Meet Our Team

Addison Teaches in the Wentzville school district and studied mathematics and secondary education at Missouri State University. She became a teacher to “make a difference in the younger generations’ education careers and because she knows “math doesn’t come easy for all of us,” so she aims to change that one student at-a-time.

Addison loves to watch sports, hang out with friends and family, and workout. But her favorite thing of all is spending time with her dog Lulu.

Allison has been an English Language Arts educator for ten years with experience working with scholars in grades 7-12. She is currently working on her Masters Degree in Learning, Teaching, and Curriculum, as well as her Reading Certification. Her philosophy is that every student deserves respect, encouragement, and the opportunity to learn and develop their voice.

Allison has been especially effective helping students prepare for the ACT and for the AP English exams. In her free time, Allison enjoys spending time with her husband and their two children. She is an avid reader and movie watcher, and enjoys watching cooking competitions.

Alyce is an education professional with proven experience helping students of all ages especially in English Language Arts, but also in various subjects. Alyce earned a Bachelor’s Degree in English from the University of Central Missouri, a Secondary Education Teaching Certificate from University of Missouri – Saint Louis, and a Master’s Degree in Education from Maryville University. Alyce has 27 years of experience teaching English 1, English 2, and Honors English 1.

Alyce is a lover of words who thoroughly enjoys reading and writing. She is also fond of shopping, especially in thrift stores. She often upcycles her finds and decorates her home. Alyce also spends a great deal of time being a “Dance Mom.” She has a daughter on the high school dance team. “My daughter is on her high school dance team and competes for her studio,” Alyce said. “I never miss a game or a competition.”

We are excited to introduce Mrs. D. to you!

Amy is a mathematics professional with 27 years of experience helping high school math students.    She has taught a variety of courses including Geometry, Honors Geometry, Algebra 1 and 2, Honors Algebra 2 and College Algebra. She was also a leader in piloting the Success Program. She has been involved in writing curriculum for Geometry and Algebra 2. Amy’s education includes a Bachelor’s Degree in Education with Emphasis in Mathematics. Amy is currently pursuing her Master’s in Mathematics degree. In her free time, Amy enjoys spending time with her family and friends.  She enjoys traveling, biking, hiking, fitness and reading.

Anne has been teaching Spanish for the last 14 years. Working mainly with students in grades 7-12, she has also worked with students ages 5 to adults. Her passion is helping people learn, grow, and meet their full potential.  “Meeting my students where they are in their learning journey and supporting their individual needs is a top priority for me,” Anne told Tutor Doctor when she was added to the team. “I work hard to ensure my students feel comfortable and can see and celebrate their success.” Outside of teaching, Anne enjoys spending time with her family and friends.  She is a mom of two with a third on the way.  She loves playing with her children and watching them learn and grow each day.  She also enjoys cooking and baking and is always trying new recipes.  Another interest of Anne’s is learning about different cultures and how people live in other countries around the world.  She truly enjoys sharing her love of language and cultures with others.

April is a third-year medical student in the Arrupe Global Scholars Program at Creighton University School of Medicine. She grew up in St. Louis, Missouri, pursued her undergraduate degree at Colorado State University, and completed her Masters Degree in Medical Science at Creighton University in 2022. During her time working in Colorado Springs, she saw first hand many of the barriers patients faced in accessing equitable healthcare, inspiring her future studies. As a member of the Tutor Doctor team, April hopes to help create a learning environment where future health care practitioners (and other students) can learn their craft and their role in achieving justice for all people.

Austin is an experienced tutor with a diverse background in paraprofessional work and teaching. With a passion for guiding students toward academic success, Austin brings a wealth of knowledge and a patient, supportive approach to every tutoring session. His dedication to fostering a positive learning environment ensures students feel empowered to reach their full potential. He also has his certificate in American Sign Language, and has specific experience working in Special Education.

Aside from tutoring, Austin is also extraordinarily passionate about hockey. When he’s not tutoring, there’s a high likelihood you can catch him at Enterprise Center watching the Blues!

Barbara is a high-energy, creative educator who specializes in French, English as a Second Language, and social sciences. She has a Bachelor’s in Anthropology and Archaeology with a minor in French from Washington University, and a Master’s in World Archaeology from University of Cambridge. She received her Missouri Educator’s Certificate in Adult Education and Literacy, with an emphasis on ESL.

