About Me

I completed my graduate and post graduate education courses from the State University of New York (SUNY) at Plattsburgh. My degrees from SUNY include a Bachelor in special education and a Masters in Education in reading. Prior to my SUNY experience I studied at Onondaga Community College in Syracuse, New York and earned an associates degree in music. I am now a retired special education teacher (as of July 1, 2015) from the Saranac Lake Central School District in northern New York State - but I still want to be productive and helpful! Most of my education career was spent teaching elementary students as a consultant teacher, 15:1 (alternative education) teacher, resource room teacher, and teaching small groups inside and outside the general education classroom. I also spent two summers teaching inmates skills needed to attain their GED skills at a medium security facility; this was a real learning about life experience for me. I have also taught piano lessons throughout my teaching career, and have always looked for ways to teach and enhance academics through music and the arts. My favorite subjects to tutor are reading and writing. Reading is the key to accessing information and one vital pathway to experience inspiration. Writing compliments reading and can be an important means of self expression, like singing, playing an instrument, engagement in the visual arts, dancing or theater. My teaching philosophy is to determine the students' interests and strengths and teach to that. I want to individualize instruction for each student to that end, while making sure we're progressing toward our academic goals and objectives. If frustration occurs, I determine the source and find ways to improve the situation. Learning should always be a satisfying experience that increases self esteem. Outside of teaching, my other interests include playing jazz piano, and I have played with many combinations of musicians over the years. I also teach piano - it's all about teaching and learning.

Education & Certifications

Q&A with John

Tutoring Subjects