Our Team of Tutors

At Smith Street Workshop, we have a highly selective recruiting process and rigorous application process for our instructors. Our instructional staff consists of highly qualified educators, including credentialed teachers, graduates of Ivy League schools, and PhD candidates.

We provide our tutors with frequent opportunities to meet with our instructional coach and curriculum development team. During these meetings, our tutors receive professional development, discuss best practices, work closely with the curriculum development team to refine curriculum based on the needs of each students, and discuss instructional strategies to improve instruction based on observations/feedback from our instructional coach.

Alain M. is a Swiss jazz saxophonist and educator, based in Brooklyn. Born to a family of educators, Alain began tutoring students upon finishing college. He earned a BFA in Saxophone in 2015 and an MFA in Music Pedagogy in 2017 at Lausanne Conservatory of Music in Switzerland. To further nurture his own career and to broaden his scope as a creative artist, Alain moved to New York in 2019 where he studied at The New School of Jazz and Contemporary Music and began teaching music and tutoring french students of all ages. Alain is a natural and passionate teacher animated by values such as respect, tolerance, hard work, honesty and authenticity and who knows how to bring the best out of his students. 

Subjects Tutored: French

Cecilia W. is a dancer, writer, and educator based in Brooklyn. Growing up in North Carolina, she attended the language immersion K-8 Smith Academy of International Languages in the French program. She continued her French studies in high school in the International Baccalaureate (IB) program and earned a BA in French from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. In college, she worked as a French department assistant where she tutored fellow students in conversation and writing, while working as a private French tutor to elementary school students. Upon moving to New York to study at the Martha Graham School for Contemporary Dance, she has taught classes in the arts to middle school students of Manhattan Youth Afterschool. She is a passionate teacher and tutor with a creative and engaging teaching style focused on helping students achieve their individual goals. 

Daniel G. is a writer, teacher, climate organizer, and a life-long Brooklynite. They hold an MFA in Creative Writing from the New School and their writing has been published in a variety of literary magazines and journals. They have worked as a general education and a test prep tutor for the past eight years. As a Teaching Artist, Daniel works with the 92nd Street YMCA, 826 NYC, BRIC, and other arts organizations, teaching creative writing, podcasting, and video production in NYC public schools. They love creating joyful and empathetic environments and focus on making learning as stress-free and fun as possible. At the Workshop Daniel specializes in test prep (SHSAT, ISEE, TACHS, SAT, ACT) , general academic support for middle and high school, as well as executive functioning skills.

Subjects Tutored: Test Prep (SHSAT, ISEE, SSAT, TACHS, SAT, ACT), Math, ELA/Literacy, Social Studies/History

David S. got started tutoring with the SHSAT shortly after he got into Stuyvesant high school, and has been working with middle and high schoolers on math and test prep ever since. He went on to earn a bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Mathematics at the City College of New York, and has been working as an engineer while tutoring these past years. David loves helping students become confident in the mechanics of algebra and subsequent mathematical disciplines, as well as teaching students how to win the game of standardized test prep--key steps on their paths in life.

Subjects Tutored: Test Prep (SHSAT, ISEE, SSAT, TACHS, SAT, ACT), Math, ELA/Literacy, Social Studies/History, Science

Eli K.'s journey as an educator started in New York fifteen years ago; since then, he has worked as a teacher and administrator in Early Childhood and K-12 schools in California and Russia, prior to returning to New York. Throughout this time, Eli has been tutoring students of all ages, covering general academic support for all subjects, English language development, and test preparation. During his time in New York, Eli worked with Middle School students preparing for the SHSAT as well as High Schoolers for the SAT and ACT exams. Eli holds current teaching certification, and has earned an M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction from the University of San Diego and an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership & Policy from the University of Texas at Austin. He also holds a B.A. in History and a B.A. in Art History from Arizona State University.