An educator with a wide variety of experience, Barbara has over 20 years tutoring experience both online and in person, in addition to 6 years as an adjunct professor of cultural anthropology. Having studied abroad for both her junior year and her Master’s degree, she feels a particular empathy for her international students.

Barbara’s passions include Native American issues, Zumba, helping rescue dogs, finding hidden gems to visit in the St. Louis area, and languages; she speaks a bit of Italian and Spanish in addition to being fluent in French. She is excited to share her East Coast sense of humor and compassion with her Tutor Doctor students!

Cathy holds a B.A. in Applied Mathematics and an M.A. in Secondary Education.  She enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1999 and has traveled / lived in most of the United States, as well as in many European countries including Italy and Germany.  Her military occupational specialty was communications, both hardware and software, including Cybersecurity, encryption, and mobile satellite technologies.  After completing her military commitment with an honorary discharge, she continued working for the U.S. Government as a Civil Servant, working with children and youth and training adults to work with children and youth.

In addition to work performed in exchange for currency, Cathy also is a prolific reader engaging in ancient history studies, economics, agriculture, and holistic medicine with an occasional diversion in science fiction / fantasy novels.  She plays flute and piano and is actively endeavoring to join an orchestra or symphonic band within the next year.  Of course, life is not interesting without the help of her best friend, Carmella (Carly for short)!

Cathy has been a teacher for 22 years. She is passionate about what she does and each day she strives to guide students to reach their fullest potential. Cathy’s success is rooted in her ability to demonstrate and teach scaffolded thinking strategies that guide students to understanding content. These strategies have helped students to master topics from middle school science to the Science Section of the ACT. Cathy also tutors students in a variety of other subjects, but science and reading are considered a forte.

Outside of the classroom, Cathy is a mom of two boys and one puppy. She loves to watch hockey, basketball, and football. She used to be an athlete and now just trains by running and walking. She has coached several teams before. Her hobbies include hiking, drawing, and gardening. Camping is one of her favorite pastimes and Yellowstone National Park is by far her favorite place to travel to.

Cherice is a kind, easygoing special education teacher who always wears a smile. She has over 13 years of experience and became a tutor because of her love of helping others achieve their goals. In her spare time, she love to read and is always looking for her next adventure. She loves spending time with family, traveling, going to sporting events, and hanging out with friends. Cherice’s hobbies include working out, baking/cooking, salsa dancing, and gardening.

Chris currently works as a structural engineer with an emphasis in healthcare and higher education projects. He earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s of Science in Civil Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines. His passion for tutoring began in high school, when he started helping students in math ranging from algebra to calculus. Today, he enjoys helping students in a variety of math, physics, and engineering classes. He hopes to help students build a strong understanding of complex concepts through personalized and hands-on instruction.

Coleen spent the majority of her career as an English Language Arts teacher in the Parkway School District. She has over 20 years of experience helping students grow as readers and writers. During her career, she also enjoyed coaching softball and track. Colleen has a BA and an MA in English and serves as an adjunct professor at UMSL. She is truly passionate about helping students at all ability levels to excel, and she has has extensive training on how to reach a variety of students with many different learning styles.

In her personal life, Colleen loves to travel internationally, to read, and to experience the outdoors. Her best life is spending time with her dogs, reading a good book, and watching a favorite series.

David is a dynamic professional with seventeen years of experience in adult education, public speaking and training.  He brings many years of banking, accounting and budgeting experience to every opportunity to work with others. His special brand of humor helps him illustrate his points and lightens the atmosphere.  He has a Masters Degree in Business Administration, is a Certified Bookkeeper, and is a Certified Online Instructor. David enjoys counselling his students and often connects students with employers in his area. When not teaching, David enjoys fishing and playing the drums.

Emily is a high school Spanish teacher. She has been studying Spanish since she was in high school. She received her Bachelors in Spanish as well as her Master’s in Education with a focus in Spanish.

