Our Tutors – Alliance Tutoring

ALLIANCE TUTORS

Meet Our Tutors

Alliance Offers a variety of services to help students who are in transition, either going back to school, on to college, or into their professional lives.

Alexander Merrill

Founder / Tutor

Alexander has taught English, coached, and dorm-parented for nearly 20 years at Dartmouth College, The King School, Kingswood-Oxford, Philips Andover and The Taft School. He is an expert at the college application process, including college essay writing, standardized test preparation, and the recommendation process. He has tutored hundreds of adolescent teens and young adults from middle school through college level on all spectrums, behaviorally and academically. He attended Philips Exeter Academy and received an undergrad degree from Kenyon College and a Masters Degree from Dartmouth College. He lives in Middlebury, CT with his three rug rats and wife, Alexa.

Favorite Quote: “Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.”

-WB Yeats

Parker Washburn

Tutor

Parker has taught physics and math at boarding schools in Massachusetts and Connecticut for five years. He has worked at Phillips Academy, Choate Rosemary Hall and at Taft School, where he currently teaches an introductory physics course to 9th and 10th graders. Parker attended Phillips Academy, studied physics and astrophysics at Harvard University and is pursuing a master’s of science degree in applied physics from Johns Hopkins University. What Parker enjoys most about teaching physics is helping students connect with the physical world and develop problem solving skills that can be applied beyond the classroom. He can tutor students in AP physics 1 and 2, SAT II physics, SAT math and ACT science and math. In addition, Parker was a member of the rowing team at Harvard and pursued rowing after graduation for a couple of years. Using a structured and student-focused approach, Parker connects with young, motivated students on many different fronts and allows students to tap into their potential through hard work and persistence.

Favorite Quote: “Education is the training of the mind to think something that cannot be learned from textbooks.”

-Albert Einstein

Courses available with Parker:

Physics (Accelerated or Regular Levels)
AP Physics 1 and 2

Test Prep Available with Parker:

AP Physics
ACT Science
SAT Math

Geoffrey Wildanger

Tutor

Geoffrey has taught courses in German language and literature, comparative literature, English literature and composition, world literature, journalism, history, philosophy, and art history at Brown University, the Université de Lyon II, and the University of California, Davis. He holds a PhD in Comparative Literature from Brown and a Masters in Art History from UC Davis. He has been awarded the Fulbright, two DAAD grants (German Academic Exchange Service), and was a Fellow at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York and the Dia Art Foundation in Beacon, NY.

Courses available with Geoffrey:

German All Levels
English All Levels
Composition and Essay Writing
Grant Applications and Personal Statements
US and European History
Civics and American Politics
Art History

Test Prep Available with Geoffrey:

SAT Reading, Writing, Language, and Essay
ACT English, Reading, and Writing
AP German Language and Culture
AP English Literature and Language
AP Art History

Suin Jeong

Tutor

Suin attended St. Paul’s School and received her undergrad B.S.E. degree from Princeton University, where she majored in Computer Science and minored in Engineering Biology. She recently completed her M.S. in Physiology at Georgetown University. She has been a private tutor since 2013 and has worked for several professional tutoring companies teaching Mathematics, Science, Computer Science, and English, particularly specializing in SAT/ACT/AP test prep. She has also coached many students in the college application process and college essay writing. Through her academic tutoring and college counseling, she aims to bring out the best in each student and strives to be a mentor that her students can rely on for guidance and support.

Courses available with Suin:

Algebra I & II
Geometry
Precalculus,
Calculus AB/BC
Multivariable Calculus
Linear Algebra
Physics (Mechanics, E&M)
Chemistry
Biology
English 8th-12th grade
Computer Science (Java, Python, web/mobile app programming)

Test Prep Available with Suin:

SSAT
SAT
ACT
MCAT
SAT II Math, Chemistry, Physics, or Biology
AP Korean
AP Biology
AP Calculus
AP Chemistry
AP Computer Science
AP Physics
AP Statistics

ARCHER HAMIDZADEH

TUTOR

Archer has attended Johns Hopkins University, where he received his B.S. in Biomedical Engineering and Molecular/Cellular Biology in three years and where he also completed his M.S.E. in Biomedical Engineering. He is currently a senior PhD candidate in Biomedical Engineering at Yale University. For the past seven years, Archer has taught a number of STEM classes including introductory and upper level math courses, college level Physics, and introductory and graduate level courses in Biology and Biomedical Engineering and is currently an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Mathematics at Southern Connecticut State University. He has helped a number of students in standardized tests (SAT, ACT, and AP) excel in test preparation and has been involved with a number of high school and undergraduate teaching/tutoring programs offered at Yale University (Freshman Scholars at Yale, Yale Pathways to Science, and ONEXSYS).

