Bespoke’s tutors are people of extraordinary intelligence and experience.
Daniel Abelow
Daniel is a native New Yorker who graduated with honors from NYU-Gallatin School of Individualized Studies. At Gallatin, Daniel pursued an individualized major that combined elements of Political Science, Film Studies, and History. In his free time, Daniel is a voracious reader, a politically engaged citizen, and a huge cinephile. He tutors all sections of the SAT and ACT.
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Carrie Adams
Carrie grew up in Yarmouth, Maine, and Tokyo, Japan. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa and Summa Cum Laude from Brown University, where she double majored in Comparative Literature and Theater Arts/Performance Studies. At Brown, she was awarded the Minnie Helen Hicks Award for Excellence in Elocution. In addition to tutoring, Carrie is an avid skier and backpacker. She tutors most academic subjects, the college essay, and all sections of the SAT, ACT, ISEE, SSAT, and SHSAT.
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Leanne Arnow
Leanne is a dual certified special and general education teacher with six years of classroom teaching experience. She graduated from Vassar College with a B.A. in psychology and departmental honors, and she earned her M.A. in childhood special education at New York University. Leanne has been tutoring K-12 students for over a decade. In addition to providing academic support, Leanne specializes in behavioral issues and teaches time management, organization, and study skills. She also tutors for all sections of the ISEE, SSAT, SHSAT, and TACHS. Leanne designs unique lessons that are tailored to each student’s specific strengths, needs, and interests. Leanne is also an award-winning educational media producer/writer. She has made educational videos and written teacher guides, lesson plans, and other supplemental educational materials used in schools. Leanne is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in developmental psychology at Columbia University Teachers College and is researching mathematical cognition in children.
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Stephen Aubrey
Stephen received a B.A. with honors from Wesleyan University’s elite College of Letters program, where he specialized in history and literature. At Wesleyan, he was twice the recipient of the Herbert Lee Connelly Prize in non-fiction writing. After college, Stephen founded The Assembly, an award-winning theater company based in Brooklyn for which he serves as Co-Artistic Director. Stephen also holds an MFA from Brooklyn College, where he was awarded two Himan Brown Prizes for Fiction Writing and the Ross Feld Writing Award. He is currently an adjunct professor of English at Brooklyn College. Stephen tutors students in Latin, history, and for all sections of the ISEE, SSAT, SHSAT, SAT and ACT.
Proud Member of:
Daniel Bailin
Daniel grew up on Long Island and attended Hewlett High School where he was named a National Merit Finalist and AP Scholar with Distinction. He graduated summa cum laude from the University of Delaware, earning a BS in Biochemistry and BA in Liberal Studies as a Eugene duPont Memorial Scholar. Daniel also holds an MFA from UNC Chapel Hill. His teaching and tutoring roles have ranged from MCAT test prep to writing to Shakespearean performance. Daniel tutors Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Math, and all sections of the SAT, ACT, ISEE, SSAT, and SHSAT.
Proud Member of:
Anthony Baldino
Anthony graduated with honors from Columbia College, majoring in Philosophy. He went on for his Doctorate at Columbia University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences where he defended his dissertation, “Incommensurability and Epistemology: An Essay on Scientific Theory Choice.” He has taught philosophy and formal logic at Columbia and at Rutgers University where he continues as a lecturer. Anthony was among the very first set of instructors of the Bard College Clemente Course in the Humanities at its founding location, the Roberto Clemente Guidance Center located in Manhattan’s East Village. Anthony tutors physics, math, and all sections of the SAT, ACT, ISEE and SSAT.
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Maya Bassuk
Maya grew up in Chicago and Iowa City, Iowa, and was a National Merit Scholar and valedictorian at Iowa City West High. She graduated summa cum laude from the University of Iowa with BAs in Music and Theatre Arts and a Spanish minor. She is currently pursuing a Master’s of Arts in k-12 Spanish Teaching through Rutgers University. Maya specializes in standardized test prep for the ACT, SAT, ISEE, SSAT, and SHSAT. Additionally, she provides essay writing guidance, organization and study skills, and academic tutoring in English, Spanish, biology, and math through calculus.
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Hailey Bean
Hailey graduated from Boston University summa cum laude with a B.S. in Human Physiology. Her tutoring career began at BU, specializing in biology and chemistry. Hailey has been involved in the field of education for the past decade, connecting with children and families as a classroom assistant in preschool, Kindergarten, and elementary school settings. She is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling at NYU, with plans to become a Licensed Mental Health Counselor.
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Ben Beckley-Chayes
Ben received his B.A. in English from Princeton University, where he was awarded the Alan Downer Thesis Prize for his senior independent work on James Joyce and Tom Stoppard, as well as the Director’s Prize for his outstanding contributions to Princeton’s theater community. Valedictorian of his class at Rockbridge County High School, he was honored with both UVA’s Writer’s Eye Award at UVA and a national Scholastic Writing Award. As an actor, he has been seen on and off Broadway, as well as on major network television and streaming platforms. Ben helps students with college applications, organizational work and study skills. He also tutors in English, Latin, history, and math, and prepares students for a variety of standardized tests, including all sections of the SAT, ACT and GRE, as well as the SSAT, SHSAT and ISEE tests.
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Augie Bennett
Augie grew up in Denver, Colorado, and attended East High School before attending Wisconsin in Madison for Neurobiology. He recently finished his Master’s degree in Auditory and Language Neuroscience at Arizona State University, where he studied how the brain reads and how to optimize digital educational experiences. Augie has been a tutor for more than half a decade, tutoring math, linguistics, biology, chemistry, and all sections of the ISEE, SSAT, SHSAT, ACT and SAT.
Proud Member of:
Kate Benson
Kate began her tutoring career at Northwestern University’s Center for Talent Development. She holds a BFA from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. Since graduating from NYU, Kate has taught enrichment and test-prep classes in English and mathematics at the Excel Center in Chinatown, at the Tutoring School Learning Center in Manhattan, and founded and ran her own tutoring business for six years. Kate has been with Bespoke since its founding, and has taught thousands of hours with students with a wide range of aptitudes and learning styles. She tutors for the ISEE, SSAT, SHSAT, SAT, ACT, LSAT, GRE, and GMAT.
Proud Member of:
Daniel Berardino
Daniel is a PhD student in History at the University of California, Berkeley, where he specializes in the literature and political cultures of Byzantium, Medieval Russia, and the Western medieval world. Before coming to Berkeley, Daniel received his MA in Medieval Studies from Fordham University and studied Military History and Russian at the United States Military Academy, West Point. His diverse background and range of educational experiences have prepared him to tutor almost every subject, but his specialty is preparing students for the AP exam in Latin, World, European, or United States History.
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Adrienne Bernhard
Adrienne graduated with departmental honors from Northwestern University and went on to pursue a Masters degree in literature at Yale University. She is the former assistant to the deputy editor at The New Yorker magazine, and now works as a freelance journalist and editor. Adrienne regularly publishes content for the BBC, Smithsonian and the Atlantic; her work has also appeared in The Wall Street Journal, the Economist, the Financial Times, Popular Mechanics, the New Criterion, Film International, Foreign Policy and the Boston Review. Adrienne completed a one-year fellowship at Oxford, and also holds a second Masters degree in Education from Columbia University Teachers College. She specializes in college essay drafting and revising, grammar, writing mechanics, algebra, French, English literature and academic support. In her free time, Adrienne can be found in the ballet studio.
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Ariel Finch Bernstein
Ariel Finch Bernstein, PhD has been helping students apply to graduate school for 10 years. His expertise lies primarily in the GRE and GMAT, where he focuses on helping students find shortcuts and learn how to “think like the test.” Ariel’s philosophy is that standardized tests are ironically quite predictable, so if you know how they think, you can be one step ahead of them. Ariel’s work often extends to other aspects of the application, helping write personal statements and identify letters of recommendation strategies. Ariel holds a PhD in Organizational Psychology from Columbia University, a master’s in Mental Health Counseling from New York University, and a bachelor’s from UC Berkeley. His psychology background enables him to support students with all aspects of studying, including test anxiety, time management, and exam day confidence. Outside of his work with Bespoke, Ariel also serves as Manager of Talent & Analytics at the National Basketball Association (NBA) and as Adjunct Professor of Psychology at Barnard College.
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Emily Boland
Emily graduated from the University of Virginia with a B.S. in biomedical engineering and highest distinction. While at UVA, Emily designed, pitched, taught a class on various foundational engineering skills in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and helped create the curriculum for a peer education class in the School of Education and Human Development. She has published her molecular physics research in the Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters and created a proprietary obstetric medical device with the UVA hospital. She primarily offers guidance in STEM course work, including biology, physics, chemistry, and all sections of the MCAT, ACT and SAT. Emily is a student at George Washington School of Medicine and Health Sciences.
