My name is Emily Collom and I am a fifth grade teacher for Denver Public Schools. I grew up in Los Alamos, New Mexico, but have been living in Colorado for the past 6 years. I received my Bachelor’s in Anthropology from the University of New Mexico and my Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Denver. I’ve been working for the district for the past 5 years and love getting to spend time with amazing kids! In my spare time, I enjoy spending time in the mountains, reading, and hanging out with my dogs.

I moved to Denver from Iowa City, Iowa in 1999 as a high school English student teacher in the Cherry Creek School District. I was drawn to Colorado after many summers of hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park as a teen. I earned a BA in English (1998) and a Secondary Education Certificate (1999) from the University of Iowa and stayed in Denver after graduation. I taught in two Cherry Creek School District high schools, Eaglecrest & Cherry Creek, for six years, specializing in writing, grammar, mechanics and literacy for grades 9-12.

My love of education has expanded beyond the classroom walls. I am also a Holistic Health Coach & Wellness Educator specializing in yoga, breath work & meditation techniques for over 15 years. I enjoy working with the whole learner, teaching mindfulness tools to help reduce stress and anxiety and achieve with more ease in academics and life.

My name is Deanna Pickel, and I have been teaching high school mathematics for 8 years in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. I earned my B.S. in Chemistry and B.A. in Mathematics at Saint Mary’s College, and my Ph.D. in Polymer Chemistry from The University of Akron. Prior to teaching, I worked as a researcher for 8 years.

I am currently the Department Coordinator for the Mathematics Department at Oak Ridge High School, where I teach Precalculus, Linear Algebra, Multivariable Calculus and Differential Equations. In my free time I enjoy reading, spending time outdoors with my family, and learning geometric art techniques.

My name is Justin Rufa and I am a former high school mathematics teacher, college mathematics professor, and Air Force officer currently living in Wichita, Kansas. I have 3 years experience tutoring middle school and high school mathematics ranging from Pre-Algebra to AP Calculus BC and 5 years experience on the Mathematical Sciences faculty at the United States Air Force Academy teaching and designing courses ranging from Differential Calculus (Calculus I) to Differential Equations. With this thorough mathematical foundation, I can help your student better understand fundamental and applied mathematical concepts within their current high school math/science course(s) and across courses. I enjoy teaming with students to explore the math in their daily lives as a catalyst for deeper conceptual understanding.

I graduated from CU Denver in 2013 with a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies with an emphasis in education, along with my teaching certification. I have been a public school teacher for 9 years, and I currently work in a charter school in Jeffco Public Schools teaching 7th and 8th grade Language Arts, 7th-12th grade Strategic Reading and 7th-12th grade Yearbook. The bulk of my teaching experience is in grades 5-8, but I’ve worked with almost every grade level and have taught almost every subject at one point or another. My areas of expertise are K-12 literacy and K-5 math.

My teaching philosophy is to teach students to think, not “do”… because if they know how to think, then there’s nothing they can’t do!

My name is Eli Devine, I am a former high school math teacher from Iowa. My wife and I recently moved to Colorado as a fresh start after getting married. We both have family in the Denver area so thought it would be a fitting place! I have a background in computer engineering and endorsement in computer science. I have a year of tutoring experience as I tutored remotely and in person while working in IT.

I am currently a Business Systems Administrator for a trucking company and thankful for the opportunity to work in the Education field still. I received both my Masters in Secondary Math Education and my Bachelors in Computer Engineering from Iowa State University, working in education as a tutor and mentor in the Science Bound program where I also co-taught a seminar course for first year students in the Science Bound program. I have a passion for learning as I continue my own education through certifications and enjoy learning from others as well.

In my free time I like to play board games, do puzzles, play games with friends virtually, and work on side projects with friends of mine. My wife and I also enjoy taking our dog out on walks and new hikes and trails that offer a little more than the corn fields we are used to!

I am from Denver, Colorado and grew up with 4 generations of family. Family is super important to me! I graduated from, Spelman College, an all-Women’s Historically Black, Christian Institution, with a BA in Mathematics. I have taught for 3 years with DPS and APS. I currently teach Integrated Math III but have familiarity with a variety of math curriculums. My passion is showing all students that they have the capacity to be mathematicians by demonstrating different avenues for learning math. My goal as an educator is to send scholars in the world that are critical thinkers and confidence in Mathematics!

