Leadership
Alexis Avila
Founder/CEO
Founder/CEO
MA, Cert. in Guidance Pre K-12 alexis@preppedandpolished.com
About Alexis
Frequently quoted by U.S. News & World Report, Alexis founded Prepped and Polished to help elementary, secondary, college-level, and adult students maximize their comprehension and overall growth in a variety of subjects. While tutoring for several small and large commercial test prep companies, Alexis envisioned founding his own independent educational service run entirely by educators whose passion for education acted as the primary driving force behind its pedagogy.
Alexis and other members of the Prepped and Polished team have collectively traveled one hundred thousand miles to educate students in person, working with well over a thousand families. Described by students as engaging and effective, Prepped and Polished’s teaching philosophy has helped students of all ages gain confidence, maximize their academic potential, and achieve dramatically improved grades and test scores.
Described by students as supportive and patient, as well as enthusiastic, Alexis has helped students and adults gain confidence, maximize academic potential, and achieve dramatically improved grades and test scores. Alexis’s desire to better understand his students and meet their needs is central to his working philosophy, which can be seen in a long-time client’s description of him:
“I have known Alexis personally as well as professionally for over 25 years. Since we met at the University of Michigan until now with my daughter receiving tutoring from his company, Alexis has always approached life with a great drive for success, empathy and compassion for others as well as enthusiasm to find the joy and humor in whatever he does. With these attributes and outlook coupled with his pride for his Puerto Rican family and traditions, Alexis has always looked for and drawn to him a diverse group of individuals in his life. Through the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program, he has served as a big brother to a young man from Cape Verde for over 20 years, becoming close enough to consider him family. In college, Alexis tutored students at the local middle school. This passion to help young persons evolved into his successful business which has not only tutored thousands of kids but also employed many tutors and grown into a global platform that brings together experts to help students and families cope with countless issues that remain unaddressed or ignored. He is a shining example of how one can have great business and personal success and also have a tremendous impact to the community.”
Alexis is a certified school guidance counselor for grades Pre-K through 12th with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and Film from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor; furthermore, he acquired a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (a US News ranked top-five Counseling Psychology program). He also spent his junior year living in Seville, Spain through the Cornell, Pennsylvania, University of Michigan study abroad program. He completed a two-day seminar in Executive Function disorder, a one-day seminar on Advanced Strategies to Improve Executive Function Skills, and even a 15-hour online course in Study Skills: Strategies to Support Executive Function all through the Landmark School Outreach Program in Beverly, Massachusetts.
Alexis regularly gives speeches regarding tutoring, test preparation, and student learning challenges to parents and professionals at schools and conferences across the U.S. These schools/conferences include, but are not limited to, the SEPAC organizations in Dover, Sudbury, and Wayland, MA; the IECA; CollegeWeek Live; the National Test Prep Association (NTPA); and the BIPOC Business Owner’s Panel presented by the Wisconsin Alumni Association. Alexis also writes and produces videos for his educational blog and podcast, which has over 300 videos and 1 million views/listens.
Some notable guests who appeared on the Prepped and Polished podcast include ex-NBA player and motivational speaker Chris Herron as well as the New York Times Best Selling Author and frequent CNN guest Frank Bruni. Alexis leads SAT Math Strategies and SAT Strategy Secrets Workshops at various local high schools while also administering the ACT-SAT Test Prep Selector Diagnostic and Evaluation at several college fairs.
A Dedicated Tutor and Leader
Alexis is a member of professional organizations such as the University of Michigan Alumni Association (Alumni Student Recruiter), the Wellesley Community Children’s Center (Board of Directors), the Charles River MetroWest Chamber of Commerce (Scholarship Committee), the Wellesley Public Schools Cell Phone Task Force, the National Test Prep Association (NTPA), the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA), and also non-profit organizations such as Bridge over Troubled Waters, Mass Mentoring, Community Servings, and Recovery Works. He has been an active member of the Big Brothers, Big Sisters of America since 2003 and was nominated in 2010 as one of the final five finalists for Big Brother of the Year.
Alexis ran in three Boston Marathons from 2012-2014, collectively raising 15,000 dollars for two youth mentoring programs, Mass Mentoring and Big Brothers, Big Sisters of America. In 2020 and 2023, Alexis was honored to be named one of the 50 most influential business people of color in the Charles River MetroWest Region of Massachusetts.
Stacie R.
Admissions Specialist
Admissions Specialist
MA, School Counseling sross@preppedandpolished.com
About Stacie
Stacie has over 15 years of experience working with high school students as a guidance counselor. She values relationship building with students and working with them individually. She has a focus on leading students to develop self-actualizing questions that push them to look inward at their own individual values and interests, so they feel empowered in their decision making. She sees the future planning process and college searches to be an invaluable opportunity for young people to begin learning skills they will utilize in their adult lives as they begin exploring careers and their own life pursuits.
Stacie brings into her work her appreciation for Mindfulness and Growth Mindset practices. She has studied and practiced yoga for 20 years which has included 200 Teacher Trainings along with many workshops and retreats.
Prior to becoming a guidance counselor, Stacie worked in radio and tv news while studying architecture and design. She has an Associates in Architectural Technology from Onondaga Community College, a Bachelors in Communications from SUNY Oswego, and a Master’s in School Counseling from Suffolk University. Stacie is originally from Central New York – the Finger Lakes Region – and has been in the Boston area since the early 2000’s. She loves being outside, walking, reading, swimming, design projects, and being with her two goofy German Shepherd dogs.
Tracy S.
Office Director
Office Director
About Tracy
Tracy joined Prepped and Polished as an experienced Office Director. She brings with her a 23-year career working across the Middle East and UK. She was an EA for a major Management Consultancy company, and also worked as an Office Manager for 2 startups. Tracy and her family moved to the USA in 2011, bringing her extensive knowledge and experience with her. She lives in MetroWest and is also a keen gardener. Furthermore, Tracy is an avid cook and enjoys hiking with her husband and dog.
Diane F.
Creative Specialist
Creative Specialist
About Diane
Diane is a graphic designer and illustrator who has worked with many small businesses and organizations to establish and support their visual identities. She earned her BFA in Illustration from Syracuse University, and her portfolio includes a broad spectrum of marketing and promotional materials, as well as the development of custom invitations and stationery.