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Brooks Borden
Brooks graduated from Friends Seminary and received a BA in English from Boston College. His tutoring experience includes standardized tests (SAT, ACT, ISEE, SSAT, TACHS, and SCAT), college application essay writing, and academic coaching and elementary-level math and ELA. He works with his students to find what learning styles and challenges best stimulate them, and puts together a pragmatic plan for every test or assignment.
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Meghan Carey
Meghan graduated from New York University where she studied Chemistry and minored in Mathematics. As part of a dual-degree program, she also received a degree in Chemical Engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology. Meghan has tutored middle and high school students primarily in STEM topics with several organizations. She has also facilitated workshops for high school students in topics fundamental to careers in STEM. Meghan tutors for all sections of the SAT, ACT, ISEE, SSAT and SHSAT, AP Physics, AP Statistics, and all levels of math, chemistry and biology.
Proud Member of:
Helen Cespedes
After graduating magna cum laude from Barnard College with a BA in Comparative Literature, Helen went on to train as an actor at The Juilliard School. For over a decade, Helen has enjoyed pairing her acting career with classroom and one-on-one teaching, guiding her students through individually curated tutoring programs tailored to their unique academic journeys. Helen strives to make the path to college fun and engaging by empowering her students to hone their strengths and ignite their curiosity in areas of improvement. Helen teaches all sections of the SAT and ACT, as well as the SSAT, ISEE, SHSAT, AP French, and college essays. She also enjoys working with Bespoke’s non-profit and charter school partners to train their volunteer tutors and support their students.
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Justin Choi
Justin is an educator from the San Francisco Bay Area. He attended the University of Michigan where he earned his B.A. in Economics and B.F.A in Theater Performance. Justin began his career in education as a teaching artist with the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival leading workshops for students from middle school to college. He now specializes in tutoring for the SAT and ACT. When not tutoring, he enjoys traveling, playing with his cat, and being an avid fan of the Michigan Wolverines.
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Lalita Clozel
Lalita obtained a baccalauréat scientifique with honors at Paris’s prestigious high school Henri IV. She went on to study in the US and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2013, having earned a dual degree in philosophy and economics. After internships at the New York Times Paris office and the Los Angeles Times DC office, she pursued a career in journalism, specializing in financial politics. She wrote for The Wall Street Journal, among other newspapers. Lalita is also a documentary filmmaker. She co-directed Homelessly in Love—a movie portraying the romantic lives of five people in the throes of housing instability in the US—and is currently working on various documentary projects in Paris. At Bespoke, Lalita tutors the SAT and other subjects in which she has expertise.
Proud Member of:
Taylor Coffman
Taylor grew up in San Diego and attended the University of Nevada, Reno for both his undergraduate and graduate degrees. While working towards his BS in mathematics, Taylor played on the university’s NCAA Division I golf team. Taylor remained at UNR to pursue his master’s degree in applied mathematics; his work was focused on discrete mathematics with an emphasis in game theory and operations research. During that time, he also taught algebra and provided one-on-one math tutoring to university athletes; his summers were spent teaching geometry at Saint Augustine High School in San Diego. At Bespoke, Taylor tutors the SAT and a wide range of math-related subjects.
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Billy Cohen
Billy graduated from Princeton University with a Bachelors in Religion and minor in Theater. Originally from Houston, Texas, Billy was a National Merit Scholar and the recipient of the Headmaster’s Award at Episcopal High School. At Princeton, Billy received the Outstanding Senior Thesis Award and tutored test prep to local high schoolers with Princeton Tutoring. With Bespoke, Billy provides all-around academic support, college essay guidance, and tutoring for all sections of the SAT, ACT, ISEE, SSAT, and SHSAT. Outside of tutoring, Billy is an actor, performing regularly in New York and abroad.
Proud Member of:
Paul Cooper
Paul graduated from Brown University magna cum laude with degrees in Biology and Public Policy, and earned an M.F.A. in Acting at the Yale School of Drama. Over the past few years, Paul has tutored students in biology, organic chemistry, and writing, and taught MCAT classes through Kaplan. Paul currently tutors students in biology, chemistry, math, and all sections of the ISEE, SSAT, SAT and ACT.
Proud Member of:
Tommy Crawford
Tommy attended Yale University where he graduated with distinction as a Theatre Studies major. He also studied English and Russian Literature and was awarded the Metcalfe Prize in Theater Studies for his senior essay. Tommy specializes in prep for all sections of the SAT, ACT, GRE, GMAT, ISEE, SHSAT, TACHS, and SSAT exams, among others. He is passionate about working with students of all ages and learning profiles, helping increase test scores, teaching good study practices, and making what can often be a stressful process something fun, stimulating, and invigorating. Tommy has been tutoring in New York City since 2009, and has a vast amount of experience in test prep and academic support tutoring from the humanities to high school math. Since 2013, Tommy has tutored students around the world via online platforms. Since 2020, he has crafted custom curricula for ongoing academic enrichment for many students as well. Tommy is an actor, singer, multi-instrumentalist, and Drama Desk-nominated composer and songwriter and has performed in theater productions nationwide. He is co-founder of The Lobbyists, a NYC-based band and theater collective. He currently resides in Vermont with his wife and one-year-old daughter.
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Adam Cropper
Adam grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area where he attended Sacred Heart Preparatory before receiving a B.A. in Theatre Arts from UCLA. While pursuing acting and writing Adam started his own tutoring company in the Los Angeles area, where he worked for 8 years, assisting students with standardized tests, college application essays, and general homework help in both math as well as the humanities. He has experience tutoring SAT, ACT, ISEE, HSPT, and SSAT with an emphasis on essay construction and writing skills and development.
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Sarah Cuneo
Sarah grew up in New Jersey and attended the Montclair Kimberley Academy, where she was a National Merit Scholar and a National AP Scholar. She holds a B.A. in Psychology and certificates in Neuroscience and Theater from Princeton University. While at Princeton, Sarah received the Outstanding Senior Creative Thesis Award and served as the President of a major student theatrical organization. Sarah then went on to receive her M.F.A from the Case Western Reserve University/Cleveland Play House M.F.A. Acting Program, where she served as a Graduate Fellow/Research Assistant and received the Eva L. Pancoast Memorial Fellowship. Sarah tutors all sections of the ISEE, SSAT, SHSAT, ACT, SAT, GMAT and GRE.
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Joshua Danielson
Joshua grew up in Southern California and graduated from Brown University with a BA in Urban Studies. As an undergraduate, he taught theater and filmmaking to middle school students through AmeriCorps and volunteered in Adult Basic Education classes at the Rhode Island Department of Corrections. After graduation he was awarded a Fulbright scholarship to Malta. There he taught English Literature at the Malta Visual and Performing Arts School, taught and developed his own creative writing curriculum at the University of Malta, and led ESL courses for refugees and asylum seekers. Joshua now lives in Brooklyn, where he writes and performs comedy. He tutors all sections of the SAT, ACT, ISEE, and SSAT.
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Jenny Davis
College And Graduate School Counseling And AdmissionsJenny has evaluated thousands of college applications and helped hundreds of high schoolers and their parents navigate the college application process. She began her admissions career at The University of Chicago, where she served as Assistant Director, coordinated the merit scholarship selection process, and wrote several of the infamous “Uncommon Application” essay questions. Jenny then served as a college counselor at one of NYC’s most innovative private schools. She has led essay workshops nationwide, and advises students on the entire college application process in the United States and abroad. Jenny feels that while the college application process requires significant discipline on the part of any student, it’s a terrific opportunity for discovery and reflection. She works hard to help students see the “big picture” and seek out environments that will foster their intellectual, emotional, and professional growth.
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Sally Dawidoff
Sally earned an A.B. at Harvard and a Master’s at Columbia and received her teaching certificate through CalState. She’s been a classroom teacher in New York and California; her experience as a writer/editor includes speechwriting for the University Dean of Academic Affairs at The City University of New York; and she’s a published poet and a produced playwright. Sally brings a toolkit full of ideas for struggling writers. She tutors students in all humanities-related writing, reading and literary analysis, and all verbal test prep, including both AP English exams. She wrote the lessons for the Reading & Writing section of Bespoke’s new SAT curriculum. She’s also a mentor writing teacher. With Sally’s guidance, hundreds of college applicants have written outstanding personal statements.
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Catherine de Clerck
Catherine grew up in the Bay Area, California, and graduated with a BA in French Studies from Emory University. She started her career in marketing and communications at Leo Burnett. Her extensive global travel has provided her with numerous opportunities to reinvent herself while remaining the pillar for her family. At Bespoke, Catherine looks after our students and families based in Switzerland, providing them with solutions and support for their education and their university admissions journey.
