About Our Tutors
We believe our students deserve the best tutors so we hire the best! On-Track’s team of tutors, many of whom are also JGS teachers, includes the following:
- Current and retired general education, gifted education, and special education teachers
- Holders of advanced degrees, certificates, and credentials
- Experts in their respective fields
Our tutors collectively have expertise in all subject areas as well as standardized test prep, executive function, virtual learning support, and multisensory reading programs. They share our enthusiasm for inspiring a love of learning. Most importantly, they have proven to be effective instructors who make a difference in their students’ lives!
Barry, BS
High School Math & Science; STEM; Business Courses
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About Barry: A born teacher, Barry has facilitated learning both in and out of the classroom for most of his life: “I started teaching in 8th grade when I ski instructed for the local ski club. In college I tutored at ASU, helping fellow students make sense of the challenging concepts of math and science. And since college, I have been making those same confusing and scary subjects fun and more interesting to hundreds of grade school, high school, college, and post-grad students.” Barry emphasizes the benefits of study skills & organizational strategies to his students: “Organization is often the first step to confidence and success, even when tackling challenging concepts and subject matter.”
With his own children now grown, Barry loves spending time sailing and traveling when he's not working with his students at The Jones-Gordon School or On-Track.
Kimberly, BS, MA, PhD
Certified Teacher; Elementary/Middle School Language Arts, Math, Science; Study Skills; Special Education
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About Kimberly: I am originally from Nebraska and have lived in Arizona for several years now.
I achieved my Master's in Special Education and my Doctorate in Educational Leadership. My Bachelor's is in Psychology, and I have an Associate's Degree in Business Management and Software Application Management.
I have been teaching for 10+ years but have been working with kids with disabilities for 16+ years. Along with that, I have 30+ years of parenting under my belt, which includes foster parenting. I will teach anything except maybe quantum physics... I have no knowledge of that. 🙂 As you can see, I also have a sense of humor! I find it very helpful in putting a child at ease when they are stressed about a subject.
I enjoy tutoring because of the individual impact I can make. I look forward to working with your child!
Janice, BA, MS
Certified Teacher; Virtual Tutoring; General K-12+ Math; Pre-Algebra through College Algebra IV, Pre-Calc/Calculus, Statistics, Trigonometry, Geometry; Math Study Skills
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About Janice: I am a successful mathematics teacher by trade. I was a good math student, not great, and at times I struggled. I mention this only because there are some mathematicians who never struggled and can’t relate to the struggle of “normal” people. I went to school at California State University, Northridge for both my BA and MS although they were twenty years apart. I have been a math teacher my whole life except for ten years when I worked as a software engineer. Programming came easily to me because of my love for geometric proofs. I know, weird, who loves that?! 😉 In high school, I actually skipped out on dates to stay home and do geometry.
I have taught and tutored in junior high/middle school, high school, and college mathematics. My greatest claim to fame is that I can explain math in a way that is simple and understandable. I think in pictures. My favorite classes to each are …. drum roll ….. math! Any level. As long as my students have the twinkle of understanding and discovery, I’m good. 🙂
In addition to teaching and raising my daughter (an amazing, entrepreneurial young woman), I have been married for more than 45 years and have raised many dogs and horses. I lived in California most of my life, except for 4.5 years in Colorado, where I met my husband and brought him out of the cold to CA. In 2009, we retired from our California life and followed my daughter to Arizona (into the heat). I have been teaching at Scottsdale Community College and Grand Canyon University and was a long-term sub for The Jones-Gordon School. I have worked with On Track students for many years. I helped one student from 7th grade all through high school.
My family just followed my daughter and her family to Tulsa, Oklahoma. Four seasons, and grandbabies!! So, I now exclusively tutor virtually.
Samantha, BA, M.Ed.
Certified Teacher; All subjects and levels (including Honors & AP), High School through college; GED/(P)SAT/ACT/GRE Standardized Test Prep; Executive Function
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About Samantha: Samantha attended Barrett Honors College at ASU from 2009-2013, earning a B.A. in Spanish Linguistics and a B.A. in English Literature. Upon graduating, Sam received a Fulbright scholarship to teach English (language and literature) at a university just outside of Mexico City. When she returned to Arizona, she joined Teach for America and taught math to hundreds of diverse students—including students with specific learning disabilities. During this time, she was honored as a Teacher of Distinction for the highest student growth in the district as well as a Teacher of the Year (2015). She also spent these two years completing her M.Ed. in Secondary Education with an emphasis in Mathematics.
Sam has tutored all subjects (including standardized test/college entrance exam prep) professionally for nearly a decade. In addition to tutoring, as a certified teacher in Arizona, she currently teaches high school and serves as the Director of Curriculum & Instruction at The Jones-Gordon School.
