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Award-Winning Tutors serving Des Moines, IA

Joshua

Certified Tutor

7+ years

Joshua

Bachelor of Science, Computer Science
Joshua's other Tutor Subjects
Calculus
Algebra
College Essays
Literature

I'm a computer science major at Penn State with a lot of application-oriented programming experience, but also academic experience. Some highlights include 1560 on the SAT and 5 on AP Comp Sci A.

Education

Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus

Bachelor of Science, Computer Science

Test Scores
SAT
1560
Elliot

Certified Tutor

9+ years

Elliot

Bachelor in Arts, Economics
Elliot's other Tutor Subjects
Statistics
Calculus
Algebra
College Essays

I am from a small town in Iowa and currently a fourth year student at the University of Chicago studying economics. During my time here I have studied abroad twice. Two years ago in Beijing, China and last spring in Athens, Greece. I can speak English and Spanish fluently and can speak a little Mand...

Education

University of Chicago

Bachelor in Arts, Economics

Dinesh

Certified Tutor

5+ years

Dinesh

Doctor of Philosophy, Inorganic Chemistry
Dinesh's other Tutor Subjects
Calculus
Algebra
Inorganic Chemistry
Physical Chemistry

I am a chemistry Ph.D. graduate of the Wayne State University. I have also been tutoring chemistry for more than six years. With my extensive experience, I'm able to help struggling students and improve their knowledge in various fields of chemistry. I enjoy teaching and seeing student's progress. D...

Education

University of Ruhuna

Bachelor of Science, Chemistry

Wayne State University

Doctor of Philosophy, Inorganic Chemistry

Mary

Certified Tutor

Mary

Bachelor's
Mary's other Tutor Subjects
Calculus
Algebra
ACT Writing
ACT English

I am able.

Education

University

Bachelor's

Kristen

Certified Tutor

5+ years

Kristen

Doctor of Philosophy, Molecular & Cellular Biology
Kristen's other Tutor Subjects
Algebra
Algebra 2
Arithmetic
Biochemistry

I am a PhD student at SUNY Downstate Medical Center studying Molecular & Cellular Biology. I graduated from Columbia University with a Bachelor of Arts in Biochemistry. I love to teach, mostly because of the impact of great teachers throughout my academic career. I think learning can be really fun, ...

Education

Columbia University in the City of New York

Bachelor in Arts, Biochemistry

SUNY Downstate Medical Center

Doctor of Philosophy, Molecular & Cellular Biology

Test Scores
SAT
1570
GRE
327
Sabra

Certified Tutor

Sabra

Current Undergrad, Spanish
Sabra's other Tutor Subjects
Algebra
Conversational Spanish
Math
Pre-Algebra

I had my first experience working with students to improve their academic performance when I was in 7th grade. I volunteered at a local elementary school helping 4th graders in math, reading comprehension, and Spanish. Watching the kids I worked with grow in their understanding of the material and d...

Education

Clark University

Current Undergrad, Spanish

Max

Certified Tutor

6+ years

Max

Bachelor of Science, Materials Science
Max's other Tutor Subjects
Algebra
Algebra 2
Algebra 3/4
College Algebra

Throughout my many years in school, my friends, acquaintances, and classmates have turned to me for help understanding material being taught in classes we have taken together. I have helped teach people in many school subjects, but I am particularly experienced in math tutoring. I see math as a puzz...

Education

Rutgers University-New Brunswick

Bachelor of Science, Materials Science

Bracken

Certified Tutor

9+ years

Bracken

Juris Doctor, Legal Studies
Bracken's other Tutor Subjects
Adult ESL/ELL
American Literature
College English
Conversational Spanish

I am a graduate of Union College, where I was awarded a BA degree, with Honors in English. After graduation, I served as a Peace Corps Volunteer for two years in El Salvador, teaching English at the National University in San Salvador. That was where and when I first learned how much I enjoy teachin...

Education

Union College

Bachelor in Arts, English

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

Juris Doctor, Legal Studies

Patrick

Certified Tutor

Patrick

Current Undergrad Student, Chemical Engineering
Patrick's other Tutor Subjects
Algebra
Algebra 2
AP Physics 1
Biochemistry

I'm a chemical engineering student at UMass Lowell entering my senior year. I've been inducted into the chemical engineer honor society Omega Chi Epsilon this past semester, and have been serving as its secretary since. I hope to use this tutoring opportunity to practice for the required tutoring se...

Education

University of Massachusetts-Lowell

Current Undergrad Student, Chemical Engineering

Zanié

Certified Tutor

2+ years

Zanié

Current Undergrad Student, English
Zanié's other Tutor Subjects
Conversational Spanish
English
Essay Editing
High School English

I strive to ensure everyone and anyone under my wing succeeds. My favorite subject is English; I'm currently in the process of obtaining my BA in English Literature! I love teaching both children and adults anything regarding English. As long as I get to help someone else, I'm happy! I also love get...

