Reading
Devan F.
Devan is a fifth grade teacher at an independent school in Boston who teaches math, reading, writing, and social studies. Prior to teaching in Boston, Devan spent five years teaching fifth grade English at an independent school in Southborough. For her undergraduate degree, Devan studied at Colby College where she majored in English and minored in Art History. She earned a Master of Professional Studies, a dual degree, in General Education
and Special Education at Manhattanville College. This year marked her eighth year of teaching. Devan is ready to tutor students in rising fourth through sixth grades in math, reading, writing, grammar, vocabulary development, and social studies. Having designed and developed an English curriculum based on Teachers College Reading and Writing Workshop (Columbia University) Writer’s Workshop model, Devan has much experience facilitating one-on-one writing conferences with students, and she hopes to either focus or incorporate writing instruction into her sessions. As a teacher of writing, Devan endeavors to provide authentic and engaging writing experiences which help students to further develop their narrative, opinion, information, and poetry writing skills. Ultimately, she wants her students to grow confident in their writing abilities and enjoy the challenges of the writing process. Outside of teaching, Devan loves running, skiing, reading, and visiting museums. Devan does not own a car, but is willing to travel on bus, T, or commuter rail within 45 minutes of her home in Cambridge.
Heather K.
Heather is a third grade classroom teacher at an independent school in Brookline. She has taught for over 20 years with some time on the sidelines when her kids were young. Heather will tutor all elementary school ages through third grade in language arts or mathematics. Her clear-cut approach, focus on applying learned information, and attention to detail will help students in the younger grades with polishing up previously learned
skills or attacking new skills. Whether reinforcement or review is the objective or specific focus in a certain curriculum area needs covering, Heather can help your child reach his or her goals. When she’s not teaching, she spends time with her three kids, ages 12, 15, and 17, and her three dogs ages 2ish, 4ish and 14. Her hobbies include reading, knitting, skiing, and sailing. Heather lives in Norfolk and is happy to drive as far as 30 minutes.
Meaghan V.
Meaghan is a third grade teacher at an independent school in Brookline. She's taught third grade and tutored elementary-aged students for the past three years. She specializes in helping students in grades 1 - 4 with mathematics, English grammar, reading, and writing. Her main goal is to make your child's session both educational and fun, as she loves to integrate a variety of games into her curriculum. When she's not teaching, you can find her reading a book, writing, watching a musical, scrapbooking, or spending time with her French Bulldog, Fred-Olsen. Meaghan lives in Canton and is willing to travel up to 40 minutes for a tutoring session.
Michelle N.
Michelle is a 5th grade teacher at an independent school in Brookline. She has taught at the third, fourth and fifth grade levels for the past four years. Michelle has a master’s degree in Elementary education and specializes in tutoring upper elementary students entering 3rd through 6th grades in English grammar, reading, writing, mathematics, and study skills. She understands that every child learns differently and looks forward to personally connecting with your child to achieve any goal you have for the summer. When Michelle is not in the classroom, she is running, reading, coaching ice hockey, cheering on a Boston sports team, or finding new hobbies. She lives in Brighton and is willing to travel 30 minutes to tutor.
Lauren G.
Lauren is a first grade teacher at an independent school in Osterville. She received her bachelor’s degree from St. Anselm College and earned a master’s degree from Wheelock College. This year will mark her eleventh year of teaching. Lauren has trained at Columbia’s Teacher’s College Reading and Writing Program and teaches both subjects following this model. In her classroom, she differentiates daily instruction to meet the needs of each
of her students and is excited to help your child grow as a reader and writer this summer. Lauren is trained in Singapore Math and helps students master concepts with concrete materials first before moving onto more abstract mathematics. This ensures a true and deep understanding of each subject that can become a foundation for more difficult mathematics in the future. Lauren’s goal is to make learning fun for each of her students and to find ways to motivate them to achieve their goals. When Lauren is not teaching, she loves spending time at the beach with her husband and four children.
Hilary C.