While she enjoys running, hiking, and watching true crime documentaries, Diane is happiest when spending time at Lake Winnisquam and wandering southern Maine beaches with her family. She especially loves cheering on her children during their many extra-curricular activities.
Tutors
Abdul P.
[ View Bio ]Abdul P.
Abdul holds a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from UMass Amherst and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Engineering Management. Since graduating, he has worked as a process engineer in the pharmaceutical industry, where he focuses on optimizing manufacturing processes.
Outside of work, Abdul is passionate about traveling; he has explored Italy, Spain, Turkey, and Dubai over the past few years. Additionally, he enjoys spending time with friends and family and getting together for sporting events.
Aimee G.
[ View Bio ]Aimee G.
Aimee graduated Summa Cum Laude from Rochester Institute of Technology in May of 2024. At RIT, she received a Bachelor’s of Science in Chemical Engineering and a minor in Cellular and Molecular Biology. During her time at RIT, Aimee started tutoring for the Chemistry Department and was an instructor for the General Chemistry Lab I course, where she taught RIT students lab skills, lab report writing, and how to apply chemistry concepts to labs. Here, Aimee fell in love with teaching and tutoring. Aimee is passionate about teaching students the skills they need for success, and she is dedicated to customizing student plans to their needs. Aimee will explain concepts in a hundred different ways to find the way that clicks with the student. After tutoring at RIT, she spent almost two years as a tutor for Ngenius Tutoring and Test Prep where she tutored high school and college level students in Calculus, Chemistry, Physics, Biology, and other STEM courses.
Aimee is currently a Research Technician in the Hata Lab of Massachusetts General Hospital Center for Cancer Research. She is researching fibroblast driven drug resistance in EGFR mutant non-small cell lung cancer. While completing her education, Aimee spent nine months at YMC America in an internship helping to design equipment to achieve biological separations. She also completed a nine-month internship in the DeKosky Lab at the Ragon Institute of MIT, Harvard, and MGH. Aimee contributed to research on optimizing the lab’s high throughput platform to capture and screen natively paired alpha beta TCRs, then adapted the platform to screen gamma delta TCRs in collaboration with the Hahn Lab at Dana Farber Cancer Institute.
Outside of work and tutoring, Aimee enjoys reading, dance, baking, and she is a volunteer for the American Cancer Society.
Alex M.
[ View Bio ]Alex M.
Alex is a graduate from the University of Michigan where he studied Financial Mathematics with minors in Economics and Spanish. Currently, he is a student within Northeastern’s College of Professional Studies receiving a post-baccalaureate degree. Alex has a passion for educating, as “an investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” While he was an undergrad, Alex travelled to middle and elementary schools around the Ann Arbor area to educate students regarding financial literacy.
After undergrad, Alex worked as an in-home tutor helping students—primarily Spanish speakers—bring their coursework up to grade level. He taught both Mathematics in Spanish as well as English grammar to native Spanish speakers. Alex then worked as a coding instructor teaching a Minecraft coding class. There he managed a room of fifteen students aged eight to fourteen where they learned the basics of block coding. During this time, he also tutored students for the ACT and SAT, helping them achieve their goal scores.
Outside of work, Alex loves traveling and sailing! He spent the last few summers working as a sailing instructor in Massachusetts. He was also a member and the treasurer of his college sailing team. In addition, he also studied abroad while at university; Alex lived with a host family in Santiago de Compostela, Spain and attended Universidad de Santiago.
Alexandra A.
[ View Bio ]Alexandra A.
Alexandra graduated from Bates College with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and has since spent several years working in research. She also previously worked as an Assistant in Instruction for the Bates Department of Psychology where she provided group and one-on-one support for statistics and research methods students.
Alexandra enjoys helping students with their writing, specifically by breaking writing tasks down into digestible components to make the process less daunting. and more successful. She also enjoys helping students strategize ways to study efficiently, manage their time, and stay organized so that they can decrease stress and feel confident at school.
Outside of work, you can find Alexandra spending time with her dogs and baking cookies.
Alyssa K.
[ View Bio ]Alyssa K.
Andrew S.
[ View Bio ]Andrew S.
Andrew has been teaching middle schoolers for over 20 years, since graduating from Yale University in 2000 with a B.A. in History. Andrew earned a master’s degree in Education from Simmons University soon afterward, and he has been teaching 8th grade Social Studies at his current school since 2012. In past years, Andrew has taught ELA, journalism, and creative writing.
Andrew has tutored many students for the SAT, ACT, SSAT, study/organization skills, writing improvement, and college essay assistance. He focuses on finding and building students’ strengths, sustaining their interest and motivation, modeling new techniques, strategically targeting their areas of weakness, and celebrating successes.
When he is not teaching or tutoring, Andrew enjoys golfing, rock climbing, reading a good book, stressing about Boston sports teams, and helping his two college-aged children figure out how to move out of the house someday.
Andy B.
[ View Bio ]Andy B.
Andy graduated Magna Cum Laude with Honors from Northeastern in May 2024 with a Bachelor’s of Science in Mathematics. During his time at Northeastern, he engaged in research within the mathematics department both as a research assistant and creating independent results. Andy has been tutoring since high school, covering topics including but not limited to mathematics, physics, chemistry, and exam prep. He has been working with students for almost a decade, and greatly enjoys seeing students grow and succeed.
In his free time, Andy enjoys crocheting and yoga. He also helps to operate a local music venue, hosting bands from all over the region. Andy himself is a jazz fan, playing both trumpet and trombone.
Angela M.
[ View Bio ]Angela M.
Angela graduated from Wellesley College with degrees in Latin and Philosophy and is pursuing her Doctorate in Education with a specialty in Social/Emotional/Learning from National University in San Diego (inspired by her work with DYS and Worcester Housing – see below).
She has been a public high school teacher for 32 years, including nine years as a World Language Department Chair. She has taught Latin, Classical Greek, Spanish, English, SAT, ACT, SSAT, and ISEE prep. In addition, she teaches at a DYS facility for court-detained youth and at Worcester Housing Authority’s after-school program.
For the past several years, she has studied Executive Function (EF) skills and the cognitive processes involved in order to help students with these challenges. She loves the personal aspect of tutoring – finding out what works for each individual student and building upon that skill set to help students reach their goals.
