About Me

I have been teaching and tutoring mathematics in some capacity for over 30 years. Beginning as a peer tutor in high school, then private one-on-one tutoring to elementary and secondary students while attending college, concurrently tutoring at the community college I attended as a way to finance my education, teaching mathematics as an adjunct and Assistant Professor at community colleges and private universities for 11 years across San Diego County in California, and currently as a graduate teaching assistant and lecturer during my doctoral program in mathematics education at Virginia Tech. Tutoring is something I have always enjoyed. At every institution where I teach, I consistently volunteer my time a few days a week to tutor in the math or STEM centers. It gives me a way to connect with my students outside of the classroom and provides me with opportunities to help as many struggling students as possible. Teaching and tutoring are more than a passion for me. It is a way for me to serve the communities in which I live. One of the most profound aspects of many years of teaching and professional development has been learning how to help empower students in meaningful ways. Most students' success in math stems from believing they can do it, even when the work is challenging. To guide this transformation from anxiety and fear to empowerment and success, I create a low-stakes, collaborative environment in my learning spaces, incorporating reflective activities when appropriate to support students' affective domain. This offers an integrative opportunity to understand that failure does not define you but instead provides opportunities that lead to success. This notion has likely been absent from their math education journey. A little about my teaching and tutoring practice: one-on-one and small group learning environments are approached with inquiry-oriented facilitation rather than doing the math for students or providing them with rules and a template to follow. If you sit in on my learning sessions, you will see students engaged in a math task. You will see students discussing their thoughts on a problem with me or other students. While students work on practice problems and activities, I assist or challenge them using mathematical discourse, differentiating each lesson to meet students where they are. Wherever possible and appropriate, students work with (online) manipulatives and create visual representations of their mathematical thinking. I possess a unique skill set in my capacity as an instructor and tutor. In addition to teaching the traditional courses at various community colleges and private universities from basic math through Calculus, including Business Calculus I and II, and nine years of Elementary Statistics, I have taught specialty courses like STATWAY, Prestatistics, Leadership in Mathematics Education, quantitative reasoning, corequisite courses I helped design, and educational psychology. Specialty tutoring assignments include ASVAB prep, PRAXIS prep, and SAT prep. I have several degrees in mathematics and business from various institutions in California and Virginia. I hold an associate's degree in finance from Southwestern College, a bachelor's degree in mathematics from San Diego State University, and a master's degree in mathematics (with an emphasis in education, specializing in teaching at community colleges) from San Diego State University. I am currently a Ph.D. student in mathematics education, with a focus on curriculum and instruction (PK-12 program) at Virginia Tech. As a doctoral student in Mathematics Education at Virginia Tech, I have had various experiences and opportunities as a graduate teaching assistant (GTA), University Supervisor, and lecturer. I was a GTA for 5 years for the graduate program of preservice teachers taking a course in grade 5-8 mathematics, assessment, the Mathematics Specialist program, and the Secondary Mathematics Licensure program. From 2023 to 2024, I served as a University Supervisor for the graduate Secondary Mathematics Licensure program at Virginia Tech, where I mentored and guided teacher candidates in creating lesson plans, exploring teaching methods, and their placement experiences. In 2024-2025, I was the teacher of record for two sections of educational psychology in the undergraduate PK-12 teaching program at Virginia Tech, which included a large proportion of undergraduate students pursuing a mathematics education licensure. This provided me with a unique opportunity to guide future math educators in their teaching practices. In addition to my formal education, I always strive for professional growth. I trained through the California Acceleration Project (CAP) Community of Practice for four years. I co-authored an instructor's teaching manual at Cuyamaca College and received a national award for innovation with my work at San Diego Miramar College, specifically for the 2017 League of Innovations' Innovation of the Year: Mathematics Activities in Basic Skills Classes. Working in San Diego County provided me with extraordinary experiences with students from diverse mathematical and life backgrounds, which transformed into communities of learning. I have taught at seven different college institutions throughout San Diego County, each with a unique student population. At Southwestern College, I worked with a large population of undocumented students. At Cuyamaca College, I worked in classrooms with up to 80% of Iranian refugees. I worked with many military veterans and students with mental and learning challenges at San Diego Miramar College. I am certified by Teaching Men of Color and hold the designation of Safe Zone instructor. Respecting and accommodating all students on their educational journey is very important to me. The bottom line is that I care about students, their learning environment, and their educational goals. Through a low-stakes, collaborative environment, one-on-one student attention, and a learner-centered space, I guide students to become critical thinkers, thoughtful learners, and engaged community members. Parents and Guardians: I look forward to connecting with you as parents and guardians, and I express my gratitude for the opportunity to support your child in their mathematics education journey. Adult students: I look forward to connecting with you, and I express my gratitude for the opportunity to support you on your mathematics education journey.

Education & Certifications

Tutoring Subjects