Lisa, BS
Reading Specialist (Lindamood-Bell & Wilson® Dyslexia Practitioner; Reading Comprehension, Fluency, Phonics, & Retention; Executive Function
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About Lisa: Lisa is a gifted Reading Specialist. Joining the OTT team in 2013, she has also worked with students at our partner school, The Jones-Gordon School. A graduate of ASU, Lisa has taught literacy skills for over a decade. She is a trained practitioner of all of the well-known Lindamood-Bell programs (LiPS, Seeing Stars, Talkies, Visualizing and Verbalizing, & On Cloud Nine), designed to improve students’ decoding, spelling, language comprehension, memory, and math. Lisa finds individualized teaching to be such a rewarding experience: “watching students improve & seeing their confidence rise is the greatest honor!” Lisa continues to fill her educator’s toolbox—she completed Wilson Language Level I certification in 2017 and hopes to pursue her Wilson Language Level II certification in the near future.
Jane, BFA, M.Ed.
Executive Function; Elementary Science, Social Studies, Language Arts & Math; Middle School Social Studies
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About Jane: I have relocated to Arizona from the Pacific Northwest. I've lived in several states in the US, and have also lived overseas in several countries including Azerbaijan, Egypt, and Belgium. My experience includes working as a special education teacher, an educational diagnostician, and a coordinator of learning support in both public and private international schools. While I originally studied art and have a BFA in painting, I went on to earn a MA degree in Education, with a major in Education/Special Education and a minor in Counseling and Educational Psychology from New Mexico State University. I have received specialized training in Autism Spectrum Disorders, Specific Learning Disabilities, and Executive Functioning. I enjoy working individually with students to help them become engaged and enthusiastic learners. I believe every student can bloom with the right approach and encouragement. My personal interests include reading, doing artwork, hiking, and enjoying the outdoors.
Creason, BA
Middle & High School Language Arts (including Honors, AP); Writing; Social Studies; Standardized Test Prep; Middle & High School Math (including Singapore Math)
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About Creason: Creason earned his BA in English Literature from ASU in 2012 and has been working as a professional writer and educator ever since. Well versed in many subjects including Algebra, Geometry, History, and ACT/SAT test preparation, Creason is a well-rounded tutor with a great desire to help students achieve their full potential both in school and in life.
Creason had himself struggled through school, unknowingly having ADD until diagnosed in college. His own experience with it has given him special first-hand knowledge of the disorder as well as a passion to help kids to overcome what he knows to be a frustrating battle. Creason has worked with numerous kids who have ADHD as an instructor at The Jones-Gordon School and other specialized private schools, as well as with On-Track students.
Growing up in the Scottsdale School District, Creason enjoyed playing many sports including soccer, football, basketball, baseball, and track & field. After high school, Creason studied Finance and Marketing before moving home to earn his degree in English Literature. He not only loves to help kids, but he also finds great joy in music, books, and athletics.
Caylin, BA, M.Ed.
Certified Teacher; Special Education; all Elementary subjects; Executive Function
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About Caylin: I have been a certified teacher in Special Education and Elementary Education for 7 years. Before teaching, I worked one-on-one in the home with students with special needs for 11 years.
I have also tutored for many years in many different capacities. I truly enjoy working with students to support their individual educational needs and appreciate the challenge of finding different ways to help them retain the information. I love working with all subjects but math and humanities are my favorites! In addition to tutoring, I am also a full-time lower school teacher at The Jones-Gordon School.
Sara, BS, MS
Reading Intervention; Wilson Reading System® Teacher; Barton® Certified
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About Sara: A dynamic, experienced dyslexia specialist, Sara holds a bachelor's degree in elementary education from NAU and a master's degree in elementary education with an emphasis in reading, also from NAU. Sara has enjoyed a lengthy career as a teacher and reading specialist in both the public and private sectors. She has also been an adjunct professor at ASU, teaching elementary education classes to aspiring teachers. A member of the JGS FLEX Team, Sara has also been a full-time dyslexia tutor, utilizing Barton and Lindamood-Bell programs.
Jeanie, BS, MA
all levels of Math; Standardized Test Prep; Chemistry, Earth Science, Physical Science, Physics; Gov/Civics, Geography, World/US/AZ History
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About Jeanie: Jeanie, a revered math and science tutor at On-Track since 2002, is a true academic and holds degrees in math and physics. A devoted teacher, Jeanie's ability to teach math in a way that makes it comprehensible to students of all abilities is nearly unparalleled. One of our favorite stories about Jeanie goes back more than a decade when she started tutoring a sophomore who "despised math." After a semester of working with Jeanie, this young lady found a passion for the subject matter and has now completed a degree in mathematics! In fact, this story has played out again and again throughout her time with On-Track as Jeanie has the ability and commitment to all of her students to ensure their academic success. A proud, homeschooling mother of two, Jeanie's own children excelled in school, on SAT's, in college, and beyond!