Angela enjoys sharing stories of her travels, including trips to Spain, Italy, France, Switzerland, Greece, Mexico, Morocco, Turkey, Canada, Puerto Rico, and many beautiful places in the U.S.
Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and her best friends – her dogs Bruno, Louie, and her grand-dog Aspen.
Anna-Mariya K.
[ View Bio ]Anna-Mariya K.
Anna-Mariya holds a B.A. in Neuroscience from Skidmore College and dual Master’s degrees in Social Work and Public Health from Boston University. She is a Licensed Certified Social Worker (LCSW) and has over five years of experience working with high school and college-aged students, focusing on career and academic skills development, organization and time-management, and holistic wellness. Anna-Mariya previously worked as an instructor and coach at the Boston University College Mental Health Education Programs, providing individual coaching to college students to support their academic and personal growth. She has also coordinated pre-employment programs for youth with disabilities in Boston with a focus on inclusion and accessibility.
Anna-Mariya is dedicated to fostering a supportive and engaging learning environment for her students. She believes in the power of building strong, positive connections and works collaboratively with each student to help them uncover their strengths and develop effective strategies for overcoming challenges. Her approach is student-centered, emphasizing personal growth and empowerment.
Outside of work, you’ll find Anna-Mariya painting with watercolors, walking her dog, or cooking up new recipes in the kitchen.
Ben M.
[ View Bio ]Ben M.
As a young student, Ben was fortunate to have teachers inside and beyond the classroom who never failed to encourage his innate sense of curiosity. He was especially drawn to the humanities and social sciences, and he excelled in the relevant AP courses during his time in high school. He went on to receive his BA in International Relations from Michigan State University. His studies there concentrated on issues pertaining to sustainable development and international political economy. Along the way, he acquired a solid foundation in interdisciplinary research methods.
After college, Ben worked as a sustainability researcher in Michigan and received a graduate certification in Agroforestry from the University of Missouri while working on a local organic farm. He is currently pursuing a Master’s in Theology at Hellenic College Holy Cross School of Theology in Brookline, MA. He hopes to apply this experience towards helping young people succeed in the diverse and fast-paced environments of today.
As an educator and mentor, Ben aims to instill confidence in others by encouraging them to identify their unique gifts, goals, and guiding purpose(s). He has experience as both an Executive Function coach and test prep tutor (ISEE and SSAT) working primarily with middle and high school students. He focuses on developing strong time management skills, instilling practical memory retention strategies, and establishing healthy daily routines that allow students to thrive inside and outside the classroom.
Caroline T.
[ View Bio ]Caroline T.
Caroline graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor’s of Science and Arts in Neuroscience. Along with completing all pre-medical prerequisites, Caroline conducted undergraduate clinical research exploring the relationship between emotion and memory through neuroimaging and wrote an honors thesis exploring the efficacy of pharmacotherapies & behavioral interventions for pediatric ADHD.
Caroline has one-on-one tutoring experience with students of all ages in executive function coaching, subject tutoring, and standardized test preparation. She believes that creating a positive learning environment, tailoring instruction to a student’s individual needs, and imbuing students with confidence in their academic abilities are integral to success. During tutoring sessions, she encourages students to find real world applications for material and hopes to instill a life-long passion for learning.
In her free time, you can find Caroline exploring New England hiking trails, perusing farmers markets, and browsing local bookstores!
Casey A.
[ View Bio ]Casey A.
Casey has a BS in Foreign Service from Georgetown University and an MFA in Creative Writing from Emerson College. She has been teaching English, Spanish and test prep for over twenty years, having worked at Northeastern University and Bunker Hill Community College among many other places. In the course of her career, she has worked with students of all ages and skill levels from all over the world. Casey believes in creating a relaxed class atmosphere but encourages her students to strive for excellence. She feels that students learn best when they have a warm, trusting relationship with their teachers and see that what they are learning is relevant to their own lives.
To this end, she seeks to bring language to life through activities that connect the students to their society, such as writing a letter to the editor of a newspaper or interviewing a leader in their community. She also loves literature and sharing her favorite works with students whenever possible. In her free time, she enjoys creative writing, tennis, and volunteer work. She currently lives in Barcelona.
Cassie S.
[ View Bio ]Cassie S.
Cassie received a Master’s degree in Education from UMass Boston and Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from UNH. She is currently a school counselor at an elementary school where she works with students on topics like growth mindset, impulse control, and self confidence.
She has experience working with middle school and high school students in one-to-one settings which included teaching organization, time management, and study skills. She has experience working with students that have had all different learning styles and she believes in providing students tailored support to help them reach success.
When she’s not working she enjoys trips to Maine, trying out new dinner recipes, and doing yoga.
Chris N.
[ View Bio ]Chris N.
Chris graduated from Carleton College with a bachelor’s in Environmental Studies and minors in Biochemistry and French. Additionally, he recently completed his master’s at Imperial College London in Molecular Plant and Microbial Sciences. Between his degrees, Chris has worked in research both in the lab and the field as part of a variety of organizations, including Peace Corps, the Sea Turtle Conservancy, and the French Museum of Natural History. He currently works as a research assistant investigating carbon cycling and genetic exchange among bacteria in the open ocean.
Chris has experience in teaching students of all ages and seeks to not only help students gain a better understanding of their coursework, but to work on connecting the coursework to bigger picture ideas, with the everyday applications of STEM and the humanities. As a tutor, he seeks to create an open space for students to ask questions and to engage with the material through a flexible and personalized approach.
In his free time, Chris enjoys cooking, hiking, doing photography, and learning new languages.
Daniel G.
[ View Bio ]Daniel G.
Daniel received a Bachelor’s degree in Physics from Rochester Institute of Technology with minors in Mathematics and Archaeological Science. He then attended graduate school at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where he earned a Doctorate in Physics in 2024.
During his graduate studies, Daniel taught introductory level algebra- and calculus-based physics classes. His Ph.D. research focused on the physics of coral reef restoration and ocean floor hydrodynamics.
Outside of work, Daniel enjoys reading, cooking, and getting exercise by practicing historical martial arts recreated from medieval treatises.
Daria H.
[ View Bio ]Daria H.