Hilary is a fourth grade teacher at an independent school in Osterville who specializes in tutoring children in kindergarten through sixth grade. She received her bachelor’s degree in sociology from Beloit College in Wisconsin and earned a Masters Degree in Elementary Education from Roger Williams College in Bristol, RI. This year will make her sixth year of teaching. She has experience working with students from pre-school
through ninth grade. Hilary is trained in Orton Gillingham (a multisensory approach to teaching reading) as well as Singapore Math. In addition, Hilary has experience with Teacher’s College Reading and Writing Workshop instruction. Outside of the classroom, she has tutored students in study skills, organizational habits, reading, writing, and math. When she is not teaching, Hilary can be found walking with her dog on the beach, reading, or doing yoga. She is willing to travel 30 minutes from Osterville for a tutoring session.
Writing
Devan F.
Devan is a fifth grade teacher at an independent school in Boston who teaches math, reading, writing, and social studies. Prior to teaching in Boston, Devan spent five years teaching fifth grade English at an independent school in Southborough. For her undergraduate degree, Devan studied at Colby College where she majored in English and minored in Art History. She earned a Master of Professional Studies, a dual degree, in General Education
and Special Education at Manhattanville College. This year marked her eighth year of teaching. Devan is ready to tutor students in rising fourth through sixth grades in math, reading, writing, grammar, vocabulary development, and social studies. Having designed and developed an English curriculum based on Teachers College Reading and Writing Workshop (Columbia University) Writer’s Workshop model, Devan has much experience facilitating one-on-one writing conferences with students, and she hopes to either focus or incorporate writing instruction into her sessions. As a teacher of writing, Devan endeavors to provide authentic and engaging writing experiences which help students to further develop their narrative, opinion, information, and poetry writing skills. Ultimately, she wants her students to grow confident in their writing abilities and enjoy the challenges of the writing process. Outside of teaching, Devan loves running, skiing, reading, and visiting museums. Devan does not own a car, but is willing to travel on bus, T, or commuter rail within 45 minutes of her home in Cambridge.
Heather K.
Heather is a third grade classroom teacher at an independent school in Brookline. She has taught for over 20 years with some time on the sidelines when her kids were young. Heather will tutor all elementary school ages through third grade in language arts or mathematics. Her clear-cut approach, focus on applying learned information, and attention to detail will help students in the younger grades with polishing up previously learned
skills or attacking new skills. Whether reinforcement or review is the objective or specific focus in a certain curriculum area needs covering, Heather can help your child reach his or her goals. When she’s not teaching, she spends time with her three kids, ages 12, 15, and 17, and her three dogs ages 2ish, 4ish and 14. Her hobbies include reading, knitting, skiing, and sailing. Heather lives in Norfolk and is happy to drive as far as 30 minutes.
Meaghan V.
Meaghan is a third grade teacher at an independent school in Brookline. She's taught third grade and tutored elementary-aged students for the past three years. She specializes in helping students in grades 1 - 4 with mathematics, English grammar, reading, and writing. Her main goal is to make your child's session both educational and fun, as she loves to integrate a variety of games into her curriculum. When she's not teaching, you can find her reading a book, writing, watching a musical, scrapbooking, or spending time with her French Bulldog, Fred-Olsen. Meaghan lives in Canton and is willing to travel up to 40 minutes for a tutoring session.
Michelle N.
Michelle is a 5th grade teacher at an independent school in Brookline. She has taught at the third, fourth and fifth grade levels for the past four years. Michelle has a master’s degree in Elementary education and specializes in tutoring upper elementary students entering 3rd through 6th grades in English grammar, reading, writing, mathematics, and study skills. She understands that every child learns differently and looks forward to personally connecting with your child to achieve any goal you have for the summer. When Michelle is not in the classroom, she is running, reading, coaching ice hockey, cheering on a Boston sports team, or finding new hobbies. She lives in Brighton and is willing to travel 30 minutes to tutor.
Lauren G.