My name is Shivani Jain and I am really passionate about helping students in High School and college excel, in math and science. I have 13 years of experience working with Middle, High and College students. Whether you need help with Algebra 1 and 2, Calculus 1 and 2, AP Calculus or AB/BC, Trigonometry, Geometry, Physics, Chemistry, I have the knowledge and experience to guide you towards success. I have also been involved in teaching for Mathcounts and AMC 8,10 to middle and high school students. These are high level Math competitions.

I believe that everyone has the potential to excel in math and science, and I am dedicated to helping you reach your full potential.

Howdy! My name is Haley Schuetzle and I am originally from Texas! I have been calling Colorado home for 4 years now. I have a bachelor’s degree from University of Texas San Antonio (UTSA) where I studied environmental science and sociology. As well as a master’s degree from University of Denver in curriculum and instruction with CLDE endorsement. Education is where my heart is. The last 5 years I have been teaching a variety of subjects and learners in grades K-8. I love diving into all subjects but I do have a soft spot for young learners struggling in math! As a student, math class was always very challenging for me. As a teacher not only do I understand math but I like it now! I also believe in building strong relationships with both my students and their families as learning is a team effort.

Outside of education, I love being outside in any capacity. While I am indoors I like to read, hangout with my dog, watch tv (I admit it), and cook!

My name is Rob Hammer. I am a physician in subspecialty practice for over 20 years with a lifelong love for learning. My bachelor’s degree is in Biology with a minor in Mathematics and Computer Science from Tufts University with specialty and subspecialty training from Northwestern and Mayo Clinic. I have worked in business, learning a manufacturing process before using my IT experience to write a fully operational pre-Windows business accounting database system that still runs the business to this day. I have been an avid medical educator, teaching advanced surgical skills and heading an anatomy and surgical education committee which codified medical education for the residents at Northwestern Medical Center in Chicago and along the way winning prestigious teaching awards. I continue to love the practice of medicine and have loved the time spent teaching my patients about their conditions and management options. And I have loved the time spent teaching my own children.

My true passion has always been to teach and tutor mathematics (pre-algebra, algebra, geometry, trigonometry and calculus), science (biology, chemistry and physics), test prep (ISEE, HSPT, SSAT, TACHS, PSAT, SAT), statistics and IT, to bring fun and creativity to the teaching environment, to help students to overcome frustrations and hurdles, to develop a deep sense of confidence in who they are, and to succeed! I put my heart into everything I do and teaching is where my heart is. My teaching mantra (William Butler Yeats): “Education is not the filling of a pail but the lighting of a fire!”

In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, travelling, playing and coaching baseball, exercising, climbing Fourteeners, playing guitar and bit of piano, and solving hard math problems, learning robotics and writing Python code, reading, learning new carpentry skills and coming up with new ideas and ways to teach/tutor.

Hello! My name is Sydni and I’ve been in the education space for 4 years now. I graduated college from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, where I played soccer all 4 years, and received my Bachelors in Elementary Education. I began my teaching journey as a 3rd grade teacher at Brookside Charter School in Kansas City. Although my first year teaching was impacted by covid, it allowed me the opportunity to move here to beautiful Colorado! Since moving here back in 2019, I have been a 4th grade teacher at Tollgate Elementary in APS for the last 3 years. Teaching and working with students has always been a passion of mine, and although I took this year off of classroom teaching for more schedule flexibility, I am so excited to continue working with kids through a tutoring lens! My approach with students is to create authentic relationships FIRST, where they feel safe & validated, and allow the academics to follow. My goal is to meet your student wherever they are at with their learning, and we will grow together from there.

In my free time, I try to be as active as possible! You can find me still playing soccer, biking, going on hikes, or simply enjoying the outdoors with my dog, Manny. I am also a huge bookworm, and am trying to hit my goal of 50 books for this 2023 year (always with a strong cup of coffee in hand!)

Since I was about five, I’ve had two main passions: math and teaching. Whether it was teaching my friends to juggle, or participating in math competitions, I’ve always put my all into what I do. After receiving my Master’s in Mathematics from the University of Bristol in England, I started working as a tutor. I’ve been a professional tutor for the past twelve years and a teacher for the past nine. I’ve tutored math up to AP Calculus BC, as well as, Chemistry and Physics. As a lifelong learner, I’m currently studying Biology, Organic Chemistry, Biochemistry, and General Relativity.

As a tutor, I commit to working with your student’s goals, learning style, and personality. All too often, students feel disconnected and unseen with growing class sizes. I will work with your child to help them learn difficult concepts, improve grades, and find joy in the subject they are learning.

