Stefanie

Certified Tutor

I was born and raised here on Long Island. I have always worked with children ever since I was one myself! Some of my past experiences with kids include tutoring, being a camp counselor, working in a pre-school, working as an assistant director for children’s theatre, and a children commercial talent agent intern. Last year I worked as a substitute teacher for grades K-12 in six school districts while I was studying for my Masters. This year I am finishing up my Masters and will graduate in the Fall with a Masters of Science in Childhood Education with a Bilingual Extension. I am proud to say that I just got a full time teaching job as an elementary ESL teacher! I was very grateful that the first teaching resume that I ever sent out (and many countless interviews after for this one job) landed me a job that quickly! I am fluent in Spanish and conversational in American Sign Language.

One of my favorite tutoring moments happened about three years ago. I was tutoring a ninth grade girl in math. The first time that I spoke with her mom on the phone, she was crying and said that her daughter had a fifty percent average and that I was her only hope. Talk about pressure! I met with the girl and she told me that no one believed in her, including herself. This upset me greatly and I then told her that I believe in her. Her goal was to get a 65 on the regents so she could pass the ninth grade. (I always tell my students that their goal should be 100, but that is just me!) I always thought math was fun, so that is how I make my students feel about it. She told me that it felt like time was flying by and I even caught her once saying, “Wow this is fun.” A few days after she took the regents, I received a phone call from her and she told me she got a 91! Her teacher even called to personally congratulate her. Ever since then she had more confidence. Her mom started seeing progress in other classes as well. And I am proud to say that last week I was honored to take a look at her college acceptance letters. Tutoring is more to me than helping students complete their work. It’s about changing their lives.

Thank you so much for your time and I hope to be working with your child soon!