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 National Test Prep Association (NTPA), 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.
Jacqueline O.
Director, Executive Function Coaching
Director, Executive Function Coaching
MA, Boston College josterdahl@preppedandpolished.com
About Jacqueline
Jacqueline has been working in academics for over 8 years both in the classroom and through one-on-one instruction. As the Director of Executive Function Coaching, Jacqueline empowers students by recognizing and addressing their specific needs. She accomplishes this by allowing students to dictate the most effective learning style for them, leading students to become more engaged in the educational process . Since completing the online course “Study Skills: Strategies to Support Executive Function” through the Landmark School Outreach Program in Beverly, Massachusetts, Jacqueline has developed an Executive Function training program here at Prepped and Polished.
She wrote and constructed our workbooks on Executive Function, which guides students through a set of modules that address each component of the learning process from organizing workspace and materials to planning and following through on academic assignments. Our program establishes foundational organization and study skills, implementing individualized learning methods to address and support specific clusters of executive function.
Alongside her weekly sessions, Jacqueline trains new tutors, helping them translate their unique skillsets to targeted, one-on-one teaching environments. Jacqueline graduated with honors from the University of Vermont in 2013, earning a Bachelor’s degree in History and English, and went on to complete a Master’s degree in English literature from Boston College in 2016. She currently lives in Boxborough with her partner and daughter, where she enjoys hiking with her dogs and writing poetry.
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 A.
[ View Bio ]Abdul A.
Abdul graduated from the University of Pittsburgh, summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa, with degrees in neuroscience and history and philosophy of science. He then completed his masters in science writing at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and has since published stories in The New York Times and elsewhere. Subsequently, he graduated from the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. He is a neurosurgery resident in training, on sabbatical. His approach to tutoring and teaching is to lead the student with logic and reasoning to the answer. Abdul holds a Graduate Teaching certificate from M.I.T., and has tutored SAT, MCAT, USMLE and other exams. He doesn’t believe in rote memorization or talking at students.
Abdul is deeply committed to making sure students get the most out of their time with him. By developing reasoning for why an approach or answer is appropriate or correct, students build skills to help themselves develop as learners for the long term. Abdul wants to help his students build self-confidence and believe in themselves. On his free time, Abdul enjoys the outdoors, canoeing, gardening, and reading about Eastern history.
Alex D.
[ View Bio ]Alex D.
Alex graduated from Wesleyan University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Physics. Following graduation Alex pursued a career as a data scientist and as a consultant aiding businesses with adopting large-scale data analytics and machine learning into their workflows. His professional experiences have given him insight on the value and the versatility that a rigorous education provides.
Alex is passionate about math and science. He encourages curiosity, critical thinking, and a love for discovery, empowering students to become independent learners beyond the classroom. He seeks to create a patient and supportive environment for students to help them build the confidence to succeed.
In his free time Alex enjoys hiking, rock climbing, and cooking delicious foods inspired by various cuisines around the world.
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.
Angela M.
[ View Bio ]Angela M.
Angela graduated from Wellesley College with degrees in Latin and Philosophy. She has been a public high school teacher for 28 years, including nine years as the World Language Department Chair. She has taught Latin, Classical Greek, Spanish, English, SAT, ACT, SSAT, ISEE, and TOEFL prep. Angela has travelled much with her students, including Spain, Italy, France, Switzerland, Greece, and Turkey. 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. She also teaches piano! Outside of work, Angela enjoys reading, writing, and anything outdoors with her dog Bruno.
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.
Dr. Dana M.
[ View Bio ]Dr. Dana M.
Dr. Dana Marie is a Massachusetts native and a former Social Studies educator, special educator and special education Evaluation Team Leader. She worked for over 15 years in K-12 settings and has worked with young people Kindergarten through post secondary aged. She is a curriculum writing enthusiast and loves creating learning opportunities that are both engaging and challenging for the students she works with. Currently, Dana Marie works as a parent advocate for parents and caregivers of children with disabilities and special needs. In this role, she supports families as they navigate the often confusing special education process. Her specific area of interest is student voice and encouraging young people to be empowered agents of their own learning and growth.
Outside of her professional roles, Dana Marie enjoys reading, playing with her 6 year old Husky, and hosting unique gatherings for her family, friends, and community. Dana Marie holds a Doctorate in Education from the University of Massachusetts Boston, a Masters degree in special education from Boston College and a Bachelor’s degree in History from Stonehill College.
Daniel R.
[ View Bio ]Daniel R.
Daniel graduated from the University of Rhode Island, receiving a B. A. in Biology with minors in English and Philosophy.
During his time as an undergraduate, he had the amazing opportunity to study abroad on Semester at Sea where he travelled to 12 different countries while circumnavigating the globe. Daniel also attended Wesleyan University, receiving a Master of Liberal Arts with an emphasis on International Relations.
