Capitol Hill, Madrona, & Montlake Tutors
Jesse
With a background as a professional copywriter, playwright, and teacher, I look forward to supporting students in growing their writing skills.
Born and raised in Seattle, I attended University Prep for middle and high school. I went on to study literature and theatre at the University of Chicago, where I graduated with honors. Taking on a rigorous liberal arts program fusing theory and practice, I took masters-level literature classes and completed an interdisciplinary honors thesis. Finally, as a senior, I received the Francis X. Kinahan Memorial Prize for my contribution to University Theatre.
After graduating, I spent a decade working in theatre as a playwright, director, and dramaturg (sort of like an editor for theatre). I also worked as a teacher at the Perry Mansfield Performing Arts School and Camp, where I taught creative writing, artistic process, and theatre to middle- and high-school student.
Pedagogically, I believe that clear writing and clear thinking are two sides of the same coin. Thus, I seek to help students clarify their learning and critical thinking through the written word. I know that learning—especially in one-on-one education—requires a patient, shame-free environment where the student feels safe to experiment, get things wrong, and ask the “stupid” questions (there are no stupid questions!). I seek to bring empathy and curiosity to each student, to get to know them, and to support their writing!
Annie
I have over 6 years of experience working with students of all ages as a teacher, tutor, and coach. Regardless of the subject matter, I approach my work with students with humor, patience, and empathy to create a comfortable and safe space for them to grow. My goal is to create a strong rapport with students so I can better help them harness their strengths and support them through challenges, while creating a fun environment where they can take ownership of their learning.
My own reading and writing journey got off to a rocky start. I entered second grade unable to read, but with the help of two tutors I was reading at a 4th grade level and devouring books by the end of the year. My tutors created an environment that helped me feel more confident and empowered. Their help was transformational for me, my learning, and how I now work with students. I went on to graduate as a high school valedictorian and received a merit scholarship to study at Grinnell College, where I majored in English.
My first teaching experience was through the Grinnell Prison program, teaching a course on short stories to inmates at a women’s prison. Through this experience I learned the importance of creating a space where students can discover how their unique skills and interests can be applied to their learning. Since then I have run a study hall for international students, coached cross country, instructed summer camp sewing classes, and taught Spanish at the Northwest School. I continued working with students at an after school program in Arequipa, Peru, where I created a literacy program based on one-on-one reading and writing support. Upon returning to the US, I worked with young readers and writers at the Bush School as a first grade classroom assistant.
When I am not with students, you can find me running on trails, reading too many books at once, or experimenting with developing materials from kitchen scraps.
Lisa
I am an educator, tutor, and writer who is passionate about helping students develop their writing and reading skills. I believe the best learning is curiosity-driven, and I strive to create learning spaces where students feel encouraged to explore their ideas and ask questions. My teaching philosophy centers the growth mindset, and I frame challenges as opportunities to learn and always incorporate joy into my lessons.
I graduated with highest honors from the University of Colorado, Boulder with a degree in Psychology. My honors thesis investigated self-control and procrastination and earned a designation of summa cum laude. During my time as an undergraduate, I took as many writing and literature electives as I could, finding my passion in English.
Since graduation, I’ve been working as a tutor helping students in their English language learning, test prep (including the TOEFL, ISEE, SAT, and AP exams), and essay-writing skills. I also teach the Middle School Writer’s Workshop and Mechanics of Writing for Middle Schoolers courses at the University of Washington’s Youth and Teens Program.
Outside of teaching, I enjoy creative writing and was awarded the Thompson Writing Award as an undergraduate. Beyond writing, I love to paint, cook, go on walks through Seattle’s Arboretum, and spend time with friends and family. I’m excited to join Write Seattle and help students meet their learning goals!
.jpg)
Connie
My mother, who is an excellent math teacher, taught me that learning should be accessible, reciprocal, and, above all, enjoyable. The goal is that students gain long-term knowledge that will not only strengthen their skills, but also their relationship with the subject itself. Tutors, in turn, learn from their students' unique perspectives and leave with a better understanding of their individual needs.
Over the course of my tutoring career, I've worked with hundreds of students on a wide variety of projects, and I am deeply grateful for all the knowledge I've gained about writing skills, resources, and strategies. My tutoring experience began in high school, where I worked with middle and high school students on English, math, social studies, and the ACT/SAT. While earning my BS and MS in Computer Science at the University of Arizona, I tutored at the Writing Center for four years, and in my last year, I became the Graduate Assistant for our Graduate Writing Lab. In this role, I led a series of community-focused writing programs for students and created training materials to help certify tutors through the College Reading and Learning Association. I also facilitated my university's Girls Who Code club, teaching foundational coding skills to 3rd-12th grade girls/non-binary students to prepare them to enter a male-dominated field. In particular, I enjoyed the people-focused aspects of these roles while I worked towards my STEM degree.
In my day job, I work as a data engineer at a research laboratory. Outside of that, I like to spend my life playing board games, learning languages (Chinese and Spanish, currently), reading children's literature, and being with my friends.
