Alice believes that inviting moments of levity into rigorous study honors students as whole human beings – it also invites deeper engagement and greater retention.

In one student’s words: “Ms. TJ, of all our teachers you expect the most out of us, but you also let us have the most fun.”

Each student brings their own interests, curiosities, hopes, and personality to their learning; the dance of improvising with students’ innate magic in service of their lives and their learning energizes Alice.

Alice has over a decade of experience teaching and tutoring students of all ages, from early childhood education through undergraduate-level coursework. She graduated magna cum laude and first in her department with a BA in Modern Languages and Literature from Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo and then completed a multiple subject teaching credential at Cal Poly. Alice also holds a professional coaching credential (PCC) through the International Coaching Federation.

Alice blends coaching skills into her work with students to support them through confidence development, mindset shifts, and the self-discovery necessary for many genres of writing, including personal essays.

She works with kindergarten through university-level students, and specializes in language arts, from pre-literacy skills and reading through advanced formal and creative writing and literary analysis. Alice also supports students through all levels of Spanish, beginning levels of French, and all subject matter areas at the kindergarten through the third-grade level. She also enjoys teaching executive functioning skills as they relate to important study skills.

When Alice isn’t working she’s typically playing outside in nature – climbing, surfing, mountain biking, or skateboarding. She recently tried snowboarding for the first time and fell in love. She also fell on the snow. A lot.

For Alice, growth mindset isn’t just a philosophy to support academic learning, it’s also a tool to create tremendous freedom in all areas of life. She wants every single student she works with to learn, embody, and take with them the freedom and adventure of giving themselves full permission to become skilled at something through dedicated practice, no matter how well – or how poorly – something goes the first time around.

Austin's ability to clearly and effectively teach and his many years of experience teaching students in test prep (SSAT, HSPT, ISEE, SAT, ACT), math, English, study skills, and writing make him a highly sought after tutor. 

Austin graduated from Georgetown University with a degree in Psychology and minors in Philosophy and Theology. His favorite courses at Georgetown introduced him to the rich history of Indian and Tibetan Buddhism, and his interest only increased when he set out to learn about Madhyamaka philosophy and practice on his own. Himself a former sufferer of test anxiety, Austin incorporates the basic tenants of mindfulness into his tutorials, and he always seeks to put into perspective for his students the value of learning for learning's sake.

After college, Austin moved back home to Houston and spent the next two years working as a mentor and tutor to ninth graders in Houston ISD’s Apollo 20 program; he has been tutoring K-12 ever since, with a specialization in math, English, social sciences, and test preparation. One of his most rewarding experiences has been coaching SAT/ACT students who have ADHD and learning differences.

Austin believes in the transformative power of one-on-one, student-centered learning, and is always trying to engineer new and better ways to deliver difficult-to-learn math and English concepts. He seeks to nurture the innate abilities of each of his students and thinks the best way to inspire learning is to discover, explore, and draw out their unique strengths.

“Austin now works with our two very different children. He is an excellent resource to each and readily identifies how they learn and meets them there. He is a wealth of knowledge and knows tomes of material plus strategy. He easily engages and connects helping teens feel comfortable. Learning is a vulnerable business and he masterfully navigates fostering growth and instilling confidence. He is astute in identifying when they need to be shored up and communicates directly. He is vested in his students’ success and cares deeply about them, their process, and their outcome. He is a true partner. Austin always goes the extra mile for his students and his wit and humor are great tools for working alongside our family. He is amazing and we appreciate his style and expertise. We are grateful for the opportunity to collaborate together. He is connected with all 4 of us. Our children look forward to working with him every session." - Parent

“Austin has been so wonderful for our son! He is incredibly smart and kind, but also very diligent and hard-working. His follow-up homework emails were priceless as they always contained loads of helpful test prep information, math problems, tips, and some review of the session. Our son actually looked forward to his weekly sessions with Austin and repeatedly referred to those emails before taking the SSAT. We are so grateful to you Austin!” - Parent

“Miraculous results after working with 2 of my children. The proof is in the pudding!” - Parent

“Austin helped my daughter with both high-level test strategy and specific types of math questions. They worked through problems and he provided her with a shortlist of tips for solving problems correctly and efficiently. Thanks!” - Parent

“Austin was truly wonderful. He was conscientious and professional. As a parent, I appreciated that he seemed to sincerely care about our son's results. Our son enjoyed working with him and thought he was an excellent tutor. We worked with him for SSAT prep and hope we will be fortunate enough to work with him for SAT preparation.” - Parent

"Austin really connected well with my son on SSAT preparation. Austin is thoughtful and kind, and at the same time can push appropriately to get the work done. We had an excellent experience working with Austin." - Parent

"My son said that Austin taught him a totally different way to approach the test that made all the difference. He even got a 36 on one of the sections! So - thank you thank you thank you - it was just what we were hoping for.  He is DONE." -Parent

"Absolutely professional. Absolutely on time; if caught in traffic, Austin would unfailingly call to update his ETA. Austin is not a chatterbox; rather he is a quiet, steady intellect who patiently guided both my children (& they are quite different) through very challenging academic coursework. I credit him with helping to build  their confident work ethic; 'yes, this is hard, and it feels overwhelming sometimes, but we can break it down and understand it.'"  
-Parent

"A huge thank you from our family to the Mindful Tutor family!  With the help of wonderful Mindful Tutors for two of my kids, they are well on their way to getting into the schools of their dreams!  

My senior wanted that one extra point to ensure that his ACT score didn't rule out any of the top schools - and after just four hours with Austin, he did it!   Austin's approach was super-targeted:  he looked at my son's previous scores and knew precisely what needed improvement - there was not a wasted moment, and it was worth every penny!

