Welcome To Tutoring Club

Michelle is the Owner and Director of Tutoring Club of McLean. She manages the day-to-day operations of the Center and takes a personal interest in each child she meets. As part of the national Tutoring Club organization, Michelle delivers the very best curriculum for students. On top of that, being a local owner allows her to individualize the lessons for each student, to be readily available to parents and students, and to contribute directly to each student’s success. Michelle monitors each student’s progress every step of the way and hires professional, caring, and accomplished instructors who share her passion. A Southern California native, Michelle received her degree from California State University, Long Beach. Michelle has always had a passion for helping people overcome their obstacles and achieve their best. Throughout the years, she has motivated students, friends, family members, and associates of all ages to do so and feels no greater reward than helping others realize their goals. She is a big believer in strengthening her community and in giving back and believes that we can all make a difference in the world in which we live. “I have always wanted to build a business that strengthened my community, ever since I wrote my first business plan when I was in the fourth grade,” Michelle said. That business plan has been preserved over the years and is now framed in the Tutoring Club’s offices. By bringing Tutoring Club to the DC metro area, she is able to share those passions and provide an environment where children succeed and where learning is fun!

Contact Michelle at [email protected]

Katherine received both her BS and Master of Arts in Teaching degrees from James Madison University. During undergrad, she studied elementary education with a double minor in family studies. A Northern Virginia native, Katherine grew up in Vienna, VA and went to Madison High School. She taught elementary school in Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) for five years before leaving the classroom to work in higher education as an admissions recruiter. In addition, Katherine coached Girls on the Run for over 7 seasons and helped found the Marathon Running Club chapter within her school. Katherine has familiarity with tutoring services and creating individualized plans for students from her own independent contracting services as well as from working for the Art of Problem Solving Academy in Vienna as a Language Arts Instructor. Katherine has a passion for both teaching and learning and is currently pursuing an online MBA degree. In her spare time, Katherine can be found playing co-ed soccer, running, attending concerts, and spending time outdoors. She is an avid sports fan and loves cheering on the Patriots, Red Sox, and local Washington Nationals!

Contact Katherine at [email protected]

Returning to the area after a lifetime moving around the world, Grace is excited to continue working with young people following four years of work experience at a summer camp and her university Writing Center. Grace has a Bachelor’s degree in Linguistics from Miami University of Ohio (a somewhat impulsive choice in major that she loved more with each passing semester, exploring the history of language and its impact and changes in our society.) Grace grew up following her dad’s career to different US embassies around the globe including Paraguay, Sri Lanka, India, Malaysia, and Romania. The global upbringing combined with her previous work with high school and university students has her well-equipped to meet students where they’re at and help them grown and learn in the ways that work best for them. Grace’s hobbies include video games and creative writing; she was the recipient of several creative writing awards and scholarships in college.

Contact Grace at [email protected]

Amber enjoys helping students meet their goals through thoughtful work and careful planning. She loves the idealism that students bring with them, and she helps students by celebrating successes and brainstorming through difficulties. Relentless optimism, high standards, and knowledge of options are key to her student-centered approach. Originally from Florida, Amber earned her BA in English from the University of Florida. After a year working with AmeriCorps in North Carolina, she went on to earn her MA in English from Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti. She taught first-year writing at UMass Boston and then went on to complete her Ph.D. in English at George Washington University, where she focused on Victorian literature of the working classes. Between teaching writing and literature and advising, Amber has worked with college students for more than a decade. In her free time, Amber enjoys running, reading, and spending time with her family, including two young children (who help keep her running!).

Contact Amber at [email protected]

Kelly believes in creating a comfortable learning environment for each individual as a way to motivate students and create excitement in learning. Through developing this excitement, students begin to become confident in school, as well as all aspects of life. She is passionate about helping students achieve their academic goals and helping them to develop into life long learners. Originally from Westminster, Maryland, Kelly earned her BS in Psychology from Mount St. Mary’s University, graduating Magna Cum Laude. During her time at the Mount, she was fortunate to be a part of two separate service trips to Honduras, where she spent time building schools and homes, teaching children English, and playing many games of soccer. Having these experiences and seeing the change one can make in the lives of others led her to become a tutor in Philosophy and Psychology while in college. Currently, Kelly is pursuing her MPH in Global Health from George Washington University. One day, she hopes to work on designing and monitoring health programs for people, especially children, in developing countries. When not in class or working, Kelly enjoys experiencing new places, whether it’s locally or around the world. She also enjoys spending time with friends and family, playing soccer, hiking, and catching up on her favorite TV shows.

