Biography

My years at Pacific University—where I earned degrees in physics, mathematics, and education—instilled in me a passion for empowering education and supporting learners towards their goals. I embarked on a journey to create spaces where curiosity meets guidance, spending two years in the public sector teaching at a high-needs school. In my classroom, I strived to integrate real-world challenges and solutions and to foster a sense of global responsibility and critical thinking in my students.

In my time teaching, I never settled for rinse-and-repeat answers to questions, preferring to instead facilitate and guide my learners to aim higher and truly internalize the material. In doing so, they became inquisitive, self-motivated learners who could tackle topics and ideas head-on. Now, I enjoy personalizing my approach to each student in the 1-on-1 environment to tackle their unique needs and challenges and develop their confidence.

At AJ Tutoring, I specialize in physics and chemistry, tapping into my experience as a high school science teacher. I also draw on my broader knowledge of subjects such as biology and earth sciences, and even language arts, to contextualize material for my students. Watching learners realize and understand how the world works is an incredibly rewarding experience, especially when it’s the result of committed work and collaboration.

When not teaching, I unwind by exploring the boundless realms of literature and creative writing, running tabletop games for friends, and doing independent research on permaculture and phytoremediation.