With his wide-ranging knowledge and interests, Daniel always aims to find opportunities to integrate the student’s interests with the learning material, providing an immersive learning environment for the student.
In his spare time Daniel likes to read, travel, go mountain biking, and learn new things.
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.
Emma G.
[ View Bio ]Emma G.
Emma graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Massachusetts Lowell. She’s currently attending Lesley University, working towards completing her Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a concentration in Expressive Art Therapy. While at UML, she worked both as an English tutor for K-12 students and as an online tutor for UML’s Writing Center. Since 2018, Emma has engaged with diverse types of students, focusing on academic subject support, coping with learning challenges and executive functioning skill-building. In her practice, she emphasizes the importance of organization and time management as foundational pieces in the learning process.
Emma believes that individualized support, confidence-building, and strategy development not only leads to executive functioning improvement, but also benefits countless other aspects in a student’s life. By identifying supportive relationships, locating resources, and developing a holistic approach tailored to each student’s needs, she’s confident that finding creative solutions can bring new opportunities for growth. Outside of her tutoring work, Emma is an avid artist and enjoys creative writing, playing guitar, and exploring nature.
Grace R.
[ View Bio ]Grace R.
Grace graduated from Williams College in 2023 with a double major in Biology and Psychology. During her time at Williams, she worked as a Teacher’s Assistant for a variety of courses, including those in the Neuroscience, Psychology, and Biochemistry departments. She was also a math tutor in the Williamstown public school system and a mentor to fellow undergraduate lab students.
Grace understands the importance of creating an individualized learning program to meet each student’s needs and has experience working with students of all ages. She has a particular passion for math and science, and she brings her enthusiasm for these subjects to the classroom to help students set and achieve their academic goals—while having fun in the process!
Currently, Grace works in the Emergency Department at Boston Children’s Hospital and is applying to medical schools. Outside of work, she enjoys running, listening to audiobooks, exploring new coffee shops in the Boston area, and spending time with her cat, Mendel.
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.
Jacqueline O.
[ View Bio ]Jacqueline O.
Jackie graduated with honors from the University of Vermont in 2013, earning a bachelor’s degree in English and European History. She completed a master’s program in English at Boston College in 2016, during which time she realized a passion for tutoring and facilitating the learning of other students. Since graduating from BC, Jackie has worked as a professional tutor and teacher in the Greater Boston Area, helping students realize their academic potential by developing individualized sessions tailored to each student’s needs. Jackie is an experienced academic tutors, as well as test prep tutor in SAT, ACT, SSAT, ISEE, and TOEFL.
She brings an excitement and enthusiasm to each session, and, in the words of a parent whose son Jackie has tutored for two years, “Jackie has an ability to frame the work she does in language that resonates with her students.” Jackie’s tutoring emphasizes the importance of making a connection with students and treating them as peers, as she believes this cultivates their self-confidence within and outside the classroom. Jackie is incredibly dedicated to her work and makes sure she is readily available as a resource for her students outside of their regular sessions. Recently, Jackie completed a 15 hour online course in Study Skills: Strategies to Support Executive Function all through the Landmark School Outreach Program in Beverly, Massachusetts. Alongside her work in academics, Jackie enjoys painting, drawing, and going on hikes with her dogs.
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 tutored high school students one-on-one. 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. 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.
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.
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.
Kaplan H.
[ View Bio ]Kaplan H.
Kaplan graduated with a PhD in Philosophy from the University of Iowa. He also earned both an MA and BA in philosophy from Colorado State University. He is currently pursuing an MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Southern New Hampshire University.
Kaplan has been teaching in and around the Boston area for well over ten years. His teaching approach is student-centered, where the aim is to inspire an intrinsic interest in the topics covered.
Kaplan also plays music semi-professionally, and loves to read, golf, camp, and hike.
Kari P.
[ View Bio ]Kari P.
Kayla O.
[ View Bio ]Kayla O.
Kelly C.
[ View Bio ]Kelly C.
Kelly attended Salve Regina University for both her undergraduate and first graduate degree, earning a BAS in Secondary Education and English Literature, and an MFA in Creative Writing with a concentration in Poetry. She began her career as a High School English Teacher, and quickly identified gaps in education that needed to be bridged by differentiating curriculum to meet individual student need. She therefore transitioned to tutoring and spent the next 4 years supporting students across Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Las Vegas, and California.
She has tutored various subjects including English language, literature, writing, social sciences, and test prep. Kelly then shifted her work to higher education, earning an M.Ed. in Higher Education Administration from Providence College. She became an Adjunct Professor of the Humanities, teaching courses focused in First-Year Writing, English, Creative Writing, and Critical Thinking.
She contracts for a Non-Profit Organization that guides First Generation Students through the college application process, where she helps students build their college list, write the college essay, and respond to supplemental questions. She also began work as an Executive Function Learning Specialist in Accessibility Services, dedicating the last three years to coaching students with disabilities in time management, organization, scheduling, note-taking, and study skills.
