Oakland, CA · Bay Area · Online
I design individualized academic systems — not generic worksheets — and iterate until we find what actually works for your student. My goal isn't a permanent tutor. It's a student who eventually doesn't need one.
The problem
“He's bright — his teachers all say so. But when I ask what he's excited about learning, he can't tell me.”
Elementary and middle school is when the habits that define a student's entire academic life get set — curiosity, confidence, the ability to think through a problem rather than just answer it. Most tutoring addresses the symptom. I work on the underlying pattern.
About
My graduate program at UH Mānoa was built on a single conviction: that education should model democracy in miniature. Students aren't vessels to fill — they're thinkers to develop. The program is grounded in John Dewey's philosophy and Hawaiʻi's progressive education tradition, training educators to build what it calls an “intellectually safe philosophical community of inquiry” — a space where students wrestle with real questions, not rehearse right answers.
I trained and taught inside that tradition at Hanahauʻoli School, one of Hawaiʻi's oldest and most respected independent progressive schools. That training gives me a genuine lens on what independent, student-centered schools value in a learner — curiosity, initiative, the ability to reason through a problem rather than just produce an answer. Many of my families are navigating exactly that kind of admissions process at Bay Area independent schools, and I bring firsthand experience of what that environment actually asks of a student, not just secondhand research.
My specialization within that framework is Philosophy for Children (p4cHI) — a Socratic practice that teaches students to question their own assumptions, reason through complexity, and articulate genuine positions. When a student can answer “what do I actually think, and why?” — their writing improves, their confidence grows, and often, so does their sense of what they actually want out of school in the first place.
My tutoring experience spans PreK through college, though I've chosen to focus my coaching practice on elementary through early high school, where I do my strongest and most distinctive work.
Services
Reading, writing, math, and the inquiry habits that let students thrive in rigorous, student-centered classrooms.
PreK through 5th grade
ISEE & SSAT preparation, student statement coaching, and interview preparation for students applying to Bay Area independent schools.
4th through 8th grade
Writing and math support through Algebra 2 for students who need a thoughtful, patient coach — not just a homework helper.
6th through 10th grade · Math through Algebra 2
Before we work together, I want to understand your student fully. This session is billed at your standard hourly rate and produces a written student profile and learning plan — a document you keep, regardless of whether we continue. It's my way of demonstrating what working with me actually looks like. No vague promises, no generic homework review. A real plan, in writing, from day one.
How it works
We talk about your student — where they are, where they want to go, and whether I'm the right fit. No pressure, no pitch.
I meet with your student directly. I observe how they think, not just what they know. You receive a written profile and personalized learning plan within 48 hours.
We work consistently toward defined goals. You're never wondering what happened in a session — I keep you informed without micromanaging the process.
We revisit the learning plan, adjust goals, and make sure the work still matches what your student actually needs.
What families say
Testimonials from current families — coming soon.
The first conversation is free. Tell me a little about where your student is and what you're hoping for — I'll tell you honestly whether I can help.