Middle School Tutoring Services from NYC Teachers with Master’s Degrees

Dwayne Alexis

Dwayne Alexis currently teaches middle school history at Collegiate School. In addition to his current teaching and advisor roles at Collegiate, Dwayne is the head coach of the varsity cross country team, one of the storied programs in New York State, and serves as an assistant coach for the track team. No stranger to independent schools, Dwayne attended Buckley School for elementary school and Collegiate School, and he attended Dartmouth College earning a B.A. while majoring in English and Classical Languages and Literature (Latin).  At Dartmouth College, Dwayne received his teaching certification for grades K-8, and he has extensive experience tutoring students in reading, writing, executive functioning support, and math from ages 4 to 18. In his free time, Dwayne is an avid runner and lover of books, board games, and sports (let’s go Mets!).

Shannon Baird

Shannon has worked in middle and high school education for 14 years. She’s currently a middle school Dean in Brooklyn, focused on developing history and science teachers. Prior to administration, she was a middle and high school science teacher- teaching subjects from life science in 7th grade through environmental science in 12th grade. She’s tutored students from ages 7 through 18 in developing reading, critical thinking, and organization skills in addition to math and science. Her passion is to help students find confidence and independence in learning. While teaching, she loved to take students outside and enjoy experiencing science through growing vegetables, creating environmental impact projects, raising sea bass, and studying tiny forest owls. She has a B.S. in Aquatic Biology and Masters in Education from UC Santa Barbara and UC San Diego respectively. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, running and playing with her dog, Bronx, in Central Park.

Erin Carstensen

Wayne Casimir

Wayne currently teaches third grade and previously taught first, second, and sixth grades at various public and charter schools. Wayne, who is in his eleventh year of teaching, holds a bachelor’s degree from Hunter College in English Language Arts and a Master’s Degree in Inclusive Elementary Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. Wayne has a passion for urban education, loves that the city can be used as a classroom, and enjoys creating scavenger hunts at various museums and in the city.

Claire Chatinover

Claire Chatinover is a 7th and 8th grade science teacher at Community Roots Middle School. She taught 4th and 5th grade in Coney Island, and has also taught 7th and 8th grade math. She is originally from Chatham, NJ and Edgartown, MA. She comes from a big family of educators. Claire holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Southern California and a Master’s Degree from Relay Graduate School of Education in New York. After spending many summer working on Martha’s Vineyard at a nature sanctuary, Claire has developed a deep passion for science, outdoor education and teaching through experience. She is also incredibly familiar with teaching science from her on campus job teaching 4th and 5th grade science to students in South Central Los Angeles. Her science and math teaching approach is 5E model based which includes engaging the student in the learning and then exploring the topic deeply. She believes this creates a genuine curiosity in subjects and a deeper understanding. When Claire isn’t teaching she is training for the New York City Marathon or reading, eating at fun restaurants or hiking in nature.

Annie Cheung-Livhits

Annie has 19 years of teaching experience – 17 of them at The Brearley School. She spent two years as an Associate Teacher in kindergarten and second grade, and the rest of the time was devoted to teaching K-6th grade Science. Before that, she taught English at an international school in Hong Kong. Annie has a passion for keeping students curious about the world around them through hands-on, minds-on science investigations. She also enjoys incorporating STEM activities whenever possible. Annie was born and raised in New York City. She graduated with Phi Beta Kappa distinctions from Colgate University, where she got her Bachelor‘s Degree in Education and Asian Studies. In her free time, Annie enjoys hiking with her family and watching her two boys play hockey.

Carl Ciaramitaro

Carl has been an educator since graduating from the University of Michigan School of Education in 2012.  He taught high school in Michigan, middle school in Arkansas, and 4th grade in NYC while getting a Masters as a Literacy Specialist from Teachers College.  He currently teaches 5th grade at The École – French American Bilingual School in New York.  He also worked with kids 1:1 ranging from 2nd grade to high school and has helped in classrooms across the country to grow students as readers and writers as a Literacy Consultant through Columbia for 5 years.  As a published curriculum author, Carl’s passion lies in tutoring students who are looking for concrete steps to solve abstract problems in reading, writing, and mathematics.  Carl enjoys geeking out over fantasy and science fiction, seeing shows with his partner, and traveling in his free time.