Lauren is a first grade teacher at an independent school in Osterville. She received her bachelor’s degree from St. Anselm College and earned a master’s degree from Wheelock College. This year will mark her eleventh year of teaching. Lauren has trained at Columbia’s Teacher’s College Reading and Writing Program and teaches both subjects following this model. In her classroom, she differentiates daily instruction to meet the needs of each
of her students and is excited to help your child grow as a reader and writer this summer. Lauren is trained in Singapore Math and helps students master concepts with concrete materials first before moving onto more abstract mathematics. This ensures a true and deep understanding of each subject that can become a foundation for more difficult mathematics in the future. Lauren’s goal is to make learning fun for each of her students and to find ways to motivate them to achieve their goals. When Lauren is not teaching, she loves spending time at the beach with her husband and four children.
Hilary C.
Hilary is a fourth grade teacher at an independent school in Osterville who specializes in tutoring children in kindergarten through sixth grade. She received her bachelor’s degree in sociology from Beloit College in Wisconsin and earned a Masters Degree in Elementary Education from Roger Williams College in Bristol, RI. This year will make her sixth year of teaching. She has experience working with students from pre-school
through ninth grade. Hilary is trained in Orton Gillingham (a multisensory approach to teaching reading) as well as Singapore Math. In addition, Hilary has experience with Teacher’s College Reading and Writing Workshop instruction. Outside of the classroom, she has tutored students in study skills, organizational habits, reading, writing, and math. When she is not teaching, Hilary can be found walking with her dog on the beach, reading, or doing yoga. She is willing to travel 30 minutes from Osterville for a tutoring session.
Math
Debbie G.
Debbie is a fifth grade math and science teacher at an independent school in Belmont, where she has been for six years. She works closely with the learning specialists at her school for both enrichment and remedial support, and she has worked with students on skills such as note taking, organizational strategies, time management, and executive functioning in addition to math, reading, writing, and science. She is excited to
tutor students through entering grade 8 in math and support their development of problem solving skills. She is also able to tutor students in note taking, organizational skills, public speaking, science, or as they conquer summer reading and writing work. When she is not teaching, Debbie loves to travel and to play soccer, basketball, tennis, and softball. She also has coached Middle School girls and boys soccer, girls basketball, girls and boys lacrosse, and co-ed track and field. Debbie has been with Summer Blazers since its inaugural summer and is willing to drive 30-45 minutes from her home in Boston, MA.
Devan F.
Devan is a fifth grade teacher at an independent school in Boston who teaches math, reading, writing, and social studies. Prior to teaching in Boston, Devan spent five years teaching fifth grade English at an independent school in Southborough. For her undergraduate degree, Devan studied at Colby College where she majored in English and minored in Art History. She earned a Master of Professional Studies, a dual degree, in General Education
and Special Education at Manhattanville College. This year marked her eighth year of teaching. Devan is ready to tutor students in rising fourth through sixth grades in math, reading, writing, grammar, vocabulary development, and social studies. Having designed and developed an English curriculum based on Teachers College Reading and Writing Workshop (Columbia University) Writer’s Workshop model, Devan has much experience facilitating one-on-one writing conferences with students, and she hopes to either focus or incorporate writing instruction into her sessions. As a teacher of writing, Devan endeavors to provide authentic and engaging writing experiences which help students to further develop their narrative, opinion, information, and poetry writing skills. Ultimately, she wants her students to grow confident in their writing abilities and enjoy the challenges of the writing process. Outside of teaching, Devan loves running, skiing, reading, and visiting museums. Devan does not own a car, but is willing to travel on bus, T, or commuter rail within 45 minutes of her home in Cambridge.
Heather K.
Heather is a third grade classroom teacher at an independent school in Brookline. She has taught for over 20 years with some time on the sidelines when her kids were young. Heather will tutor all elementary school ages through third grade in language arts or mathematics. Her clear-cut approach, focus on applying learned information, and attention to detail will help students in the younger grades with polishing up previously learned
skills or attacking new skills. Whether reinforcement or review is the objective or specific focus in a certain curriculum area needs covering, Heather can help your child reach his or her goals. When she’s not teaching, she spends time with her three kids, ages 12, 15, and 17, and her three dogs ages 2ish, 4ish and 14. Her hobbies include reading, knitting, skiing, and sailing. Heather lives in Norfolk and is happy to drive as far as 30 minutes.