Lorraine, BA, M.Ed.
Certified Teacher; Special Education; all academic subjects, Elementary and Middle School
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About Lorraine: A JGS Middle School teacher, Lorraine graduated with a B.A. in Journalism and worked in the print media field for five years before returning to school to earn a Master’s in Education from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She trained & volunteered with the Milieu Therapists at Children’s Memorial Hospital Therapeutic Day School (Chicago) for five years and taught Special Education for 22 years for one of the highest-ranked districts in Illinois. After moving to AZ in 2016, Lorraine taught Special Education in the Kyrene School District. She is passionate about Special Education and making every student successful! Lorraine’s many trainings include PBIS (positive behavioral interventions and supports), Wilson® Reading System, LLI, F&P, TouchMath, and Hands-on-Equations as well as certification from the Institute for Multi-Sensory Education (Orton-Gillingham). In addition, she is an “Ed Tech” enthusiast currently working toward Google Educator Certification who uses social media as a platform to encourage others to learn more about individuals with special needs. Lorraine has also been a Special Olympics coach for Illinois and Arizona, a long-term volunteer for Southwest Human Development, and was a Minitown Advisor at Kyrene.
Marcus, BA, MS
Middle School Math; Writing; General Middle and High School academic and Executive Function support
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About Marcus: Marcus excels in working with our adolescent populations—especially those making the difficult transition from middle to high school. He earned his BA in Special Education and Master of Science in Curriculum and Instruction. During his undergraduate studies at Western Governors University, Marcus received two Excellence Awards for exemplary work in Managing Engaging Learning Environments and Instructional Strategies and Technologies for Elementary Learners with Mild to Moderate Exceptionalities. Marcus was nominated to join The National Society of Leadership and Success as well as WGU’s Chapter of Kappa Delta Pi, the International Honor Society in Education. Marcus currently teaches middle school math and high school electives such as Personal Development, Sports History, and Music Business at The Jones-Gordon School. He also offers support for high school students who need assistance in achieving and maintaining their academic goals by providing tutoring, organizational strategies, and executive functioning support. Additionally, Marcus is a very gifted writer whose contributions can be found throughout our website and publications.
Donna, BS, MA
Executive Fucnction Training, Elementary through adult; Reading/Writing Homework Help
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About Donna: I am an Arizona native and grew up in the Phoenix area. Here is a little bit about me...
I received a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology & a Masters in Clinical Psychology.
I have extensive experience helping children with ADD/ADHD, anxiety, developmental/learning disorders & executive functioning (EF) issues.
My teaching experience began at a therapeutic school providing services to children with ADD/ADHD, learning disabilities & EF deficits.
I provided EF skills training to children/parents/educators in individual & group settings.
I taught individualized EF skills programs for students & education programs for parents.
I developed parent education/professional development materials regarding EF skills deficits that directly impact learning in children.
EF Coaching Philosophy
I am dedicated to teaching EF skills in a way that fully engages the student & includes concrete study tools to help them achieve success.
I offer EF coaching to individuals who need practical EF skills to reach their full potential, as a student & as a person.
Connecting with young people has always been easy for me, because I value how they see the world & what they think/feel about themselves.
I focus my attention on my student’s needs & those of the family/peer/school/social system that support them.
Most of all, I really love being an EF Coach!
Adrienne, BA
Certified Teacher; Elementary Mathematics; Executive Function
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About Adrienne: Adrienne holds a Bachelor of Education degree from ASU and is an accomplished, highly effective educator. She joined the Jones-Gordon and On-Track team in 2017 after having been a lower school teacher at another well-regarded local private school for nearly two decades. At JGS, Adrienne enjoys teaching math and collaborating with her team for science instruction. She is also the JGS lower school “go-to guru” for organization and executive function. It says a lot about Adrienne's talent and skill that students love going to her classes — YES, they all love going to MATH (and not just to see her fluffy canine companion, Niko)!
Shea, BA, MA
Former Certified Teacher; Spelling, Vocabulary, Composition/Essay Writing, English, Grammar, Literature, Reading Comprehension, Research Papers; Executive Function
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About Shea: An On-Track tutor for more than a decade, Shea grew up in the Scottsdale area with parents who were in Public Health and Education. She holds a BA in Graphic Arts and Secondary Education, an MA in Elementary Education with a specialty in Reading and Special Education from ASU. Her certificate endorsements are K-12 in English as a Second Language, Highly Qualified Language Arts/English, Reading Specialist, and Visual Arts. Shea also holds certifications from the Association of Montessori International (AMI) and William Glasser Institute International in Academic and Family Counseling.