Daria holds a BA from Bowdoin College, a JD from Villanova University, an LL.M from the University of Edinburgh, and a MSLIS from Simmons College. She first began teaching when she was in middle school, when she coached soccer at a summer camp. Many years and a few careers later, she works as a librarian at a local college, where she teaches students about research sources and strategies, information literacy, data literacy, and digital literacy.
Daria enjoys working one-on-one with students, and she encourages them to follow their curiosity and interests. She utilizes active learning techniques, meeting students where they are to help them build confidence and take control of their own learning.
While not teaching, Daria enjoys spending time outdoors with her dog, reading, staying active, and cheering on her favorite hockey and soccer teams.
Demi V.
[ View Bio ]Demi V.
Demi is an Adjunct Journalism Professor at Emerson College and an accomplished journalist, editor, and consultant. She is the founder of The Urban Watch Magazine and has written for CNN, The Washington Post, GBH News, and other renowned publications.
Demi is passionate about educating the next generation of leaders and is dedicated to helping every student unlock their full potential. With years of experience tutoring English, helping students prepare for tests, and guiding them through the college application process—especially admissions essays—she offers personalized support to help students succeed academically and beyond.
Outside of work, Demi enjoys spending time with her cat, reading, watching documentaries, and playing tennis.
Eli L.
[ View Bio ]Eli L.
Eli is a postdoctoral associate at Boston University School of Medicine where he works on developing novel technologies for early cancer detection using molecular and computational approaches.
Eli holds a PhD in biochemistry and molecular biology from the University of Nebraska Medical Center and a Bachelor of Science in biochemistry from Binghamton University.
In his free time, Eli likes to travel, hike, and be outside as much as possible.
Elisabeth S.
[ View Bio ]Elisabeth S.
Liz is a graduate student at Lesley University, pursuing a Master’s in Mental Health Counseling with a concentration in Holistic Studies. Originally from southern Maine, she holds a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of Maine and has worked as a classroom teacher for grades K–3.
With a strong foundation in education and a passion for social-emotional learning, Liz has tutored students in grades K–12, integrating emotional awareness and mindfulness into her sessions. She brings warmth, empathy, and a whole-child perspective to all her work.
Outside of her studies and work with children, she enjoys spending time outdoors, especially skiing and playing tennis. She also loves to crochet and founded a craft club in the Boston area.
Elliott M.
[ View Bio ]Elliott M.
Elliott has a master’s degree in k-12 education from Umass Boston and Massachusetts teacher’s certification in math at grade levels 5-12. After graduate school Elliott taught Math at a middle school in Cambridge Massachusetts for 3 years. Since 2014, he has been tutoring middle and high school students in math. He specializes in Precalculus, algebra I and II, statistics, and geometry tutoring. Elliott really enjoys building his students confidence in their mathematical abilities and helping them become motivated to do their best work.
Elliott has lived in the Boston area since 2004 when he moved to the area to attend college. Outside of work Elliott enjoys spending time outdoors with his 2 year old daughter Athena and his dog Jacky.
Elliott S.
[ View Bio ]Elliott S.
Elliot received his AB from Princeton University, MPhil from the University of Cambridge, and his PhD from Princeton, all in philosophy. His research is largely in moral philosophy—especially connections between moral philosophy and other areas of philosophy.
Elliot is invested in helping his students reach their academic potential and is especially passionate about helping students develop their ideas through writing.
Outside of research and teaching, Elliot enjoys cooking and taking walks around the Boston area with his family.
Erin J.
[ View Bio ]Erin J.
Erin is an affiliated faculty member at Emerson College, where she has been teaching in the Writing, Literature, and Publishing Department since 2016. Throughout her tenure, she has instructed a range of courses, including college composition, research writing, creative writing, and literature.
Erin holds an MFA in Fiction Writing from Emerson College, as well as an undergraduate degree in journalism from SCSU. Additionally, she serves as the Senior Writing Consultant at Emerson College’s Writing Center, where she collaborates with students on a variety of projects, including English Language Learning, essays, research assignments, deadline management, and general writing.
As an educator, Erin is committed to fostering a supportive and engaging learning environment. She strives to understand the unique needs and learning styles of each student, with the goal of nurturing their potential, building their confidence, and encouraging their growth both in writing and beyond.
Outside of teaching, Erin enjoys reading, writing, running, cooking, and spending quality time with family, friends, and her cat, Reilly.
Izzy S.
[ View Bio ]Izzy S.
Isabel has a Master’s degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education in STEM Education. She was a Biology and Educational Studies double major during her undergraduate work at Rhodes College. She has been student teaching and substitute teaching for 5+ years and has a year of full-time teaching experience at the high school level.
As a teacher, Isabel is energetic and incorporates a large variety of lesson types into her classes. She does this to ensure that classes never feel like a repeat of one another and to allow students to find what kind of teaching style works best for them. As a STEM and Test Prep tutor, Isabel loves the chance to connect with a student one-on-one and will come prepared to each session with a lesson that builds off the previous work that her student has done. She personalizes each session to fit the needs of the students and always makes sure to build off of what students already know.
Jane A.
[ View Bio ]Jane A.
Jane graduated magna cum laude from Boston University in 2023, with a degree in Biology and Neuroscience. During her time at BU, Jane was actively involved in supporting student learning and success: tutoring at the Newbury Center–a resource for first-generation college students–and teaching both a general biology and general chemistry lab course for nearly two years.
In addition to her academic commitments, Jane spent a little over a semester in rural Tanzania, where her passion for medicine began. There, she worked in an obstetrics clinic, an experience that allowed her to bring together her interests in teaching and healthcare on a global scale.
In fall 2025, Jane will be pursuing a Doctor of Medicine degree, with an interest in public health and interventional cardiology. Outside of tutoring, Jane enjoys hiking, skiing, and playing frisbee with her dog, Luna!
Jessica S.
[ View Bio ]Jessica S.
Jessica has been a passionate teacher for over 17 years ever since earning her Masters in Education from Boston College. Specializing in teaching Spanish and English Language Learners (ELLs), she also incorporates her strong knowledge of history into her teaching, creating engaging and meaningful connections across subjects.
Jessica excels at tailoring her teaching approach to meet the unique needs of each student, including those with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) and 504 accommodations. She also coaches Executive Function to students from Elementary to High School. She is deeply committed to providing personalized support that empowers students to thrive academically, build confidence, and reach their full potential.