Education

Arizona State University

Current Undergrad Student, English

Meet Our Expert Tutors

Connect with highly-rated educators ready to help you succeed.

Lauren

Algebra Tutor • +16 Subjects

I am a recent Tulane University graduate returning to Miami with a very flexible schedule! I have a Master's in Accounting and Bachelor's of Science in Management in Marketing. I have experience tutoring a variety of age groups from elementary-level children to college students. I have experience tutoring a variety of subjects, both in-person and online, using hands-on approaches in order to make the learning process more comfortable and enjoyable!

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Rei

AP Japanese Language and Culture Tutor • +15 Subjects

I'm a candidate for a B.S. in Business Administration at Northeastern University. In addition to tutoring, I enjoy playing the tuba and learning about transportation engineering/planning. I'm also fully Japanese and can read, write, and speak the language. As someone who scored 1530 on the SAT and 800 on the Math II subject test, I'd love to assist you in preparing for college!

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Catherine

ACT Prep Tutor • +32 Subjects

No toy was safe in my hands. As a child, I always took my toys apart to see their inner components and how they produced sound or light. Most survived the reassembly stage, while others were mourned by my mother's pocketbook. When I was in the fifth grade, my mother gave me my first toolkit. To say the least, I took apart everything in the house that could be disassembled with a screwdriver. Along with deconstructing anything that gained my interest, I also enjoyed crafting things.I associate these childhood curiosities with my current interests as I find myself wondering how natural phenomena occur and daydreaming about inventions. Studying the interactions between humans and technology have been in my interests for most of my high school and college career. My short-term goal is to explore different focuses so that I can develop an understanding of my personal interests in the field of physics. My long-term goal is to use my passion for sharing knowledge as an educator and to help others find what peaks their curiosities.

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William

College English Tutor • +24 Subjects

I graduated from Sewanee: The University of The South in 2015 with a degree in English and Music, two subjects for which I have an unabating passion. While in High School, I had a teacher that helped me find personal meaning within the poems and stories that we read, and that revelation has shaped the course of my life. I want to help other students find that personal connection in their studies, as I believe that is the key to learning.As a musician, I have played the Saxophone for thirteen years, studying under the instruction of Dr. Cesar Leal as I pursued my undergraduate degree.

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Roberta

Academic Coaching Tutor • +36 Subjects

Hi! I'm Bobbie. I am an experienced tutor who is passionate about helping students become better readers and writers. Reading is so important because it is how we build knowledge. By providing creative, engaging lessons tailored to the needs and learning styles of each student, I help students improve reading accuracy, confidence, and understanding. I make abundant use of writing in my instruction, as it is a powerful tool for improving reading. At the same time, writing is a critical skill that must be taught in its own right. I show my students how to break the writing process into small, manageable pieces, as well as apply proper mechanics and grammar.A thirst for knowledge and love of reading led me to study English as an undergraduate. A desire to impart my knowledge and love of learning to children led me to complete a master's degree in education. I have taught English in both the middle and high school classroom and have years of experience tutoring students of all agesfrom 2nd grade to adult. I let my students know that I have high expectations and believe that they can reach them.I have a lifelong love of literature, which helps me make reading fun and engaging for students. My aim is to be as creative, imaginative, and stimulating as possible. Learning should not be boring.Outside of tutoring, I enjoy cooking, reading, cultural events, and spending time with my husband and our companion animals. I enjoy visiting new places and have travelled widely in North America and Europe.

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Siyu

Admissions Tutor • +32 Subjects

I am currently an undergraduate student at New York University. As someone who plans to work in education one day, I am extremely passionate about teaching and helping my students succeed. I love creating lesson plans, organizing work flow, communicating with my students, and growing alongside them. I tutor a variety of subjects ranging from elementary math/english all the way up to college calculus. With that however, I am most passionate about tutoring SAT and helping with the college application process as I have only recently gone through the process itself and have experienced first hand just how stressful and confusing it can be. In my spare time I enjoy figure skating, reading, drinking a good cup of coffee, and playing the viola.

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Adam

AP Spanish Language & Culture Tutor • +8 Subjects

I am a graduate of Ithaca College with a B.A. in Spanish. During college I had the opportunity to study for 5 months in Costa Rica. After College I continued to travel - which I love - to Seville, Spain where I taught High School English and tutored English language to Spanish students. Since returning to the United States I have tutored New York City Public School students in a variety of subjects including English and Spanish in an AVID program in High School. Currently I am a High School teacher at Danvers High School. I have been teaching High School Spanish for 5 years including a year in the New York City Public Schools in Bronx, New York. Teaching Spanish is my passion; I love the language and I am committed to sharing the joy of learning a world language with my students. I am confident in tutoring and teaching all levels of Spanish and working with students of varied learning styles and interests. In addition to teaching Spanish content to my students, I also work to mentor and teach good study habits and learning skills in order to give students the tools they need to continue to be successful in their studies. In my spare time I enjoy a variety of hobbies including surfing in all four seasons, indoor rock climbing, and spending time outdoors with my wife and our dog.