Thank you for changing my children's lives - you've gone above and beyond with your personal attention and concern.  We are looking forward to using Mindful Tutors proactively for our high school junior as we approach testing this time!  I've recommended you to everyone I know!" - Parent

"My daughter REALLY enjoys working with Austin. She said the other day, 'Austin is the BEST tutor I ever had!'  Thank you so much for making this stressful process so wonderful, Austin & Megan!" - Parent

"Austin is a fantastic teacher- his liberal arts background helps him articulate really tough math concepts, and he can help simplify complex math to help explain the process, the theory and the reason the math is important. My daughter made all 'A's' during her two years with Austin and, more importantly, she no longer 'hated' math." -Parent

"Austin!! He helped [my daughter] to raise her SSAT score where she wanted it.  Austin analyzed her strengths and weaknesses very quickly and clearly and developed the plan in the given time to fill up the holes to become a better math student. He was amazing!  Also, he was very professional, patient and caring by knowing when to push and when to wait. [My daughter]  loved working with him and he was very kind to make her gain her confidence in math, mentally too... such a great Math tutor actually the BEST that I can not wait until my [my daughter's] siblings will work with him in the future." - Parent

“Austin was an excellent tutor. He was diligent, thorough, prompt, and courteous. He responded to my emails and texts quickly and helpfully. From what I could tell, he squeezed an incredible volume of material into each session. Since [my son] goes to a school with large classes, much of the teaching ends up being done through workbooks, etc. It was really great for [my son] to have one-on-one time with a patient, dedicated tutor like Austin. I highly recommend Austin as a tutor.” - Parent

In his teaching of physics and calculus, Brandon thoroughly enjoys helping others understand difficult ideas. His teaching philosophy consists of taking concepts students already know and gradually applying them to more complicated ideas. The goal is to help students come to their own conclusions and build off their current knowledge by leading them in the right direction. Each new concept is put together piece by piece from preexisting comprehension of related topics so that each new topic feels familiar. He brings a deep understanding of the mental focus needed to excel in STEM fields.

As a Summa Cum Laude graduate in aerospace and mechanical engineering with a minor in robotics, Brandon is currently pursuing his master's degree in mechanical engineering. Alongside his academic pursuits, he has gained invaluable real-world experience, working for companies like the U.S. Naval Nuclear Laboratory, mechanical contractor D.V. Brown, and space and defense contractor Moog Inc.

In his free time, Brandon is a high-level track and field athlete, competing in high jump for Virginia Tech and ranking among the world's top 100 high jumpers. His dedication to both sports and academics allows him to relate to students navigating the challenges of balancing school and extracurricular pursuits.

With Brandon as their tutor, students not only excel in the classroom but also gain insights that boost their overall development. His unique blend of academic expertise, professional experience, and athletic background makes him a versatile mentor, poised to support young minds in their educational journey.

Bruce is an Academic Interventionist with experience tutoring in all subjects. He specializes in teaching comprehension, reading, writing, math, application essays, study skills, test prep (SSAT, ISEE, SAT, GRE), remedial literacy development, literary analysis, executive functioning skills and research methods. He has extensive experience with students diagnosed with ADD/ADHD, autism, dyslexia/dysgraphia, oppositional defiant disorder, traumatic brain injuries, and auditory processing disorders. 

Bruce has a BA in Secondary English Education from Boston University and a Masters in Educational Public Policy from UMass Dartmouth. He has extensive experience with Lindamood-Bell processes, having worked as a Clinician, Consultant, and Site Manager for the Company for the past six years. His students have ranged from five years old to adulthood with initial abilities ranging from non-verbal non-readers to high honors students at prestigious private schools.

Bruce seeks to engage students in their areas of comfort and utilize these strengths to help situate new knowledge and motivate students to persevere through frustration and disinterest. He has been known to share his own struggles within the education system, helping students understand that the problems they face can be overcome. Bruce is adept at meeting students where they are and is equally at ease providing a calm, warm environment, or acting out scenes to build comprehension. He is consistently seeking to build self-efficacy and independence within his students. Bruce places on mindful metacognition, a skill he hones via Zen meditation.

As a New England native, Bruce spends as much time as he can backpacking and camping in the vast western wilderness. When unable to get out, he can be found writing educational philosophy or reading poetry.

“Bruce has been an amazing tutor with my son who has Dyslexia. After trying many other tutors over the years we found Bruce to be skilled with his knowledge of how to work with Dyslexic kids and has a strong under and compassion for kids who learn differently. My son's confidence as a learner has grown leaps and bounds since he started working with Bruce about 3 years ago.” - Parent

“Bruce is by far the best tutor/teacher [my son] has experienced in his 9.5 years. He understands [my son’s] learning needs/challenges and he is able to bring the best out of him by being fun, warm, and yet assertive. Thank you so much, Bruce!!” - Parent

“This young man connected with my daughter and awakened her skills through his boundless creativity, humor, intellect, empathy, compassion, expertise, and plain old hard work” - Parent, Adult Student with Traumatic Brain Injury. Bruce helped her regain the ability to speak as well as read.

"Amazing with kids - relates well and adapts to the child. Creative in how he approaches the kids and their learning styles. Makes what he is doing very interesting." - Parent

"Bruce is great. He is very calm, patient, and effective in his sessions. My 8-year-old son has improved already after a few sessions with Bruce. My son is already more confident in his reading and is learning skills that he was never exposed to. Bruce has also helped my older son study for his SSAT test and he was excellent. He is a great teacher and really knows how to teach kids in different areas and at different stages." - Parent

"We could not be happier with Bruce. His calm, gentle, kind way with [my daughter] was perfect. She was relaxed and actually had fun learning math and preparing for the SSAT with him. Thank you, Bruce!!" - Parent

Dara enjoys using her creativity and empathy skills to help unlock a student’s full potential. She has an uncanny ability to make students feel comfortable so they’re not afraid to take risks and ask the questions that might be hard to ask. 

With more than 15 years of experience in teaching and developing educational programs, she’s honed her ability to connect with and engage all types of learners. She’s a former elementary school teacher and reading specialist and has tutored hundreds of students of all ages. Using her background in fine arts, she's developed a number of arts-based curricula to teach a range of subjects. Dara specializes in teaching math and writing skills to elementary and middle school students. She also enjoys guiding students through the high school application process by brainstorming and editing application essays and polishing skills for test prep (SSAT, HSPT).

Dara has a Master’s from Stanford’s Graduate School of Education where she focused on social/emotional learning, curriculum development, and program design. She received her BA from Georgetown University with a major in Studio Art and a minor in Theology and studied abroad in art schools in Australia and Italy. 

