety of different methods.

Sam is an ELL Support Teacher at Green Acres School in North Bethesda and the founder of Sam’s English, an afterschool tutoring program in Kumamoto, Japan. He has also taught at a private preparatory middle and high school, where he implemented a program that improved students’ English proficiency test scores for five consecutive years. Sam believes that deep learning and creative engagement are key to mastering reading and writing.

Alyssa grew up in Olney, MD. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from Towson University. Alyssa has been supporting students in grades K-3 with reading, ELA, and math for 8 years in Montgomery County Public Schools.

Ashley is entering her tenth year teaching! After receiving her Bachelor’s Degree in English and Master’s Degree in Secondary Education, she taught a variety of English classes at Montgomery College. Having graduated from MCPS, she was eager to teach in the county where she was raised.

Brian J. T. Watts has a career that has been shaped by his desire to help students discover their potential
through mathematics while empowering parents, teachers, and schools to work together in support of
every child’s success. Over the course of more than 27 years, he has had the privilege of serving as a
mathematics teacher, instructional leader, educational consultant, author, and international educator,
teaching students from middle school mathematics through Calculus while also preparing learners for
standardized tests, college mathematics, and GED success. Brian believes in educating the whole
student by combining rigorous mathematics instruction with social-emotional learning strategies that
build resilience, confidence, independence, and a lifelong love of learning. His commitment extends
beyond the classroom as he partners with parents, teachers, school leaders, and organizations to design
personalized learning experiences and professional development that meet the unique needs of
students and educators alike.

Daniela Gonzalez-Roman has worked in research and humanities scholarship, with experience in interdisciplinary university study and law school training. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from NYU, where she designed her own concentration and is currently pursuing her Juris Doctor in Washington, D.C.

Daniela supports students across IB (MYP & Diploma Programme), AP coursework, and college-preparatory humanities tracks. Her focus areas include analytical and creative writing, IB Extended Essays, AP History and English, literary analysis, research development, argument structure, and executive functioning skills.

Diane Wolbert is an experienced classroom teacher with 18 years of experience. She studied Elementary Education at Frostburg State University and later got her Masters in Elementary Education with a focus in differentiated instruction from Towson University. She currently teaches 5th grade in Germantown. Diane has worked with elementary students of all ages, building their confidence along with skills to help them be successful. She is passionate about supporting and educating children so they can reach their potential.

Born and raised in Wisconsin, Elliott has traveled widely to pursue his career in higher education. He moved first to St. Paul, Minnesota to attend Macalester College, with brief stints abroad at the Goethe Institute in Berlin, as well as King’s College in London.

Eve Kavalov's passion for teaching came from her conviction that anybody can be good at math: all they need is the right teaching approach. She loves helping students develop a deep understanding of higher-level mathematics, particularly in IB or AP Calculus courses, with an emphasis on understanding why math procedures work.

Harriet has 35 years of teaching experience with the Montgomery County Public School System.

Jackson is currently a special education teacher and case manager in the Learning and Academic Disabilities (LAD) program at a middle school in MCPS, where he also coteaches Math 7 and Math 7+. Jackson has his Bachelor’s in Family Science from the University of Maryland, and his certificate in Special Education for grades 1-8 in the state of Maryland. He has been tutoring and coaching students with a wide range of needs in mathematics and reading development since 2018.

Jessica is a native of the DC area. She graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor's degree in psychology and a minor in social work. Jessica has worked with students in MCPS, The Lab School, and Georgetown Day School.

Katherine grew up in Montgomery County and later received her Bachelors Degree
in Elementary Education with a certification in Special Education for grades K-5
from the University of Delaware. She is now teaching with Montgomery County Public Schools, teaching first grade at Rolling Terrace Elementary School in Takoma Park. Katherine specializes in teaching foundational literacy and math skills for ages Pre-K through 2nd grade.

With three decades of experience as an MCPS Reading Specialist, Consultant, and Special Educator, Kristen is now focusing her expertise on what she loves most—providing highly individualized, targeted instruction that ensures each student thrives. She holds the deep belief that developing proficient readers fosters overall self-confidence and she strives to make each session fun for young readers.

Lyndie grew up in Montgomery County and is currently in her second year with Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS). She brings hands-on experience working with students from Pre-K through 3rd grade and has a strong background in early literacy and math instruction. Lyndie is well-versed in Eureka Math, CKLA, and strategies for building decoding and comprehension skills.

Michaela Florio received her MFA in Creative Nonfiction Writing from Sarah Lawrence College, where she worked with Pulitzer Prize winning poet Vijay Seshadri.
She taught English and Creative Writing at the college level, where she witnessed firsthand the dire need for a stronger educational foundation for students. She now works with students aged 7-18 to help them build the tools needed to succeed in college and beyond.

Rachel grew up in Montgomery County, MD and attended Rockville High School. Then later attended Mount St. Mary’s University where she graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education. Rachel is currently teaching in Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS).

Revital Curtis holds a Master’s degree in Education and has extensive teaching experience in both Montgomery County Public Schools and Howard County Public Schools. She has taught with MCPS for the past six years and previously spent seven years teaching in Howard County. Currently a third-grade teacher, Revital has also taught fourth and fifth grades.

Susan Paton graduated from Trinity University in Washington D.C with a degree in Early Childhood Education.