Elizabeth W. has a BA in Mathematics and English from the University of Rochester and is fluent in French. She began working as a tutor for Arizona State University during her last two years of high school while studying mathematics there part-time. She then went on to work as a math tutor at the University of Rochester while completing her full-time degree programs, during which she studied abroad in both France and England. Throughout college, she also tutored privately, covering everything from high school math to French instruction to general academic support. She has experience with students of all ages from kindergarten to graduate level and with test prep for the SSAT and SHSAT as well as SAT, ACT, and AP tests. Her approach prioritizes flexibility, always aiming to find what works best for a given student. Her ultimate goal is to make sessions as fun as possible while helping students to reach their full academic potential. Outside of tutoring, her interests include music and theater (both of which she also studied during college), as well as baking, swimming, and video games.

Subjects Tutored: Test Prep (SHSAT, ISEE, SSAT, TACHS, SAT, ACT), French, Math, ELA/Literacy, Social Studies/History

Gabriela H. is a 7th grade English teacher in southern Brooklyn. She majored in English Literature and Sociology at Amherst College, and upon graduating joined the New York City Teaching Fellows. Through the program, she received a Master's Degree in Education from St. John’s University. She has taught 6th and 7th grade math, science, social studies, and ELA, but her specialty is in middle and high school English. She is certified/trained in: Special Education 7-12, English 7-12, and SHSAT Test Prep and particularly enjoys tutoring for the SHSAT exam because she went to a specialized high school. She understands the rigor that goes into taking the SHSAT and attending a specialized school, and she wants to help students accomplish this goal!

Subjects Tutored: Test Prep (SHSAT, ISEE, SSAT, TACHS)

Guillaume G. grew up in France and graduated from the Ecole Polytechnique in 2006, majoring in Mathematics and Finance. He moved to New York City to work for a French bank for 10 years. In 2017, he transitioned into teaching and became a math tutor, eager to show how mathematics can be applied outside of school. Guillaume’s teaching style brings the best of his past experiences from both French and American cultures, always with a little touch of fun and creativity. 

At the Workshop, Guillaume tutors in math and science, and also specializes in Test Prep for middle school, high school, and college admissions. He is also the lead math teacher for the SHSAT prep courses at the Workshop and develops SHSAT curriculum. Fluent in French and English.

Subjects Tutored: Test Prep (SHSAT, ISEE, SSAT, TACHS, SAT, ACT), Math, Science

Gwenyth J. is a mission-driven educator, deeply committed to making a difference in the lives of young people. Trained as a media historian, she holds a B.A. in History from Columbia University, and earned her MA and PhD in Communication from the Annenberg School at the University of Pennsylvania. For over two decades Gwenyth served as a member of the Fordham University faculty, in the Department of Communication and Media Studies, teaching courses about media and society. As the parent of a neurodiverse child, she witnessed the power of an individualized education plan, tailored to the unique learning profile of her son. Watching how he flowered when given the right support opened her eyes to the ways in which one-to-one tutoring can supplement classroom learning for all learners. She loves taking on the challenge of helping students connect with their inner motivation – to find a sense of purpose and take ownership of their academic journey to reach their goals. To that end, she provides help with personal statements and supplemental essays for high school and college applications. A long-time mindfulness meditation practitioner, Gwenyth offers training in Digital Wellness Education, teaching students how to calm their minds and cultivate intentional attention amid the distractions of the digital age. She is a proud science fiction fan, and her avatar is Yoda.

Subjects Tutored: Social Studies/History, ELA/Literacy and study skills.

Jason G. earned his PhD from Duke University in 2022. Originally from Brooklyn, New York, he has had over five years of experience as a writing instructor, academic tutor, and editor. He has taught writing at the university level and has worked one-on-one with high-school students on college applications and English language skills for several years. His student-centered approach, one that works with students to refine and express their unique interests and skills, aims to produce genuine learning while preparing students for the world at large. 

