"I hold a Master’s degree in Teaching English and have spent more than thirty years teaching English Language Arts, including Advanced Placement English courses. Over the course of my career, I have mentored hundreds of gifted and high-achieving students and guided more than a thousand college application essays from early brainstorming to final polish. My work has included AP Literature and AP Language preparation, academic writing, rhetoric, critical reading, and support for students who are building confidence with English, including ESL learners. Because I have taught students with a wide range of strengths and needs, I’m comfortable meeting learners where they are and helping them make measurable progress without losing their individual voice.

My tutoring style is highly personalized and discussion-based, with a strong focus on helping students understand not just what to write, but why it works. In sessions, I combine clear skill instruction with guided practice: we break down prompts, analyze strong models, build outlines, and revise strategically so students learn a repeatable process they can use independently. I also teach students how to read complex texts with confidence by modeling annotation, asking targeted questions, and helping them connect evidence to interpretation. Whether we’re working on an AP essay, a literary analysis, or a persuasive argument, I emphasize clarity, structure, and authentic thinking rather than formulaic writing.

Most of my tutoring is one-on-one, which allows me to adapt quickly to a student’s learning style, pace, and goals. I aim to create a supportive, high-expectation environment where students feel safe taking intellectual risks, asking questions, and refining their ideas. Parents appreciate that I communicate clearly about goals and progress, and students appreciate that I take their work seriously while making the process manageable. My goal is always the same: stronger skills, stronger confidence, and writing that sounds like the student at their best." less...