Alan Donaldson

Alan Donaldson, Tutor, is a lifelong educator who currently teaches at the Cathedral School, where he has taught kindergarten, second grade, and fourth grade. In addition, Alan has taught middle school English and social studies and tutored math to students through high school. Alan has been tutoring and teaching since graduating from Middlebury College, where he joint-majored in English and Chinese language. Before receiving his Master’s of Science in Elementary Education from Hunter College, Alan taught English in Taiwan for two years to students aged 4 to adults. Beyond the classroom, Alan has been an administrator running the After School Program at Cathedral, Dean of its Lower School and Fifth Grade, and the Academic Director of the Chinese Cultural Program for Children at Columbia University. He also coaches middle school sports in all three seasons.

Lauren Nicole Furst

Lauren has been a teacher in Washington DC for the past four years. She has taught two years of 5th grade English and two years of 6th grade English. She has also led intervention and tutoring programs at the school in all subjects. Lauren has taught both in-person and virtually and created multiple programs to improve student performance and attendance. Lauren received her Bachelor’s degree in Learning and Organizational Change from Northwestern University and her Master’s in Education from Johns Hopkins University. She is currently a graduate student at Columbia University to get her Masters in Social Work. Lauren is trained in restorative justice, SEL practices, Expeditionary Learning, and reading intervention programs. Lauren works to get to know her students and creates individualized assignments and activities to help target their needs. She focuses on building strong relationships with students so that they can feel comfortable and confident in their academic and social abilities. In her free time, Lauren loves to cook, travel, read, and spend time outside.

Brittney Gerald

Brittney is a fifth-grade teacher at Dream Charter School. Prior to teaching at Dream, she taught students with disabilities ranging from kindergarten to fourth grade. Brittney has experience tutoring elementary and middle school students attending New York City public and private schools. She graduated from New York University and received her Master’s in general education and special education from Touro College. Brittney loves to spend her free time reading, traveling, and exploring different restaurants.

Samantha Gordon

For over 10 years Samantha has worked in the prep school world teaching and tutoring students in reading, writing and math as well as college admission essays and SAT/SAT Prep. She also specializes in organizational support.  Most recently Samantha has worked for The Spence School and Convent of the Sacred Heart NYC as well as St. Luke’s School in New Canaan, CT teaching history.  Samantha’s tutoring approach empowers each individual student; she emphasizes understanding each student’s strengths and learning style and helps them find personal connections with the content so they can use their learning to empower their lives. Samantha graduated from Lehigh University with High Honors and earned her M.Ed in Secondary Education from Lesley University in Cambridge, MA. Outside of the classroom she has coached field hockey, basketball and lacrosse. Samantha is an enthusiastic traveler and has built various global partnerships with schools in Europe and Asia. Born and raised in Westchester, NY Samantha is a fan of all things outdoors; she is an avid skier, marathon-runner and enjoys exploring NYC in search of the next best dish.

Arann Kim

Arann currently teaches fifth grade at the Speyer Legacy School and is a graduate of Teachers College with an M.A. in Elementary Inclusive Education. Arann has been teaching students from diverse backgrounds, ranging from grades K-6, for more than nine years. Throughout her teaching career, she has collaborated with literacy and math specialists to differentiate her teaching to meet targeted learning skills and goals specific to her students’ needs. Her passion is to motivate each student to become a life-long learner so that they can achieve success beyond the classroom.

Sara McCarthy

Sara is a 6th grade Special Education teacher and has worked with students in both middle and high schools throughout New York City. As a teacher in the South Bronx, she piloted a debate program for middle schoolers and coached them to win several speaker awards in their first year. She currently works at the Community Action School on the Upper West Side. Sara earned a Bachelor’s degree in History from Hunter College and a Master’s in the Art of Teaching from Relay Graduate School of Education as a member of the New York City Teaching Fellows. As a teacher, she prioritizes fostering relationships with her students while maintaining high expectations. Her background in Special Education enables her to understand and develop a plan to address individualized student needs. When she is not teaching, Sara is an avid reader and enjoys being outdoors.

Jade McFadden

Jade currently teaches third-grade students at the Dwight School on the Upper West Side and previously spent several years as a fifth and sixth-grade teacher in California. After four years of full-time travel, long-distance hiking, and volunteering in classrooms around the world, Jade is excited to bring her globally inspired perspective and love for learning to students in New York. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts and Master’s of Education from California State University, Bakersfield. Jade tutors students in all subject areas and strives to individualize instruction for every student, building strong relationships and foundations by weaving unique experiences and learning into every interaction.

