Noelle D

noelle D

I’ve known that teaching was my calling ever since high school, when I had the opportunity to assist in an elementary classroom and absolutely fell in love with education. There’s nothing more rewarding than seeing a student’s eyes light up when they finally grasp a concept they’ve been struggling with—that “aha!” moment is what I live for.

I earned my Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education from Elmhurst University in Illinois, along with endorsements in ESL, bilingual education (Spanish), and special education. After graduation, I spent nine incredible years living and working in Tijuana, Mexico, where I served as a middle school teacher and later as the Education Coordinator at St. Innocent Orphanage. In that role, I developed and implemented academic and behavioral support programs for students facing a wide range of challenges, including learning disabilities, mental health and behavioral diagnosis, ADHD, dyslexia, and trauma. I also worked with students who had never set foot in a classroom before, helping them build foundational literacy and study skills from the ground up. Watching these students take great strides in their education instilled in me a love for working with students one-on-one and a deep commitment to student success.

I am passionate about supporting students who are struggling to succeed in traditional academic environments by helping them build confidence, find effective strategies, and discover the joy of learning. Through Focus Tutors, I’m excited to offer support in Spanish, general homework help, and organization/study skills.

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Bradford B

BRadford B

I became a teacher because teaching, and learning, are a lifelong passion.  I was born and raised in rural western Colorado; my younger sister and I were the third generation of our family to grow up in our small mountain town.  Like almost all young people there, I attended our local public high school, and upon graduation became the first in my family to attend college.  I credit this to, after God's grace, the constant support especially of my mother, whose selfless devotion inspires me to this day.

I started my higher education by earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy, with distinction in the major, from Yale University.  I then attended law school at Cornell University, earning my JD.  After practicing law for two years in a large corporate firm in New York City, which I found unsatisfying and lacking a healthy work-life balance, I changed careers.  I returned west, specifically to southern California, and decided to return to the humanities, my first academic love.  I was admitted to the PhD program in English literature at UC Berkeley, where I also did significant coursework in classics (Latin and ancient Greek).

While finishing my doctoral dissertation, I worked for five years teaching English literature and writing, AP U.S. history, Spanish, and other subjects with HS2 Academy, a private company in Orange County, CA.  In 2015 I was hired to teach at ASU, where I've taught for the past nine years, in the Department of Interdisciplinary Humanities.  Over the past fourteen years I've worked with countless (literally in the low thousands) students of different backgrounds, and I'm just as keen on teaching now as when I started!  Some of my former students, now adults and married with children, remain dear friends, and it's an honor to have helped shape their path.

I recently joined the Focus Tutors team and am happy to work with students in the following areas: English language and literature; Spanish language; French language; Latin language; U.S. history; world history; U.S. government and civics; philosophy and religion; reading and writing support; general homework support; study skills.

One interesting aspect of my career change is that I have lived and worked in Seattle, Portland, Hong Kong, Melbourne, Los Angeles, and New York but finally came back "home" to teach at a school I attended.  I am an alumnus of Hopi, Ingleside, and Arcadia ultimately graduating from ASU with a degree in Industrial Engineering before starting my international IT career.

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Javier U

Javier U

After I discovered my passion for math and the sciences, I made it my goal to continually help students achieve those same ‘aha’ moments that I once did. Throughout my years of tutoring, I’ve worked with students of many different ages on many different topics, from pre-algebra to calculus to upper division math courses, as well as biology, chemistry, physics, and other sciences. In my opinion, one of the most important aspects to tutoring is recognizing the ways that the student thinks. Having graduated from Arizona State University with bachelor of science degrees in applied mathematics and biology and now working in a mathematical biology research laboratory, I emphasize how certain concepts relate to student interests and real-world scenarios. As part of the Focus Tutors team, I look forward to working with students on mathematics, biology, and chemistry, as well as improving their study habits, test-taking skills, and overall organization, which are also vital to success.

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Ted T

Ted T

For the last four years, I have worked as a teacher in the Paradise Valley Unified School District. Prior to that, I worked in the Fairfax County Public Schools, the 10th largest school district in the nation, just outside of Washington, D.C.  I feel extremely fortunate to have served a variety of populations, such as: Self-Contained Gifted, English Language Learners, general education students, and those identified as twice-exceptional.  For this reason, I am a firm believer that one size does not fit all in education and I strive to promote equity in any position I am assigned.  I also believe that students learn best when they construct new knowledge for themselves.  Therefore, I see myself as “a guide on the side” rather than “a sage on the stage.”  As a Focus tutor, I can help your student set and meet their individual learning goals.  Whether I am teaching English composition, American Government, middle school science, or test preparation, I hope to promote 21st century skills, like communication, collaboration, critical thinking, tenacity, and problem solving. 

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Tanya M

Tanya m

I absolutely love helping students understand and succeed in math. I know it is a hard subject, but I know how to break it down so that you can understand it. If you are willing to put some time into it, you can succeed at math.

I have a Bachelor’s in Mathematics for Secondary Education from Grand Canyon University and have been teaching and tutoring for the past 20+ years: teaching high school math in a public school, then homeschooling all subjects to my own children, and currently tutoring students at the middle and high school math levels.

