Derek

About Me

I've been helping students learn math for the last 20 years in many settings including as a classroom teacher, after-school tutor, in-home tutor, and virtual tutor! I love working with students 1-on-1 because it allows me to know them as a mathematical thinker and help them unlock their potential! I have a B.S. in Engineering from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and an M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from Cleveland State University.

Tutoring Style

My emphasis is on math literacy, problem-solving, and deepening math understanding. I work with students to discover their background knowledge of mathematics and build a solid foundation of understanding. I try to keep things fun, interesting, and relevant; building a strong rapport with students and keeping them motivated to achieve their maximum potential!

Success Story

One of the students I helped early on convinced me to begin my career as an educator because I saw the impact tutoring can have on a person. He was part of a special program that was helping students become the first in their families to attend college and he was really struggling with algebra. I discovered that he had lost his confidence in mathematics; but as I learned more about his history with the subject I found that he was a great problem solver, great with numbers, and had every reason to be confident. I was able to rebuild his confidence and create a bridge from what he knew to the algebra that he didn't understand. I continued to work with him through his high school career and we became good friends. He achieved his goal and became the first member of his family to attend and graduate from a four-year university!

Hobbies & Interests

I enjoy camping, hiking, and playing pickleball. I'm a big fan of all things Nintendo, especially Mario and The Legend of Zelda. I'm a massive Star Wars fan!

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