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Alexa Derman
Alexa earned her BA in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies from Yale, where she received the Townsend and Curtis prizes for excellence in English and also worked in the Yale admissions office. Alexa then received her MFA in Playwriting from Brown, where she received the Archambault teaching prize for her undergraduate classes. Alexa assists students with writing across coursework, reading/writing standardized test prep, and college application essays. She has eight years of experience helping students develop excellent and wholly original college essays.
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Ryan Dieringer
Ryan is a native New Yorker who went to Fieldston for middle and high school and holds a B.A in English from Dartmouth College. He has been tutoring privately and teaching standardized test prep classes for 10+ years. When he is not tutoring, Ryan works in the music industry as an audio engineer, songwriter, and producer. His particular tutoring specialties and interests include the SAT/ACT, ISEE/SSAT/SHSAT, college essays, as well as English, Algebra I & II, Trigonometry and Geometry.
Proud Member of:
Robert Draper
Robert holds degrees in Physics and Education from The University of Rochester and San Francisco State University and has completed advanced coursework at Columbia and UC Berkeley. Robert has been a physics teacher at Scarsdale High School for many years, and has instructed all levels of physics from non-Regents to Advanced Placement. Robert tutors for all levels of physics including for the AP, and for algebra, geometry, and trigonometry.
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Adam Eckmier
Adam graduated with honors from the University of Western Ontario in Canada, where he earned a BS in medical science and a BA in French. He holds a master’s degree in medical molecular imaging from the University of Paris XI and the Curie Institute and a PhD in Nuclear Medicine from Sorbonne University. Throughout his educational career, Adam has used math, physics, biology, and chemistry extensively. Since high school, he has been tutoring students in science and math. At Bespoke, Adam helps students prepare for the SAT and ACT.
Proud Member of:
Jessica Faust
Jessica grew up in Irvington, NY, attended Irvington High School, and graduated cum laude from Cornell University with a B.S. in Animal Science. At Cornell, she was a teaching assistant in the biological sciences. Jessica began working for Bespoke soon after graduation and has tutored now for many years with Bespoke in Westchester. She is currently the accounts and administration manager for her family business, Faust Harrison Pianos, in White Plains. Jessica specializes in math and biology, and helps prepare students for Regents exams and all sections of the ISEE, SSAT, SAT and ACT.
Proud Member of:
Aaron Fentress
Aaron graduated cum laude from the University of Evansville with a B.S. in Theatre Studies and a minor in Creative Writing. He went on to receive an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts. Aaron has had the pleasure to serve as an adjunct professor in Speech, English, and Creative Writing at California University of Management and Sciences both in a classroom and one-on-one setting, as well as admissions reader for Pitzer College, and as a volunteer with Bold Ink Writers, an organization dedicated to helping teens find their creative voices. Aaron’s fiction has been published both domestically and abroad. He has served as a MovingWorlds Fellow at the MovingWorlds Institute, an organization dedicated to building a better, more equitable world. He specializes in executive function coaching, college essay support, and tutors all sections of the ISEE, SSAT, SHSAT, ACT and SAT.
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Bobby Foley
Bobby was born and raised in Hawaii, where he attended Punahou High School. Bobby received his B.A. in Theater Studies from Yale College. During his time at Yale, Bobby tutored Yale undergraduates in microeconomics and also received two prestigious Light Fellowship awards to study abroad in Japan. As an actor, Bobby has performed in numerous films, national commercials, and world premier theatrical productions. Bobby has over a decade of tutoring experience in a variety of different subjects and settings. He is a passionate and patient tutor who specializes in Economics, SAT, ACT, ISEE, and SSAT preparation.
Proud Member of:
Alex Fontini
Alex is an educator and musician from Long Island. After graduating from Tufts University, Alex received his master’s degree in English Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. He has taught in a number of public schools throughout New York City, including The Bronx High School of Science and Hunter College High School. He tutors all sections of the ISEE, SSAT, SHSAT, SAT and ACT. He is a dedicated reader, writer, and drummer, and a passionate fan of the New York Mets.
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Lizzie Fox
Lizzie graduated magna cum laude from Williams College with a BA in Comparative Literature and Latin Language. She has taught Shakespeare to high school students in India, studied French at the Institut International d’Études Françaises in Strasbourg, and worked as a journalist and women’s health activist in Manila. Lizzie is currently pursuing her MFA in Literary Translation from the University of Arkansas, where she is working on a translation from Latin of the complete works of Hrotsvitha of Gandersheim, the first-known female playwright. Lizzie tutors writing, history, Latin, Spanish, executive functioning, and the ISEE, SSAT and SHSAT.
Proud Member of:
Quinn Franzen
Quinn was born and raised in Hawaii, and attended Punahou School. In high school, he obtained perfect scores on both the Subject Tests and AP Exams for Chemistry and Math. While in Hawaii he was a competitive sailor, regularly racing all sizes of boats in local and national regattas. He graduated from Williams College with a BA in Theatre. At Williams, he received the Hubbard Hutchinson Memorial Fellowship for excellence in artistic pursuit. Quinn tutors for all sections of the ISEE, SSAT, SHSAT, SAT and ACT, as well as chemistry, physics, and math through calculus. He is currently pursuing an MFA in Poetry at the Bennington Writing Seminars.
Proud Member of:
Amy L. Frick
Amy has a PhD in Neuroscience and an MS in Biomedical Science from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. She received her BS in Cognitive Neuroscience from SUNY Empire State College and is currently an adjunct professor in the Department of Science and Math at SUNY FIT. Prior to transitioning to STEM, Amy attended Barnard College where she received vocal instruction through the Manhattan School of Music. Amy has performed with Dances Patrelle, the New York Choral Society, the New York Choral Society Chambers Singers, and is a certified yoga instructor. As someone who fell in love with science later in life, Amy is especially skilled in conveying complex material in a manner which is accessible and engaging. She has tutored students of all ages, backgrounds and levels of experience.
Proud Member of:
Daniel Froot
Daniel attended Horace Mann, before studying at Wesleyan University where he graduated with a B.A. in film studies and Hispanic literature and cultures. At Wesleyan, Daniel was awarded high honors for his film studies thesis: an original television pilot about the New York theater scene. Daniel also works as a writer and producer in theater and independent film, notably collaborating on two projects that premiered at the 2018 Tribeca Film Festival. He specializes in assisting students with Spanish, college applications and essays, as well as tutoring all sections of the SAT, ACT, ISEE, SSAT, and SHSAT.
Proud Member of:
Jose Gamo
Jose was born and raised in Jakarta, Indonesia, and graduated with honors from Fordham University with a BA in Theater. With several years of teaching experience in both 1-on-1 and classroom settings, Jose develops a strong personal connection with his students that allows for enthusiastic, highly personalized learning. He teaches all sections of the SAT, ACT, ISEE, SHSAT, and SSAT, and provides support for middle and high school academics and college application essays. Outside of his professional life, Jose enjoys games of all kinds – from video to board to ball – and writing poetry and rap music.
Proud Member of:
Kyra Gee
Kyra grew up in Upstate New York State, where she became a National Merit Scholar and the valedictorian of Granville High School. She attended Yale University, double majoring in Evolutionary Biology and Theater Studies. She graduated magna cum laude with distinction in both majors, and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. Kyra has experience in both private tutoring and classroom teaching, and she enjoys helping students reach their academic goals. She specializes in tutoring math, science, writing, and the ISEE, SSAT, SHSAT, SAT and ACT. When not teaching, Kyra works as an actor.
Proud Member of:
Tomas Greenberg
Tomas graduated cum laude from Cornell University with a double major in Psychology and Spanish, and a minor in Inequality Studies. He is currently a doctoral candidate at The Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology. Tomas tutors a wide array of subjects including history, Spanish, English, college essays, and all sections of the ACT, SAT, SHSAT, ISEE and SSAT.
Proud Member of:
Hanson Hadi
Hanson was a Teacher Assistant and a tutor at the University of Massachusetts, where he received a Masters degree in Physics and a Masters degree in Engineering. He later worked as a software developer and a computer programmer for several high-tech companies. Eventually, Hanson decided to pursue an old passion of his; he moved to New York City to become a writer and graduated from the New School with an M.F.A. in Creative Writing. Hanson is currently working on his third novel. He tutors students in Arabic, all levels of math and physics, and for all sections of the ISEE, SSAT, SHSAT, SAT and ACT. Hanson is also a fierce chess player who practices Yoga and meditation daily.
Proud Member of:
Avner Halevy
Avner was born in Israel but moved to the US as a child. After graduating from high school in Maryland, he moved back to Israel and served in the military for five years. He graduated magna cum laude from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem with a B.Sc. in mathematics and computer science. He then moved back to the US and earned a Ph.D. from the University of Maryland, College Park in applied mathematics. He taught college-level math for over ten years and is currently teaching high school math at Horace Mann School. He loves foreign languages, writes funny songs about math, and plays guitar and basketball.