Courses Available with Archer:

AP Stat
AP AB and BC Calc
AP Ecology
AP Physics
AP Chem
AP Bio
AP Physics
College Level Physics, Stat, Calc and Linear Algebra

Test Prep Available with Archer:

SAT
SSAT
ACT
GRE
Accounting

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Stirling Ince

Tutor

Prior to joining the Cushing faculty in the fall of 2000, Stirling spent four years working as a counselor to high school students at an educational not-for-profit in New York City, and three years teaching English as a Second Language in Ecuador. He received his B.A. in psychology from Wesleyan University and his MsEd in Second Language Education (TESOL Concentration) from the State University of New York at New Paltz. Mr. Ince is also a graduate of Dulwich College (London, England) and St. Mary’s College (Port-of-Spain, Trinidad). In addition to his teaching duties, he is the head coach for both varsity boys’ cross-country team and varsity track and field team. He is the dorm head of Johnson House.

Courses available with Stirling:

Spanish- All Levels
Beginning Intermediate Listening & Speaking,
Reading 1 & 2
Advanced-Intermediate Writing & Grammar
Grammar & Composition
ESL Support for World Literature
ESL Support for American Literature

Test Prep Available with Stirling:

TOEFL Prep

Kevin Danaher

Tutor

Kevin has taught Mathematics for the past eight years in a public high school, private day school and for the last three years at The Taft School, a private boarding school. He has taught all levels of math through Calculus. In addition to math, Kevin also teaches AP Macroeconomics, AP Microeconomics and courses in Personal Finance. He believes in a student-centered approach to teaching and uses inquiry methods to help students explore and comprehend complex concepts. Kevin attended Roger Williams University where he received a degree in Mathematics and Secondary Education, and has a Masters Degree from the University of New Haven. He has experience tutoring students in many math courses as well for the SAT and ACT.

Courses available with Kevin:

Algebra I
Geometry
Algebra II
Precalculus
Calculus
AP Macroeconomics
AP Microeconomics
Personal Finance

Test Prep available with Kevin:

SAT
ACT
SAT II Math
AP AB Calculus
AP Macroeconomics
AP Microeconomics

Jillian Danaher

Tutor

Jillian has taught, coached, dorm parented and advised for eight years at Connecticut public and boarding schools and is currently teaching Spanish at The Taft School. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from Salve Regina University and a Master of Arts in Spanish from Middlebury College. Throughout her Spanish studies she has spent time living in Seville, Spain and Buenos Aires, Argentina. In Spanish class, Jillian focuses on comprehensible input and communication based instruction and learning. As Class Dean, she has experience working with students outside of the classroom to oversee their school experience and academic performance. This role makes her well qualified to support students with anxiety and other learning challenges as they navigate the challenges of developing both their academic habits and performance.

Courses Available with Jill:

Spanish 8-12th grade, Levels 1-4

Test Prep Available with Jill:

AP Spanish Language and Culture
SAT II Spanish

Bryan DeSousa

Tutor

Bryan attended Fairfield University, where he received his B.A. in English. He completed his M.A in English from William Paterson University in 2006. In 2018, he earned a PhD in English from St. John’s University. For the past fifteen years, Bryan has taught number of English classes at the high school level including World Literature, British Literature, and American Literature, as well as providing SAT prep, college application help, and essay writing instruction for his students. He has also taught composition and literature at a number of colleges, including Michigan State University, Rutgers University and Pace University. As a graduate student he tutored students at the St. John’s University Institute for Writing Studies. In his last job, he remotely tutored students at Purdue University Global for writing in all subjects for approximately 1500 hours.

