Director
Jennie Tyma
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.
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.
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.
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.
Alix B
Alix B
What I have to offer students of all ages are the fruits of a lifetime spent cultivating conversations among writers, thinkers, creative artists, and researchers on significant matters that affect our daily lives. As a constant seeker of knowledge myself, I endeavor to be the most supportive facilitator and guide possible for students in their academic searches for important questions that generate writing, reading, and critical thinking fluency. I am passionate, not only about the possibilities of creating personal meaning through the artful and persuasive use of language, but about the fact that spending extensive time and effort to acquire the power to use language critically enables students to be fully enfranchised members of their communities and cultures.
This teaching philosophy developed out of my own intellectual journey through an Honors B.A. in Sociology/Women's Studies/Political Economy at Manhattanville College; the M.F.A. in Writing/Teaching of Writing at Sarah Lawrence College; and a year of PhD studies in the Sociology of Education and Medicine. I began my career in education teaching first graders how to read, and have taught on the elementary through graduate school levels for the past 35 years. My professional background includes dual former careers as a Social Worker and Librarian, and I have worked with American, British, and diverse international students in the U.S. and the U.K. My teaching and tutoring subjects include: composition, creative writing, reading, literature and poetry, sociology, political economy and economics, women's & gender studies, academic success skills, Common App prep, PSAT/SAT/ACT test prep, library and research literacy, French, and a variety of humanities courses.
I am the author of On the Verge, a chapbook of poems (Plinth Books, 1997), and my full-length poetry manuscript is under publication consideration. My awards include a Pushcart Prize nomination, a CT Commission on the Arts Artist Fellowship in Poetry, and a Commendation in the U.K.'s Poets of the Year Competition. While resident on the East Coast, I served as Writing/Humanities Division Chair at The Learning Annex/CT, an adult education institute formerly in Hartford, CT, and worked as an adjunct professor of composition and creative writing at colleges and universities in CT, MA, and NY. In addition to tutoring for Focus Tutors AZ, I serve as an Adjunct Professor of Creative Writing & Composition at Chandler-Gilbert Community College in Chandler, work privately as an editor of creative and scholarly manuscripts, and continue to write and edit an alternative textbook for college-level writing entitled The Question Tree.