"I think Dara is terrific -- she is a fun and inspiring tutor for [my daughter]. She has worked hard with Dara, but really enjoyed the creative writing she has been doing." - Parent

“Very patient with my child and friendly demeanor; tries to make the learning fun for my child.” - Parent

Dominica earned her BA in math from UC Berkeley, where she specialized in logic and foundational mathematics. She trained as a math tutor at UC Berkeley’s Student Learning Center, and eventually was promoted to Head Math Tutor, where she trained other tutors in techniques for advanced problem solving and compassionate instruction. In addition to tutoring all levels of middle school and high school math, pre-algebra through calculus, she specializes in tutoring chemistry, physics, English, and Spanish. Dominica can also serve as a general tutor for middle school students who need assistance across multiple subjects.

Dominica uses an empathy-based approach to help students build confidence as they make the transition to higher-level mathematics. She believes that creativity is a form of intelligence that must be nurtured in order for students to reach their highest potential.

In her own creative practice, Dominica writes fiction and poetry. Her work has appeared in numerous magazines and anthologies, and her awards include two Pushcart Prizes, a Rona Jaffe Award and a MacDowell Fellowship.

“Dominica is attentive, efficient and truly lovely to work with. And she knows and excels in every subject! It's mind-blowing! She is kind and focused and motivates my daughter weekly. It's been a great experience.” - Parent

“Dominica is fantastic. She's relatable, patient, creative and brilliant in any topic! We are so grateful to have been connected with her, and our daughter has thrived with her guidance and support.” - Parent

“Dominica is a superb tutor who is patient, and professional, with expertise over a broad range of subjects. She makes learning fun and gave my daughter confidence in her skills that helped her achieve mastery of her classes.” - Parent

Ian is an experienced tutor of test prep, study skills, math, Spanish, and writing.  Ian graduated from UC Berkeley with a major in anthropology, earning high honors and high distinction in general scholarship. He teaches essay writing to elementary, middle, and high school students, prepares students for the SSAT and HSPT, and assists with high school and college admissions essays. As a careful observer of life, Ian enjoys helping students train their eye to language as they brainstorm, write, and edit essays, both for school work and for school applications. He also has a talent for explaining math concepts to middle school students who consider themselves more humanities-oriented. Ian has worked with students who have learning differences, and he enjoys understanding or even uncovering each student's learning style.

Previously Ian lived in the UK, Australia, Japan, and Hong Kong. He has maintained an interest in Buddhist meditation and philosophy for most of his adult life. In 2000, he spent several months traveling around South Korea taking photographs of temples and hermitages, which were eventually published in two books on Korean Seon (Zen) Buddhism in 2002. He still practices meditation, but as the father of an elementary-aged child, he now finds he has less time for it than he used to. On the other hand, he has discovered that parenthood is a great opportunity to put into practice Buddhist principles such as mindfulness and compassion.

Ian is a calm, patient, and empathetic person with a wry sense of humor and a wide experience of the world, who has a genuine commitment to helping your child to succeed academically.

“Exceptional in his ability to teach to different learning styles and calm and supportive demeanor make his lessons enjoyable. Ian is extremely professional, timely and considerate.” - Parent

"Ian worked diligently and beautifully with both our son and daughter. He was always very encouraging, thorough, and a pleasure to work with for both me and my wife. We highly recommend Ian." - Parent

"I thought Ian was fantastic! I learned a lot from him and I felt like I was with someone with whom I could ask questions. He helped me with a number of skills that I used multiple times during the test and I am ahead with a few concepts in math." - Student

"Ian was great!  He was very helpful in both math and language, teaching strategies but also coming up with scenarios to help with verbal retention.  He had a nice mix of being serious and on task, but also allowing for fun conversation and banter. And, the results were worth the invested time and money." - Parent

"Ian helped our son feel totally prepared for the SSAT through a combination of analyzing practice tests question by question, developing thoughtful strategies for each section of the test, and giving our son focused homework to prepare for the test.  He really knows the material, has a great feel for how to push a student, and combines this all with a wry sense of humor." - Parent

"We were very happy with Ian.  He provided the tutoring, homework assignments, and feedback that resulted in significant improvements in our daughter's SSAT scores.  We were under some time pressure and he successfully consolidated material to get quick results.” - Parent

"Ian did an excellent job with our daughter.  He was able to build her confidence and explain crucial test-taking strategies and skills.  Under his tutelage, she was able to increase her scores by 56 percentage points.  Incredible!  My daughter's performance improvement far exceeded my expectations.  She is even a more confident student in school as a result of posting a strong SSAT score." - Parent

"Ian was a great fit for [my daughter] and his quiet and patient tempo removed the stress that was building up over the SSAT.  He was punctual and professional with great follow-up- a pleasure to work with!" - Parent

"Ian helped our daughter with the reading section of the SSAT.  What my daughter liked the best is that he not only told her the correct answer, he told her why the other answers were incorrect.  This overall approach really helped her understand how to tackle the reading section of the SSAT.  He was kind and patient." - Parent

"Ian was a great fit for our family, not only for our daughter. He understood our routines and adapted to them. He absolutely got our daughter's learning style, and always encouraged her to go the extra mile, with a reassuring smile. He gave her confidence and at the same time listened to our adult doubts. He is a great person and tutor." - Parent

 “Ian is a wonderful tutor! He is engaging, encouraging and thoughtful in his explanations.” - Parent

“Ian was a good match with our son. Ian had a good understanding of our background, which helped [our son] to work with Ian comfortably. He made sure [our son] worked hard, but also he was accommodating. [His] SSAT score was high on the first test, thanks to Ian!” - Parent

“Ian was the perfect Tutor for [our daughter]! She loved working with him, and he really helped her prepare for the SSATs. She did so well as a result of Ian’s patience and skill as a tutor. We couldn’t be happier!” - Parent

Jason has over ten years of experience working with youth in areas of test prep (SSAT, HSPT, SAT), math, science, and writing. He greatly appreciates building a personal connection with students and finds that the deepest learning happens in the context of nourishing relationships. Jason works to understand the unique learning styles and strengths of each student and adapts his teaching styles accordingly. He has experience in working with students who have learning differences, including dyslexia and ADHD. Before moving to the Bay Area, Jason graduated from Tel Aviv University with an M.A. in Social Work, and he brings his excellent communication skills to his tutoring practice.