With experience both in the classroom and with one-on-one tutoring, I have really seen the benefit of the latter. The classroom setting has its limitation, especially for a struggling student. Sometimes, all it takes is a bit of one-on-one help to boost a student’s confidence and performance. Tutoring isn’t magic either; it also takes dedication from the student to do their part, working hard to complete all homework and persevere when things get tough. If you are ready to commit to that, I am ready to join you and help you succeed in your math class.

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Trista M

trista M

From a young age, I knew teaching was my calling. This inspiration came from my favorite science teacher who had the ability to make learning both interesting and fun.  After earning my degree in Clinical and Counseling Psychology from San Jose State University in 1994, I pursued my passion for science by obtaining a second Bachelor’s in Natural Sciences with a minor in Biology in 2000. 

My experiences as a stay-at-home mom and navigating my son's Autism diagnosis led me to earn my Multiple Subject Credential in 2004, allowing me to work as a teacher and support my children in their educational journeys. Through my son’s journey, I gained invaluable insights into the IEP and 504 processes and learned that every child on the spectrum is beautifully unique.  As a lifelong learner, I went back to school in 2018 to earn a Master’s Degree in Biology with an Emphasis in Education from GCU in 2020 .

My husband and I are blessed with six amazing children and ten grandchildren. Sunday dinners are a cherished weekly tradition, where our kids and grandkids gather to enjoy time together. 

From a young age, I knew teaching was my calling. This inspiration came from my favorite science teacher who had the ability to make learning both interesting and fun.  After earning my degree in Clinical and Counseling Psychology from San Jose State University in 1994, I pursued my passion for science by obtaining a second Bachelor’s in Natural Sciences with a minor in Biology in 2000. 

My experiences as a stay-at-home mom and navigating my son's Autism diagnosis led me to earn my Multiple Subject Credential in 2004, allowing me to work as a teacher and support my children in their educational journeys. Through my son’s journey, I gained invaluable insights into the IEP and 504 processes and learned that every child on the spectrum is beautifully unique.  As a lifelong learner, I went back to school in 2018 to earn a Master’s Degree in Biology with an Emphasis in Education from GCU in 2020 .

My husband and I are blessed with six amazing children and ten grandchildren. Sunday dinners are a cherished weekly tradition, where our kids and grandkids gather to enjoy time together. 

I am thrilled to be a member of the Focus Tutors team, and I am dedicated to making math and science accessible and enjoyable for students. With 17 years of experience in education, I have had the privilege of witnessing children grow, thrive, and reach their full potential. I look forward to using my knowledge and passion to support students on their educational journey in math, science, problem-solving, executive functioning, and organization.

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Claire V

Claire V

I am a dedicated lifelong learner with passion and enthusiasm for teaching. My educational career began as the daughter of educators. I have a B.A and an M.A. in Politics and taught at 2 year and 4 year colleges in the San Francisco Bay Area and Denver, Colorado before getting a degree in Elementary Education.

What I enjoy most is engaging and interacting with students. I know I have done a good job when students start to question how or why something exists the way that it does. I love the process of shaping student led inquiry, watching students grow and gain the confidence to be able to figure things out for themselves. I respect and honor the unique qualities of each student and seek to make the educational experience one that encourages them to be lifelong learners.  I can be helpful in the areas of elementary math, reading & writing support, organization & time management, general homework & study skills support, language arts and upper level Social Studies & History.

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Magdoleen S

magdoleen s

Hello! I am a passionate and dedicated first-grade teacher. I am excited to share my experience with you. I'm a lifelong resident of Phoenix, Arizona, and teaching has been my calling since I was a child. As an Orthodox Christian, my faith provides a strong foundation for my work, guiding me to approach each student with compassion and care.

Coming from a large, vibrant family of three brothers and two sisters, I have gained invaluable insights into building meaningful relationships. This family background has greatly influenced my teaching philosophy, as I place a strong emphasis on fostering genuine connections with each of my students. I am now entering my 4th year of teaching, and my love for this profession only continues to grow. I am excited about the prospect of tutoring your child and look forward to the opportunity for shared growth and learning.

I am thrilled to be working with Focus Tutors students at the elementary grade levels in language arts, mathematics, general homework/organization skills and reading support.

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Danica K

Danica K

Growing up in Phoenix, school was a place where learning, imagination and the world all collided. I became a teacher because I wanted children to love learning just as I did. However, it took me a while to come to that conclusion. I love people, believe there is always hope and I think life should be enjoyed! I come from a family of educators and am a third-generation teacher. Growing up I often helped tutor and loved teaching others (whether that was academics, dance, the correct way to type, etc.). I came into college with extra credits, so I had the freedom to explore many degree programs. I graduated from the University of Arizona with a Sociology major and minors in Family Studies and Human Development, along with an Education minor. After working in a school in South Central Los Angeles, providing targeted interventions to lessen the achievement gap, I returned to Phoenix and worked in foster care, church work and eventually jumped back into the classroom and taught 6th grade, Elementary Resource and ended in High School Special Education. I am passionate about all students enjoying learning and reaching their goals. I went on to get my Master’s in Special Education because of my deep conviction to be able to reach all learners. I currently serve as the Children’s Director at a local church and love being able to serve families and provide optimal learning experiences each week. I am looking forward to sharing my love of learning and my deep conviction that all students are capable of great things. At Focus Tutors, I work with students in the following areas: organization and time management, reading/math intervention, executive functioning, test preparation, reading and writing support, as well as general homework support.

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