Jessyca is back from a temporary hiatus and is eager to feed the minds of the future of America, once more! Jessyca first came to us back in 2015, tutoring in Reading, Writing, and Math while she worked towards her Master’s in Forensic and Legal Psychology at Marymount University. Upon graduation, she joined the ranks of Government Contracting and currently works as an Intelligence Analyst and Team Lead for the Department of Justice. She also holds a BS in Psychology from THE Ohio State University. Between undergrad and grad school, Jessyca worked for Champions in before and after school care, was as an Administrative Assistant and Technical Writer for an outpatient drug treatment facility, and served as a Mental Health Specialist at a juvenile treatment facility. Hailing from Cleveland, OH, Jessyca grew up surrounded by educators; her older sister being a Principal, older brother being a Pastor, and her mother, a clinical psychologist and Minister. Jessyca also moonlights as Princess Tiana locally for Princess Parties of DC! So, even during her brief break with us, she couldn’t help but bring joy and smiles to the children in the DMV area. On the weekends, you can find her having brunch with friends, singing or acting in a local community theater performance, or cheering on Baker Mayfield and her Cleveland Browns at Dudley’s in Shirlington! Oh. And Go Bucks!

After earning his Bachelor of Arts in History at University of Maryland, College Park, Alex transferred to George Mason University where he is currently pursuing a Masters in History. While working on his own education, he has worked as a teacher’s assistant for Computer Science working with 3rd – 8th graders, and has taught algebra to high school students. He also spent some time as an engineering intern and a machine learning researcher. For fun, Alex loves to go backpacking along the Appalachian Trail.

Autumn, a master tutor, currently teaches Special Education and Reading Intervention. A high school graduate at 16 years old, a graduate from the University of Notre Dame of Maryland and Johns Hopkins University with post-graduate studies from Harvard University, Autumn is very skilled at refining and developing instructional solutions for students who need academic support. Autumn is very skilled at refining college essays and guiding students through the application process. She sees herself as a facilitator of precise writing and critical reading. Autumn takes her time to carefully explain and break down content in a way that is palatable. Her students have shown growth in their test-taking abilities and they enjoy her energetic enthusiasm; she makes questions / content relevant to students which helps tremendously in their retention of information. Autumn caters to the cognitive needs of all of her students. Autumn enjoys teaching and loves making lessons as hands on as possible to address the different learning styles of her students. Autumn is highly-skilled in teaching struggling readers and is certified in Special Education and is Orton Gillingham trained. Autumn is experienced with developing and implementing IEP goals to enhance student achievement. She can collaborate with teachers, child study teams, and parents for students with autism, learning differences, developmental delays, and behavioral issues. She is a kindhearted and empathetic professional who develops hands-on lessons and differentiates instruction to meet the needs of each individual child.

Bill’s life has been focused on teaching and writing. He earned his BA in Philosophy with a minor in Mathematics and English at the University of Illinois, and both his M.Sc. in History and Philosophy of Science and his Ph.D. in Philosophy at the London School of Economics, under the late, great Sir Karl Popper. He taught at the college-level for five years, and then became a homemaker, raising his three children while his wife was a World Bank economist. In 1994, he started the Jewish Institute for Youth & Family, where he taught in religious schools, and developed and published materials on Jewish values for use in his teachings to middle and high schoolers. Bill has also written three published books and countless articles, and has designed a font for sale on Font Bureau. Bill loves to teach and to write and looks forward to making a difference in his students’ academic journeys.

Christina has always been a mentor among her peers and others around her. As the eldest child, she has provided support as well as guidance to her three younger siblings both in and out of school. Throughout her entire high school career, she was part of the Circle of Friends Club on campus, which worked with special educational students in her school to socially integrate them with the rest of their community, serving as an officer during her sophomore, junior, and senior years. Additionally, Christina was enrolled in an academic program that dual-enrolled her into community college while she was still a high school student. Upon graduating from high school with her advanced diploma, she also earned her Associate of Science degree. Christina began her college career at Virginia Commonwealth University before transferring to American University to finish her Bachelor’s. During her time as a student at VCU, Christina began her tutoring career at Tutoring Club of Glen Allen before transferring to McLean. She graduated this spring semester with her Bachelor of Science in Psychology and plans to resume her studies this fall at American University as a graduate student to receive her Master’s in Psychology. As a psych major, she enjoys working with students to nurture and develop their minds. Her hobbies are reading, enjoying good music, outdoor activities, and traveling, whether that be across town or across the world.