Outside the classroom, Jessica enjoys spending quality time with her children and friends, sharing laughter, exploring regional destinations, hiking, baking with her daughter, and learning new activities and crafts.
Jesús S.
[ View Bio ]Jesus S.
Jesús has a strong background in math, physics, and engineering. He earned his Master’s degree in Advanced Aeronautical Engineering from Imperial College London and currently teaches high school Physics and Engineering in Massachusetts. This fall, he’ll begin a Master’s in Computer Science at Northeastern University, continuing his passion for education and technology.
Jesús has helped students prepare for GCSE and A-level exams in the UK, and he’s known for making tough concepts feel manageable through clear explanations and encouragement. He believes learning should be a process where students feel comfortable asking questions and building confidence.
Outside of the classroom, Jesús is the head coach of the girls JV tennis team at his school and loves all things tennis. He’s also a passionate traveler—he completed a mechanical engineering internship in Beijing and another in Spain. A fluent Spanish speaker, Jesús brings a global perspective, patience, and passion to everything he does.
Jo-Ellen F.
[ View Bio ]Jo-Ellen F.
Jo-Ellen holds a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst and a master’s degree in Education from Smith College, where she focused on her interest in curriculum development. She has spent a lifelong teaching career deeply engaged in her work with elementary and middle school students. Beyond the classroom, she has also taught summer campers, and privately tutored elementary, middle, and high school students one-on-one, exploring curriculum areas ranging from the arts to pre-algebra, algebra, and geometry.
A humanities teacher and learner, Jo-Ellen brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise in English language arts, social studies, and history to her tutoring work. She delights in helping students to deepen their analysis of topics and discover insights as they learn. She loves to share content, and she brings a well-stocked toolbox to the tutoring setting, ready with pedagogy and strategies to help students show what they know and meet their academic goals. In addition, she can offer students excellent support in the skills they need to learn, complete their work successfully, and manage their time. She has been glad to extend her capabilities with training as an executive function coach for Prepped and Polished.
Jo-Ellen loves the poem, “To Be of Use”; she makes it her mission to be knowledgeable, interesting, resourceful, and kind. Besides teaching, Jo-Ellen enjoys traveling; her cross-country adventure with her family and their dog comes to mind!
John C.
[ View Bio ]John C.
John is an accomplished educator and communicator having taught in a variety of settings from lectures to small groups to one-on-one. With an understanding of how we learn he helps the student to identify and process information from a perspective of what is important and how it relates to the whole. Drawing on the individual students’ unique abilities, experience, and understanding to digest and consider material in a way that makes sense and is easy to remember.
John teaches practical tools to alleviate anxiety around test taking and performance, helping build self esteem through success. His goal is to help students to think critically, improve their focus and attention, increase retention and recall, and reduce the associated stress. His areas of expertise in tutoring are in the sciences including biology, math, chemistry, physics. He also has a love and passion for language and writing, with accomplishments in technical and creative writing and enjoys teaching and coaching writing skills. Native fluency in Spanish.
Qualifications
Growing up in a small northern New Jersey town just outside of New York City, John distinguished himself as a scholar and an athlete. He attended college at Harvard University and graduated with a degree in biology and a particular interest in neuroscience. He spent a year at the C.S.I.C. in Madrid, Spain researching neurodevelopment before attending Yale University School of Medicine where his interests focussed on cardiovascular medicine. Returning to Boston, he completed his postdoctoral training in medicine and cardiovascular medicine at Boston University Medical Center before practicing as a heart rhythm specialist. He later worked at Nashoba Valley Hospital before stepping away from the practice of medicine and has been writing and mentoring college students with an interest in healthcare and biomedical careers.
John has gained expertise in meditation and is happy to share tips. An avid runner with a growing expertise in fitness and a particular interest in endurance training and longevity. Rock climbing, snowboarder. Otherwise, he is usually writing, reading, or playing guitar.
Josephine O.
[ View Bio ]Josephine O.
Josephine holds a B.S. in Biochemistry from Bay Path University and a Master’s degree in Biomedical Research Technology from Boston University. During her time at Bay Path, Jo started tutoring for the science department in chemistry, biology, biochem, and physics. Jo’s goal was to help students master the concepts and material in each class and create connections and understandings to bridge every subject to each other.
Jo is currently an associate scientist at an immune-oncology-based biotech. She is working on drug discovery, focusing on the biology and chemistry of the tumor stroma in advanced-stage cancers. Jo contributes to research to develop a novel cancer drug and understand and discover the biology behind how the drug works.
Outside of work and tutoring, Jo enjoys rock climbing and hiking with her dog.
Josh S.
[ View Bio ]Josh S.
Joshua K.
[ View Bio ]Joshua K.
My name is Josh. I grew up in Sudbury, Massachusetts and am a proud Lincoln-Sudbury graduate. Growing up I loved going to the local pool and started working as a swim instructor when I was 16. My work as a swim instructor led me to want to explore education as a career. I went to Emmanuel College where I studied Math. I was able to work on research as an undergraduate. During my senior year I presented my work at a conference in Baltimore as well as become a published scholar.
After college, I attended Boston University and received my Masters degree in Math Education. Currently, I am a Math Teacher at Malden High School and love pushing for a strong growth mindset amongst all my students. I tutor both math, as well as SSAT, ISEE, SAT, and ACT test prep. My favorite part of teaching is seeing a student persevere through their own mistakes to build a strong foundation for their learning. I love being part of the Prepped and Polished team and spreading my own love for mathematics.
Judy C.
[ View Bio ]Judy C.
Justin C.
[ View Bio ]Justin C.
Justin earned his Bachelor of Art degree in Communication & Journalism (2000), as well as his Master of Education degree in School Counseling (2012), both from Suffolk University, in Boston MA.
For nearly two decades, Justin has been providing career guidance and job placement to Massachusetts students and young adults. He served as guidance counselor at Lawrence High School and was Academic Coordinator with Salem State University’s Upward Bound Program. Justin earned his Bachelor of Art degree in Communication & Journalism (2000), as well as his Master of Education degree in School Counseling (2012), both from Suffolk University, in Boston MA.
Kaitlin W.
