Award-Winning High School Chemistry Tutors serving Alexandria, VA

I recently moved to D.C. after graduating from Brown University with a B.S. in Chemical Biology. While in college, I had the opportunity to become a teaching assistant for both introductory and upper-level biochemistry courses, which I truly enjoyed. By using the insights I have gained through my experience as a teaching assistant, I would love to help students out by facilitating their learning process. I look forward to hearing from and meeting you!

Olisa Menakaya was born and raised in Texas and Tennessee. He is currently working as a chemistry teacher in Maryland and has over a decade of experience in science education. He also won national recognition on his release of a hip-hop chemistry album titled "Life of a Black Chemist" in a 2013 Tennessee Tribune article. In his spare time, he loves to read, write and watch movies while learning more about chemistry.

...at everything from a different angle. My primary tutoring experiences have been with peers in some of my more difficult classes or more frequently helping my nephews/nieces with homework ensuring they can perform well on exams after I assist them. My best-tutored subjects are Elementary and Middle school math as I tend to take an approach that involves re-analyzing the problem and ensuring the foundation is there before re-attacking the problem. As a side note,...

...students' belief in their own capacity, ability to think critically, and open-mindedness. I have been tutoring since I was a high school student, which has given me hands-on experience in different kinds of teaching styles. My time in University has helped me to develop an outstanding time management skill, especially as I had to work to supplement my income. My inspiration for teaching emanates from my own school experience; particularly because of my physics and...

...with tutoring all levels of Chemistry (I, II, Organic), Biology (I, II< Cell, Molecular, etc), Algebra I & II, Middle/High School Math, Psychology, History, and many more subjects within Mathematics and the Sciences. Please feel free to ask me if there is a specific subject you do not see listed here as it may be something I do specialize in! I also help with keeping students organized. I have eight years of tutoring experience within...

...science at UVA. In high school I took AP Chemistry, AP biology, AP physics 1, AP Calculus BC, multivariable calculus/linear algebra, AP Government and politics, AP language and composition, AP Art, psychology/sociology, and AP French. I worked at Kumon and have experience working with preschool, elementary, and middle school students as well. I am very comfortable tutoring in math and science up to the high school/intro college level. I am passionate about teaching and it...

...along with a minor in Chemistry. I am extremely passionate about science research and worked as a bioinformatician/data analyst at UVA's Center for Brain, Immunology, and Glia. During my four years, I have successfully applied for 3 research grants and 1 scholarship independently. I have published 1 paper in Nature and recently submitted another. I hope to become a medical scientist (MD/PhD) involved in translational medicine, so that I can develop and arm doctors and...

...Engineering graduate from the University of Maryland at College Park. I have enjoyed working as an Engineer since graduating in 2007, but I have missed tutoring and teaching. My philosophy is that everyone has the ability to learn, the material just has to be presented in a way that is easy to comprehend. I have experience tutoring high school and college level math and science, and I enjoy being able to help a student understand...

...Poverty & (International) Development from the University of Sussex. I know first-hand the challenges associated with manipulating equations and writing extended essays. My favorite subjects to tutor are Math, Physics, History, and Engineering. During tutoring sessions, I strive to make students comfortable with the material and confident in their abilities. I'm glad to work with you when you feel in over your head, when you want that little bit of extra polish, and at all...

...Honors chemistry. I regularly helped my students outside of class in these subjects, in addition to math, reading, writing, and SAT Prep. I have a passion for math and science because of the problem skills developed through their study, but I also have a joy for reading and writing and the way language can powerfully capture ideas and meaning. I firmly believe in establishing strong, individual working relationships with students: each student is different and...

...backgrounds. In these experiences, I have learned how crucial it is to understand and connect with students to then be able to better understand what they may need. Though I have taught many subjects, I am most comfortable teaching science and English due to my background. I believe utilizing a tutor can be incredibly beneficial, as it allows growth of understanding and an easier method for students to reveal what they may be struggling with....

...mean half as much to one student as they mean to me then I will have achieved more than I could have ever dreamed. Because of my desire to become a professor and my desire to help educate and inform others, I have undertaken a variety of leadership and mentoring roles within Bowdoin's chemistry department. I have worked as an inorganic lab teaching assistant and helped those taking organic chemistry work and to grow as...

...only do I help my peers out in doing so, but I solidify my own knowledge in making sure that I am able to explain a concept to someone else. Furthermore, I always feel a great sense of reward when I help someone to understand something that they were struggling with, especially when it's a subject or idea which I am particularly passionate about. I am capable of tutoring in most disciplines of math and...

...have a "light bulb" moment. It's satisfying for me to see, but far more satisfying for them to experience! I have enjoyed working with students from very diverse backgrounds and starting at very different levels. Some students needed intense work to get caught up with classmates, while some were just looking to brush up their level of mastery before a big test. With work and focus, we can set goals and achieve them regardless of...

...teaching assistant for organic chemistry II and taught and supervised one section of twenty undergraduate students weekly. By assisting students with complex homework problems and answering their questions, these roles showed me the amount of knowledge required to convey even the simplest concepts. This experience allowed me to see how teaching lies at the intersection of knowledge, communication, and passion. I aspire to share my enthusiasm for chemistry and math with my students and want...

...2012. I have tutored Elementary through College students in a variety of subjects including math, English, chemistry, biology, physics, and Arabic, both in person and online. By tutoring at a test prep company, I have gained extensive experience with SAT/ACT prep. By working as a certified tutor with Montgomery College's Disabilities Support Services Learning Center, I have extensive experience tutoring students with learning disabilities. I establish a personalized study plan with all of my students...

...means acting as a guide beside each student and it has worked well. With a BA in English from the University of Virginia and a Master's in Education from Shenandoah University that focused on teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, coaching championship debate teams and professional experience in politics , I am confident in tutoring English, ESL, Spanish, Government and History. In my travels I have communicated in Spanish, French, Portuguese and Italian and...

...involved with the GIVE Youth organization, which provides free tutoring and educational support to underprivileged students. I began as a tutor helping multiple students with homework and tough subjects. In summer 2023, I also interned at the Children's Science Center STEM Summer Camp, where I spent over 60 hours leading hands-on STEM activities and teaching lessons about topics like Newton's Laws, pillbug behavior, and balloon car mechanics. It was a super fun and engaging way...

...1700 hours! I loved getting to know my students who remind me so much of my younger siblings. This upcoming year, I will be serving through AmeriCorps as helping immigrant youth succeed in their academics as well as their individual wellness. Because I would like to keep tutoring and teaching, I decided to sign up to be a part of Varsity Tutors to help engage motivated students to reach their absolute best not only academically,...

...I love helping students understand these fascinating subjects. My philosophy is to figure out what concepts and skills students have difficulty with and help them to practice and gain confidence in those particular areas. I also believe in encouraging students to develop a strong organizational system and good study skills that help them to engage with the material. While I prefer to focus on understanding rather than "teaching to the test," I think that identifying...