After college, Jason spent time in Uganda, East Africa, building biogas digesters and teaching communities how to live more sustainable and health conscious lives. While there he learned to put his passion for helping people, building communities, and working with youth at the center of his life. For the last four years, Jason has mentored youth of all ages in a range of outdoor settings. His experience includes running garden programs for 3 to 5-year-olds and camping and wilderness immersion programs for pre-teens; he has also supported teenagers in the co-creation of rites of passage experiences. 

Jason dedicates himself to helping students of all ability levels reach their full potential.

"Jason has worked so hard to support [my daughter] and made so much progress. We are so thankful for his care and compassion - it means the world to us! She will really miss working with him." - Parent

"Jason made our son feel very comfortable and was also very patient with our son. Our son's scores, and more importantly his vocabulary, improved tremendously!" - Parent

 "Thank you so much. It was such a pleasure working with Jason. We credit him with [our daughter's] huge progress [in reading] over the last year!!" - Parent

"Jason has a calm and thoughtful approach to tutoring. He challenged my son to improve his scores and gave him the strategies and practice work to achieve his goal. Jason gets results without stressing students out. My son looked forward to his sessions with Jason each week and truly enjoyed getting to know him over the course of their time together." -Parent

"Jason is absolutely wonderful! [My son] loves working with Jason and he now also loves math! Jason is so calm, organized, and sequential in his teachings which has worked so well for [my son]. Jason has also brought another aspect of math to [my son] and that is the wonders of math and the deep thinking it can allow you to do. He loves discussing amazing math with Jason. Jason is a brilliant mathematician and also a person full of kindness and generosity. My husband and I feel so very fortunate that our son is able to learn with Jason." - Parent

"Jason was a dedicated and engaging tutor for our daughter. He really took time to get to know her as a person and as a student.  He achieved the excellent balance of helping her to focus and set goals for the task at hand (for SSAT homework, practice tests, and tests) while at the same time, building her confidence so that she could do well at each step.  We felt very fortunate indeed that Jason tutored our daughter at this challenging time in her middle school life." - Parent

"Jason’s help was instrumental to [my daughter]’s remarkable outcome and improvement on the test. We appreciated Jason’s commitment to [her] success and how he worked to create a meaningful bond with her and our family." -Parent

"Jason worked very hard to find a way to connect with my daughter and did everything he could to make the work interesting to her. He has a very accepting air, an easy person to have comfortably in your home. After the SSAT was over, he transitioned immediately to helping my daughter to think about essays. It was nice to have him help her find her voice. The essay and the school process were more my daughters than mine largely due to the help we received from Jason." -Parent

"Jason is an outstanding person who takes an interest in the kids inside their lessons as well as out in the world. He is compassionate and knowledgeable." -Parent

“Jason was thoughtful and patient. My daughter really enjoyed working with him. I could not have asked for a better person to help her prepare for the test.” -Parent

“[My daughter] felt very comfortable with Jason.  He was patient with her and never rushed her.  He also explained things really well for her.” -Parent

"We had a great experience with Jason, he was reliable, consistent, but flexible with our needs and schedule, and has a very calm and insightful delivery as he teaches. My 14-year-old sons both responded well to his teaching style." -Parent

"Jason was a wonderful tutor for our daughter as she prepared for the SSAT -- patient, compassionate, and warm, and also very smart about the ins and outs of the test itself.  [My daughter] really enjoyed her sessions with him and I would recommend him to anyone." - Parent

"Very calm. Good read in his approach and centered to the child's personality as well. Great with kids and a good tutor." - Parent

Joe’s focus is on student psychology as it relates to academics and standardized test prep. He’s worked in education for over 20 years and has a knack for putting complex ideas into simple terms that anyone can absorb. Students have described his communication style as “easy to follow” and even as “systematically laid-back.”

Having faced the obstacle at an early age of learning English as a Second Language, Joe has an acute awareness both of the challenges faced by young learners, and the joys of assimilating unfamiliar concepts. After getting a Chemistry and Math degree from UC Berkeley in 2003, he followed his passion for education by teaching in the inner city, working with small classes in a tri-valley learning center, independently tutoring students 1-on-1 throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, and even spending 2 years living in southeast Asia helping local students raise their SAT scores so they could gain entry into the best universities in the world.

In addition to covering many standardized tests like the SSAT, ISEE, SAT, and ACT, Joe has a breadth of experience with math, science, reading, and writing. One motto he is often heard repeating is “Don’t say you know it until you can show it.” This places emphasis on the fact that learning is not a spectator sport; it involves doing things to demonstrate that you get it. He aims to not only help students learn, but also to mentor them, to model mindfulness practices in real life, and ultimately to encourage them toward ownership of their own growth process.

Joe has been fascinated by Buddhist teachings ever since reading Siddhartha over 20 years ago and has long sought to apply these teachings to life on an ongoing moment-to-moment basis. Nowadays, his mindfulness practice dovetails with his educational expertise in the form of hand-tailoring lessons that are simple, fun, and effective.

"My son worked with Joe to prepare for the AP Pre-Calc exam and went into the test confident about the material. Thank you for your help!!" - Parent

“Joe has been really great at explaining things to [my son], who has said, ‘I learned more in my first session with Joe than I’ve learned all month in my school math class.’” - Parent

“Best tutor we've had. Great match for [our daughter]. Super supportive. Great follow-up and attention to detail.” - Parent

“Joe is a great tutor and knows his subject matter well. He can find different ways of teaching a subject so that it can be learned easily. He is engaging and keeps the sessions fun and interesting.” - Parent

“Joe was incredibly patient and even-keeled. Working with [my son] who is anxious and can be hard on himself, Joe found the right balance between pushing him to work hard but not giving him undue pressure. He was also able to adjust his teaching style when he saw that [my son] was getting burnt out and lacking motivation. We feel so fortunate to have been paired up with Joe and want to thank him for investing in [our son]!” - Parent

“[Our son] enjoyed working with Joe. We asked Joe to help him get ahead on algebra in anticipation of starting 9th grade, and Joe worked with [our son] to come up with a course of study to achieve this. A few weeks into school, he is feeling confident in his algebra class.” - Parent

Joe strives to use his foundational skills in the arts, and his goofy personality, to enhance the way that he teaches critical thinking and core content. His recent work has been with fifth graders, as he has taught fifth grade for more than five years, but the needs of his students have pushed him to work at a variety of academic levels as he strives to serve each student. A strong relationship is the backbone of a successful educational experience, and Joe makes it his goal to connect with every student.