[ View Bio ]Kaitlin W.
Kaitlin has recently returned to the U.S. having spent the past two years pursuing a second Master’s degree in East European Studies at the University of Amsterdam. Previously, she obtained a Master’s degree in Applied Linguistics, while her undergraduate education focused on Modern European History and Cultural Anthropology. Such myriad passions coupled with a love of teaching and learning has led to a multi-faceted career in research and academia.
In addition to standardized-test tutoring (something she has done for close to a decade), Kaitlin is an adjunct ESL professor at a local community college and a literacy assistant at a local high school — she helps a range of students achieve their academic goals by creating and nurturing a collaborative yet student-centered learning environment.
In her free time, you can find her either hiking with her dog, Cosmo, if the sun is shining or curled up with him on the couch reading a good book (The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje is a perennial favorite) or knitting.
Kari P.
[ View Bio ]Kari P.
Katherine A.
[ View Bio ]Katherine A.
Katherine holds a Masters of Science and a Doctorate of Philosophy in Inorganic Chemistry from Oregon Health and Science University. She previously earned her Bachelor of Arts in Molecular Biology from Skidmore College, with a minor in anthropology.
After earning her PhD she was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Pennsylvania in the Cancer Biology Department. Her time in academia produced seven published articles, two as first author.
She also volunteered her time with multiple after-school science enrichment programs including Girls Inc., Saturday Academy, and AKA Science.
She then joined Vertex Pharmaceuticals as part of their protein discovery team. She has also worked for two stealth-phase biotech start-up companies.
She is passionate about science, learning, and teaching, which led her to transition out of the biotech industry and into education as a 7th-grade science teacher. Katherine is dedicated to creating and maintaining a supportive and engaging learning environment where she can empower her students.
She is a highly empathic teacher who builds strong, positive connections with her students, allowing her to work collaboratively with each student to help uncover their strengths and develop strategies to overcome challenges.
Kayla O.
[ View Bio ]Kayla O.
Kevin V.
[ View Bio ]Kevin V.
Kevin has a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Philosophy from Salve Regina University. He also holds a Master’s degree in Theological Studies from Boston University’s School of Theology.
He brings a varied professional background, having worked in everything from the nonprofit sector to various startups, as well as roles in sales, finance, academia, and education. He has tutored students since he was in high school and was also a tutor in college and graduate school. For several years, Kevin was also an ESL teacher in South Korea and taught students in grades Kindergarten through 6th grade.
In the course of his career, he’s enjoyed working with students from around the world and at all grade and age levels. As a voracious reader and writer himself, he particularly enjoys helping his students better their understanding of various subjects and to write better papers and essays.
Furthermore, as an Executive Function Coach and Trainer, he greatly enjoys helping students see their blind spots and then implementing the necessary changes. Often, it’s small and easy-to-miss tweaks to routine behaviors that allows a student to go from feeling like they’re struggling to really thriving and achieving at a higher level. He loves helping students see their own agency in improving their organization and time management skills, as well as increasing focus and overall self-regulation, while reducing stress and anxiety.
In his free time, Kevin loves traveling, cooking, spending time with friends and family, and enjoying fantasy and science fiction novels, tv, and films.
Laura A.
[ View Bio ]Laura A.
Laura graduated from Boston University with a B.A. in International Relations and History, later earning an M.A. in History from SUNY Albany and a Ph.D. in History from American University. Her research focuses on the Holocaust and military history.
Laura has tutored international students and worked as a grader for AP exams. She enjoys mentoring students in research and writing, helping them break down complex topics and develop strong analytical skills.
Dr. Auketayeva has extensive experience in historical research, policy analysis, and education. She has worked as a Research Manager for the Encyclopedia of Camps and Ghettos at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, a Director of Research for the Nuclear Crisis Network, and a Holocaust Survivor Interviewer for USC Shoah Foundation. She has also held positions at the National Archives, the Capital Jewish Museum, and American University, where she was a Teaching Assistant.
Outside of work, she enjoys learning new languages, exploring art and museums.
Laura C.
[ View Bio ]Laura C.
Laura, a veteran teacher, with over 35 years teaching students at both the elementary and middle school levels, received her master’s degree in moderate special needs from Lesley University. At her current school she is working as a Learning Specialist, tutoring students who need academic support, organizational support, homework support, help with time management and confidence building. She has also done both SSAT and ISEE prep with students.
Over the course of her career Laura has taught math, writing and reading classes, taught small group classes of students with different learning styles and tutored students one-on-one. Laura focuses on understanding each individual and their own unique learning style. She determines the teaching strategies that will work best for each student and she helps them develop the skills they need in order to become independent and successful learners. Laura believes that every student wants to succeed and is doing the best that they can with the tools that they have; that always becomes the point of departure for her when getting to know a student.
Laura is an avid birdwatcher, and she loves walking her two dogs every day in the woods. In the last two and a half years, she has welcomed three grandchildren – delightful additions to her family! Reading, dancing, baking and camping round out some of the joys in Laura’s life.
Lauren K.
[ View Bio ]Lauren K.
Lauren is a dedicated tutor with over 12 years of tutoring experience across a diverse range of math, science, and test preparation subjects. With her experience, she brings a wealth of expertise to every session. Her passion for teaching is fueled by a deep understanding of these subjects and a genuine desire to see her students excel.
Lauren has successfully guided countless students towards academic success and confidence in their abilities. Through personalized instruction tailored to each student’s unique learning style and goals, she strives to make complex concepts understandable and accessible. Lauren’s patient and supportive approach creates a positive learning environment where students feel empowered to explore, ask questions, and overcome challenges.
With a commitment to continuous improvement and a track record of success, Lauren is dedicated to helping students unlock their academic potential and thrive in their studies.
Madisen C.
[ View Bio ]Madisen C.
Madisen graduated early and summa cum laude with a B.S. in Biological Sciences, as well as a minor in Philosophy, from Fordham University last winter. She is now a graduate student at Boston College, where she is enthusiastically conducting research for her Ph.D. in Biology and also working as a teaching assistant. She has 10 years of experience providing one-on-one tutoring to students of all ages, teaching children at various summer camps. Also, she is also a certified yoga teacher.