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Sarah Hartmann
College And Graduate School Counseling And AdmissionsSarah grew up in Wyoming and completed her IB Diploma before attending Barnard College, where she graduated with a degree in Theater. She earned her MA in Higher Education from Teacher’s College, Columbia University with a focus on college access and the role of the arts in higher education. Sarah has previously worked in the college admissions office at Barnard, where she read and evaluated thousands of applications. She has significant experience with all aspects of the college application process, including school selection, essay writing, and application strategy. She has helped many students gain admissions to their top schools. Sarah is passionate about helping students navigate the college admissions process with confidence and a sense of adventure.
Proud Member of:
Kyra Hauck
Kyra is originally from Michigan, where she attended the first IB high school in the state. She received her BA in Romance Languages and Arts & Ideas, along with minors in Translation and International Studies, from the University of Michigan. Her next stop was Paris VII, where she obtained a master’s degree in Specialized Translation. Kyra now works as a freelance translator specializing in finance and is also the Paris Artistic Director of Danse Theatre Surreality, a binational dance and theater collective. She has tutored French and Spanish for the University of Michigan Athletic Department and has given private English lessons to students in Paris. At Bespoke, Kyra tutors the ACT, SAT, and IB.
Proud Member of:
Kara Havig
Kara grew up in the Pacific Northwest, where she was the valedictorian of her high school and a National Merit Scholar. She attended BYU on its prestigious Presidential Scholarship, earning a BFA in Music-Dance-Theatre and a minor in Mathematics. Kara tutors mathematics, provides homework help, and prepares students for all sections of the ISEE, SHSAT, SSAT, SAT and ACT. As the Director of Hiring and one of Bespoke’s most senior tutors, Kara hires, trains, and mentors other Bespoke tutors. She is also heavily involved in curriculum development, writing the math sections of lesson books and mock tests. Outside of tutoring, Kara enjoys theater, tap dancing, and sharing her love of learning with her two daughters.
Proud Member of:
John Herrick
John has an undergraduate degree in philosophy from University of Chicago and a PhD in molecular genetics from University of Paris XI, Faculté de Médecine. He is an adjunct professor of environmental science and economics, and he conducts research in evolutionary biology. John has been tutoring the GMAT, GRE, and SAT for over 12 years.
Proud Member of:
Omolara Heywot-Kumasi
Omolara was raised in New York City and attended Brooklyn Tech. While there, he completed his entire college level math course requirement for engineering. He attended Rochester Institute of Technology where he studied Electrical Engineering. Omolara is now an executive recruiter who over the last ten years has focused on vetting math-centric candidates to build teams at the world’s largest banks, information security and CTO positions at “Big 4” management consulting firms, and software engineers and architects at startups all over the country. He tutors physics, math through calculus, and all sections of the ISEE, SSAT, SHSAT, ACT and SAT.
Proud Member of:
Andrés Ibragimova
Andrés has twenty years of tutoring experience, specializing in academic coaching, writing, math, and test prep. He holds degrees from Cornell (Psychology and Economics), Brooklyn College (Education with a math specialization), and The New School (MFA in Creative Writing). Andrés is an expert in executive functioning coaching, particularly for college students, helping them manage schedules and breakdown and execute assignments. His student-centered approach has guided many to graduation. He has taught from fifth grade to post-grad, served as a high school math teacher, National Honor Society advisor, and union chapter leader. A published author, Andrés ran a small publishing company and is a third-degree blackbelt in Aikido. He runs a small dojo and uses his martial arts training to build student confidence. His expertise includes executive functioning, math, English, AP Psych, economics, organizational/study skills, and test prep (SAT, ACT, GRE, ISEE, SSAT, SHSAT, and NYS Math Regents).
Proud Member of:
Eskor Johnson
Eskor received his BA in English and American Literature from Harvard University and an MFA in Fiction from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. His teaching experience extends nearly ten years, including time spent as a tutor, a middle school English and Social Studies teacher, and a professor of Creative Writing at the University of Iowa. He has worked with students ranging from fifth graders to college seniors, in such subjects as English, history, essay writing, algebra, trigonometry, geometry, as well as ISEE, SSAT, ACT and SAT preparation. As an educator, Eskor seeks to create a friendly yet rigorous atmosphere based on communication, curiosity and a genuine love of learning.
Proud Member of:
Fraulin Joseph
Fraulin grew up in the Bronx and graduated magna cum laude from SUNY Albany, majoring in Biology. He earned a PhD from Columbia University in the study of genetics. He has taught Human Genetics at the City College of New York where he continues to work as an adjunct assistant professor. He tutors students of all ages in math, biology, chemistry, and physics, and all sections of the SAT, ACT, ISEE, SSAT, and SHSAT.
Proud Member of:
Akaash Kancharla
Akaash grew up in Westchester where he attended Hackley School. He earned his B.S. in Industrial Engineering and M.S. in Operations Research from Columbia University, having also conducted research at Harvard University and Pomona College. During his time at Columbia, Akaash worked as a teaching assistant for graduate courses in engineering. He has considerable experience teaching a dozen AP exams (e.g. Statistics, Calculus BC, English Lang & Lit, Physics C, and Chemistry) and earned the National AP Scholar Award himself. He teaches a wide range of STEM subjects, as well as economics and finance, through the graduate level. In his free time, Akaash is an avid skier and fencer; he also enjoys painting and sailing.
Proud Member of:
Carrie Kaplan
Chief Interview CoachCarrie is a proud alumna of Dartmouth College (B.A., English Cum Laude) and Harvard University (Harvard School of Continuing Education; Research Fellow, Mellon School of Theater and Performance Research at Harvard University). She holds an M.S. Ed. in English and English Education (CUNY Queens College) and M.A. and Ph.D (ABD) in Theater History and Performance Studies (The University of Texas at Austin).
Throughout her tenure at both Dartmouth and UT Austin, she served as the head writing tutor for the respective institutional writing centers and has continued to serve as a freelance academic editor, shepherding hundreds of academic articles, dissertations, thesis projects and full length manuscripts through to publication. She has extensive experience working with non-native speakers across academic disciplines from secondary to post-graduate writing levels as well as individuals with dyslexia, dysgraphia, ADHD and anxiety. She has over fifteen years experience teaching college level classes with writing intensive requirements and an equal level of experience in standardized testing prep (ACT/SAT/TOEFL) and college application preparation.
As a scholar, she has received numerous grants and fellowships to fund her own research into the neuro-cognitive and social-emotional development of empathy in academic and artistic settings. As such, her approach to student writing and interviewing skills includes a powerful mix of rigor, humor and compassion as well as attention to multiple learning styles and modalities. Her own writing has been published by Yale Press and the LMDA Review.
Proud Member of:
Ethan Kaplan
Ethan grew up in New York City and graduated with honors from Hunter College High School, where he first started tutoring algebra. He graduated magna cum laude from Northwestern University, receiving the Marion Meyer Bergin and J.G. Nolan Fellowships for academic excellence, before completing his MFA in Creative Writing from Queens College. He has taught courses to undergraduates at Hong Kong Polytechnic University and Queens College and, in his free time, is a published author and playwright. Ethan wrote the Reading and Writing chapters of Bespoke’s SAT lesson book and has contributed to and edited Bespoke’s ACT, SSAT, ISEE, and SHSAT lesson books. He scored a perfect 340 on the GRE and a 790 on the GMAT and tutors for all sections of the SAT, ACT, GRE, GMAT, ISEE, SSAT, SHSAT, and several AP Exams, including U.S. History, World History, European History, Calculus AB/BC, and English Language/Literature.
Proud Member of:
Sylvia Kates
Sylvia grew up in Charlottesville, Virginia and in three years graduated with a BA in English from the University of Virginia. Sylvia earned her MFA in Acting from Brown University before founding The Light Fantastic Theater, a company dedicated to bringing professional theater directly to communities in correctional facilities, homeless shelters, and low-income senior housing. A nanny and caregiver for many years, Sylvia brings her deep understanding of child development and individual learning styles to her tutoring clients. She tutors all sections of the ISEE, SSAT, SHSAT, SAT and ACT.
Proud Member of:
Navdep Kaur
Navdep (pronounced Nuv-deep) was born and raised in Queens. She received a BS in both Math and Biology from SUNY Binghamton University. She then received an MPH in Epidemiology from Columbia University and is currently working towards her PhD in Epidemiology at Columbia. Navdep was inspired to pursue quantitative fields by many female teachers who taught her throughout her academic career, and as a woman of color, she believes representation in the classroom is vital to the success of a student. She loves tutoring students at all levels and can convey complex ideas in a succinct and accessible manner. Navdep tutors all sections of the ISEE, SSAT, SHSAT, SAT and ACT.