Subjects Tutored: ELA/Literacy, Admissions Essays

Jenni H. graduated with a Master’s in Applied Math and Physics from Northwestern University and an undergraduate degree in Mathematics from the University of Michigan. She has been teaching and tutoring high school math and science for over ten years. In addition, Jenni is an experienced SHSAT and SAT test prep teacher and tutor and has worked with 100+ students over the past several years. Personable and friendly, she meets students where they are at in each subject, takes them to the edge of their knowledge and gently pushes them to extend and expand, guiding them as they grow in confidence and mastery of the subject. Passionate about teaching and helping students be their best academic selves, Jenni effectively works with students of all abilities and levels, working with students and families to reach and surpass their academic goals.

Subjects Tutored: Test Prep (SHSAT, ISEE, SSAT, TACHS, SAT, ACT), Math, Science

John K. is a writer and book critic. He earned his M.F.A. in Creative Writing from The New School and his B.A. in English and Textual Studies from Syracuse University. In 2020, he joined the National Book Critics circle as a voting member, and recently served as a judge for the organization's prestigious John Leonard Prize. His writing has been published in The Brooklyn Rail, Entropy Magazine, Pank, and elsewhere. When he isn't working on his novel, John enjoys composing and playing music. At Smith Street Workshop, John specializes in Writing and Test Prep for middle, high school, and college admissions.

Subjects Tutored: Test Prep (SHSAT, ISEE, SSAT, TACHS), ELA/Literacy, Social Studies/History

Jude L. is a writer and educator from Staten Island, where they first discovered their love of teaching through tutoring their classmates at Staten Island Technical High School. After earning their MFA in Creative Writing from the New School, they moved to Brooklyn to pursue a path in education. They have taught general education, test prep, and creative writing for six years, and previously supervised Title I programming in Catholic schools for three years. Having attended Staten Island Tech, Jude understands the rigor that goes into taking the SHSAT and attending a Specialized High School.

Jude believes in the power of productive struggle for both academic and personal development, while also acknowledging that this can be an emotional process for students. To ensure students know they are supported every step of the way, they prioritize connecting with students and helping students find their own personal joy and meaning in learning, especially in subjects they find challenging. They especially enjoy demystifying standardized testing.

Subjects Tutored: Test Prep (SHSAT, ISEE, SSAT, TACHS), ELA/Literacy

Kent K. has been teaching both Spanish and Portuguese since 2012, first at the University of Washington and then at Bard High School Early College – Manhattan. He holds a Ph.D. in Hispanic Literary and Cultural Studies from the University of Washington, as well as an M.A. and a Graduate Certificate in Second and Foreign Language Teaching from the same institution. A native of Indiana, he completed his B.A. in Spanish and International Studies at Indiana University. He has lived in both Madrid and Cádiz, spent many summers in Salvador da Bahia, and traveled extensively. He seeks to share his love of language, literature, culture, and travel with his students.

Subjects Tutored: Spanish, Portuguese

Kristen B. earned her MFA in Creative Writing from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and has been tutoring and teaching at the college level since 2017. Having created and taught over fifteen courses, from composition classes to literature and creative writing classes, she knows students learn differently and looks for ways to engage and encourage each young writer and reader. There’s nothing more rewarding than watching a student more confidently express themselves both in written and verbal communication. In addition to creative writing, she enjoys painting and photography. Her work has appeared in online journals such as On Being and Guernica, and she received the Swan Fellowship from the Vermont Studio Center in 2019.

Subjects Tutored: ELA/Literacy, Test Prep (SHSAT, ISEE, SSAT, TACHS, SAT, ACT)

Meghan M. is a graduate of New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, where she earned a BFA in Drama. A passionate artist with an affinity for the academic, she has worked as a professional tutor for 10 years, specializing in test prep and Spanish. She is also a grammarian with a love of writing, TV, and theater; she has taught English in Buenos Aires, Argentina and worked in theater administration in Barcelona, Spain. As an NYU grad, Meghan understands how essential test prep is in furthering students' education; however, she also appreciates that every student has a passion, one that likely lies outside the bounds of standardized testing, and she is committed to making connections with students with those diverse passions in mind.

