Mark

Certified Tutor

I have been privately tutoring students in English and related areas for about fifteen years with great success. Predominantly, I have been working with students on the reading and writing portions of the SAT, and on admissions essays for college but I have a strong and deep background as a teacher as well. I've spent my entire career in the field of education, working as a high school teacher since 1987, and a college professor since 1993. I have also mentored many young teachers and student teachers over the years.

My background is quite eclectic. I earned my B.S. in physical education from Brooklyn College in 1984. For the next few years, I worked as a salesman of a variety of products and services, including educational materials. As I mentioned above, I entered the field of education in 1987, starting at Lafayette High School in Brooklyn, where I taught a split program of physical education and English. Due to budget cuts in the New York City School System, I found myself being moved from school to school for a few years (budget cuts usually equates to a loss of positions, and these losses are determined by seniority) until I got to Tottenville High School in Staten Island in 1993, where I continue to teach to this day. In the meantime, I earned an M.A. in English at Brooklyn College in 1991, then a Ph.D. in English from New York University in 2001. In 1993, I also became an adjunct English professor at Brookdale Community College in Lincroft, New Jersey, where I also continue to teach. In 1997, I began teaching a course in 20th century Humanities for the City University of New York in its College Now Program ( a program that offers college courses and credits to high school seniors). In this course (which I still teach today), I teach students about some of the most important works of art, film, literature, music, and philosophy of the last hundred (or so) years. I have also taught classes in film studies and psychology in this program. One more part of my background that is worth mentioning is that I worked part-time (grading SAT and LSAT essays) for Educational Testing Service from about 2005-2007.

I am happy to say that I have had tremendous success in my field throughout my career. Many of my former students come back to visit me on a regular basis. Many of the students that I have tutored have gotten into their first choice for college (including every Ivy League school). I am nearing retirement as a teacher but my enthusiasm to work with students remains high.