Proud Member of:
Mitchel Kawash
Mitchel attended Yale University, where he received a B.A. in Theater Studies with distinction. While at Yale he sang with the world-famous Whiffenpoofs and performed throughout the United States and on all seven continents. He then earned a graduate acting degree at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. A working actor, Mitchel enjoys using test prep to not only help students raise their scores but also improve their study skills and gain confidence in their schoolwork. He prepares students for the SAT, ACT, ISEE, and SSAT in addition to working with clients on study skills and the college essay. He mentors new tutors and serves as Bespoke’s Head of Online Instruction, overseeing the company’s virtual offerings.
Proud Member of:
Nico Kidd
Nico grew up in Northfield, Minnesota, and graduated Phi Beta Kappa and summa cum laude from Yale University, receiving a B.A. with distinction in Linguistics. He tutored incoming Yale first-years in math through the ONEXYS program, and with Bespoke, he tutors most academic subjects as well as all sections of the SAT and ACT. Outside of tutoring, he loves doing the New York Times crossword, playing board games, and reading.
Proud Member of:
Ben Kirschenbaum
Ben graduated summa cum laude from Georgetown majoring in History and Math and winning the school’s main award for each subject (the Henry M. Leslie Award and the Morris Historical Medal). After college, he moved to Chicago where he began tutoring and pursuing a career in comedy and comedy writing. He has been tutoring since 2011, first in Chicago and then in New York. He tutors students in math, history, and English, and for the ISEE, SSAT, SHSAT, SAT and ACT.
Proud Member of:
Nate Klau
Nate graduated from Yale University with degrees in History and Theater Studies. As one of Bespoke’s most sought-after tutors, Nate focuses on demystifying the daunting process of test-preparation and helps each student achieve his or her maximum potential in an engaging environment. He prepares students for their college essays, most academic subjects, and for all sections of the SAT, ACT, ISEE, SSAT, and SHSAT.
Proud Member of:
Simi Klein
Simi is a native New Yorker and graduated from NYU Summa Cum Laude with a BA in both Economics and English. He received his graduate degree from Columbia Business School in 2020, where he focused on Strategy and Entrepreneurship. Simi is an expert tutor with over 13 years of experience both teaching and developing content for standardized tests such as the ISEE, SSAT, SAT, ACT, GMAT, and GRE. He owned and operated his own successful tutoring company, where he oversaw a team of tutors and developed tailored curricula for students of all levels. An accomplished test taker himself, he received a perfect score on the SAT and scored in the 99th percentile on the GMAT. Over his various years as a tutor, Simi has not only helped thousands of students improve their standardized test scores but has also helped countless students of all levels in subjects including Math, English, History, Economics, and Biology. In his free time, he enjoys surfing, scuba, boxing, photography and exploring new restaurants and art exhibits.
Proud Member of:
Chris Knapp
Chris has a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from the University of Virginia, where he was a Poe/Faulkner Fellow in Fiction. He has taught creative writing at the university level and has worked with high school students on the essay portions of their college applications in France and the US. He teaches the Reading and Writing portion of the SAT and also provides academic support in literature, history, and English classes. His writing has appeared in the Paris Review, the New England Review, and the Los Angeles Review of Books, among other places.
Proud Member of:
Manu Kumasi
Manu grew up in New York City and holds a BBA in Economics and Spanish from Baruch College, CUNY and a Masters in Fine Arts from Yale University. During his undergraduate years he studied Economics at Oxford University and wrote his thesis on a proposed managerial and financial reorganization of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. His first career was in business at the consulting company Booz Allen Hamilton. During these years Manu volunteered to tutor in English, math, and Spanish. Now as an actor and writer he has created new works for The Kennedy Center, Shakespeare Theatre Company, La Mama Etc and more, and he can be seen in the upcoming season of EVIL on CBS. Manu provides general academic support in most subjects and tutors all sections of the SAT, ACT, ISEE, SHSAT, and SSAT.
Proud Member of:
Raphael Laden-Guindon
Raphael grew up in Chicago and attended Walter Payton College Prep, where he finished at the top of his class. He graduated cum laude with distinction at Yale with a BA in Music. He then moved to Montreal to complete a Master’s degree in Voice and Opera at McGill. Raphael now lives in Boston, where he splits his time as an opera singer and as a private tutor. Raphael tutors a variety of subjects including math, music, foreign languages, and SAT prep. When not singing or teaching, Raphael co-runs Puntalytics, the world’s foremost open-source hub for advanced punting analytics.
Proud Member of:
Rich LaFauci
Rich earned a BS summa cum laude in Chemistry from the University of Massachusetts and holds an MS in Electrical Engineering from Northeastern University. He’s worked extensively as a technologist and business leader in digital products and services. Rich prepares students for a variety of standardized tests, including all sections of the SAT, ACT, GMAT, GRE, ISEE, SSAT, SHSAT, and AP exams in calculus, physics, chemistry, statistics and microeconomics. He teaches classes in AP calculus and SAT and supports students taking all levels of math, biology, chemistry and physics.
Proud Member of:
Brian Leibowitz
Brian is a highly qualified math and physics tutor with over 10 years of teaching experience. A Brooklyn native, he received his Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Physics from the City College of New York. Brian enjoys communicating ideas with others and enumerating the importance and values of numeracy. With a strong background in math and physics he is able to provide personalized and effective tutoring to students of all levels. Brian has a track record of success and is committed to helping his students reach their full potential.
Proud Member of:
Layann Masri
Layann grew up in London and attended top British schools before moving to the American School in London for high school, where she took seven AP classes and was recognized as an AP Scholar with Distinction. She earned a BA in Global Affairs at Yale University, where she worked as a Spanish tutor. She is fluent in 4 languages and proficient in 3: Arabic, French, Spanish, English, Hebrew, Russian, and Latin. Her early career experience included working at a social media startup. She loves working with students of all ages in a range of subjects including math and various languages. She tutors all sections of the ISEE, SSAT, SHSAT, SAT and ACT.
Proud Member of:
Dana McRae
Dana grew up in Western Massachusetts and graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Vassar College with a B.A. in sociology. During undergrad, he worked as a tutor in Vassar’s English Language Learners Outreach Program. He is a classically-trained vocalist and avid soccer and ultimate frisbee player whose tutoring style centers around cultivating critical thinking and self-belief in his students.
Proud Member of:
Sam Moore
Sam grew up in the UK, earned an undergraduate degree in Astrophysics from Princeton University, and is currently pursuing a PhD in Astrophysics at Durham University. As a tutor, Sam has extensive experience teaching middle-school to university-level math and science and has successfully guided students through UK and US admissions processes, including test prep for the SAT and ACT.
Proud Member of:
Jivahn Moradian
Jivahn grew up in Paris, France, where he obtained the science-focused baccalaureate at École Jeannine Manuel. He completed his undergraduate education at Princeton University, where he graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa in Economics. He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Management at Imperial College in London. He has five years of experience tutoring high schoolers and college students, in subjects ranging from SAT prep to economics. At Bespoke, he tutors the SAT, ACT, economics, math, and science. In his spare time, he enjoys extreme mountain hiking, playing cards, and making Indian food for his friends.
Proud Member of:
Dorothy Nguyen
Dorothy graduated from Rutgers University’s pre-med track with a degree in American Studies and a minor in Music. She has tutored students of all ages, learning styles, and abilities, and she specializes in helping students with executive functioning and study skills. Dorothy has experience homeschooling, teaches online classes, provides STEM enrichment tutoring, and tutors a wide array of standardized tests, including all sections of the ACT, SAT, ISEE, SSAT, and SHSAT. Dorothy is a comedian and writer who has written TV pilots.
Proud Member of:
Bradley Nowacek
Bradley grew up in Milwaukee and graduated from Yale with honors, where he earned a B.A. in Political Science and Theatre Studies. Bradley tutors all sections of the SAT, ACT, ISEE, SSAT and SHSAT, and specializes in mathematics and writing, including college essays. Bradley believes that joy is the key to effective learning, and strives to find the spark of humor and playfulness in all subjects. When not tutoring, Bradley is an actor and cellist, and can often be found humming show-tunes or reciting Shakespeare.
Proud Member of:
Nathan Obaid
Nathan grew up in Minnesota, where he was a National Merit Scholarship finalist, and then graduated from Pomona College, where he majored in Economics. Nathan went on to teach high school math for six years in Chicago, and was selected as his school’s math department chair. He later earned a Master of Public Policy at U.C. Berkeley, where he was also an instructor for undergraduate economics courses. He is passionate about engaging math education that builds student confidence and develops deep conceptual understanding. He tutors math and economics as well as all sections of the SAT, ACT, SHSAT, SSAT, and ISEE.
