Award-Winning Special Education Tutors
serving Grand Rapids, MI

Rachel holds a B.S. in Special Education, which means she doesn't just know the content — she knows how to adapt it. Whether a student needs modified pacing for reading comprehension, visual supports for math concepts, or alternative assessment strategies, she designs sessions around how each learner actually processes information. Her background spans both general and special education classrooms, so she's comfortable navigating IEP goals alongside grade-level standards.

Sheyna holds a master's degree in Special Education and carries certifications in both Special Education (New York) and School Counseling (Michigan), giving her deep familiarity with IEP goals, accommodations, and the strategies that actually move the needle for diverse learners. She adapts lessons around each student's processing style — whether that means breaking multi-step directions into visual chunks, building in movement breaks, or restructuring how new material is introduced.

I am currently working toward a Master of Arts in Education in Teaching English as a Second Language at Aquinas College. I consider myself a life-long learner and am excited to get started with Varsity Tutors. I am open to tutoring a wide range of subjects and levels as each brings a unique set of challenges and rewards. In my free time, I am an avid reader of both fiction and nonfiction texts and enjoy kayaking with my son and spending time outdoor with our dogs.

Every learner processes information differently, and Allie adapts her explanations accordingly — rephrasing a grammar concept as a visual pattern, turning a reading passage into a conversation, or slowing down a multi-step problem into smaller, more manageable pieces. Her patience and creativity as a writing-trained tutor make her effective at building confidence alongside academic skills.

Rosemary's graduate work in occupational therapy included extensive training in adaptive learning strategies, sensory processing, and task analysis — the clinical side of what special education looks like in practice. She volunteers regularly with the Down syndrome community, giving her hands-on experience tailoring instruction to different cognitive and developmental profiles. That combination means she doesn't just know accommodations exist; she knows how to implement them in real learning moments.

Certified in special education, Elise designs sessions around how each learner actually processes information — visual cues, hands-on activities, scaffolded instructions, or a mix of all three. She covers core academics like reading, writing, and math while building the self-advocacy skills that let students speak up for what they need in the classroom. Her background in studio arts adds a creative dimension that keeps learners engaged rather than overwhelmed.

Earning her Master's in Special Education at NC State gave Sonja deep training in differentiated instruction, IEP goal alignment, and executive function coaching — the behind-the-scenes skills that make tutoring actually work for students with learning differences. She tailors sessions around each student's specific profile, whether that means multisensory reading strategies for dyslexia or chunked math instruction for students with attention challenges. Her 5.0 rating speaks to how well that individualized approach lands.

A PhD in neuropsychology means Bill understands learning differences — ADHD, dyslexia, processing speed challenges — at the neurological level, not just as labels on an IEP. He adapts his teaching to how each student's brain actually processes information, whether that means restructuring how material is presented or building in specific compensatory strategies for memory and attention.

I am persuasive and capable of developing rapport and trust, as well as experienced in influencing the attitudes and ideas of others.

During her year as a teaching assistant in a first-grade classroom, Molly worked directly with students with special needs, adapting lessons and tracking individual progress toward IEP goals. Her dual major in elementary and special education gives her formal training in differentiated instruction, multisensory learning strategies, and behavior support frameworks. She understands how to modify materials so that a student can access the same content their peers are learning, just through a different pathway.

I am a graduate of UC San Diego with a Bachelors in Neuroscience through the Psychology department. After graduating, I went to Michigan Technological University and did some graduate work, before moving to Texas to be closer to my parents. I did my alternative certification program through Texas Teachers and am highly qualified to teach Science for grades 7-12. I have been a teacher in public and charter schools for the last four years, and have tutoring experience extending over ten years behind me as well.

Earning her Master's in Elementary Inclusive Education and Special Education at Columbia's Teachers College, Olivia is trained to differentiate instruction across learning profiles — whether a student has an IEP, a 504 plan, or simply learns differently than the standard classroom assumes. She breaks down academic content using multisensory techniques and scaffolded steps, connecting each lesson to the student's strengths rather than defaulting to one-size-fits-all methods.

Clinical psychology training fundamentally changes how you understand a struggling learner — Danny's PhD work gives him insight into the cognitive, emotional, and behavioral dimensions that shape how students with learning differences engage with academic material. He draws on formal counseling psychology methods to identify what's actually getting in the way, then adapts instruction accordingly, whether the barrier is processing speed, attention, anxiety around schoolwork, or something else entirely. Rated 5.0 by families.

Lauren earned her B.S. in Education with training in adapting instruction for diverse learners, including students with IEPs and 504 plans. She tailors pacing, breaks down multi-step tasks, and uses structured repetition to make content accessible — whether the goal is reading comprehension, organizational skills, or building confidence across academic subjects.

Every learner processes information differently, and Kate's years in the classroom have sharpened her ability to adapt explanations on the fly — whether that means using visual organizers for a student with ADHD or scaffolding a reading passage into smaller chunks for someone with a processing difference. She builds lessons around each student's strengths rather than forcing a one-size-fits-all approach.

Lena's daily experience as a middle school teacher means she's practiced at adapting lessons on the fly when a student needs a different entry point into material. She breaks tasks into smaller, clearly sequenced steps and uses patient repetition and multi-sensory techniques to reinforce skills in reading, writing, and math. Her approach prioritizes building confidence alongside academic progress.