Subjects Tutored: Test Prep (SHSAT, ISEE, SSAT, TACHS), ELA/Literacy, Math

Michael C. began teaching standardized test prep 7 years ago, shortly after graduating magna cum laude from Columbia University with a BA in History. With nearly 15,000 hours of teaching experience, he has an extensive background in teaching standardized test prep to a broad range of students in both a classroom environment and in one on one tutoring sessions. Michael brings a passion for learning with a desire to help young people succeed in their goals to every class and tutoring session he leads. He firmly believes that every student has the ability to improve their score if provided with the tools and techniques specific to the standardized test they are preparing for.

Subjects Tutored: Test Prep (SHSAT, SAT, ACT)

Nathalie V. is a native French speaker, originally from Belgium, where she earned a Masters Degree in French Language and Literature at Louvain University. She began her teaching career in Brussels, and after living in Poland for several years, she and her family moved to New York five years ago. She has worked as a private French tutor with both children and adults and created curricula for various French after school programs. Fluent in French and English.

Subjects Tutored: French

Nina G. has a BA in Secondary Education and French from Washington University in St. Louis and currently serves as an Associate Teacher in the Toute Petite section at Smith Street Maternelle. She began tutoring in high school through the California Scholarship Federation, and continued teaching and tutoring as an undergraduate at WashU – providing general academic support for middle school students, targeted college-level French instruction, and high school French instruction (Level 1 through International Baccalaureate). Nina studied in Toulouse, France while completing her undergraduate degree and later lived in Tarbes, France while working as a TAPIF middle school English assistant and as a private tutor. Nina has also been a lead French teacher at elementary and middle schools in Boston and New York.

Subjects Tutored: French

Rafer D. graduated from Harvey Mudd College with a degree in Mathematical and Computational Biology and a minor in Literature. He has been tutoring since 2009, with stops in Los Angeles and Chicago before arriving in Brooklyn. Along with tutoring math, science, and writing, Rafer brings a deep and nuanced understanding of the SAT, the ACT, and tests for High School Admission. Rafer strongly believes that there is no perfect test-taking formula, and instead tries to maximize the individual strengths of each student. Outside of tutoring, Rafer likes running, and has to his name a 14:21 5k personal best and a 193rd place finish at the 2015 Boston Marathon.

Subjects Tutored: Test Prep (SHSAT, ISEE, SSAT, TACHS, SAT, ACT), Math, Science ELA/Literacy, Social Studies/History

Richard F. grew up in London and has since lived between Paris and NYC. He received his BA from Harvard College, where he majored in Comparative Literature, and an MA from the École Normale Supérieure in modern philosophy. He has held teaching posts at Université de la Sorbonne-Nouvelle (Paris III) and l'Institut Catholique de Paris, and has experience tutoring in a range of subjects, including test prep for HS and College Admissions, as well as science (biology, physics and chemistry), classics and French. He centers his teaching philosophy on the principle that any topic is viable for a student, when approached from the right angle, and that both critical thinking and active study habits are not only crucial, but learnable skills.

Subjects Tutored: Test Prep (SHSAT, ISEE, SSAT, TACHS, SAT, ACT), Math, Science, ELA/Literacy, Social Studies/History, College Advising/Application Prep

Sarah G. is a NYC based educator whose career has spanned the gamut of fields. She served as a fourth grade teacher at the Dalton School, taught among the founding teachers of the Heschel School, was Director of Lifelong Learning at the Park Avenue Synagogue and was an Academic Program Manager at CUNY where she acted as a coach to principals and teachers in NYC public schools as well as the director of its College Now summer program. She most recently served as the Interim Director of Education at the Park Slope Jewish Center as it transitioned to a virtual platform during the early stages of the pandemic. Sarah holds a B.A. in Government from Smith College and a M.A. in Education from Stanford University and was a fellow at the Senior Educators’ Program at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. She completed coursework in elementary teaching and educational leadership at Bank Street College of Education. A native New Yorker, she resides on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.