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Diane

College English Tutor • +7 Subjects

I currently teach in a self-contained kindergarten classroom in a public school as a special education teacher. Prior to this, I taught pre-k inclusion and first grade. I love working with children and seeing them get excited for their own learning. When I tutor children, I use their interests and strengths to create fun games and activities to help them develop their literacy and math skills.

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Lena

Algebra Tutor • +31 Subjects

If you want to learn how to do math and is willing to do the work, then I am your tutor. I graduated from New Jersey Institute of Technology with Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Mathematics. I was trained on solving mathematical equations and doing calculation. My favorite calculus class was Calculus II and my favorite branch within mathematics is Discrete Mathematics. Discrete Mathematic is introduces set theory, probability topics. This course has influenced me in my career.I was a Teaching Assistant when I was doing Undergraduate study. I led weekly recitation periods where I answered students' questions on materials they were learning in class. Those who did well in class were those who were trying to do as much as they understand. I always cheered the students on when they are doing well and encouraged them when I think they need a little help.After college, I went on to work for Prudential where I took Actuarial Exams for my career development. The Actuarial Exams are professional license exams that build on calculus, probability, statistics and advanced statistics topics. I find what I learned in my undergraduate study extremely applicable in my daily work.Currently, I am studying for another actuarial exam. I want to be a tutor where I can inspire students to like math and practice math problems. Everyone who is willing to learn can be good at this subject. It is applying logics in problem solving and these logics are rules where one needs to memorize, but practice repetitively will help the memorization process. I look forward to work with you.

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Stacy

Medicine Tutor • +4 Subjects

I am a pharmacist and lifelong academic. I began tutoring while earning my Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience and Psychology. I soon realized that helping students develop their skills and excel brought me great joy. I continued to tutor throughout my Doctor of Pharmacy program, and carried this passion into my career as a pharmacist, where I precept students and resident learners. I believe in fostering autonomy and independence. I do this through open discussion in a comfortable, non-intimidating environment, and by encouraging students to drive their learning and developing critical thinking skills. Watching a student reach their goals, gain self-confidence, and engage in learning are the most rewarding aspects of tutoring.My practice as a pharmacist is built upon a strong foundation of pharmacology knowledge. In graduating Cum Laude from pharmacy school, I gained a comprehensive understanding of how drugs interact with the physiology of the human body. During my time in school, I was recruited as a peer tutor and guided my peers to succeed academically. I continue to teach students and resident learners as a pharmacist, sharing my passion for the application of pharmacology through patient care.I have been tutoring pharmacology students in pharmacy, nursing, and medicine for over 2 years. I specialize in teaching pharmacy calculations and NAPLEX preparation, for which I have my own materials to supplement learning from RxPrep and other courses.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, Varsity Tutors connects students from across Des Moines's 77 schools and three school districts with expert tutors. Whether your student attends a school in Des Moines Public Schools, Urbandale, or another local district, we match them with tutors who understand Iowa's academic standards and can support their specific coursework and learning goals.

Your first session is a chance for the tutor and student to get to know each other and identify specific areas where support would help most. The tutor will assess your student's current understanding, discuss their goals, and create a personalized plan tailored to their needs—whether that's catching up in a subject, preparing for a test, or building confidence in a challenging area.

Des Moines classrooms average 14.7 students per teacher, which means individual attention can be limited. Personalized 1-on-1 instruction fills that gap by giving your student dedicated time to ask questions, work through difficult concepts, and get immediate feedback—something that's hard to achieve in a typical classroom setting. This focused support often leads to faster progress and stronger understanding.

Tutors work with students to master Iowa's core standards in math, reading, science, and social studies. Whether your student needs help with Iowa Assessments, grade-level benchmarks, or specific subjects like algebra or writing, personalized instruction ensures they're building skills aligned with what Des Moines schools expect—and what they'll need for success in high school and beyond.

Des Moines students commonly seek support in math, reading comprehension, writing, and science—particularly as they progress through middle and high school. We also work with students preparing for standardized tests like the Iowa Assessments and ACT. Tutors can help with any subject your student is studying, so if there's a specific area of struggle, Varsity Tutors can connect you with someone who specializes in it.

Varsity Tutors offers flexible pricing options to fit different family budgets, and we work with you to find a plan that makes sense. Whether your student needs weekly support or intensive help before a big test or deadline, you can customize the frequency and duration of sessions. We're transparent about costs upfront—no hidden fees.

Varsity Tutors connects students with expert tutors who have deep knowledge of their subject areas and experience working with students at various levels. Tutors understand Iowa's curriculum and academic expectations, and they're skilled at adapting their teaching style to match how each student learns best. We're selective about who we connect with students to ensure quality instruction.

Progress looks different for each student—it might be improved test scores, stronger grades, increased confidence, or a deeper understanding of challenging concepts. Your tutor will regularly communicate about what they're observing and how your student is progressing toward their goals. Many Des Moines families see noticeable improvement within a few weeks of consistent tutoring.

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