Kelly is committed to creating equitable environments that serve the academic and social needs of all students.
Kyle R.
[ View Bio ]Kyle R.
Kyle has been teaching for over 12 years, working in both private and public schools. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Providence College and a master’s degree in Education from Boston University.
He is adept at differentiating instruction to align with a student’s goals and interests. He considers himself a life-long learner, and hopes to impart that same passion for learning to his students. He has experience teaching English and history at the high school and middle school levels. He also has experience with standardized test prep and academic coaching. As an experienced executive function coach, he has guided students to improve their academic performance through positive thinking and effective organization.
He enjoys movies, exercise, and reading about history. He is a father of two young children and manages a fantasy movie league. He’s still trying to decide which is the greater accomplishment…
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.
Lucas G.
[ View Bio ]Lucas G.
Lucas is a pre-law student at the University of Michigan pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics with a minor in Public Policy. As a student, he is very passionate about immigration and environmental law, and loves reading, writing, and critical thinking. With a strong understanding of the college admissions process, he has specialized in guiding students through writing and standardized testing.
As a tutor at Prepped and Polished, Lucas prioritizes establishing a personal connection with each student, creating a customized approach that caters to their individual needs and fostering a comfortable learning environment.
Beyond academics, Lucas finds joy in fencing, singing, and cooking.
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
Maggie C.
[ View Bio ]Maggie C.
Maggie is proud to be Alaskan grown and is a PhD trained cancer biologist. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and M.S. in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology from Colorado State University. After falling in love with science and research, Maggie went on earn a PhD in Cell & Molecular Biology from the Van Andel Institute and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia where she developed therapies for pediatric cancer. She is now a postdoctoral fellow at Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School where she uses to zebrafish to study why melanoma doesn’t respond to therapy.
With a long-term goal of being a professor, Maggie is also passionate about education and making STEM accessible to all students. She has formally taught and tutored the biological sciences at the high school, college, and post-graduate level. Maggie also is an experienced SAT and ACT test prep tutor. Her teaching philosophy is built on dynamic and engaging learning environments to help students develop effective strategies to succeed in the classroom. In her free time, Maggie loves reading, true crime podcasts, and spending time with her husband, deaf border collie Flurry, and two cats.
Mark G.
[ View Bio ]Mark G.
Megan D.
[ View Bio ]Megan K.
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.
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.
PJ R.
[ View Bio ]PJ R.
Rashid A.
[ View Bio ]Rashid A.
Ryan M.
[ View Bio ]Ryan M.
After growing up in Louisville, Kentucky, Ryan ventured up to New Hampshire to attend Dartmouth College, and New England has had its hold on him ever since (with a brief stint in Madison, WI). Ryan started his career in consulting with a degree in Economics, but his passion for problem solving and continuous learning led him back to school to pick up a degree in engineering. Boston University’s unique program allowed him to go from no engineering experience to a Master’s in Mechanical Engineering in just 2 years. Since then, Ryan has become a self-taught web app developer, and has founded two tech startups, one of which he continues to grow currently.
Ryan has always strangely enjoyed taking standardized tests, and loves helping others develop the skills to make test-taking more intuitive. Ryan also loves demystifying math and physics, and helping people to realize these subjects are not that bad once you approach them the right way and overcome your intimidation. When not tutoring or working on his startup (and when not injured), Ryan enjoys being active with trail running, skiing, golfing, and climbing, amongst other sports. He also enjoys his daily puzzles with Wordle, Connections, Worldle, and Heardle.
Ryan O.
[ View Bio ]Ryan O.
Ryan graduated with a Masters in English from SUNY New Paltz where he also taught Comp. 1, Comp. 2, and Writing/Rhetoric courses to first-year college students. Since then, he expanded his expertise by working with a variety of students from all age groups (1st grade through graduate school) where he learned to incorporate mindfulness and executive functioning strategies into his lesson plans to maximize student growth.
Ryan also worked extensively as a test prep instructor, developing a deep familiarity with a wide variety of exams (SAT, ACT, ISEE, etc.). He is currently a licensed teacher with a passion for helping students develop into mature, skilled adults who are prepared to take on any challenge.
In his free time, he loves to read, golf and spend time with family.
Sarah L.
[ View Bio ]Sarah L.
Sarah holds a Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology from Brandeis University. She continues to teach there with appointments in the Psychology Department and in the Myra Kraft Transitional Year Program. Classes she has taught include Research Methodology, Statistics, Health Psychology, The Psychology of Student Learning, and Adolescent Psychology. She has experience working with international students, first-generation students, and students who may have different ways of learning (neurodiversity is awesome!). Sarah is both an academic and test prep tutor, working with both middle and high school students prepare for the SSAT, ISEE, SAT, and ACT exams. In her spare time, Sarah enjoys working on her podcast, playing video games, doing puzzles, as well as spending time with her cat Captain Ameowica.
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.
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.