Erica has a strong background in fine arts, marketing, photography, and most importantly, education. She works in education to make real differences in children’s lives. “I take the task of helping to develop young people into kind, thoughtful, and contributing adults very seriously,” Erica said when she joined the Tutor Doctor team. “I strive to bring my passion for innovation and creativity into to my teaching; it is my hope that I can make a positive impact on students and their future.” Erica is driven to give students the confidence to improve performance from within and seeks to transform students’ academic lives by implementing successful strategies that make a difference in all areas. “It is important to me to foster a positive learning environment by encouraging students to develop individual skills by using adaptable teaching strategies for different types of learners,” Erica said. “I foster an imaginative learning environment and make learning fun for all participants.” Besides loving art and education, Erica LOVES to travel! One of her favorite places to go is Siesta Key, Florida. “The sand is perfectly white and the water perfectly clear blue!” she said. Erica’s most important job is being a mom to three kiddos. She has one in high school, middle and elementary school. They are all in sports and activities, so Erica stays busy! Erica loves being a mom and wife and spending time with her family!

Jennifer is A TWO-TIME TEACHER OF THE YEAR with 24 years of teaching expertise. With a primary focus on reading and writing, Jennifer has taught all subjects, ands thrives teaching teens and tweens. Driven by a passion for education, she is dedicated to empowering young learners to become the best versions of themselves.

Jennifer is a married mother of two children, ages 12 and 15 years of age.  Her free time consists of attending all of her kids’ sports and activities. She also loves taking her dog on long walks, hanging with her family, and traveling with her best friends.

Jennifer loves to teach math and science and has taught these subjects at the middle school, high school, and college level. She lives in O’Fallon, but she is from Milwaukee and enjoys watching the Badgers, Brewers, and Packers. She loves all things Wisconsin! She also loves to travel and has been a lot of places! Some of her favorites are Istanbul, Budapest, Riga, Ulaanbaatar, and New Zealand! She would love to travel even more! She also enjoys
exploring world cuisines and teaching about them, too! She grows
native plants in her garden and works with organizations that promote
sustainable gardening and native plantings. Her favorite quote is, “Not
explaining science seems to me perverse. When you’re in love, you
want to tell the world.

Jessica is a Central Methodist University graduate in her first year of teaching high school mathematics. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and is currently working on a masters degree in education administration. She enjoys working with students and getting to know each of their personalities, along with seeing them succeed. 

Outside of work, Jessica enjoys playing and coaching volleyball, going to the Lake of the Ozarks, and working out. 

Jesse grew up in Kansas and earned a 35 of 36 on the Math section of the ACT. His success earned him a full scholarship to the University of Kansas, where he graduated with a bachelors in Computer Science; he has full-time work as a software developer and tutors with Tutor Doctor part-time to share his love of math with others.

Throughout his schooling, Jesse found that he excelled the most at math compared to any other subject. He always enjoyed finding ways to help his colleagues excel at math and seeing them improve. Jesse applies the learning strategies he used in school to his students. Jesse has a strong grasp of math up to Calc 3 but can tutor other subjects if needed. He also enjoys cooking and swimming, He frequently travels to Asia for exploration, and currently he is learning to play hockey!

Jill is a graduate of Truman State University, where she earned an undergraduate degree in family sciences; she later earned her Master’s Degree in education at Lindenwood University. She then spent 27 years teaching middle school and high school Spanish. Jill started traveling as a sixth grader and had the opportunity to see Ireland with her piano teacher and other piano students. She performed and got to see the sites of the country. That was the beginning of Jill’s love for traveling. Since then, she has traveled to 15 different countries! It is a passion of Jill’s to learn about other cultures, traditions, languages, and people. While Jill tutors a broad range of subjects, she has a special affinity for teaching Spanish. She enjoys sharing her love of the language with others. Jill says, “Regardless of what I may be teaching, it is important for me to not only teach through direct instruction, but also to allow students to acquire knowledge on their own through doing various activities, guided practice, games, and individual work.” She tries to keep students interested by making things fun!

Julia Iannazzo is a Middle School Counselor in the Rockwood School District. She is in her 13th year in education, with 6 of those serving as a School Counselor; prior to that, she was an elementary school teacher.

Through her years in the classroom setting, Julia acquired skills to individualize instruction to the meet students at their ability level and target- lagging skills to achieve academic growth.

Her role in school counseling allows her to work closely with students to help them navigate various social/emotional challenges, improve work/study habits, improve academics, and to plan for the future.