Proud Member of:
Erika Oppenheimer
Erika graduated from Georgetown University in the top 1% of her class with BAs in English and Psychology and an Inter-Arts minor. Erika is the author of Acing It! A Mindful Guide to Maximum Results on Your College Admissions Test and her articles about test preparation have been published in The Huffington Post and The American Jewish World. In addition to teaching academic content and testing strategies, Erika infuses mindfulness into the test prep process, empowering students with skills and habits to perform their best on test day and in other areas of their lives. She tutors many subjects and all sections of the ACT, SAT, ISEE, SSAT, and SHSAT.
Proud Member of:
Katie Patterson
Katie attended The Taft School, where she first began tutoring high school Physics. Katie then earned her BA in Psychology with Honors from Vanderbilt University. She graduated from the post-baccalaureate premedical program at Columbia University with a merit-based scholarship, and earned a student service award for co-creating a learning community in which she led bi-weekly study groups in Biology and Chemistry. Following graduation from Columbia, Katie was employed by the University as a student coach, and facilitated group discussions relating to time management and study strategies. Katie tutors high school math, all levels of Biology and Chemistry, and for all sections of the ISEE, SSAT, SHSAT, GRE, ACT and SAT.
Proud Member of:
Jess Pearce
A California native, Jess has a PhD in biology from the University of Utah. They worked as a research associate at the CNRS in Montpellier, France and the CSIC in Seville, Spain before leaving academia to start their own scientific editing and translation business. Throughout their scientific career, they worked extensively with high school and undergraduate students, teaching lecture, laboratory, and field courses. At Bespoke, Jess is the Director of Paris Tutoring Services. As time allows, they also tutor the SAT, ACT, IB Biology, AP Biology, and AP Statistics.
Proud Member of:
Simon Penzer
Simon grew up in Westchester and graduated from Yale College with a BA in English Literature. Prior to joining Bespoke, he wrote SAT and ACT practice material for the education company Zinkerz. He has experience tutoring students in a number of academic subjects and for a variety of standardized tests including the U.S. and World History APs, Art History, and all sections of the ISEE, SSAT, SHSAT, SAT and ACT. Simon especially enjoys working with students on their writing.
Proud Member of:
Juliet Perrachon
As a French-American bilingual having attended the French-American School of NY, Mamaroneck High School, the University of Pennsylvania, and ESCP Europe, Juliet brings diverse skills to the table. Juliet taught English in northern Thailand to native Thai students of all ages and has worked as a teacher at Mercy College’s Bronx Campus. A History and Spanish major at UPenn, Juliet is well-versed in many subjects in addition to being a professional writer and translator. Most recently, she helped a high school student with full-time home schooling including navigating online education across different subjects. She has a loyal following of students of all ages and abilities seeking academic support.
Proud Member of:
Laura Flannery Pettee
Laura grew up in Bronxville, graduated from Bronxville High School, and then attended Roanoke College in Virginia, where she graduated with a BA in Language. Laura is presently part of the K-5 Development Team after working as an Assistant Teacher for a pod during Covid. Additionally, Laura is a teacher at a local nursery school where play activities are used to facilitate children’s social, physical and emotional progression. Over the years she has served on many boards, including six years on the Bronxville School Foundation, which helps strengthen the school’s curriculum by serving as a catalyst for the development and promotion of innovative programs. She has lived in Bronxville most of her life raising her 4 children with her husband Jeff.
Proud Member of:
Willie Pinkerton
A native of California, Willie earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Willie then pursued a teaching credential and Masters Degree in Education, with a focus in secondary mathematics. Upon completing his graduate degree, Willie taught 7th and 8th grade mathematics in Sacramento for five years and served as director of his school’s AVID program for two years. He then taught mathematics to 3rd, 4th and 5th graders at Marymount School for three years while living in New York. Willie has since moved back to California to teach high school mathematics. He tutors for all sections of the SAT, ACT, ISEE, SSAT and SHSAT.
Proud Member of:
Cameron Platt
Cameron holds an A.B. in English and a certificate in Theater from Princeton University, where she graduated as the valedictorian of her year. While at Princeton, she acted in many stage productions and served as president of the largest student-run musical theater company on campus. She went on to study at the University of Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar, earning master’s degrees in English and in United States History. Cameron is one of Bespoke’s resident writing experts, and tutors all sections of the ISEE, SSAT, SHSAT, SAT and ACT.
Proud Member of:
Trace Pope
Trace attended the University of Texas at Austin where he received a B.A. in English. He then studied at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art where he received a M.A. in Classical Acting. Recently, he graduated with honors from USC’s School of Cinematic Arts with an M.F.A in Film/TV Production. Trace has several years of tutoring and small-group teaching experience with students of all ages. Trace views tutoring as an opportunity to honor the educators who have made an impact on his own life and learning. He tutors for all sections of the ACT, SAT, ISEE, SSAT and SHSAT.
Proud Member of:
Neil Redfield
Neil holds BA in Anthropology from University of Delaware, where he graduated summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, and with Honors Distinctions, as well as an MFA in Acting from Southern Methodist University. At UD, he worked as a Teaching Assistant for the Anthropology Department. Originally from San Antonio, he has taught at the PREP program in Texas, a science and math summer camp which teaches middle and high school students topics fundamental to careers in engineering and math. As an actor, he has performed around New York City as well as regional theaters in the Berkshires, Delaware, and San Antonio. Neil tutors the SAT, ACT, and all levels of math.
Proud Member of:
Joshua Rivas
Joshua comes from New Jersey by way of Los Angeles and holds a BA in French (with a minor in chemistry) from New York University. He also has an MA and PhD in French and a graduate certificate in gender and sexuality studies from Princeton University. Joshua completed his doctoral dissertation while serving as a visiting researcher at the École Normale Supérieure and Sciences Po Paris. His research has been published in Nottingham French Studies and Mosaic: An Interdisciplinary Critical Journal. At Bespoke, he tutors the SAT, ACT, and IELTS.
Proud Member of:
Ren Robins
Ren grew up in Los Angeles, where they attended Palisades Charter High School. They were recruited for MESA, an engineering program for low-income students who excelled in math and science. Ren received a BA from Yale University, with a double major in Environmental Studies and History. Ren wrote their theses on bat ecology and 1920s Egyptomania, and graduated cum laude with distinction in the Environmental Studies major. They are currently employed as a wildlife educator at the Nature Company, and as a field trip leader at Planting Fields Arboretum and Museum in Oyster Bay. Ren has a deep love of learning, which they are excited to share with others. In their free time, they enjoy swing dancing, drumming, and retro video games.
Proud Member of:
Ken Rubin
Ken grew up in New York City, attending the Ramaz School. He holds a BA in economics from Columbia University and MD from Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai. Ken is one of Bespoke’s most sought-after and experienced tutors. He has contributed to much of Bespoke’s curricula and mentors Bespoke’s growing team of New York City-based tutors. Ken is a nationally ranked scrabble player who tutors all levels of math and science, and for nearly every standardized test.
Proud Member of:
Jeremy Russial
Jeremy first majored in Environmental Engineering at Penn State University and went on to graduate magna cum laude from Muhlenberg College with a B.A. in Theatre and a minor in Business Administration. While an undergrad, he worked as a tutor in Financial Accounting. Jeremy teaches regular Bespoke classes, offers general academic support for most subjects, and tutors all sections of the SAT, ACT, ISEE, SSAT and SHSAT.
Proud Member of:
Francesca Sabel
Francesca grew up in New York City, where she attended Bank Street and Hunter College High School. She graduated magna cum laude from Brown University with a BA in early American history and literature. Since graduating, Francesca has balanced her career as a freelance theater director with teaching work, writing study guides for LitCharts and leading education programs for DC’s Studio Theatre. She works on academic coaching for courses across the humanities, college essay writing, and test prep for the SAT, ACT, ISEE, SSAT, SHSAT and Hunter test.
Proud Member of:
Rebecca Salzhauer
Rebecca grew up in New York and attended Horace Mann. She graduated with honors from Yale University, where she earned a BA in Theater & Performance Studies and Humanities. She worked as a tutor in the Yale College Writing Center and studied writing as a Yale Journalism Scholar. Rebecca specializes in academic support for writing and the humanities, and tutors all sections of the ACT, SAT, ISEE, SSAT and SHSAT. Outside of tutoring, Rebecca works as an actor, writes, and bakes a mean babka.
Proud Member of:
Noah Samotin
Noah was the valedictorian of the Community School of Naples in Florida, and received his undergraduate degree from Dartmouth College. He is extremely well-versed in the latest changes to all sections of the SAT and ACT and trains other Bespoke tutors on those updates. Noah has worked on a number of Broadway productions and documentaries, the skills from which have enabled him to become particularly effective at helping students craft their personal statements for college applications. But don’t let this talk of humanities fool you – Noah’s specialty is finding an engaging way to help students conquer math at all levels through multivariable calculus!