Lauren Mitchell

Lauren Murynec

Lauren is currently an intervention teacher for students in Kindergarten through fifth grade. She previously taught second grade at a public school in midtown Manhattan where she has also worked as a first, third and fifth grade teacher. Lauren received a B.S. Ed in Early Childhood Education from the University of Delaware and a Masters of Science in Literacy from Bank Street College. In addition, Lauren earned a certificate from Fordham University for Reading Intervention and she is Orton Gillingham certified. She has tutored students in grades K through 7, working on all subject areas. In her free time, she enjoys running, traveling, trying new recipes, and taking pictures.

Indu Ramesh

Indu has three years of experience in education, first teaching High School Chemistry in Newark, NJ, then working as a curriculum designer in New York City, designing lessons in every subject from College Algebra to Canadian History. She has tutored many students across subjects ranging from Math — from Algebra 1 to Calculus — to science, writing, and SAT/ACT prep. A 2013 graduate of Duke University with dual majors in Biology and English, her diverse experience in education has exposed her to students of remarkably varied learning needs and styles. She’s passionate about the learning process itself, and believes in meeting students’ needs, fostering an open curiosity and love of learning, and emphasizing real-world critical thinking and problem-solving skills. When she’s not tutoring students, you can find her working at a local nonprofit, rock climbing, cooking, doing the NYT crossword, or geeking out over the latest podcast.

Ruby Silverstein

Ruby currently works at East Side Middle School teaching 6th grade Humanities and 7th grade Math in an ICT classroom. She completed her undergraduate degree at Binghamton University and received her masters in education at Hunter College, earning a dual certification in general and special education grades 1-6. While enrolled at Hunter College, she taught 6th and 7th grade Math at The Windward School, located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. The Windward School is a private school specializing in supporting students with language based learning disabilities, most commonly dyslexia. From 2018-2022, she provided research based, direct instruction and developed multisensory lesson plans. Furthermore, she participated in seminars relating to growth mindset, ADHD and executive functioning, study skills, academic language, and strategies for improving students’ math skills. When Ruby’s not teaching or tutoring, she enjoys spending time outdoors biking, skiing, playing tennis, and hiking with her mini-goldendoodle named Buddy.

Michael Urda

Michael Urda, Tutor, is an experienced Middle School generalist. Michael has taught English and Test Prep for the New York State Tests in English and Math, served as a Team Leader for Middle School for 5 years and has additional experience supporting students with Math, Science, Speech and Debate, Latin, and History. Michael, who has taught at a charter school in the South Bronx for 8 years, graduated from Notre Dame Summa Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa and completed his Masters in English Literature (1900-Present) at Oriel College Oxford. He has also taught one-on-one and small group sessions for the entirety of his career in schools and is experienced in tailoring curriculum to help individual scholars reach their potential. Michael is passionate about making sure that every student has an opportunity to put forth their particular best effort and build independence. He lives on the Upper East Side and enjoys running, reading, playing trivia, juggling, and playing piano.

Dan White

Dan is a 6th grade Humanities teacher at The Hewitt School with experience teaching upper elementary, middle school social studies, and middle school ELA. He has a B.A. in American Studies from Kenyon College, an M.S.E. from Bank Street College of Education, and an M.Ed. from the Klingenstein Institute at Columbia Teachers College. Dan has previously taught third and fourth grade at The Hewitt School and The Collegiate School. He has also served as Director at Home Run Baseball Camp in Brooklyn. Dan encourages his students to take chances, embrace challenges, and champion effort. He builds strong relationships with students to help them develop confidence and independence.

Jackie Winsch

Jackie is an elementary and middle school teacher, with experience teaching upper elementary self-contained classrooms, middle school social studies and middle school ELA. Specifically, some of her teaching experience includes 4th grade reading comprehension and oral fluency, 4th grade math, 4th and 5th grade social studies, 4th , 5th and 6th grade writing, and 6th grade world history. Additionally, Jackie has experience tutoring 1st -8th grade students in reading comprehension, writing, math, and social studies. At the University of Notre Dame, Jackie earned both her B.A. in American Studies and her Masters in Elementary Education. After teaching 4th and 5th grade in the Fishtown neighborhood of Philadelphia, she taught middle school at Marymount School of New York, where she also directed several theatrical productions. Presently, Jackie is working towards her doctorate in Literacy at the University of Pennsylvania. Jackie is passionate about using creativity in elementary and middle school classrooms to increase student engagement, rigor, and motivation. She is originally from Fairfield County, CT, where countless educators inspired her love for teaching. Outside of the classroom, Jackie loves to sing, experiment with new recipes, run outdoors, and read.