Amanda: Richton Park tutor

Certified Tutor

My love for sharing information and understanding started young. Before my younger brother was old enough to attend, I was always teaching him whatever I was learning in school. I grew up attending a unique two-room schoolhouse in a tiny, remote town nestled in the Sawtooth Mountains of Idaho. I spent four years with each of the two teachers there and they were prominent role-models to my young impressionable mind. Thus, I decided teaching was the route to go. I wasn't sure what I wanted to teach until I was taking Algebra II in high school from a not-very-dynamic teacher with whom most of my classmates weren't able to easily understand the material. Having always had an aptitude and love of math, I didn't struggle as much as they did and ended up coming to their aide frequently to re-explain what was going on. I loved how math was so logical with clear cut answers in a world where most things are much muddier.

I think my love of teaching stems from a love of learning. I have an insatiable curiosity that I have always followed to whatever I find at the end of the meandering path. This has meant that I haven't had a predictable career path, but spent time in many different roles, teaching and learning being the common thread connecting them all. I got my teaching degree from Eastern Washington University in math and Spanish working in the campus library throughout my time there. After graduating, I taught high school math in Friday Harbor on San Juan Island where I would often grade papers looking out on the ocean and listening for the breath of dolphins. Next, I moved inland and was back to working in a library while my husband-to-be finished his master's degree. Two months before our 2nd anniversary, we left the U.S. to serve in the Peace Corps, living in French-speaking West Africa for almost two and a half years. We were both teachers there and learned so much about the value of access to information and education. Our time as volunteers was extremely challenging and rewarding and we also learned a lot about ourselves. Only four months after starting to learn French (Spanish minor, remember), I had to walk into a classroom of 95 teenagers to teach math with chalk and a chalkboard as my only tools. Having succeeded at that means that I carry with me the knowledge that I capable of more than I could ever dream.

After returning to the U.S. I decided to follow my curiosity and put to use my growing knowledge and passion for nutrition and applying food as medicine. I obtained my Health Coaching certificate from the Institute of Integrative Nutrition and soon after found myself working as a Nutrition Educator (still teaching). I spent two years working with young adults with mental illness teaching them all the ways food can be healing (or harmful) and how to cook delicious healing meals. Though far from math, this job still revolved around sharing information and passion for a subject.

My teaching style is always driven by curiosity and a desire to help someone understand the root of the concept--the why. From there the process is usually easier to apply and dig up later when you need it. I know that math is a subject that causes a lot of strong feelings in people and I honor that, while also trying to bring some fun, lightness, and joy to the subject. I am excited to have the chance to tutor students and help them to gain confidence and a better understanding of whatever subject they are currently working on.