Leadership
Alexis Avila, 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 improve their grades and test scores. While tutoring for several small and large commercial test prep companies, Alexis envisioned growing his own independent educational services company run entirely by educators, for the love of education. 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 supportive, patient, and enthusiastic, Alexis has helped students and adults gain confidence, maximize their academic potential, and achieve dramatically improved grades and test scores.
Alexis is a certified school guidance counselor, grades Pre K-12, and holds a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (a US News ranked top-five Counseling Psychology program), as well as a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. Alexis also spent his junior year living in Seville, Spain through the Cornell, Pennsylvania, University of Michigan study abroad program. Alexis completed a two day seminar in Executive Function disorder, as well as a one day seminar on Advanced Strategies to Improve Executive Function Skills, all through the Landmark School Outreach Program. Alexis regularly speaks nationally about tutoring, test preparation, and students with learning challenges to parents and professionals at schools and conferences across the US, including SEPAC organizations in Dover, Sudbury, and Wayland, MA, as well as the IECA and CollegeWeek Live.
Alexis is the Test Prep Expert columnist for Answers.com, and both writes and produces videos for his educational blog, which has over 300 videos and podcasts. He interviews educators, mentors, and inspiring leaders on his Prepped and Polished Podcast. Alexis leads SAT Math Strategies and SAT Strategy Secrets Workshops at various local high schools, as well as administers the ACT-SAT Test Prep Selector Diagnostic and Evaluation at several college fairs.
Alexis is a member of professional organizations such as the University of Michigan Alumni Association (Alumni Student Recruiter); and also non-profit organizations such as Bridge over Troubled Waters, Mass Mentoring, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, and Community Servings. An active member of the Big Brothers, Big Sisters of America since 2003, Alexis 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.
Aaron Cotton, Tutoring Director
MA, Boston University
aaron@preppedandpolished.com
About Aaron
As Director of Tutoring at Prepped and Polished, Aaron brings more than 6 years of dedicated work with students to improve test scores (standardized and classwork) to achieve academic success. He is passionate about building accessible learning through one-on-one counseling and development. In this role, Aaron not only works with students, but also manages Team Prepped and coordinates with students and their families. He trains and develops tutors to maintain the highest levels of excellence in tutoring. Aaron holds a B.A in History from the University of Minnesota Twin-Cities and an M.A. in History of Art and Architecture from Boston University. He also worked in Minneapolis, MN as a high school coach for AmeriCorps’s College Possible. Aaron currently lives on the South Shore with his wife and enjoys exploring New England, learning historical trivia, and watching the latest Marvel/DC movie.
Dara Curtis, Admin
BA, Keene State
dara@preppedandpolished.com
About Dara
Dara holds a B.A. in Journalism with a minor in Speech Communications from Keene College. After working as a Producer for NECN, Dara spent 10 years in Hotel Sales and Operations for Wyndham Hotels. After being a stay-at-home mom for eight years, she most recently received her Real Estate License in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Dara enjoys coaching her daughters’ sports teams and being involved as a Girl Scout Leader for their troops.