Whether working with students to reinforce classroom learning, prepare for exams, or overcome any other specific barriers that may be in the way to achieve success, Julia’s combined experience in education lends itself to addressing both academic and personal growth goals for every student.

Kaitlin is a dedicated instructor with over 15 years of experience teaching private lessons and working with students of all ages and ability levels. Specializing in music and language arts, Kaitlin has a passion for helping students reach their full potential in all aspects of their education. She helps them build a foundation of good study habits, organization, and critical thinking.

As a published fiction author, professional musician, and visual artist, Kaitlin spends most of her free time creating or playing with her dog, Xena. She thrives on helping others, and believes that every good teacher is also a lifelong learner.

Kari has been a middle school English teacher for the past 7 years. She works in the Fort Zumwalt School District and enjoys helping students to build healthy study habits, strong literacy, and powerful writing skills. When Kari is not relaxing with a book, she can be found scrolling through Pinterest to find new recipes to try or outside walking her Golden Retriever, Leslie.

Kristopher is an education professional with proven experience helping students of all ages. He graduated from the University of Nebraska at Omaha with a B.S. in Computer Science. He specializes in simplifying complex or difficult concepts into smaller more easily understood chunks.

When he is not tutoring, Kristopher enjoys learning new technologies and creating fun side projects which include: a dashboard for his motorcycle that reads diagnostic data, computer games, and Virtual Multiple Displays (VMD) which, he says, “is awesome!” Some of his other hobbies include motorcycling, board gaming, and taking care of his 20 tarantulas.

Kris has been teaching chemistry and AP Statistics for over 30 years. She is the grandparent of the 4 cutest grandchildren in the world. She and her husband love to travel, and she is working to towards visiting all 50 states – I have 8 left to go! Kris also loves puzzles – which is why she enjoys chemistry and math so much. However, she knows not everyone sees a puzzle as a fun challenge and that carries over to their approach to problem solving. Her philosophy is that “Learning happens in the struggle,” which means that when students fight through a difficult problem, they learn way more than
when they simply “plug and chug” into formulas to get an answer.

Kurt is a science teacher with proven experience helping students of all ages and a track record of helping his students achieve success in the classroom.  He has been a teacher for 20 years and has coached basketball, baseball, and golf.  “My greatest joy comes from finding new ways to make complex scientific concepts accessible to my students,” Kurt said. “I am looking forward to the chance to work one-on-one with you to achieve your academic goals.”  Kurt specializes in connecting the principles of biology, chemistry, and physics to develop a broader scientific literacy that allows students to succeed in their future science classes, as well as beyond the classroom.

When not in the classroom or working with students, Kurt enjoys spending time working on his tractor, woodworking in his shop, and playing golf with his sons.

Kyra is a recent college graduate from Truman State University with a Masters in Education. She has two years of experience teaching high school Spanish. Upon completion of her Masters, she moved to Spain for a year and taught English to elementary students. She also taught English to adult immigrants when she attended Truman. She recognizes the importance of being able to communicate with others and develop mutual understanding and respect.

In her free time, Kyra likes to sit outside with a good book or hit the gym for a workout. She and her fiancee are usually watching the Kansas City Chiefs play or watching the reality show Survivor.

Laura is an educator with proven experience helping students of all
ages, especially in English Language Arts and Mathematics. She has
twenty-eight years of teaching experience as an elementary teacher,
elementary and middle school reading specialist, middle school English
teacher, and elementary administrator. Laura has taught remotely
since 2020 and shares that learning in the virtual setting “helps
students to be successful in an environment that is both academic-focused and relationship-based while also incorporating technology through effective methods.” Laura has a Bachelor’s degree from St. Louis University in Education, a Master’s Degree from Lindenwood University in Special Reading, and a Specialist’s Degree from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in Educational Administration.

Outside of teaching, Laura enjoys spending time outside, sports,
reading, and with her husband and two sons who are ages 16 and 11.

