
Our Tutors
Adam Liddle
English/History/Executive Functioning Coach
Adam is a lifelong learner and dedicated teacher. In his pursuit of higher education and expanding
his own horizons, he has traveled broadly across the United States, Europe, and South Asia. He
holds a B.A. in world music from Bowling Green State University, an M.A. in in South Asian Studies
from the University of Michigan, and a Ph.D. in Religious Studies from the University of Virginia.
Allie Berry
English/Test Prep/Executive Functioning Coaching
Allie is an editor at an advertising agency by day but has also worked as a verbal/English tutor for the last 12 years. Allie grew up in Montgomery County and graduated from Wootton High School. She then earned a B.A. in journalism from the University of Maryland and a M.S. in publishing from Pace University.
Betsy Durning
English/College Essay Coach
Betsy Durning, a distinguished educator with over thirty years of experience, has served as an English teacher, department head, and dean at a number of prestigious schools, including St. Paul’s School in NH, The Hotchkiss School in CT, St. George’s School in RI, and The Kinkaid School in TX
Casey Smith
Algebra/AP Statistics Tutor
Casey Smith attended the University of Maryland where she earned an undergraduate degree in Mathematics as well as a graduate degree in Secondary Education. She is certified to teach grades 7-12 and currently works for Montgomery County Public Schools as a high school math teacher. Casey currently teaches Algebra I, Algebra II, and AP Statistics.
Caylin Capra-Thomas
Writing/Executive Functioning Coach
Caylin Capra-Thomas is a writer and educator pursuing a PhD in English from the University of Missouri, where she has been recognized with the William Peden Award for Outstanding Teaching of Creative Writing. She has a BA in English from the University of Vermont and an MFA in creative writing from the University of Montana.
Heather Holcombe
OG Reading Specialist
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.
Jess Silverman
College Essay Coach/Writing Coach
Jess grew up in Montgomery County and recently graduated from Northeastern University with a degree in Political Science and minors in Journalism Practice and Criminal Justice. Throughout her time at Northeastern, she worked at the Mayor of Boston's Press Office, the Northeastern School of Law, and a local Boston public affairs company called the Novus Group
Joyce Khouri
English Tutor/Executive Functioning Coach
Joyce has taught English for 16 years in MCPS (almost every single grade from 6-12). She has also taught all levels, from inclusion to IB Literature and Language, and she is very passionate about helping students excel since the skills needed for English class are the same skills students will need their whole lives as they become effective communicators.
Lauren Quinn
English/Executive Functioning Coach/College Essay Coach
Lauren loves helping students through the writing process and working alongside them as they improve their skills and confidence! She begins each session by collaborating with the student on the goal or take-away, and ends with an assignment and accountability plan.
Michael DeSiena
Math/SAT/ACT Tutor
Michael is an MCPS math teacher currently at Tilden Middle School. He is certified to teach math in grades 7-12 and has experience with Algebra, Geometry, Pre-Calculus, and Calculus. Michael attended the University of Maryland where he received an Undergraduate degree in Mathematics and a Graduate degree in Secondary Education.
Reilly Barrett
Science/Math Tutor/Executive Functioning Coach
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 has also taught summer school math for Montgomery County.
Scott Carpenter
English/History/Executive Functioning
Scott has been a classroom teacher for the better part of two decades. In this time, he has worked with thousands of students grade 7 through grade 12. These learners have had a diverse set of academic and emotional needs. Supporting the individual needs of each learner is Scott’s primary objective.
Stephanie Lee Rizas
Writing/Executive Functioning/History
Stephanie Lee Rizas is currently an IB History teacher with MCPS but has years of experience teaching all levels of History, writing, and ESL as well as experience with students with organizational challenges. She is passionate about activating the potential in every student through an individualized approach to learning.
Alexia Chatfield
English/SAT/ACT Tutor
Alexia Chatfield is a secondary ELA teacher in Montgomery County. She grew up in the DMV area and graduated from Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School. Upon graduation, Alexia continued her studies at Tulane University in New Orleans, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude.
Bonnie Lechner
English/Executive Functioning Coach
Bonnie is currently in her 5th year teaching in Montgomery County Public Schools, with experience in 7th, 9th, and 10th grade Honors English. In addition, she is an award winning yearbook adviser and unofficial tech coach at Walter Johnson High School. She specializes in close reading skills and creative writing.