My first experience as a tutor came in high school, when I would support friends who were struggling with calculus. This sparked in me a passion for finding ways to speak the material to a student’s intuition. I would meet my fellow students after school and we’d work together to untangle course material.

After completing my math degree, I worked for over five years for a tutoring agency, completing hundreds of programs in that time. I offered support with math, standardized test prep, and college essay help in a one-on-one setting. I worked with students having a variety of comfort levels with relevant material, ensuring that the structure of our program was tailored to both where they came from and where they hoped to go. I got students into college, I got students through harrowing math classes, and I found real joy in it.

From that tutoring role, I chose to transition into the classroom. After earning my master’s degree from Duke, I worked for five years in a comprehensive public high school in Durham, North Carolina. In this time I taught AP Calculus, AP Statistics, and wrote a curriculum for a high school level multivariable calculus course. I had the opportunity to work with many, many students with diverse needs, interests, and neurodivergences. Formulating the narrative arc of a course helped me to see more clearly where students experience disconnects and to fill those gaps in. It was a joy for me, marrying my passions for math and helping others.

I love teaching, and I see myself returning to the classroom in the future. For now, though, I’m taking something of a sabbatical year, and I think tutoring will give me a chance to continue supporting students in that time! If you want a little backup as you take on a challenging math class, let me know! I love math and I love teaching. I can’t promise I’ll get you to feel about math the way I do, but I can promise I can help you make sense of whatever you’re working through!

My name is Kay Combs. I am a southern girl from Kentucky but I have lived in Colorado the last 5 1/2 years. My boys are grown now and beginning next steps in their own lives. My son Caleb is 20 and going into the marines. My son Jonathan is 25 and is a Custodian Lead for Denver Public School system. I have been teaching for 29 years-retiring from Kentucky. I have taught all grade levels K-8. I worked in Denver Public Schools for 3 years as a 2-3 grade teacher in Literacy and an instructional coach. When our school unfortunately closed due to low enrollment I went to Sheridan Public Schools where I was an ELA teacher for 7-8 grades.

I have recently moved back to Denver Public Schools to work as a Special Education Teacher K-5. I have 2 masters in Education K-12 with the emphasis as a Literacy Specialist. I am currently working on my 3rd masters in Special Education generalist 5-21 at the university of northern Colorado. I am Orton Gillingham trained/certified as well. I love what I do, that is for certain. I truly want to help my students and families feel successful in the areas of reading and writing. My ultimate goal is to help their child gain independence and confidence in reading and writing strategies that they will then transfer over into their classroom.

I am an international teacher, who has been teaching in the USA for approximately 6 yrs. I am originally from Jamaica. I have been a teacher for 19 yrs and am very passionate about what I do. Currently I have a Bachelor’s in Mathematics Education. I am enrolled to start my Masters in Mathematics Education, starting this September. I am presently teaching at A DPS school, where I teach Math I, II and III. I strive at all times to do my best and am dedicated to whatever task is at hand. My hobbies includes: reading, dancing and cooking. I am a scorpio and my favorite color is purple.

Hi! I’ve been teaching high school math for 34 years. BA in Mathematics @ University of Colorado – Boulder and Masters in Education Administration. GO BUFFS !

I love golf, pickleball, walking, riding bikes, swimming and officiating girls lacrosse AND of course Algebra I, Geometry and Algebra II. Math can be challenging & fun. I’m here to help!

I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Physics with a minor in Mathematics from California State University, Sacramento. During my undergraduate studies, I received formal training in teaching. I began tutoring mathematics at the start of my college journey. With over a decade of experience tutoring both math and physics, I have had the privilege of helping countless students master complex concepts and develop the problem-solving skills they need to succeed.

As a physics major, I worked in the university's Physics Department Tutoring Lab, where I was honored with a special award for my contributions to the center. After graduating, I continued my passion for teaching by working as an Independent Study teacher, teaching physics, mathematics, and other high school academic subjects. I also introduced students to electronics and coding, sharing my enthusiasm for these subjects with those interested. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, I relocated to Colorado with my wife to teach in charter schools in the Denver area. Now, as a proud parent, I continue to bring my dedication to education into every tutoring session.

My approach to teaching STEM subjects focuses on systematically solving problems while emphasizing the importance of foundational concepts. I guide students in understanding how their skills connect to and support future learning in engineering and technology, ensuring they not only grasp the material but see its real-world applications. I aim to create a welcoming and engaging learning environment that empowers students to overcome obstacles and achieve their academic goals.