Courses available with Bryan:

AP Literature
AP Language
American Literature
British Literature
Composition
Creative Writing

Test Prep Available with Bryan:

AP Literature
AP Language
SAT All Sections
ACT All Sections
SAT Subject Test — English

Courtney Barker-DeStefano

Tutor

Courtney is a career educator with nearly a decade of experience teaching, coaching, and dorm-parenting in boarding schools in the northeast. A current faculty member of Choate Rosemary Hall, Courtney has taught in the History Philosophy Religion and Social Sciences [HPRSS] Department for the last seven years, and previously worked at The Masters School (NY). At Choate, Courtney is the section head of World History, responsible for developing curriculum and pedagogy across the Honors and introductory levels. She currently teaches World History Honors, World History, and American Studies but has experience teaching history at all levels: introductory, Honors, and Advanced Placement. Courtney specializes in building skills in historical research, analytical writing, public speaking, and critical discussion; her students move beyond rote memorization and become independent thinkers. Courtney has also served as a Program Dean and can support students as they navigate the social and emotional aspects of adolescent development. She attended Moses Brown School in Providence, RI. Courtney received her B.A. in History and American Studies from Skidmore College – where she was a member of the women’s lacrosse team – and her M.A. in History from Boston College.

Courses available with Courtney:

AP World History
Honors World History
Introductory World History
AP United States History
Honors United States History
Introductory United States History
American Studies
AP European History
AP Human Geography

Test Prep Available with Courtney:

AP World History
AP United States History
AP European History
AP Human Geography
SAT Subject Test — World History
SAT Subject Test — US History

Sierra Berkel

Tutor

Sierra is a Penn Fellow at the Taft School, where she teaches English, coaches, and lives in the dorm as she works toward her Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Pennsylvania. Before landing at Taft, Sierra was a 2018 graduate of Haverford College, where with a degree in English and minors in Education and Psychology. At Haverford, she served as a teaching fellow at Titagya Schools in Dalun, Ghana, and as a four-year member and captain of the varsity women’s basketball team. She also served with the school’s Student Athlete Advisory Committee as a liaison to the Office of Academic Resources, during which she brainstormed methods to improve students’ academic performance from teaching time management to reducing stress and anxiety. Her previous experience includes student-editor for publications such as The New York Literary Magazine as well as contributions to platforms such as the Newtown Literary Journal. Sierra currently volunteers as an editor at an online literary journal, the Awesome Sports Project, where she works with girls in the internship program to voice their own stories about identity and sports experiences.

Courses Available with Sierra:

English 8^th – 12^thGrade
Intro to Psychology
Literary Journalism
Sports Journalism
Post Civil Rights African American Literature

Test Prep Available with Sierra:

SAT: Reading, Writing and Language, and Essay Portions
ACT: English, Reading, and Writing Sections
AP Literature and AP Language.

Eric Otremba

Tutor

Eric is a former professor at Macalester College and UCLA, and has fifteen years teaching experience in both high school and higher education settings. He has been a professional tutor and college counselor for the past five years and his specialties include history, English, essay writing, and ACT/SAT prep.

Eric earned a PhD in history from the University of Minnesota in 2012 and has published multiple articles in professional historical journals. He has also been an official AP History grader for nine years and has extensive knowledge of all AP history curriculums. Eric’s has also taught several nonfiction writing classes and can help people with all stages of essay writing, from brainstorming to final edits. He also has five years of ACT/SAT experience and helped develop the ACT/SAT curriculums at two separate education centers in Southern California.

After spending many years in many educational roles, Eric has found that his favorite kind of teaching is working with engaged students one-on-one. He takes pride in his ability to connect with people, and to take complex ideas and explain them in ways students can understand.

Courses available with Eric:

History 9th-12th grade
English 9th-12th grade
AP European History
AP World History
AP US History
College Level History and History of Science
Introductory College Writing

Test Prep Available with Eric:

SAT Reading and Writing
ACT English and Reading
SAT2 US History and World History

Melissa Sarmiento

Tutor

Melissa graduated from Cornell University, where she majored in History with minors in German and Latin American studies. Melissa started her teaching and tutoring career in college, where she helped students strengthen their writing across the disciplines, logging over 1000 hours. After graduation, she moved to Tokyo, Japan, where she taught English as a second language to middle school students. Presently, Melissa is pursuing her master’s degree in social studies education at Brown University. Melissa is also a private tutor, helping students of all ages excel in history, writing, English and Spanish, as well as the college admissions process. As a tutor and mentor, she strives to build meaningful connections with her students, empower them, and help them realize their full potential inside and outside the classroom.