Catherine Angowski
Kindergarten Tutor
Catherine Angowski is a kindergarten teacher for Fairfax County Public Schools. She is certified to teach Pre-K through 6th grade and Special Education K-6. Catherine began her teaching career in Special Education teaching kindergarten and fifth grade, but then switched to general education teaching kindergarten. She loves watching her students grow throughout the year. She enjoys teaching reading to the younger students and teaching math to the older students. A fun fact about her is that she taught in the Philippines for a short period of time.
Elliott Niblock
English/SAT/ACT/Executive Functioning Coach
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.
Junie Michel
History/Executive Functioning Coach
Junie Michel has been a classroom teacher for over two decades, working with students from all over the world in Grades 6 through 12. Given the varied background of the students, Junie's main goal has been helping them achieve success through differentiated instruction so that she can meet their individual educational needs
Mollie Carlin
History/English/Executive Functioning Coach
Mollie is a seasoned educator with 11 years of experience in the Montgomery County Public School system. After attending Walt Whitman High School, she graduated Summa Cum Laude from Goucher College and went on to earn her Masters' in Teaching Social Studies from Teachers College, Columbia University
Ryan Dimmick
Spanish/English Tutor
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
Seth Biderman
K-12 English/Humanities Spanish, Test Prep, and College Application Advisor
After studying education at Brown University, Seth began his teaching career working with 5-8 year olds in summer programs inspired by the Reggio Emilia model, and went on to teach students at nearly every grade level, including nine years of full-time classroom teaching experience in English Language Arts, social studies, Spanish, PE and science
Taylor Renaud
Academic Tutor
Taylor Renaud grew up in New England and moved to Washington, DC 9 years ago. She has enjoyed teaching for over ten years and is currently a 7th grade math teacher at the Langley School in McLean, VA. Taylor attended the University of New Hampshire where she earned a B.S. in Math Education and an M.Ed. in Elementary Education
Alison Deli
English/Executive Functioning Coach
Alison Deli has been involved in education for most of her adult life. She has earned degrees in English as well as Curriculum and Educational Studies which allowed her to find time to work with high schools students in writing, reading, and organazational strategies.
Andrea Savage
OG Trained Reading Specialist
Andrea is a Montgomery County native and is currently a reading specialist at Holy Redeemer School in Kensington, Maryland. She received her Masters of Science in Reading from Johns Hopkins University and she completed her BA Undergraduate program in Early Childhood Education at Clemson University
Ashley Herdman
English/Executive Functioning Coach
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.
Catherine Murray
Elementary/Middle School Tutor and Executive Functioning Coach
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.
Gavin Hymes
English/SAT/ACT/Executive Functioning Coach
Gavin has taught every grade from kindergarten through the sophomore year of college, and in locations as diverse and distant as New England and Peru. He has an Ed. M. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, as well as a B.A. in English Literature and a B.A. in Spanish from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
K. Toussaint Lacoste
History/English Tutoring - Executive Functioning
K. Toussaint Lacoste, a veteran educator of 21 years, has been instrumental in teaching and empowering students in public, charter, and private schools. He is currently a DMV resident who relocated from Boston, MA., with his family to teach Middle School History at a prestigious independent school in Washington, DC.
Lisa Sorensen
College Admissions Consulting/English/Executive Functioning Coaching
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
Ryan Elias
Elementary Reading and Math Tutor
Ryan Elias is a 1st grade teacher at Green Acres School in North Bethesda. She received her BA from Scripps College in Claremont, CA in Art History, and her MS from Bank Street College of Education in NYC with a dual degree in Early Childhood General and Special Education.
Shaina Shealy
English/College Essay Coach
Shaina is a Senior Producer at a national public radio show called Snap Judgment. In addition to Snap Judgment, her stories have been distributed by outlets including Public Radio International, National Public Radio, Reveal from the Center for Investigative Reporting and many others
Usoshi Chatterjee
Math/SAT/ACT/Science Tutor
Usoshi is a doctoral student in the department of Environmental Science and Technology at University of Maryland. She has a Master of Science and Bachelor of Science from The Ohio State University in Food and Biological Engineering and is interested in learning various ways to incorporate sustainable systems.