Proud Member of:
Julia Saunders
Julia uses they/she pronouns. Julia studied at UCLA where they earned a B.A. in Theater Arts and graduated with honors. She has been working as a K-12 educator in New York and California for over five years. They specialize in coaching executive functioning, study skills and essay writing, as well as working with students with a range of learning differences and behavioral issues. They also received special training through a program called COGx to apply cognitive science to increase retention, metacognition and core processing skills, which gives her a wide array of techniques and strategies to share with students. They also incorporate mindfulness and creative practices into her sessions when appropriate. Julia tutors all sections of the ISEE, SSAT and SHSAT.
Proud Member of:
Shane Saxton
Shane graduated magna cum laude from the University of Rochester, double majoring in English and Economics, and minoring in Mathematics. Shane has over five years experience teaching reading, writing and mathematics to students from 5th through 11th grade. Most recently, he has worked as a college preparation teacher, preparing students for the SAT, and coaching them to success on their college essays. His pedagogical approach is predicated on strong relationships with students and adapting curricula to their needs and interests. When he is not teaching, Shane enjoys playing the guitar, writing short stories, cooking, and bicycling.
Proud Member of:
Stefan Schallack
Stefan graduated with honors from the School of Communication at Northwestern University. He received a B.A. in Communications, majoring in Theatre with a Musical Theatre Certificate. Since graduating, he has worked as an actor, writer, and educator in Chicago and New York. Stefan emboldens his students to be passionate learners, no matter the subject. His unique experience teaching music and theatre in preschool and elementary school classrooms reminds him that students learn best when encouraged to think creatively. Stefan tutors math up to calculus, physics, chemistry, English language arts, and all sections of the SSAT, ISEE, ACT and SAT.
Proud Member of:
Erica Schecter
Erica graduated Cum Laude from Pomona College with a degree in Mathematical Economics, and received the Lorne D. Cook Memorial Award as well as Distinction on her senior thesis. She went on to receive an MFA in Fiction Writing from Brooklyn College, where she won the Himan Brown award. She currently teaches English and Creative Writing at Brooklyn College and is working on her second novel. Erica is an engaged, empathetic tutor who focuses on helping her students develop an intuitive understanding of the material. She has over five years of experience tutoring students ranging in age from elementary school to high school seniors. Subjects include Math, Essay Writing, College Essay, Executive Function Coaching, and all sections of the ACT, SAT, SSAT, ISEE, and SHSAT.
Proud Member of:
Jonathan Schiffman
Jonathan grew up in New York City, attended the Dalton School, and received a BA with Honors from Yale University. After pursuing graduate music studies at the Juilliard School, he came to France as a Fulbright Scholar to study music composition. An accomplished conductor, Jonathan has worked with over fifty orchestras and opera houses throughout Europe. Jonathan is also a published author and a former host of “Spoken Word,” Paris’s preeminent Anglophone open-mic. In his free time, he enjoys chess, skiing, windsurfing and playing piano. Jonathan has over a decade of experience tutoring SAT, ACT, ISEE, SSAT, creative writing, college application essays, music theory, and various school subjects.
Proud Member of:
Conrad Schott
Conrad grew up in Louisiana and attended a public boarding school, The Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts, where he was inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame for excellence in academics, extracurriculars, and service. Conrad earned his BA in Drama at Vassar College and was awarded the Molly Thacher Kazan Memorial Prize for distinction in the theater arts. He holds an MFA in Classical Acting from The George Washington University and is now an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Drama at Vassar College. Conrad previously taught for Kaplan Test Prep and specializes in the SAT, ACT, ISEE, SSAT, and SHSAT, as well as general homework help, academic habits, and managing test anxiety.
Proud Member of:
Madeleine Schwartz
Madeleine Schwartz has spent her life between New York and Paris. She studied History and Classics at Harvard, where she was elected Phi Beta Kappa. She then earned a master’s degree in Classical Languages at Oxford as a Henry Fellowship recipient. Since college, Madeleine has tutored English, History, Latin, and standardized test preparation to a wide variety of students. She has also worked as a high-school equivalency tutor and librarian in the penal system in both Boston and New York. In addition to being a tutor, she is a journalist and literary critic. She has won a European Press Prize for her work.
Proud Member of:
Sam Segan
Sam grew up in New York City, where she attended Hunter College High School. She graduated from Williams College with a BA in Philosophy and English. Prior to tutoring, she worked in the Williams College Admissions Office. At Bespoke, she heads the College Essay Department and trains other tutors in Bespoke’s essay-writing process. Her college essay students have attained Early Decision acceptance to Brown, Georgetown, Harvard, UPenn, Washington University in St. Louis, Williams, Yale, and many more. Sam offers academic support in math, French, English, and physics and aids students with AP exams in Math, Literature, and French. She also tutors all sections of the SAT, ACT, ISEE, SSAT, and SHSAT. In her spare time, she reviews books and competes in Brazilian jiu jitsu.
Proud Member of:
Greg Serebuoh
Greg graduated from Yale University with degrees in Music and Theater Studies, and he won the Alfred Bildner Prize for Achievement in Spanish. While at Yale, he served as musical director for the singing group Shades, producing its acclaimed studio album Sankofa. He subsequently moved to Buenos Aires, Argentina, where he worked in arts and entertainment for four years before returning to the US to continue working as a singer, filmmaker, and interdisciplinary artist. He has performed throughout the northeast and has screened his film/video work at global festivals including the New Orleans Film Festival, the Indie Memphis Film Festival, the San Francisco Dance Film Festival, and the Mexico City Videodance Festival. Greg has years of experience as a teacher, tutor, vocal coach, and youth mentor, and has worked with a broad range of learning styles and students of all ages, from elementary school children to adults. He tutors for all sections of the ISEE, SSAT, SHSAT, SAT and ACT, and in English, Writing, and Spanish.
Proud Member of:
Matt Serra
Matthew is a private tutor, former Spanish teacher, ethnomusicologist, audio engineer, and flamenco guitarist. Matthew is currently studying flamenco guitar at Artes Escénicas Rebollar, a premier flamenco academy in Seville, Spain. He holds a Master of Arts in Music from Durham University, from which he graduated with distinction, and a Master of Arts in Teaching from the University of Pittsburgh. Matthew also holds Bachelor’s degrees in Music and Spanish (summa cum laude, Allegheny College), and Music Technology (City College, CUNY). Matthew has carried out research projects on the relationship between flamenco performers’ identity and personal style, flamenco’s cultural/musical/literary heritage, and the effects of specific reinforcement schema on target language use and motivation in the foreign language classroom. Matt has held a wide variety of roles in education, including behavioral support therapist for students on the Autism Spectrum, high school and elementary school teacher, online school instructor, and test prep and academic support tutor. He is experienced in teaching test preparation (ACT, SAT, ISEE, SSAT, SHSAT), all levels of Spanish, creative and academic writing, and executive function coaching.
Proud Member of:
Rebecca Oudin Shannon
Rebecca grew up in Paris, France. She has a BA in English from the University of California, Berkeley, and an MA in literary theory from the Sorbonne and École Normale Supérieure. She tutored at San Quentin State Prison as an undergraduate and then taught first grade in Mississippi as a member of the Teach For America Corps. Having passed the highly competitive exam (agrégation) to work in the French public education system, she now teaches English literature and language to French high school and university students. At Bespoke, Rebecca tutors the SAT, ACT, ISEE, SSAT, and French. She also helps students prepare for the baccalauréat and develop their writing skills.
Proud Member of:
Christine Shaw
Christine grew up in Athens, Georgia where she was the valedictorian at Athens Academy. She then graduated Magna Cum Laude from Yale University with a degree in Theater Studies. She also holds an MFA in devised performance from the Obie award-winning Pig Iron Theater Company. She has been teaching in various roles for nearly a decade and tutors all sections of the SAT, ACT, ISEE, and SSAT. She also provides organization and study skills, academic tutoring in English, History, and Math (up through Calculus AB), and college essay coaching.
Proud Member of:
Lilly Shen
Lilly grew up in Sugar Land, TX, where she participated in numerous math competitions and summer programs. She graduated from Harvard with a bachelors in Computer Science and has worked as a data scientist and software engineer. She loves teaching math and tutoring all sections of the SAT, ACT, and ISEE. Her students describe her as understanding and attentive. Outside of tutoring, Lilly is a multimedia artist specializing in painting and textiles. She is also an avid rock climber, often spending weekends bouldering at local crags.