Joe has extensive experience working with students in elementary school in every subject area. He has tutored upper grades (7th-college) on writing, reading, and Spanish, as well as some executive functioning and math work. Joe values communication and will put in extra work to ensure that his students are receiving personalized and high-quality academic support.

Before becoming a formal classroom teacher, Joe worked as a theater and music teacher for a number of years. He directed youth theater productions, specializing in musical theater for kids aged 8-18. Joe graduated from the New England Conservatory of Music with a Bachelor of Music in Composition and received his Master of Education from the University of San Francisco. He was a resident of the San Francisco Teacher Residency in the 2015-2016 school year. Joe has his BCLAD and speaks Spanish fluently. He often tutors Spanish at the high school level.

Joe has had some ‘pretty amazing experiences’ (his words) that most teachers dream of having. In math, he has worked with Ms. Marilyn Burns on a personal level many times. Ms. Burns is THE math teacher to know, having written the majority of the curriculum used K-8 in the United States. Joe has also traveled to Japan twice to learn Lesson Study, a Japanese form of professional development and lesson inquiry that has pushed Joe to think more critically about the sequencing and delivery of math instruction. Throughout these experiences, Joe has collaborated with Dr. Akihiko Takahashi and the staff of Mills College, experts in the field of mathematics education.

In his free time, Joe loves to walk his dog, Bruno, play video games, cook, listen to and play music, and paint. He uses his interests to find connections with kids and their interests. These connections are the foundation upon which he builds meaningful relationships with kids. Joe is an avid reader and writer too and excels when he can push a young writer to explore their voice, or when matching a burgeoning reader with their next amazing read.

“Joe is fantastic and I cannot say enough positive things. He connected quickly with my daughter, building rapport. He was able to understand her learning style to help her understand and apply the content, increasing her confidence and performance in the subject. Thank you, Joe!” - Parent

“Joe is an engaging, knowledgeable, professional, great tutor. We are so grateful for his help with our son. He is able to connect with him and engage him -- and we see tangible learning from his tutoring.” - Parent

"Joe is a great teacher. He takes the time to explain and clarify assignments. I highly recommend Joe!" -Parent

"Mr. Joe is an awesome teacher. He treats us well and will give you prizes whenever you do something amazing. He is a very smart person and will teach you the necessary skills and if you don't understand he will try to help you in any way." - Student

Joseph is a lover of arts and ideas, and he endeavors to share this passion with every student he teaches. With over 12 years of experience as an educator, he believes that learning how to navigate the intellectual world enriches the beauty and depth of life.

Joseph majored in English at Rice University, where he also took classes in philosophy, film, linguistics, and mindfulness meditation. He studied poetry at St Andrews University in Scotland and British literature at University College London. In 2011 he transitioned into teaching, serving for two years as an English IV and AP English instructor at YES Prep Southwest in Houston.

In addition to English, Joseph tutors history, science, mathematics, and Spanish. He also provides personalized assistance with the college and graduate application process, with a particular focus on crafting essays, personal statements, resumes, and supplements. He’s helped students earn acceptances to elite universities and top-ranked graduate programs in business, law, sciences, and humanities.

Joseph believes that adolescents are learning to navigate the emotional and interpersonal world – not just the academic one – and that developing healthy emotional habits is crucial for fulfillment later in life. So, while he helps students build the accountability, independence, and maturity that are necessary for success, Joseph also works hard to nurture students’ self-esteem, curiosity, and joy.

"Joseph has been fabulous. He is very knowledgeable, he is exacting, and he is an excellent communicator and organizer. We couldn't be happier -- and we are tough customers! Thank you, Joseph!" - Parent

"Fantastic English language tutor! Tremendously helpful and positive starting from the brainstorming phase through multiple drafts and reviews to the final polished product. Kids learned a lot about the writing process and the small steps approach helped to not overwhelm them. Kids felt accomplished and successful with Joseph's guidance." - Parent

Jordan has been working with elementary, middle and high school students for eight years. He led team-building conferences across the state with the California Association of Student Councils, and applied those same leadership curricula and techniques to a number of student programs in Vietnam. During his time as an undergraduate at Harvard, he helped fellow students and remote peers across Asia master their analytic and creative writing potential. He hates mechanical, dry, and formulaic methods of writing instruction and aims to help students learn to write about and for their own enjoyment. Admissions essays are his specialty - editing is a guilty pleasure, and he enjoys nothing more than talking to kids about the life-altering ideas and experiences that good personal statements are made of. 

In addition to guiding students in all aspects of written expression, Jordan enjoys the nuances of words and teaches vocabulary building for testing application (SSAT, ISEE, HSPT). He tutors all areas of the high school admission process, including essays and the verbal, reading, and math portions of tests. Jordan also loves working with kids on math and science, both of which were his favorite subjects in school. He enjoys creating task-based exploration in both subjects, and he revels in the “aha” moments they inspire.

Jordan graduated from Harvard with a degree in social studies (read: philosophy, sociology, and history - not the fifth grade kind) and a minor in English. He’s been writing fiction and poetry for three years and hopes to finish a novel in the near future. He’s been practicing mindfulness for several years, and meditation is his favorite part of the day. He enjoys teaching the sorts of focused breathing and observation techniques that help to decrease anxiety and foster a greater enjoyment of work and life. 

Jordan loves being a mentor to kids and young adults of all ages and is dedicated to helping your child move through each new phase of growth.