Madisen is passionate about teaching others in a way that empowers them to achieve their goals. Madisen is a big believer in hard work, growth mindsets, the power of positivity. She also believes in letting the student’s intuition, questions, and individual needs guide the tutoring session. She especially enjoys helping students with biology and chemistry, and making things that were once difficult for her to learn easier for someone else.
Madisen likes to be able to supplement what a student is learning with her own experiences in the field of biology, and to get them excited about the real-world relevance of what they are learning. She also especially loves to assist with reading and writing of any form. She believes these skills are the foundation for success in any and all fields. Harnessing these skills can also be a great source of joy, and an outlet for profound self-expression. When she is not in a lab or classroom, Madisen can be found in warrior pose, watching musicals, creative writing, baking oatmeal cups, walking her dog, or reading a Jane Austen novel
Mark G.
[ View Bio ]Mark G.
Mary R.
[ View Bio ]Mary R.
Mary holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Rhodes College and a master’s degree in education from Antioch University. She has worked with students in many grades as a classroom teacher.
Mary is currently working in human resources and is tutoring to continue engaging with pupils outside of the classroom. She is passionate about helping students meet their potentials through grit and organization. She went to a boarding school and wished she had had access to a tutor to teach her better executive function skills while still in school.
When not working, Mary enjoys spending time with family and friends, cooking, reading, and attempting to tire out her rescue puppy, Scarlett.
Megan D.
[ View Bio ]Megan D.
Megan has been teaching for over three years. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Boston University in Elementary Education and is currently completing her master’s degree at Salem State University for Special Education. Megan obtained her initial Massachusetts teaching License for grades 1-6. Megan’s goal as an educator is to make learning fun.
Her favorite part of teaching is watching students master concepts that were once difficult for them. Megan enjoys working with students one on one, and can provide different ways to approach a concept.
When not teaching, Megan enjoys spending time with her family, and reading.
Meghan W.
[ View Bio ]Meghan W.
Meghan earned a B.S in psychology from UMass Amherst and a M.A and Ed.S in school psychology from Tufts University. She has eight years of experience working in education with students from early intervention through graduate school. While attending Tufts, she worked as an academic skills consultant supporting both undergraduate and graduate students in the areas of executive function and test taking skills. Currently, Meghan is a school psychologist in central Massachusetts.
Meghan’s enjoys working one-on-one with students and seeing the meaningful progress that this setting allows for. Her coaching style emphasizes forming authentic, positive relationships with students. She is passionate about helping students identify and use their strengths, while also building strategies to support their areas of challenge.
Outside of work you’ll find Meghan at the gym, hiking with her husband and dog, or in trying out new restaurants.
Melissa O.
[ View Bio ]Melissa O.
Melissa holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and American Studies from Connecticut College and a Master’s in Curriculum and Teaching from Boston University. For seven years Melissa worked as a teacher at independent school in New England teaching subjects from history to English to math. In addition, she worked as a college counselor and testing coordinator.
Melissa has tutored many students in study/organization skills, math, writing improvement, and college essay assistance. She is passionate about tutoring by creating a supportive and personalized learning environment. She focuses on identifying and developing students’ strengths, keeping them engaged and motivated, introducing new techniques tailored to their needs, strategically addressing areas for improvement, and celebrating every milestone in their progress.
Melissa enjoys skiing in Vermont, reading, going to the beach in the summer, and spending time with her cockapoo, Clover.
Mike M.
[ View Bio ]Mike M.
Michael M. has served as a math and STEM tutor for P&P since 2019. In addition to his tutoring work, he is a full-time math teacher and counselor at a therapeutic school in Waltham. Students appreciate Michael’s warm and engaging teaching style, and they enjoy working with him. He resides in Westford with his wife and two children.
Mindy Q.
[ View Bio ]Mindy Q.
Mindy has been working to support children, adolescents, and young adults for over 15 years. She specializes in cultivating positive relationships with clients and families, executive functioning training, and writing skills enhancement.
Mindy holds a Master’s Degree in Professional Psychology and is licensed as a secondary school teacher. She is also certified as an EEC preschool teacher. With several years of experience tutoring students from elementary school through college, Mindy is comfortable working with clients of all ages.
She believes in creating an open, safe space to facilitate growth and learning. She utilizes rapport building strategies and a flexible approach to support each client in reaching his or her goals and potential. In her free time, Mindy enjoys reading, hiking, biking, and spending time with her young son!
Nicholas B.
[ View Bio ]Nicholas B.
Nicholas is a Tufts graduate who worked in the technology industry before completing doctoral training in behavioral science from BU Questrom School of Business. He has tutored students in math, humanities, social sciences, and writing, employing a teaching style that incorporates applications of concepts in the form of real-world examples. His students have included high school and middle school students, including those still learning English.
Nicholas is a former professional musician — a drummer and bandleader — who still teaches drums. He loves to see students improve their abilities to learn, synthesize, and articulate new ideas.
Noah A.
[ View Bio ]Noah A.
Originally from Montreal, Canada, Noah graduated in 2020 from the University of Connecticut with a Bachelor’s of Science in Biological Sciences. He also recently obtained his Masters of Science degree in Biomedical Sciences from Tufts University. Noah currently works in clinical cardiology research at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
He wants to use his experience studying for various classes, as well as standardized tests, to help students develop study methods that will carry on to any other academic endeavors they may take on in the future. He also strives to share his passion for the sciences and make his sessions engaging and enjoyable!
PJ R.
[ View Bio ]PJ R.
Quinn W.
[ View Bio ]Quinn W.
Quinn is currently finishing her master’s degree at Boston University in biomedical forensic sciences with an emphasis in chemistry.
She has tutored students in both a classroom and one-on-one setting in math, chemistry, biology, and english. Through her time as a student, she gained experience teaching as a TA both for undergraduate gross anatomy and graduate forensic chemistry.
Quinn is an enthusiastic tutor who will adapt her teaching style to the needs of students. Her tutoring experience is mainly with high school and college students but is more than happy to work with all ages.
She enjoys crafting, crocheting, reading and playing volleyball.
Sally S.
[ View Bio ]Sally S.
Sally has been working as a therapist, educator, coach, and mentor in a variety of mental health and social service settings for over thirty years.