Colbi joins us virtually from our Tutoring Club of St. Johns, Florida location but our students wish he was in the DMV to work with him in person! From our early readers to our AP Physics scientists, he has a way with his students and they all adore him. Colbi is a math fanatic and a senior at the Florida Institute of Technology working towards a bachelor’s in Computer Science with minors in Computational Physics and Mathematics. He earned an IB Diploma from Paxon School for Advanced Studies, where he was awarded membership into the National Honors Society, Mu Alpha Theta Honors Society, and National Chinese Honor Society. While pursuing his undergrad, Colbi also worked as a software contractor and an audiovisual and media systems technician, and participated in FTC Robotics and as a junior prosecuting attorney in a teen court program. When not tutoring, you can find Colbi reading, playing his Nintendo, or enjoying a good bowl of ice cream. :o)

During college at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Dionne solidified her love for helping children become better people. For the majority of her undergrad career, Dionne was a Health and Physical Education major and decided to jump ships into the world of clinical psychology after teaching a mental health unit at a local high school. Currently, she is a full-time graduate student pursuing her doctorate in clinical psychology. In the past Dionne has provided support and mentoring to many children and adolescents, through church youth groups, supervising a community summer recreational program, private tutoring, lifeguarding, as well as coaching a variety of youth recreational and school sports. In her spare time, you can find Dionne playing recreational league softball, going for a run, doing yoga, or cozying up at home with a good book.

Gianna is a recent graduate of Colgate University in Hamilton, New York where she majored in biology. She currently resides in DC where she is attending American University as a post-baccalaureate student. At both Colgate and American, Gianna developed a fondness for teaching other students. During her undergraduate years, Gianna participated in a club called Sidekicks that paired college students with young children in the community to act as mentors and positive role models for the kids. Through this program, Gianna realized her love for working with children. In her science classes at school, Gianna enjoys working in peer led tutoring workshops and understands the importance of a thoughtful tutor having benefitted from tutoring herself in both high school and college. In her free time, Gianna likes to explore outside, play sports, especially volleyball, and volunteer with animals.

Harrison graduated from University of Maryland, College Park in 2019 with a degree in Biochemistry. While there, he spent time as a research assistant and as a math and science tutor to students K-12. After graduation, Harrison worked at the NIH in Bethesda aiding with COVID and Tuberculosis research on mice and monkeys, but found that his true passion was working with students. He is excited to return to tutoring and works with students needing assistance in math, science, ACT/SAT/AP exam prep, reading, and writing. When not working with students, you can find Harrison cheering for the Yankees, enjoying some pizza, or hiking the local trails.

Jan enjoys getting to know his students and helping them harness their learning process. He wants his students to feel empowered and excited about their growth and development. With an international background, Jan received his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Middle Eastern Studies from Philipps University Marburgin small-town Germany. After college, he worked as a civics instructor for high schoolers visiting our nation’s capital. He then joined the Peace Corps and served in Morocco for two years as a youth development specialist. Most recently, he was a group leader at a wilderness therapeutic school for at-risk teens in rural Virginia. Through his experiences, Jan has built positive relationships with youth of all ages and backgrounds. In his spare time, Jan enjoys playing pick-up soccer, basketball, and tennis, and finding his next read at the local library. He also cheers for the DC sports teams (no matter how many times they let him down).

Contact Jan at [email protected]

Jean is currently a Reading Specialist in Arlington County with a specialization in various types of reading difficulties. She is currently at student at Virginia Commonwealth University pursuing a doctorate in Educational Leadership with a specialization in Community Based Leadership Programs. She is also pursuing CERI certification in Structured Literacy Interventionist through the International Dyslexia Association. She has lived and traveled extensively in Japan, Korea, and Germany teaching a variety of subjects with a study abroad in China teaching a variety of subjects such as English, Gifted Education, History, and Humanities. A native of North Carolina, she began her career in Fayetteville, North Carolina and most recently taught World History and English in Germany. She has also attended George Washington University for Curriculum and Instruction, and Towson University’s Reading Specialist Program. She has as extensive experience in both rural, urban, and suburban school systems as well as International Baccalaureate Programs in Korea. In her free time she enjoys visiting historical sites, travel, and gaming.

