MEET OUR EXPERT TUTORS

Darrin graduated magna cum laude from Northwestern University with a B.A. in theatre and minors in history and dance. In his eight years of tutoring, Darrin has been delighted to support his students towards their goals. He has experience tutoring the SAT, ACT, SSAT, ISEE, SHSAT, TOEFL, GRE, and academic subjects (including AP and IB courses), as well as providing executive functioning support. His students have been accepted to elite high schools around the country, and have matriculated at prestigious universities such as Yale, Brown, Stanford, Duke, Northwestern, Wesleyan, Rice, USC, and Bocconi (Milan). He believes in systematic approaches when working on standardized testing and brings his warm and light-hearted nature to each tutoring session.

​

“We are immensely grateful for the exceptional support and guidance provided by Darrin during our son's preparation for the SHSAT. Darrin demonstrated an unwavering commitment to ensuring our child's success on the test. Darrin not only clarified complex concepts but also instilled confidence and a sense of purpose for our son by creating enthusiasm and focus during each tutoring session. As parents, we appreciated Darrin's open communication and regular updates on our child's progress. He took the time to understand our son's learning style and adapted his approach accordingly, ensuring a personalized and effective tutoring experience.”

Gillian graduated with a degree in Education from Bucknell University and is in the process of receiving her Master's degree in Special Education from Hunter College. Gillian has been tutoring students from the age of 5 (learning how to read) through college--and even adults going back to school--for the last decade. One of her recent middle school students was barely passing math, and it was close to the end of the marking period, but after a few intensive sessions, he was able to pass with flying colors! Gillian believes in an individualized learning approach, which combines playing to a student's strengths, while being cognizant of his or her areas of improvement.

​

“Gillian has been an instrumental part in our daughter's growth and self confidence in math for the past year. Gillian is kind, patient and always available if additional help is needed around quizzes or tests. She is also great at communicating with school teachers in order to provide our daughter with the specific help she needs.”

​

“We're extremely thankful for Gillian's support of our middle schooler's math achievements this year which have grown greatly. In only a few months our child has improved her grade to an astounding 91% which is a huge improvement from where she was, varying from 71% to 81% last year, and with the summer off. Our child was able to start the year with a bang and has steadily increased in confidence and performance thanks to Gillian's ability to help guide her, nurture her math critical thinking skills, her ability to distill concepts and her warm and fun personality.”

Jonghee Celeste, a proud New Yorker from Queens, attended Swarthmore College, where she studied theater and music. A former SHSAT taker and graduate of Stuyvesant High School, she has always held a passion for education and has been tutoring professionally for over ten years. While Jonghee Celeste has worked with children of all ages, she is an expert on high school and college entrance-level exams. During her time at All Kids Can Learn – a tutoring center formally based out of Forest Hills – she served as Manager of the after-school and summer grade-level assistance and enrichment programs and designed both short-term and long-term programs for students seeking to prepare for standardized exams. She has also worked with high school students to create realistic college application goals and craft meaningful essays that have granted her students admission to some of the top colleges in the country.

Monica graduated from Columbia University with an Ed.M. in Psychological Counseling and from Boston College with a B.A. in Economics with minors in Mathematics and Philosophy. Monica has experience tutoring students in test preparation for the SAT, ACT, SSAT, and SHSAT. She also has experience tutoring students in academic subjects including Mathematics, Economics, Psychology, Social Sciences, Science, ELA, and French (including AP Subjects). As a tutor, Monica strives to create a supportive and engaging learning environment where students feel comfortable asking questions, exploring new concepts, and expressing their ideas. Monica's experience working as a Psychotherapist gives her the tools to understand students' unique learning styles and adjust lessons accordingly. In her free time, Monica enjoys playing piano, reading, and traveling.

Nikko received a Master’s degree in creative writing and music composition from New York University, and has worked as a writer and arts educator for over ten years. He began tutoring in 2018, working with students in multiple subjects through middle and high school, and specializes in tutoring math from basic algebra to calculus.

Nikko believes there is a path to success for every kind of learner. One of his most consistent students, with whom he started working with as a sophomore, began with comprehension issues, test anxiety, and general dread for any major assignment. That student recently graduated with a 4.0 in his senior year and accepted early admission into his first choice school. Today’s students face academic pressures that can often get in the way of real learning. In his sessions, Nikko works with students to find individualized solutions to those challenges: building confidence in problem areas, and mastery in the subjects they’re passionate about.