With a B.A. in Expressive Therapy and Human Development, and an M.A. in Psychology and Human Development from Lesley University, Sally chose to work in Community Mental Health settings, serving families and children with complex needs as a professional focus. She enjoyed being an adjunct professor at Lesley College to supplement her income.
In her role as The Director of Inclusion at the MetroWest YMCA in Framingham, Sally became a part of the leadership team and began to work on increasing the organization’s capacity to support neurodiverse individuals and also created a robust master’s level internship program. She supervised and mentored multiple graduate and undergraduate students as well as high school aged youth and young adults throughout her ten years at the YMCA. Working with individual teens and preteens Sally attended hundreds of school meetings to support children with diverse needs, getting a hands-on education in Special Education.
Her greatest learning in the area of learning supports comes from raising her now 19-year-old son, a brilliant individual with Executive Functioning and processing speed challenges. Sally knows all too well the stress and anxiety that diverse learners can experience as challenges and expectations increase and has both the patience and the concrete strategies to help so they can begin to learn, grow and thrive.
As a result of her diverse experiences, Sally is patient and respectful in all her relationships. She listens deeply and understands the need for a balance of compassion and kindness, with firmness and clear boundaries. All who know her speak of her ability to form strong relationships quickly, as her superpower. Sally retired from full-time work just after COVID and currently has a part time therapy practice in Concord and still serves as a consultant to the education branch at the YMCA.
She enjoys spending her downtime with her wife and son and has a passion for gardening, hiking, crafting and cooking.
Semuel D.
[ View Bio ]Semuel D.
Semuel is an experienced Mechanical Engineer with a Master’s in Engineering Management from Tufts University. Throughout high school and his undergraduate studies at Wentworth Institute of Technology, he enjoyed tutoring peers in Trigonometry, Calculus, Physics, and various engineering courses. His enthusiasm for teaching math and science remains strong today.
When he’s not working, Semuel can be found on the soccer field, at the gym, or spending quality time with friends and family.
Shaw M.
[ View Bio ]Shaw M.
Shaw holds a Bachelor of Science with honors in Geology and Biology from Brown University, where he was both a research assistant and teaching assistant in the department of Earth, Environmental, and Planetary sciences. In addition to his science and mathematics coursework, Shaw also enjoyed taking classes in philosophy, english, and music to bring a balanced perspective to his learning. He takes pride in helping students put their best foot forward and has assisted both high school and college students in crafting successful admissions essays for the next step in their education.
Recognizing that factors other than academic knowledge can affect standardized test scores, Shaw also brings a holistic approach to SAT and ACT prep, coaching students in stress control and focus techniques in addition to teaching test content. His genuine interest in helping students succeed shines through in his interactions with students and parents alike.
Besides tutoring, Shaw enjoys getting outdoors on foot or on a bicycle. He plays several instruments and enjoys attending all genres of musical performances in the Boston area. He also maintains a national EMT certification and is working on a pilot’s license.
Stacie R.
[ View Bio ]Stacie R.
Stacie has 15 years of experience working with high school students as a guidance counselor. She values relationship building with students and working with them individually. She has a focus on leading students to discover their own questions, particularly asking themselves to look inward at their own individual values and interests so they feel empowered in their decision making. Stacie has a masters in School Counseling from Suffolk University, an Associates in Architectural Technology from Onondaga Community College, and a Bachelors in Communications from SUNY Oswego.
Suzanne C.
[ View Bio ]Suzanne C.
Suzanne received her Master’s degree in Education from UMass Boston and has worked as a middle school Special Education teacher for the past 17 years. Throughout her teaching career, she has also taught summer school to elementary and middle school students, after school math club to 4th and 5th graders, provided home-hospital tutoring and coached volleyball, cross country and spring track. Suzanne also tutors test prep and executive function coaching & college admissions privately to middle school and high school students. She enjoys assisting her students with their transitions to further their education.
Suzanne holds a professional teaching license in Mild to Moderate Disabilities PreK-8 and a Sheltered English Immersion Endorsement. In her teaching role, Suzanne has worked with both regular education and special education students within the general education classroom setting and has taught specialized literacy, math and executive function classes.
In her spare time, Suzanne enjoys traveling and making candles and essential oil products. Suzanne is compassionate, patient and has a good sense of humor.
Tim C.
[ View Bio ]Tim C.
Tim is a graduate of Wheaton College in Norton, Massachusetts with a Bachelor’s of Science in Physics. At Wheaton, he also completed minors in mathematics and astronomy, was a peer tutor for the physics department, and was the principal investigator on a NASA-partnered research project analyzing microwave radiation being emitted from Ganymede and its correlation with the surface geology.
Currently, Tim is working at his alma mater as an Assistant Director of Admission where he represents Wheaton College at college fairs and high school visits across New England and reviews application materials for admission to the College. Tim is also working on publishing his research he completed during his undergrad in competitive planetary science and geophysical research journals.
Tim is passionate about helping others with navigating academia whether it is at the middle school, high school, or college level both on the admissions side and the coursework side.
Outside of work and tutoring, Tim loves to play tennis, read, watch Boston sports, and care for his plants and cat.
Tom S.
[ View Bio ]Tom S.
Thomas grew up moving around to various towns all over New England. He is a physics graduate from the University of Massachusetts in Lowell. One of our senior math tutors, Tom has been a private tutor during high school and throughout college; working with high school and college students in mathematics, physics, and SAT, ACT, SSAT, and ISEE standardized test prep. Tom loves teaching in a one-on-one setting and tackling difficult to understand concepts while working to strengthen students’ weaknesses. Tom’s hobbies include cooking, hiking, as well as computer programming.
Wendy F.
[ View Bio ]Wendy F.
Wendy received Master’s degrees from Boston and Lesley Universities. She has worked with diverse groups of students across grade levels, both in the classroom and in one-to-one settings for over 20 years. Having experience as both a Special Education Teacher and Administrator, Wendy has taught students with neurodivergent learning styles and executive function challenges.
She holds a license to teach students with Mild to Moderate Disabilities in grades PreK-8, but has also worked with high school students focusing on academics, life skills, as well as college and beyond readiness. Wendy has experience with programs developed by Lindamood-Bell for supporting students with reading, spelling, speech, and language comprehension.
In her free time, Wendy enjoys spending time with her family, reading, listening to music, and traveling the world.