“This is the second time we have worked with Jordan (2 different kids) and the results are always the same. Jordan has a great way of connecting with people and making them feel comfortable. He is also very organized and diligent. This has always resulted in great and timely end products. We look forward to working with Jordan again next year!” - Parent

“Outstanding! A++ Jordan has developed a fantastic relationship with our son. He is prompt, focused, and clear in his communication and instruction. Our son has learned key study and writing skills that have enabled him to improve in school.” - Parent

"Jordan is a great writing coach. He is kind and relaxed, yet knowledgeable and enthusiastic. We also just enjoyed his company!" - Parent

"Jordan helped my son with interview prep. Jordan was great to work with. He had a lot of energy and it was useful to work with a third party on interview skills." - Parent

"We were all thrilled with Jordan's work.  [My son] took an immediate liking to him and he helped [him] produce several good essays which really captured his interests and his voice.  Jordan was always on time and when he had a conflict with our regular schedule, he was proactive about scheduling another time.  He was also flexible when we had a conflict, which happened more than once.  I think [my son] also learned about how to construct a good short essay and the weekly sessions improved his overall writing." - Parent

"Just wanted to let you know how great Jordan has been with [my son]. He has been flexible and when things have been challenging he has handled the situation with great maturity and good humor." - Parent

“Jordan is a wonderful tutor who can make writing essays an enjoyable experience. He is smart, patient, fun, and kind.” - Parent

“Jordan is an amazing tutor. I have seen huge improvements in my older son's academics and confidence. Jordan has built a solid, trusting relationship with both of my boys. We feel very lucky to have him!!” - Parent

“This is our second time working with Jordan and he did an outstanding job with both of our sons. He is punctual, responsible, a good communicator, and always follows up afterward with homework and feedback. He is very friendly and easygoing to work with and got along great with both of my boys. He kept them focused on their SSAT prep and helped them improve their scores and is also great at writing and workshopping essays. We cannot recommend Jordan highly enough and would definitely be interested in working with him again. Thank you!” - Parent

Kirk has been a dedicated mathematics teacher for more than 20 years. She loves helping students develop confidence in math and enjoys the process of making math fun for her students.  Kirk engages students by highlighting the knowledge and skills they already have and connects with her students with humor.  She specializes in mathematics and test preparation (SSAT, HSPT, ISEE, SAT), including test content writing for the SAT and GMAT.

Kirk taught at Convent Elementary School in San Francisco, a public high school in Oakland, and was a founding teacher of a public high school in San Francisco. Kirk also taught IB Mathematics in Mumbai, India, where she was part of a mindfulness professional learning community.  When she is not tutoring, Kirk is most likely traveling to a far-flung destination when she can satisfy her passion for travel and for learning about new places and people.

“What a star. Upbeat personality engages and inspires kids. Knowledge and teaching technique is A+, and we have a finicky, moody teen. Kirk has made our child love math again and has her working ahead of her math class every week. Thank you, Kirk!” - Parent

"Kirk has been wonderful and so helpful to my daughter. In addition to help with her coursework, Kirk has been a cheerful voice and a fantastic motivator. We are so grateful for Kirk’s help!" - Parent

“We are so grateful to Kirk. She is an excellent educator, patient, easygoing and friendly. Our daughter's scores more than doubled thanks to Kirk's guidance. Not only did tutoring with Kirk help with test scores, but it prepared her for increased academic rigor in high school. Kirk and Megan were extremely organized and efficient, zeroing in on the areas that needed the most work. We give Kirk and Mindful Tutor the highest recommendations!” - Parent

“Kirk is wonderful and brings a perfect balance to support and teach my daughter.” - Parent

“Kirk and our daughter hit it off immediately, which was a great relief being that our daughter was pretty reticent about tutoring altogether. Kirk was always communicative, timely, upbeat, prepared and present. [My daughter] has not only done well in her high school entrance exams, but has improved her grades overall. She is a more confident and capable student. We look forward to continuing to work with Mindful Tutor and Kirk especially.” - Parent

“Kirk is an amazing tutor. She is thoughtful, creative, patient, and excellent at explaining concepts. She has kept our 12-year-olds engaged and challenged in math even during the summer - they truly look forward to the sessions.” - Parent

Laura is a National Board Certified teacher. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa from UC Santa Barbara, where she earned her degree in Comparative Literature. She earned her Teaching Credential in Elementary Education and Master’s Degree from UC Santa Barbara in 2011.

Laura taught fourth grade for six years, and she is currently a first-grade teacher at SFUSD, where she uses balanced literacy and guided reading to teach emergent readers and writers. As an educator, Laura believes in the power of building strong relationships with all of her students. After school hours, Laura tutors elementary and middle school students.

Laura finds tutoring particularly rewarding because it is a space where the tutor can focus on meeting the specific needs of her student. In the classroom environment, a student’s success is often tied to his or her assessments and work product, whereas in a tutoring session, success is defined by the progress the student makes with his or her tutor and the learning that happens when they discover misconceptions and work them out together.

“Laura is awesome - we love her outlook, energy, style and helpful input. Our boys think she is great.” - Parent

“Laura has been a wonderful tutor for your daughter - she was able to connect with her and make reading tutoring fun.” - Parent

“Laura has been wonderfully effective in engaging [my son] with different tools and tactics. She has been able to help him draw out really good ideas and work during their sessions. She has been working on creating an editing checklist with him which will be very helpful in his future writing assignments and was a great idea!” - Parent

Meredith brings a warm, patient, and personalized approach to tutoring. She naturally enjoys getting to know each student as a multifaceted individual and delights in seeing youth build their confidence and enthusiasm in both academics and life. Having personally progressed from struggling to thriving in certain academic subjects as a young student, Meredith is a strong believer in the "growth mindset" -- a theory that intelligence can be developed, and that natural talent is only a small portion of a student's full potential in any given area. She especially delights in helping students transform their self-perception from being "simply not good at __" to realizing their full capabilities. 

Meredith began working with students more than a decade ago, and she has tutored and taught students from elementary through college level. Meredith is a generalist but usually specializes in reading, writing, math, and test prep (SSAT and ISEE). Meredith graduated from Stanford University with a B.A. in Peace & Conflict Studies, but she dabbled in coursework ranging from astrophysics to Mozart's operas to an organic farming practicum.

Meredith hails from Colorado, and she finds centeredness through time spent hiking, relaxing, and practicing yoga in nature. Her quest to see the natural world has led her to such diverse places as Mozambique, New Zealand, Peru, Tasmania, and the Kingdom of Tonga. Most recently, she spent several months backpacking in national parks around the Western US. When closer to home, Meredith can be found practicing yoga on her porch, growing vegetables in her backyard, or hiking in the Marin Headlands. 

"I cannot recommend Meredith highly enough! She has been an incredible tutor for my daughter, and we are so grateful for her dedication and expertise. From day one, Meredith showed a deep commitment to not only teaching but also understanding and nurturing my daughter's learning journey.