Lauren is a mom of 3, with a passion for education! She has taught children of all ages for over 10 years and is enthusiastic about the academic growth of not only her own children, but those in her tutelage as well! As a title one reading interventionist with a diverse academic background, Lauren can impact all types of learners in a positive way. Lauren’s summers are spent chasing my kids around baseball and soccer fields, and her winters are often on the bleachers of a basketball court or dance studio! Free time is hard to come by for Lauren, but when she does get some, you can catch her outside in her garden during the spring/summer and inside crafting or scrapbooking when it’s cold. Playing with her kids and dog outside in the front yard is Lauren’s happy place!

Lillian is a dedicated educator with experience teaching middle to high school students. She holds a degree in Secondary Education from University of Missouri – St. Louis. Lillian holds teaching certifications for middle and high school Social Studies and Social Sciences, as well as middle school English Language Arts. In addition to her experience in education, Lillian also exhibits strength in the area of organizational skills, goal setting, and cultivating effective study habits. She is passionate about fostering a love of learning, building confidence, and helping all her students achieve their goals.

Lisa is a mathematics professional with proven experience helping students of all ages. She has been an educator for 23 years, 11 of which as an administrator. “I am passionate about making math accessible to all and use a variety of strategies,” Lisa said. “Building confidence is my top priority! I am excited to help you in your journey to understand and be successful in math.”

She specializes in helping students feel comfortable going into their math classes and builds their skills and confidence to allow them to become part of the classroom environment. Lisa also has expertise preparing students for the Math portion of the ACT.

When not at school or working, Lisa loves to be outside.  She enjoys spending time with her family and taking vacations!

Liz is an academic professional with proven experience helping students of all ages in multiple subjects. However, her passion is reading and she is an expert at helping children learn how to read.

“Helping little people learn is a passion I have always had, and one I cannot wait to share with your family,” Liz said. She received a Bachelor of Science in Sociology in 2005 from Truman State University and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Webster University in 2012. She has been teaching kindergarten for the last seven years, and she herself LOVES to read.

“Three years ago, in the Fall 2019, I heard a term I had not heard before: ‘Science of Reading,'” Liz said. “Since then, I have made individual efforts to educate myself on the topic. I learned that for all students to become good readers, they need explicit and systematic reading instruction that focuses on decoding words and comprehending content rich language. I immediately changed my classroom instruction to implement Science of Reading teaching strategies.” In May of last school year, 85% of Liz’s students left kindergarten proficient in reading. The other 15% were not far behind. “The Science of

Reading works,” Liz said. “I have never been more proud of what my students were able to accomplish. I am so thankful that I was able to learn the right way to teach little people how to read. They are our future. They deserve adults who are willing to do the work to give them their best chance at life.”

Liz added, “I hope to be that adult for your child. I cannot wait to share my knowledge with your family.”

Mackenzie has always loved nurturing young minds through study and
play. Her passion for teaching has shown in her students and work
daily. Mackenzie is currently a primary school teacher with 7 years of
experience. Along with having a degree in gifted education, she also
specializes in math and reading/phonics.

In her spare time, Mackenzie loves to shop for her baby girl and spend
time with family. She also enjoys traveling, going to baseball games,
and baking/cooking

Maeve has been teaching high school English for 21 years and has
been with Lansing High School in Lansing, Kansas for the last 16
years. She has taught AP English courses for 12 years, working with
students to earn college credit and prepare for their post-secondary
studies. Maeve has worked with ACT preparation through Focus on
Learning in Columbia, Missouri. She is enthusiastic about guiding
students towards their goals for college and career.

Pat is a retired Special School District teacher who is passionate about learning and enjoys working with students of all ages. She strives to bring out the best in each individual and assists them with any educational needs they may have. Pat enjoys bike riding, traveling, spending time with her family, swimming, yoga, and staying active. She has three grown children and eight adorable grandchildren whom she is very proud of!

Pranathi is a first-year graduate student at Washington University in St. Louis in the Program for Genetic Counseling. She grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota and graduated from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities with a Bachelor of Science in Genetics, Cell Biology, and Development. Genetic counseling is a new and up-coming field that focuses on both the psychosocial and scientific aspects of genetic testing. This career creates a bridge between science and human interaction which is what motivated Pranathi to pursue this profession.