​

“Nikko did a great job! He was very well mannered, professional, and prepared.”

Steven graduated cum laude from Northeastern University in 2019 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering and minor in Mathematics. He continued his studies at the City College of New York, earning a Master's of Philosophy degree in Chemistry in 2021, and publishing his work in the Reaction Chemistry and Engineering journal. Steven has extensive real-world lab experience: working professionally at Hughes Research Lab in Malibu, CA, and in a graduate setting in the Green Chemistry and Energy Laboratory at the City College of New York. Additionally, he has tutored middle school, high school, and college-level math and science students since 2017. Previous students find Steven's easy-going nature comfortable to work with and note his ability to relate textbook concepts to real-life problems. Steven grew up in Stated Island playing baseball and basketball and is a huge fan of the Mets, Giants, and Knicks. He still plays recreationally in men's league basketball and softball leagues.

Tyler is an alumnus of the Yale Writers' Workshop, holds a B.S. in Drama from Syracuse University, and is pursuing an MFA in Creative Writing from Antioch University, where he received the Eloise Klein Healey Scholarship. With over six thousand hours of test prep experience, Tyler brings out the best in his students using a calm, systematic approach to all test sections. He views test prep as an opportunity to teach critical thinking skills in addition to getting a fantastic score! 

​

“We had a really positive experience. Tyler is an excellent tutor and he really helped my son. Not only did my son learn a lot from Tyler, but he learned that getting additional help is a privilege with no negative connotation.”

​

"We are first-timers to the world of ACT prep. We began this journey thinking our son would thrive in a class test prep setting- boy, were we wrong. From the first meeting with Tyler, we knew that he was exactly what our son needed. My son thrives from the one-on-one attention he receives each week. Tyler is patient, professional, and motivating. He is able to give my son personalized instruction in the areas he needs to focus on the most, and his scores have gone up 3-4 points since beginning his work with Tyler. Somehow Tyler is able to make this whole process manageable, and we have seen a huge increase on our son’s confidence. We absolutely recommend Tyler for ACT prep, and will surely be in touch with him to work with our younger children in the future."

Serena graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a BS in Neuroscience and Applied Mathematics & Statistics. She specializes in tutoring for the SHSAT, PSAT/ SAT, and ACT, and also has expertise in a variety of mathematics subjects. Albert Einstein once said, "Any fool can know. The point is to understand." Serena not only cherishes the opportunity to share her knowledge and assist students but also values the personal connections she builds with them. While a "one size fits all" approach can work in many contexts, Serena believes it's not suitable for teaching. She finds joy in tutoring, focusing on boosting students' confidence in their academic abilities. Drawing from her background in Neuroscience, Serena understands how students absorb information and customizes her sessions accordingly. She aims not only to help them academically but also to instill a love for learning. Serena employs the Socratic method in her tutoring, involving students actively by encouraging them to ask questions. This approach fosters a deeper understanding of the subject matter and enhances retention over time. In her free time, Serena enjoys traveling and trying new cuisines.

​

"Serena has been an instrumental part in our daughter's self-confidence and growth in geometry. Serena is patient, understanding, and great at communicating with us. She is also flexible with sessions, and accommodates emergency sessions for quizzes/ exams. We love working with Serena."

"We wanted to get our son a tutor for SAT help. We are so thankful to have found Serena as we have seen so much progress with her. She is extremely professional, punctual, organized, and has a natural gift for teaching. She keeps an open line of communication and makes coordinating effortless. We highly recommend her to anyone looking for a tutor!"

A Yale University graduate and National Merit Scholar, Zina is passionate about empowering students to unlock their potential. Whether it's through career prep or educational access initiatives, she finds deep fulfillment in helping students of all ages find their voice and achieve their goals. Building strong relationships is key – Zina goes beyond test scores and applications, fostering growth as individuals. Her students have secured acceptances to top universities like Harvard, Columbia, and Stanford, often exceeding ACT and SAT benchmarks (30+ and 1500+ respectively). With a College Counseling certificate from Teachers College, Columbia University, and a commitment to ongoing professional development, Zina is constantly refining her skills to better serve her students.