Courses available with Melissa:

Social Studies
Writing & Composition
AP Literature
AP Language
AP Spanish

Test Prep Available with Melissa:

AP Literature
AP Language
SAT Writing
ACT English portions
SAT Subject Test — English
SAT Subject Test — Spanish

Middle School & Elementary School

Alliance Offers tutors specifically with experience working with younger children, in home or online.

Daniel Rusnak

Tutor

Daniel has taught English at schools and universities for three years in Spain, Russia, and Hong Kong. He is experienced at teaching learners of all ages, and his teaching style is dynamic and flexible. He particularly loves leveraging students’ natural inclinations to inspire growth across many domains. Daniel earned his undergraduate degree in history from the University of Texas at Austin and holds Masters degrees in area studies and literature from the University of Oxford and Princeton University. Daniel is fluent in Russian and has earned two Fulbright awards. He is able to teach all subjects at the elementary level, and he is particularly attuned to subjects in the humanities, like Geography, World History, European history, Art History, Psychology, and English.

Courses available with Daniel:

Geography
AP World History
AP European History
AP Art History
AP Psychology
AP Russian Language and Culture
AP English Language and Composition
AP English Literature and Composition
English 8th-12th grade

Test Prep Available with Daniel:

AP World History
AP United States History
AP European History
AP Human Geography
AP Russian Language and Culture
SAT Subject Test — World History
SAT Subject Test — US History
SAT & ACT All Sections
AP English Language and Composition
AP English Literature and Composition

Lester Steinberg

Tutor

Lester has taught Mathematics for the past eight years in both public high schools and public middle schools. He currently teaches Accelerated Math at Ponus Ridge Middle School. He has taught or tutored all levels of math from Elementary through Calculus. Lester attended Carnegie-Mellon University where he received a degree in Mechanical Engineering and has a Masters in Business Administration from Duke University. In addition to teaching math, Lester tutors elementary, middle school, and high school math as well as many of the standardized tests including the SAT, ACT, SSAT, and the ISEE. Additionally, Lester has created enrichment programs for elementary and middle school students. He believes in building relationships and empowering students with give and take instruction and discourse with the end goal of building self-reliance and confidence.

Courses available with Lester:

Elementary Math (including Singapore Math)
Pre-Algebra
Geometry
Algebra II
Precalculus
Calculus

Test Prep Available with Lester:

SAT
ACT
SAT II Math
ISEE
SSAT
AP AB Calculus

Kristen Ginley

Tutor

Kristen has taught elementary and middle school in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Jersey and most recently has worked in the Fairfield and Westport Public Schools as a Long-term substitute and Building substitute. Kristen has experience teaching all grades, K-6, and is a certified teacher in the state of Connecticut. Kristen holds an Undergraduate Degree from Mount Holyoke College and a Master’s Degree from the University of Hartford. Kristen’s approach to teaching is to be flexible, patient and caring. Her teaching style combines energy and passion with flexibility and clear, concise instruction. She is exceptionally good with working with a variety of learning styles, including those students who suffer from anxiety and other challenges. Kristen has a current working knowledge of the State of Connecticut’s Core Curriculum and is able to adapt the curriculum and formulate lessons tailored to individual students to facilitate learning. Kristen has coached ski club, Junior Varsity Field Hockey, worked with Girl’s on the Run and created and ran after school clubs for elementary, middle and high school students. She is an avid reader and hopes to instill a love of reading in all of her students.

Courses available with Kristen:

Available to tutor Elementary and Middle School students, Grades K- 6.