Meredith is more than just a tutor; she is a mentor who has significantly enhanced my daughter's academic and personal growth. Not only did my daughter adore her, but Meredith also knew exactly how to challenge her while simultaneously improving her organizational and study skills. It was amazing to see the progress my daughter made under Meredith's guidance." - Parent

"Meredith was a terrific tutor. We especially appreciated her calm demeanor and her precise instruction. We never felt that she was overloading our daughter with too much work or stress. She is clearly a kind and compassionate person but also a knowledgeable tutor. I would highly recommend her to anyone." - Parent

"Meredith has an innate understanding of what children need to learn and master to succeed academically. Beyond academics, she helped boost my daughter's self-confidence, which has had a positive ripple effect in all aspects of her life. If you're looking for a tutor who is not only knowledgeable and dedicated but also genuinely cares about your child's growth and development, Meredith is the perfect choice. We feel incredibly fortunate to have found her, and she has made a lasting impact on our family. Thank you, Meredith, for everything you've done!" - Parent

“We love working with Meredith. She is patient and kind and has been incredibly helpful to my daughter.” - Parent

“Meredith took on teaching our child algebra in a matter of 8 weeks and made it both engaging, challenging, and fun for him. It was time he looked forward to each week and that ultimately set him up to be confident as he begins his work in high school math. We're so grateful for her work with him!” - Parent

“With three teenagers I have worked with many tutors and Meredith is a definite stand out. She is the perfect blend of being kind and nurturing while teaching and making sure concepts are mastered. What I love most about Meredith is how organized she is and how I know I can trust her to keep my kids on track. Her level of preparation and organization is unparalleled. We know we are lucky to have her!” - Parent

"Patient, kind, thoughtful - I cannot say enough good things about how Meredith engaged and tutored my daughter! She made her feel confident and capable." - Parent

“Detail-oriented and really pushed to make maximum progress. Caring and supportive personality contributed to an excellent learning environment.” - Parent

Owen has been tutoring and mentoring for over eighteen years, specializing in math and writing. He has an extensive background tutoring Algebra, Geometry, Algebra II, Precalculus, and Calculus, helping students develop the confidence necessary to not only succeed in math class but also enjoy it. Owen prepares students for high school and college-level essay writing and history theses, and he assists with high school and college admissions essays. As a writing coach, he helps each student identify their unique strengths and develop a strong voice as a writer. He attended Stanford University and graduated with a degree in history.

Owen has extensive experience mentoring students as they navigate the challenges and joys of high school and college. He supports students in both their academic and personal development, from how to develop healthy study habits to learning how to recenter when stressed. He loves working with students to help them feel more confident, engaged, and relaxed, not just in school but in the rest of their lives as well.

Owen is passionate about the intersection between personal, societal, and environmental healing. A longtime meditator and spiritual practitioner, he recently received a masters in psychology from Meridian University, a school that specializes in transformative learning. He is delighted to have the opportunity to support the next generation in their transition to adulthood.

"Owen is incredibly kind, patient, and knowledgeable. He knows every topic and can help on any level of algebra, geometry, calculus, and more. Patience is the key. He is so excited to help. I always have thousands of questions and he is willing to answer all of them in many different ways." - Student

"Owen is incredibly flexible and hardworking, and he helps you not only work through problems but makes sure that you understand them." - Student

"Owen is a very special person!!!" - Parent

"Thank you so, so much Owen. My son told me, 'Tonight was the best tutoring session I ever had!!' For him to connect with someone who understands what he is talking about is priceless!!" -Parent

Pam comes from a family of educators and has been teaching and tutoring elementary students up through college in Math, Science, Writing, and Test Prep (SSAT, HSPT, ISEE, SAT, ACT, GRE) for more than 15 years. Her love of teaching stems from her love of learning. She has formally studied Physics, Creative Writing, and the Classics and has informally studied Cheese, Photography, the Arthurian Legends, Dreams, the French Revolution, and countless other topics. One of her favorite pastimes is inspiring students to love subjects they thought they hated. Another is watching them gain mastery over a topic they thought was too hard for them.

Pam has a great deal of compassion and understanding for all students. She has worked with students who have ADHD, Dyslexia, and Asperger’s Syndrome as well as students who are Blind, Deaf, English Language Learners, and struggling with PTSD and other emotional issues. She believes all students have their own unique learning styles, regardless of formal diagnoses, and her first job as a teacher is to develop a real relationship with her students so that she can tailor her approach accordingly.

She earned her BA in Physics from Wellesley College, an MFA in Writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts, and an MA in the Liberal Arts from St. John’s College. She has taught at four private schools, including The Hamlin School in San Francisco, and three academic summer camps in New England and the Southwest. She began the Christian meditative practice of Centering Prayer a year and a half ago, and it has had a transformational effect on her life. 

“Pam’s aces all around !!!! Great touch with our very different boys.” - Parent

“Pam is absolutely outstanding! She has worked with both of my daughters with fantastic results. Pam is the best!” - Parent

"Pam is an incredible SSAT tutor! With Pam's teaching, my daughter was able to almost double her SSAT score. Pam knows how to expertly teach both the math and verbal sections of the test and definitely gets great results." -Parent

“Pam worked with our daughter and helped her bring her overall SSAT percentile from 'oh dear, that's too low' to 'oh wow, that's strong enough for any school'. Pam is calm, patient, and affable: my daughter still speaks affectionately of her.” - Parent

"Working with Pam has been one of the best experiences we have had. We adore her, and she has helped [my child] in a multitude of ways." -Parent

"Pam was an incredible support to our son as he prepared for the SSAT.  He loved working with her because she was engaging, fun and kept him on task.  Under her guidance, his scores improved dramatically.  She was also great about communicating with us on how we could support their efforts.  Megan was terrific about checking in and monitoring their progress.  Overall, it was a fantastic experience and we recommend Pam and Mindful Tutor without reservation." -Parent

"Pam is a supportive and incredibly bright tutor who keeps lessons fun and engaging. She was a great match for our daughter. Sharing a similar appreciation for good literature - and humor - made the tutoring time well worth the time. I highly recommend Pam." -Parent

"Pam tutored [my daughter] through a stressful period of SSAT testing for independent high school admissions.  Often I would hear Pam laughing loudly at [her] jokes from upstairs. It was a reassuring sound that her humor was being appreciated. I also heard Pam complement [my daughter]  on her strengths as testing did not come easily to her." - Parent

“Pam clicks w my son in a way that I don’t think anyone else can.” - Parent

Peggy has an absolute love for teaching Test Prep, English, Reading, and Writing. She spent more than six years as a lead instructor in test prep at a center in Alabama, and she confidently teaches strategies for the verbal sections of the SSAT, SAT, and ACT. Before working as a test prep tutor, she devoted years to teaching English at both the college level and as one-on-one tutoring. She has taught English to students ranging from 2-year-old toddlers to Business English for CEOs and Speech Writing and Editing for members of the House of Representatives in Japan.