For years, Joe has held a deep fascination for social studies. This inspired him to pursue a degree in anthropology, a pursuit that he followed at James Madison University for his undergraduate degree. A Northern Virginia native, Joe grew up in Vienna, VA and went to Madison High School where he participated in his school’s varsity crew team. He is currently pursuing his graduate degree at University of Maryland Baltimore County Graduate School. While in school, Joe worked a variety of fun summer jobs – as a sports videographer, as a mascot for Wolf Trap National Park of the Performing Arts, and as an associate at the Vienna Woods Swim and Tennis Club, to name a few. He found his joy for teaching others when he became a student teaching assistant while at JMU. In his spare time, Joe enjoys taking care of his dog, Onyx, and playing video games.

Marilyn recently moved to this area from Puerto Rico where she was a teacher of high school and middle school English in a private school for the majority of the past 28 years. She loved living in the Latino culture and her knowledge of Spanish helped her understand the challenge students faced while writing when their thinking was in two languages. She also worked for Central Texas College teaching the freshman composition course to Air Force National Guardsmen in San Juan. Prior to that, she taught English and Latin in Upstate New York at a suburban high school. She says that even though she has been teaching forever, she is still not ready to really retire! Teaching and working with kids has been her passion for all these years. Marilyn received her BA and MA in Latin from SUNY Albany, another MA in English from Russell Sage College, and did further graduate work at the University of Nottingham in England, an experience which she says changed her life. Another passion of hers is travel; Egypt and Morocco are still on her “bucket list”. She’s more than sampled the other continents and wants to get to North Africa. She loves classical music, opera, the ballet; loves to read and do crossword puzzles; follows professional football and tennis; and, now that she’s closer, has many more opportunities to spend time with her family.

Natalie was born and raised in Northern VA and attended Westfield High School, where she was an honor student and a member of the girls varsity soccer team. She then went on to study at Penn State University and earned a degree in Materials Science and Engineering. While at Penn State, Natalie was on the leadership team for the Society of Women Engineers (SWE). Through SWE, Natalie discovered her passion for mentoring/tutoring girls in STEM-related subjects. After graduation, Natalie began to work as a Financial Analyst, a job in which she has been enjoying since January, 2019. Currently residing in Washington DC, Natalie enjoys spending time visiting museums, trying new restaurants, running, reading, and spending time with family and friends.

Sami has always had a strong interest in math, coding, and problem solving, which led him to pursue a degree in computer science. He is currently attending George Mason University where he is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science. He believes that tutoring makes it possible for him to reach out to students and help them overcome barriers to their academic success while also forming long-lasting bonds. Sami was a member of several honor societies, including Phi Theta Kappa, and served as president of the science and coding club. He also played soccer for various teams throughout high school and college. Sami has been selected to the 2022 All-Virginia Academic Team in recognition of his academic achievements. During his free time, Sami loves to play soccer, explore, and learn new things.

Summer graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology and is currently majoring in statistics and machine learning at Carnegie
Mellon University while pursuing a minor in computer science. Summer has been a tutor for many years and has taught many subjects including math and computer
science. She has taught math from elementary school level to post BC calculus and has worked with a wide range of ages and skill levels. To her, the best part of
tutoring is being able to see a student grow their interest in and fully absorb the content. She believes that enjoying the material or subject is the first step to
improving and becoming successful. Throughout high school and during her freshman year of college, she participated in her schools’ math teams and swim teams.
During her free time, Summer enjoys playing games with her sister and friends, watching anime, and doing puzzles.

Swetha graduated from George C. Marshall High School, and is currently a college sophomore majoring in Computer Science. Swetha has been tutoring for the past two years and taught many subjects including Math, Reading, and Computer Science. To her, the best part of tutoring is helping students not just learn but truly master the content. She firmly believes that students should develop healthy study habits alongside academics in order to succeed in school. Throughout high school, Swetha participated in various honor societies and played viola. She was also part of Girls Who Code Club in her high school – an organization that motivates school girls to learn programming. During her free time, Swetha loves to read fantasy books, code, and explore new technologies.