Test Prep Available with Kristen:

SBAC
Star Reading and Math

Beth Peckham

Tutor

Beth has a stellar performance record teaching diverse learning needs in the New Canaan school district. Her nurturing and positive approach is the foundation for providing a positive, safe environment that enables children to take academic risks that promote self-confidence and significant learning growth. Beth is deeply committed to student success, and has spent over a decade helping children improve math understanding and problem solving, both one-on one and in small groups. Beth has 15 years of teaching experience, the most recent 4 years as a second-grade teacher at New Canaan South School. Other posts have included long-term math specialist substitute (K-4), substitute teacher in grades K-6 and home tutor for students with serious, long-term health issues. Beth is an excellent communicator. Before teaching, Beth enjoyed a career in corporate communications for fortune 500 companies. A world traveler, parent and former swimming coach, Beth holds a Master of Arts in Teaching from Manhattanville, and an undergraduate degree in Communications and Journalism from Rutgers University. She also holds state certifications from Connecticut and Florida (K-6), training in E-Learning and has completed the Summer Reading Institute at Teacher’s College at Columbia University. Beth’s additional interests have included photography, gardening, competing in international ironman triathlon competitions and working on two global volunteer expeditions studying dolphins, whales and sea turtles.

Daniel Per Villiers

Mental Health Consultant

One of the nation’s leading interventionists, Dr. Dan Villiers has education, motivated, and inspired more than 700 families to pursue treatment for their children with acute anxiety, OCD and Trauma. In the spirit of entrepreneurism Dan has founded four anxiety treatment programs for school-aged children; most notably The Anxiety Institute in 2016, an intensive day program in Greenwich, CT, and Mountain Valley Treatment Center in 2010, the first non-hospital residential anxiety program in the United States. He has published articles, appeared on radio and TV, and given over 100 presentations in the US and in Europe on the nature, experience, and impact of Anxiety; and ways to address the epidemic individually and systematically.

Bridget Baudinet

Tutor

Bridget holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and French from the University of Notre Dame, as well as a Master’s in Education and a Master’s in French and Francophone Studies. She has 14 years of teaching experience and has worked with students of all ages in a variety of settings. She is a certified 5-12 ELA teacher in the state of Massachusetts and has taught English and French to students at every level from 6th grade through senior year of college. Through volunteer and part-time positions, she has also worked with lower elementary students in and out of the classroom. Bridget’s professional experience has included writing individualized curricula and working one-on-one with students at an alternative school for struggling learners. She has also written lesson content and assessments for two educational software companies. Bridget has a strong understanding of child development and creatively adapts instruction to meet the individual needs of all students. Her passion is language and writing instruction, but she has a wide range of other interests, including history, art, and the natural world. Outside of the classroom, she has acted as a Brownie Girl Scout leader, children’s museum guide, Big Sister, club coordinator, trip chaperone, and 5-8th grade track and field head coach. She has also led middle and elementary school enrichment activities, including lockbox challenges, painting classes, video making, and standardized test prep. Bridget hopes to inspire all her students with a life-long love of learning.

Rene Steffan

Tutor

Rene has been tutoring History and English curriculums in Fairfield County for over ten years, particularly focusing on composition and research. Rene holds a Masters of Education from National University in La Jolla California, and a Connecticut certification in secondary Social Studies. She enjoys helping her students achieve independence, through executive functions skill building. She believes that executive functions skills are the cornerstone of student success. Rene has been a member of the Learning Services Department at the Southfield Center for Development for the past 11 years, where she was an executive functions skills and academic coach. She teaches students how to apply organization, time management, planning, initiation, and study skills to their academics. For learners with ADD/ADHD these skills greatly improved comprehension, confidence and study strategies.

Deborah Johnson-ghasia

Tutor

Deborah received her undergraduate degree from New York University, in marketing and sociology before matriculating to Yale University, where she earned two Master’s Degrees in Sociology and taught as an assistant. She went on to pursue a successful career in academic and corporate research, both in the US and abroad; she has traveled to over 35 countries. In her transition to elementary education, Deborah has more than a decade of professional and personal experience working with children grades kindergarten to five in the Spackenkill school district. Deborah provided special education services to elementary and middle school students in the Wappingers Central school district during the same time period. Deborah knows how to advocate for students so they can receive the support they need in order to be successful. In addition to loving children, Deborah loves exercise, especially tennis and yoga, along with art and current events.

Courses available with Deborah:

Available to tutor Elementary and Middle School students, Grades K- 8