“Writing is really a way of thinking about things that are disparate, unresolved, mysterious, problematic or just sweet.”
TONI MORRISON
A licensed social studies educator with a Masters in Education from Northwestern University, I have extensive experience teaching high school students in the northern Chicago suburbs. This experience includes teaching diverse humanities subjects to students in the 9th-12th grades, and work in both public and private school settings. I have received awards for my own scholarship and for teaching excellence.
My educational philosophy has always been student-centered, focused on giving students the tools they need to write clearly and effectively. Persuasive writing is a critical competency for every student to acquire, no matter what their future career ambitions may be. Whether the subject is history, political science or English, students must be able to make well-structured arguments adequately supported by relevant and reliable evidence. The skill is the same no matter what the format: research paper, in-class essay, or take-home writing assignment.
As a teacher, I have worked with students from a wide variety of backgrounds. I meet students where they are in the development of their writing. Every young person can learn to write well if they are committed to this goal, and if the teacher is committed to understanding how that student learns best.
In addition to my tutoring, I am an accomplished art historian with a B.A. from Yale and a doctorate from Northwestern. Committed to educational equity in my local community of Evanston, I also tutor and mentor students with organizations like Evanston Scholars. Finally, I am a mother, and even though it has been some time since my two kids left high school (New Trier) I remember well their loaded schedules. This means that I am particularly sensitive to the many opportunities — but also the many pressures —that are experienced by high school students in this area.
I tutor high school and college students because I want to continue to use my writing and teaching gifts to help all students in my community reach their full potential. To do my part to address differences in educational opportunities, 10% of my tutoring time is donated to working with students from families who cannot otherwise afford such services.
I look forward to meeting you, and to working together to help your high school student strengthen their writing skills - and their characters.