Today, Shea is retired from her teaching career but not from Education. She continues her passion for teaching as an Executive Functions Coach and Writing instructor with On-Track. Shea maintains her writing skills as a journalist for various publications, her community involvement as a volunteer with the Desert Foothills Theater, and her research interests as a Cave Creek Museum Board member. With the Arts as the creative engine and Education as the fuel, Shea believes students will possess the skills to successfully resolve their future challenges.
Jeannine, M.Ed.
Certified Teacher; Elementary Social Studies, Reading/Writing, Reading Comprehension, Math, Science
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About Jeannine:
Sam, BA, M.Ed.
Certified Teacher; Executive Function; Elementary Science, Social Studies, Math, Language Arts, Science; Reading Interventionist; Special Education
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About Sam: I earned my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Special Education from Northern Arizona University. I love being a tutor because I am passionate about making a difference in the world through education. I live by the quote, “knowledge is power” and I use it to empower my students to grow and achieve.
My strengths lie in the areas of study skills, organizational techniques, reading, writing conventions, phonics, history, and math. I love to share my passion for education by getting students excited to learn through motivation, goal-setting, and a positive attitude.
I have been in education for over a decade, spending some of those years working as a paraprofessional in the classroom with students who have a variety of needs. During this time, I have developed a passion for advocating and teaching students with individual education plans (IEPs).
Something unique about me is that I am an avid yogi! I love to bring the practice of mindfulness, breath awareness, and sometimes yoga postures to "brain break" times to help boost brain power and invoke inner peace.
Karen, BS
Certified Teacher; Elementary and Middle School Math (including Singapore Math) & Humanities/Language Arts; Executive Function; Special Education
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About Karen: Born and raised in Rhode Island, Karen attended Rhode Island College to pursue her teaching degree after working for a nonprofit agency that supported children and adults with varying special needs (including ADHD, autism, learning and intellectual disabilities, and speech and language impairments). Karen graduated with a B.S. in Elementary and Special Ed., and moved to AZ in 2013 to teach at a private school where she worked with 4th and 5th grade students with learning differences. A certified Special Education teacher, Karen loves “using ordinary objects to teach extraordinary lessons."
Now a beloved JGS Middle School Math & Humanities teacher, Karen previously taught lower schoolers at JGS for several years. Adventurous in spirit, Karen has also taught abroad in South Korea and traveled extensively throughout Asia.
Jared, BA
Certified Teacher; English/Language Arts; Physics, Biology; Western Civ, World Geography & History, Gov/Civics, American/US History; Pre-Algebra, Algebra I & II, Geometry; Standardized Test Prep
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About Jared: Jared has been a professional tutor for more than twelve years and taught high school students at The Jones-Gordon School for three years. He earned his bachelor's degree in education, social science, and English from Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois. He holds an Arizona teaching certificate in secondary English, Science, and Social Studies. He has helped students of all ages improve their skills in nearly every subject! Jared has taught students of all abilities including those with learning differences such as ADHD, autism, and traumatic brain injuries. He believes that learning is a very personal journey, and he loves it when his students tell him that he explains concepts better than their classroom teachers do. 🙂 In his spare time, Jared enjoys playing disc golf, creating wire sculptures, and writing.
Rose, BA, M.Ed.
Certified Teacher; Reading Specialist/Interventionist; Wilson Reading System® Teacher; Language Arts
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About Rose: A cherished veteran teacher in the Valley, Rose has spent more than 25 years in the field of education, specializing in individualized instruction. Her immense talents in the areas of assessment and instructional design serve her well as a JGS FLEX teacher. Trained in several multisensory reading programs, including Wilson®, S.M.I.L.A®, and Jolly Phonics®, Rose focuses on intervention at JGS. Rose holds a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education and Family Studies from ASU, a Master’s of Education (also from ASU), and certification in Language Arts from Simultaneous Multisensory Institute for Language Arts in Memphis, Tennessee.
Liz, BA, MS, Ed.D.
Certified Teacher; Executive Function; Middle & High School Math & Science; Special Education
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About Liz: Liz earned her doctorate in Special Ed. (her dissertation investigated the impact of theatre-based reading interventions on reading comprehension at the middle school level—wow!); MS in Environmental Science from Johns Hopkins; & BA in Theater from Ohio Wesleyan. She takes pride in her eclectic background & finds it serves her well in her interdisciplinary approach to education. A certified special education teacher, Dr. Liz previously worked at the Temple Grandin School in CO, & has taught just about every subject in her 20+ years as an educator. Dr. Liz has been part of the Jones-Gordon and On-Track team since 2014.