Throughout the application process of undergraduate and graduate schooling, Pranathi has mastered skills in essay writing and proofreading. Additionally, both upper-level degrees have had a strong focus on science-related topics, including general biology, genetics, human development, psychology, and more. These skills were further enhanced through her involvement in several research labs. Because of the complex nature of Pranathi’s studies, she also has had opportunities to keep her mathematics skills sharp, as well, and Pranathi can tutor high-level math courses. Pranathi’s enjoyment in learning is a big part of her tutoring style and she hopes to share that passion with the students that she works with.

Sammi has been teaching young learners for the past seven years. She currently works in the Ritenour School District as a Kindergarten teacher. Sammi has her Masters Degree in reading instruction and loves to work with students on their reading skills. She looks forward to working with new students to instill a love for learning in all subject areas.

Sarah is energetic and compassionate and comes with over 23 years of teaching experience. Her enthusiasm to help kids thrive and improve enhances her ability to connect easily with kids of all ages. When Sarah is not teaching, she loves learning new things, travelling, playing and coaching softball, and spending time with friends and family!

Shelbi is a mathematics professional with proven experience helping students of all ages. She has 17 years of experience teaching high school math, including courses such as College Algebra, Algebra 3, Algebra 2, Algebra 1, Finite Mathematics, Geometry, Honors Geometry, Intermediate Algebra, and Success. She is also experienced in writing curriculum for Algebra 3 and Algebra 2. Shelbi’s education includes a Bachelor’s Degree in General Studies with an emphasis in mathematics from the University of Missouri – Saint Louis, a Master’s Degree in Education from Lindenwood, and a Specialist in School Administration, also from Lindenwood.

In her free time Shelbi enjoys spending time with her husband and two boys who are 17 and 15. “They are both involved in football and wrestling and we love spending our weekends watching them compete, Shelbi said. “I also enjoy running, reading, and trying new places to go out to eat.”

Stacey is a mathematics professional with proven experience helping students of all ages. She has Missouri Certification in Mathematics for students in grades 5-12 and has been teaching mathematics in the Rockwood School district and Francis Howell District for 15 years.  “I have taught Pre-Algebra, Honors courses and Advanced Placement (AP) courses,” Stacey said. “I love being able to tutor students in small groups or one-on-one settings; this allows for a deeper discussion on what a student understands and identifies parts that they need additional support in.” Stacey also articulated that she believes all students can learn and that taking the time to build up confidence is key to finding success in a math course.

Outside of work, Stacey enjoys gardening, running, traveling, and spending time with her family.  One interesting fact about Stacey is that she’s trying to run 50 marathons in 50 states by the age of 50!

Stevenia has more than 28 years of experience teaching mathematics and helping students of all ages. Specializing in middle school and high school students, Stevenia finds ways to make mathematics make sense. She has fun teaching her content and helping students one-on-one in her tutoring sessions.

Tracy Mense is certified 9-12 in ELA and Social studies and has been teaching both for almost 2 decades. She has also been lucky enough to teach AP Psych for almost 10 years. She has a zeal for both teaching and learning and would be happy to share this passion with you and your student.

When she’s not teaching and raising her own kiddos, she recently earned her Master’s in Psychology. She’s so excited to be teaching some undergrad Psych and plans to transition to that full-time while she works on her Doctorate in Psychology.

Trish is a passionate, fun Reading Specialist with over 19 years experience teaching a multitude of students. She will always give her students and families her best and treat all students the way she treats her own kids. Trish is not just a teacher, but a mom to two awesome kids. In her spare time, you can find Trish on the sidelines of a soccer game, or in the bleachers of a baseball, basketball, or volleyball game, depending on the season. Trish also loves hanging out with her puppy Bentley. She enjoys traveling with her family to the beach or mountains. Trish’s hobbies include: sports, exercise, reading and hanging out with friends and family. When she began working with the Tutor Doctor team, Trish said, “I love to share my passion for learning with others and can’t wait to help you reach your goals!”

Virginia is a retired special education teacher with 20 years of experience. She retired from teaching full-time in 2010, but she really wanted to do something where she was using her experience to impact the community. She found Tutor Doctor and is enjoys making a difference in the lives of her students.

Working with students of all ages, Virginia can make an impact in multiple subject areas. While her greatest strength is mathematics, Virginia (who goes by Ginger) has helped students learn and grow with history, reading, science, spelling, and writing, as well!