Proud Member of:
Claire Siebers
Claire received a B.A. with honors in Theater Studies from Yale University and a graduate degree in Acting from The Juilliard School. Claire is passionate about helping her students become vital collaborators in their school environments. She tutors homework help, analytical writing, French, the ISEE, SSAT, and SHSAT, and is one of Bespoke’s college essay specialists.
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Lauren Singerman
Lauren grew up in New York City, attended The Spence School, and received her B.A. in English from Wesleyan University. Lauren has tutored for more than a decade and has worn many hats for Bespoke, including early education consultant and administrator. She specializes in prep for the ISEE, SSAT, SHSAT, SAT, and ACT, as well as study/organizational skills and academic tutoring in English and math. Lauren is a cheerleader for her students, balancing a sense of humor with skills honed from years of teaching experience. In addition to being a seasoned tutor, Lauren is an accomplished actor and dialect coach. She holds an M.F.A in Acting from Rutgers University.
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Soleil Singh
Soleil was born and raised in Dallas, Texas, where she graduated from Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. She attended Yale University, where she majored in Psychology while pursuing an extensive artistic course load. A lifelong tutor, Soleil has worked with students in all subjects, ranging from SAT preparation to essay tutoring to advanced math. Currently, Soleil is an East Coast Page at NBCUniversal, and she continues her mission of making learning enjoyable, using creativity to help students reach their full potential.
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Kat Soper
A Montana native, Kat obtained her Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction and a B.S. in Psychology from Montana State University. She served as a lead educator and taught specialized classes in Early Literacy, Music, and Spanish at a highly competitive preschool. She also worked as a Survivor Advocate at a non-profit domestic violence shelter, offering steadfast support to children and families in need. Kat is dedicated to fostering students’ holistic growth. With her profound understanding of child development, she excels in nurturing student self-belief and imparting lifelong skills in addition to highly individualized academic tutoring.
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Benjamin Spott
Benny grew up outside of Cleveland and studied biotechnology at Kent State University, where he graduated cum laude. As an undergraduate, he worked for the Department of Energy researching fuel cells at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee. Benny earned a Master of Engineering degree at Washington University in St. Louis, where he researched algal biofuel and took courses focused on energy efficiency, environmental sustainability and business. After working in the pharmaceutical industry, he has decided to focus on tutoring and teaching. Benny is an adjunct professor of chemistry at F.I.T. and genetics at Touro College, and tutors geometry, algebra, all levels of Biology and Chemistry, and for all sections of the SHSAT, ISEE, and SSAT.
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Susanna Stahlmann
Susanna grew up in Minnesota where she received a full Spanish Immersion education from elementary through middle school. After graduating from high school with an International Baccalaureate certificate she moved on to the University of Minnesota to complete her BFA in Theater Arts. As an experienced tutor and teaching artist in NYC, Susanna is passionate about sharing her love of language with her students through curated materials and play. She tutors reading, writing, math, and all levels of Spanish.
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Jasmine Stone
Jasmine is a PhD student in Neurobiology and Behavior at Columbia University where she studies biological learning using computational methods. She grew up in Austin, Texas and graduated from Yale Phi Beta Kappa and Magna Cum Laude with a B.S. in Computer Science. She then went on to complete an M.Phil in Engineering at the University of Cambridge as a Churchill Scholar where she developed methods for analyzing neural data. She has a breadth of tutoring, mentoring and teaching experience especially on topics related to math and computer science.
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Julianna Tauschinger-Dempsey
College And Graduate School Counseling And AdmissionsJulianna grew up primarily in Cleveland. She attended Hathaway Brown School for Girls and Milton Academy’s Mountain School. Julianna graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University (social anthropology) and cum laude from the Manhattan School of Music (Opera Performance). Prior to tutoring for Bespoke, Julianna was the head tutor and writing consultant at a leading tutoring agency in the Southeast, a voice lecturer at UNC, Brown University, and the Triangle Music School, and an offsite editor and writing consultant for RISD, SVA and other research institutions. Outside of Bespoke, Julianna is the lead High School teacher at an online school for the academically and artistically gifted. She tutors the ACT, SAT, AP Language and Composition, various academic subjects, writing skills, and offers college application guidance.
Proud Member of:
Alex Taylor
Alex grew up in Charlotte, NC and was a National Achievement Scholar at Charlotte Latin School, as well as the recipient of the Frederick Douglas & Susan B. Anthony Award in Humanities & Social Sciences from the University of Rochester. She then graduated from Barnard College with a BA in Theatre with an Acting Concentration and a Political Science minor. Alex tutors a wide array of subjects, as well as all sections of the ISEE, SSAT, SHSAT, ACT and SAT.
Proud Member of:
Nick Thomas
Nick graduated from both Eton College and Oxford University. He has tutored for over 13 years in a wide selection of subjects including math, literature, essay-writing, Latin, French and all varieties of test prep. He is a specialist in logic and arithmetic development and has written books about both topics; he has also written a regular column about math for the Guardian newspaper and placed second in the UK’s first ever National Sudoku Championship. Nick is one-half of a married couple sketch comedy team We Are Thomasse. Nick tutors for all sections of the SAT, ACT, GMAT, GRE, SSAT, ISEE and SHSAT.
Proud Member of:
Mia Tucker
Originally from New York, Mia graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Tulane University in New Orleans with a BA in Political Science and International Relations. She then spent several years working at a human rights organization in New York whose focus is labor abuses in apparel supply chains. In 2021, Mia moved to Paris to pursue a master’s degree in Human Rights and Humanitarian Action at Sciences Po. At Bespoke, she helps students prepare for the SAT, drawing on tutoring experiences acquired in New Orleans and Paris.
Proud Member of:
Liba Vaynberg
Liba graduated with distinction from Yale with degrees in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology and International Studies. She received her MFA from Columbia University. She has worked with Kaplan, Flagship and Boost before joining the Bespoke team and has years of experience working with students in various private and public schools and universities in New York, with a focus on biology and writing. She is a passionate tutor devoted to building confidence in her students in and outside the classroom. Liba tutors for all sections of the ISEE, SSAT, SHSAT, SAT and ACT.
Proud Member of:
Nick Videen
Nick holds a B.M. with a Music-in-Education concentration from New England Conservatory, where he graduated with distinction as a jazz saxophonist. Currently, he is pursuing a master’s degree in math at The City College of New York, where he is also an adjunct lecturer in the math department. Nick has been with Bespoke for over ten years and tutors all sections of the SAT, ACT, GRE, ISEE, SSAT, and SHSAT. He also tutors math through calculus and has experience working with home-schooled students in middle and high school.
Proud Member of:
Jen Walters
Jen grew up in Northern California where her experiences in band and choir led her to earn her Bachelor’s of Music in Music Education from the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, WA. After getting her Multiple Subject and her Single Subject- Foundational Math California teaching credentials, Jen taught math in Northern California where she created workshops and classes to address math anxiety and improve scores on California’s High School Exit Exam. Since moving to NYC she has tutored privately in a range of subjects and recently completed her Masters of Education in Math Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Texas, Arlington. She still enjoys singing and playing guitar and would love to have the space for a piano someday!
Proud Member of:
JJ Warshaw
JJ graduated summa cum laude from Princeton University, where he was an RA and freelance tutor. He works with students on all sections of the ACT and SAT, general academic help in history, English, math, writing, and executive function coaching. JJ brings enthusiasm and empathy to every lesson and has extensive experience tutoring students remotely.
Proud Member of:
Matt Weir
Matt grew up in Naperville, Illinois, and is a magna cum laude graduate from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. He earned an MFA in Creative Writing from Rutgers University-Newark where he taught writing composition to undergraduates. For years Matt has taught language arts, creative writing, and math skills to elementary and high school students across New York and New England with Story Pirates, an arts education and media organization. Matt is a versatile elementary, middle school, and high school tutor who works with students in reading, writing, math, organizational skills, and SAT, ACT, ISEE, SSAT, and SHSAT test prep.
Proud Member of:
Joe Wickline
Joe grew up in California, and was a National Merit Scholar and salutatorian at Santa Monica High School. He studied at Yale University, where he received a B.A. in English with a concentration in Creative Writing. At Bespoke, Joe provides guidance with the ISEE, SSAT, SAT and ACT, as well as general academic and organizational support. Outside of tutoring, Joe writes and performs comedy in New York City.
Proud Member of:
Amy Williams
Amy grew up in Westchester County and graduated with honors from the College of William & Mary, where she majored in International Relations and minored in Mathematics. As a Fulbright Scholar, she studied at Uppsala University in Sweden, completing a quantitative analysis thesis in Peace and Conflict studies. Amy earned an MA and JD from Fordham University and has worked in both corporate law and as a researcher in international human rights law. She tutors all areas of math and for all sections of the ISEE, SSAT and LSAT.
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