Peggy has practiced meditation on and off for approximately 20 years. Perhaps not surprisingly, practicing mindfulness on an everyday basis has greatly affected her teaching, whether she is teaching a class of 25 college students, a group of 15 ESL adult students, or a one-on-one ACT tutoring student. Consciously practicing compassion and empathy towards a student in place of giving in to frustration when something isn’t “clicking,” has led her to many alternative solutions that she believes she otherwise would have never stumbled upon. Understanding why a student may not be grasping a specific concept and taking into consideration his or her perspective has greatly benefitted both her teaching and her students. Without a doubt, becoming more serious about meditation and mindfulness was one of the most impactful paths that Peggy has chosen.

“Our son has loved working with Peggy. She is thoughtful, warm, supportive, and keeps him actively engaged, even over Zoom. Highly recommend!” - Parent

“Peggy has done a tremendous job working with [my child]. She has been very accessible, receptive and informative. I appreciate her efforts to develop the rapport critical to understanding [my child's] needs and challenges.” - Parent

“Peggy is a perfect tutor for our son. She understands that he's a competitive guy and does well when learning is "game-ified" to encourage his engagement and improvement. We feel very lucky to have her as part of his team!” - Parent

Pia loves to write. She has taught writing in many forms — she taught fiction writing to NYC high schoolers and to undergraduates at Columbia, served as Director of the Columbia Artist/Teacher program, and works remotely on composition with adults earning their GED. She holds an MFA in Fiction from Columbia University and a BA in Literary Arts from Brown. As a tutor, she works with students on writing, study, and organizational skills. Pia focuses on helping students find their own voices and structure their learning habits for success.

Pia knows it's hard to learn if you're not interested in what you're studying, and she loves working with students to connect their coursework to their passions. An exuberant and empathetic teacher, she uses storytelling and hands-on exercises to engage multiple styles of learning at once.

“I’m not sure I can put into words how much we appreciate Pia’s help thus far this year. Her sunny demeanor and can-do attitude has made an enormous difference not just as evidenced in my daughter’s grades, but most importantly, in my daughter’s improved self-confidence, belief in her academic ability, herself, and just a generally improved attitude/outlook regarding school/schoolwork in general. We are endlessly grateful for Pia’s help and grateful that we are able to work with her.” - Parent

“Pia is AWESOME! Helps kids articulate their strengths and experiences extremely effectively. She is engaging, calming, confidence-inspiring.” - Parent

“Pia has been amazing, and [my daughter] really loves working with her. Pia really helped make the application[s] possible for her! Thank you!” - Parent

“My daughter LOVES working with Pia!!! Pia brings energy and fun to every conversation. I have never seen my daughter more excited about writing and using her voice. I am very grateful!” - Parent

“Pia was incredible and exactly what [my son] needed. I highly recommend her!” - Parent

Sarah enjoys working with children and their families to teach strong writing skills and guide essay applications. With over 15 years of educational experience, Sarah has both taught in schools and worked with private companies. She spent 9 years teaching middle school English, overseeing the language arts department, and serving as the high school placement counselor at The Adda Clevenger School in San Francisco. For the next 6 years, she brought her educational expertise to ERB, working with school administrative teams and teaching staff to use testing data for improving student outcomes. Currently, Sarah is a Data Analyst for 2U, an edtech company, helping to support online learning by working directly with the data.

Throughout her time at Adda Clevenger, Sarah tutored students one-on-one, guided families through the high school application process, and ran summer writing camps for middle school students. She has also volunteered her time with 826 Valencia, teaching writing workshops and guiding high school students through their college admissions essays.

Sarah has a background in theater, both as a performer and a writer. She was a founding member of Boxcar Theatre and wrote the smash hit Where The Sidewalk Ends, an adaptation of the work of Shel Silverstein, nominated for a Bay Area Critics Circle Award. She brings a sense of creativity, imagination, and empathy to her work with students and families, specializing in all areas of English Language Arts, including essay writing for all genres, fiction writing, vocabulary development, and literature interpretation.

Sarah holds a B.A. in Theatre Arts and Dance from the University of California- Santa Cruz and a Master’s of Education from San Francisco State.

“Sarah has been extremely helpful to us with the essay writing process and the high school process more generally. She is kind, positive and highly responsive. My student loves working with her!” - Parent

"Sarah was excellent! She was easy to work with, responsive and most importantly offered insightful suggestions." - Parent

"Sarah has been very helpful in getting our daughter prepared to have her high school applications done in a timely manner. She is engaging and supportive and my daughter has been enjoying working with her. It has made it much easier on us as parents not to have to nag our daughter to get her essays done. It's much easier to have a set date/time for her to work with Sarah and our daughter gets her work done during those times. It has been a huge help to have Sarah and Mindful Tutor's support through the high school process." - Parent

With over ten years of education experience, Savannah loves using creative approaches to develop relationships. A graduate of Bowdoin College, Savannah has enjoyed studying math for as long as she can remember. The rules and boundaries of the subject comfort her, inspiring her to think outside the box. Entering undergrad as a math major, Savannah switched fields when she didn't see herself using calculus in her career. But skip forward a few years, and she uses algebra daily to understand supplement ratios and crop management in her role as Farm Manager. Math is everywhere, and building confidence in it matters.

Savannah gained an appreciation for nature's lessons by growing up in rural Maine and exploring the outdoors through hiking, camping and swimming. Currently the Youth Education Manager at a community garden, she leads field trips, summer camps, and afterschool programs. She has learned that many of her students learn best through hands-on and visual explanations. Savannah enjoys helping them to take a step back and see the problem in a new way. When she's not working, Savannah loves growing veggies in her garden, trialing a new recipe in the kitchen, and running in the desert with her dogs, Asparagus and Vern.

“Thoughtful, patient, and an excellent tutor.” - Parent