Meaghan V.
Meaghan is a third grade teacher at an independent school in Brookline. She's taught third grade and tutored elementary-aged students for the past three years. She specializes in helping students in grades 1 - 4 with mathematics, English grammar, reading, and writing. Her main goal is to make your child's session both educational and fun, as she loves to integrate a variety of games into her curriculum. When she's not teaching, you can find her reading a book, writing, watching a musical, scrapbooking, or spending time with her French Bulldog, Fred-Olsen. Meaghan lives in Canton and is willing to travel up to 40 minutes for a tutoring session.
Michelle N.
Michelle is a 5th grade teacher at an independent school in Brookline. She has taught at the third, fourth and fifth grade levels for the past four years. Michelle has a master’s degree in Elementary education and specializes in tutoring upper elementary students entering 3rd through 6th grades in English grammar, reading, writing, mathematics, and study skills. She understands that every child learns differently and looks forward to personally connecting with your child to achieve any goal you have for the summer. When Michelle is not in the classroom, she is running, reading, coaching ice hockey, cheering on a Boston sports team, or finding new hobbies. She lives in Brighton and is willing to travel 30 minutes to tutor.
Lauren G.
Lauren is a first grade teacher at an independent school in Osterville. She received her bachelor’s degree from St. Anselm College and earned a master’s degree from Wheelock College. This year will mark her eleventh year of teaching. Lauren has trained at Columbia’s Teacher’s College Reading and Writing Program and teaches both subjects following this model. In her classroom, she differentiates daily instruction to meet the needs of each
of her students and is excited to help your child grow as a reader and writer this summer. Lauren is trained in Singapore Math and helps students master concepts with concrete materials first before moving onto more abstract mathematics. This ensures a true and deep understanding of each subject that can become a foundation for more difficult mathematics in the future. Lauren’s goal is to make learning fun for each of her students and to find ways to motivate them to achieve their goals. When Lauren is not teaching, she loves spending time at the beach with her husband and four children.
Hilary C.
Hilary is a fourth grade teacher at an independent school in Osterville who specializes in tutoring children in kindergarten through sixth grade. She received her bachelor’s degree in sociology from Beloit College in Wisconsin and earned a Masters Degree in Elementary Education from Roger Williams College in Bristol, RI. This year will make her sixth year of teaching. She has experience working with students from pre-school
through ninth grade. Hilary is trained in Orton Gillingham (a multisensory approach to teaching reading) as well as Singapore Math. In addition, Hilary has experience with Teacher’s College Reading and Writing Workshop instruction. Outside of the classroom, she has tutored students in study skills, organizational habits, reading, writing, and math. When she is not teaching, Hilary can be found walking with her dog on the beach, reading, or doing yoga. She is willing to travel 30 minutes from Osterville for a tutoring session.
The Arts
Christopher K.
Chris is an elementary and middle school art teacher at a private co-educational school located in Southborough. He has been teaching in the studio for the last eleven years where he enjoys working with a number of different media. Currently, Chris serves as his school's Visual Arts Coordinator. Much of his teaching centers on exposing students to the elements and principles of design while also improving specific
principles of design while also improving specific techniques used in drawing and compositional development. Chris is available to work with your son or daughter on various drawing skills, exercises aimed to increase confidence in the studio, and further understanding of the elements of art. When Chris is not teaching, he specializes in printmaking and ceramics, and he has written two comic books over the last few years. Passionate about the times when the fine arts and pop culture crosses over, Chris helps students find their inspiration and creativity. Chris lives in Brighton and is willing to travel 40 minutes for a session.
Foreign Language
Kara M.
Having served in a variety of administrative and teaching capacities in independent schools for the last 13 years, Kara brings a wide variety of experience to Spanish language and ESL. Born in Mexico and having studied in Mexico, Cuba, Guatemala, and Spain, she possesses both an understanding of the language as well as the best methods for learners to develop their language skills. She has taught students in grades four through nine and is excited to work with Spanish learners of all levels. Kara believes firmly that students succeed best when
they find excitement in their learning. She works diligently to help students discover what they are passionate about and to guide them in their journey as lifelong learners. Kara currently teaches Spanish at an independent school in Southborough, and she is willing to drive up to an hour away from her home in Lunenburg.
Lloyd D.
Lloyd is a graduate of Ithaca College and has worked as a band director for various schools for various levels. While living in Vermont, Lloyd had numerous leadership experiences as the lead conductor in multiple district level festivals. He is currently the Band/Jazz Director at an independent school in Southborough. As a trombonist, pianist, percussionist, and vocalist, Lloyd is able to tutor beginning piano, beginning wind, brass and percussion and advanced brass and percussion. Lloyd can also tutor beginning to advanced music theory and
jazz improvisation. His specialty is brass instruments and percussion. As a drum set player, Lloyd can tutor all styles. Beginning band students looking to get a head start before they begin instruments can study and learn the basics before starting in the fall. Lloyd is willing to drive 30 minutes from his home in Southborough.
Hilary C.
Hilary is a fourth grade teacher at an independent school in Osterville who specializes in tutoring children in kindergarten through sixth grade. She received her bachelor’s degree in sociology from Beloit College in Wisconsin and earned a Masters Degree in Elementary Education from Roger Williams College in Bristol, RI. This year will make her sixth year of teaching. She has experience working with students from pre-school
through ninth grade. Hilary is trained in Orton Gillingham (a multisensory approach to teaching reading) as well as Singapore Math. In addition, Hilary has experience with Teacher’s College Reading and Writing Workshop instruction. Outside of the classroom, she has tutored students in study skills, organizational habits, reading, writing, and math. When she is not teaching, Hilary can be found walking with her dog on the beach, reading, or doing yoga. She is willing to travel 30 minutes from Osterville for a tutoring session.
Learning Skills
Michelle N.
Michelle is a 5th grade teacher at an independent school in Brookline. She has taught at the third, fourth and fifth grade levels for the past four years. Michelle has a master’s degree in Elementary education and specializes in tutoring upper elementary students entering 3rd through 6th grades in English grammar, reading, writing, mathematics, and study skills. She understands that every child learns differently and looks forward
to personally connecting with your child to achieve any goal you have for the summer. When Michelle is not in the classroom, she is running, reading, coaching ice hockey, cheering on a Boston sports team, or finding new hobbies. She lives in Brighton and is willing to travel 30 minutes to tutor.
Debbie G.
Debbie is a fifth grade math and science teacher at an independent school in Belmont, where she has been for six years. She works closely with the learning specialists at her school for both enrichment and remedial support, and she has worked with students on skills such as note taking, organizational strategies, time management, and executive functioning in addition to math, reading, writing, and science. She is excited to tutor students through
entering grade 8 in math and support their development of problem solving skills. She is also able to tutor students in note taking, organizational skills, public speaking, science, or as they conquer summer reading and writing work. When she is not teaching, Debbie loves to travel and to play soccer, basketball, tennis, and softball. She also has coached Middle School girls and boys soccer, girls basketball, girls and boys lacrosse, and co-ed track and field. Debbie has been with Summer Blazers since its inaugural summer and is willing to drive 30-45 minutes from her home in Boston, MA.
ESL
Kara M.
Having served in a variety of administrative and teaching capacities in independent schools for the last 13 years, Kara brings a wide variety of experience to Spanish language and ESL. Born in Mexico and having studied in Mexico, Cuba, Guatemala, and Spain, she possesses both an understanding of the language as well as the best methods for learners to develop their language skills. She has taught students in grades four through
nine and is excited to work with Spanish learners of all levels. Kara believes firmly that students succeed best when they find excitement in their learning. She works diligently to help students discover what they are passionate about and to guide them in their journey as lifelong learners. Kara currently teaches Spanish at an independent school in Southborough, and she is willing to drive up to an hour away from her home in Lunenburg.