Subjects Tutored: K-5 (all subjects), Test Prep

Shane S. 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.

Subjects Tutored: Test Prep (SHSAT, ISEE, SSAT, TACHS, SAT, ACT), Math, ELA/Literacy, Social Studies/History

Sophie C. is a Paris native who spent the first part of her life living throughout Europe, cultivating a sense of foreign languages and cultures at an early age. She completed a Bachelors degree in Anglo-American Literature & Civilization as well as a Masters in Political Science before joining the workforce in public relations and advertising, eventually opening her own NYC photography studio in 2015.After navigating the bilingual heritage of her own children, Sophie recently decided to dedicate her attention to a new endeavor, the world of early childhood development and education. In 2020, Sophie joined the teaching team at Smith Street Maternelle (Smith Street’s French Immersion preschool), and is currently completing her degree in French as a foreign language. Her three children have been educated in the New York public school system and she has spent countless hours tutoring them directly in order for them to remain active French speakers and readers. At the Workshop, Sophie tutors French across all ages and grade levels.

Subjects Tutored: French

Tanya D. currently teaches the Kindergarten class at P.S. 20 in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn. After completing her Bachelor's degree in French with a minor in Education, she taught English in France for a year in primary schools. She went on to receive her Master's degree from Adelphi University in TESOL and is currently pursuing a second masters from NYU in French Studies. Tanya is American and fluent in French and English.

Subjects Tutored: K-5 (all subjects), French

Tiffany P. has a BA in English / Spanish Minor from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She began working as a private tutor while pursuing a Master's of Education at Hunter College in New York City. She is a New York State licensed educator with certifications in English as a second language, English language arts, and Special Education. Tiffany enjoys supporting students in language development. Throughout her teaching practice, there is a strong emphasis on the cultivation of critical thinking skills and application through writing and other forms of expressive language. She has experience working with preschool students in preparation for the Gifted and Talented exams and ELA/History instruction in all grades K-12. Her goal in working with students is to help students achieve growth and progress in their academic development. Outside of teaching her interests include travel and documentaries.

Subjects Tutored: ELA/Literacy, Social Studies/History, Test Prep

THE ADMIN TEAM

Olivia Ramsey is the Executive Director of Smith Street Workshop and Senior Director of Smith Street Maternelle. After completing her Masters degree at Bank Street College of Education, she taught for ten years here in New York, beginning at the Downtown Little School, moving on to the Lycée Français de New York, and finally ending up as one of the founding teachers of PS 58's French Dual Language program in Carroll Gardens.

In the fall of 2013, Olivia started a small tutoring practice out of her apartment on Smith Street. To meet the growing demand for tutoring and academic enrichment in Brooklyn, she founded Smith Street Workshop in 2015.  In 2016, the Workshop added a French Immersion morning playgroup to its offerings, and 2018 marked the opening of Smith Street Maternelle, a fully licensed French Immersion Preschool.

Before her career as an educator, Olivia studied French and traveled extensively abroad. After graduating with a dual-degree in French and Psychology, she worked as the assistant director to Earlham College's semester abroad programs in Paris and in Fort-de-France, Martinique. She deepened her knowledge of French by being immersed in the culture, making lifelong French-speaking friends, and now by being a part of the French/American community here in Brooklyn.

Jaclyn Wickham is Smith Street Workshop’s Senior Director of Academic Enrichment. In that role, Jaclyn leads all our Smith Street Workshop’s curriculum development. In addition to this, she continues to work as an educator, tutoring students across a wide range of topics at the Workshop.

Jaclyn holds a Master’s degree in Human-Computer Interaction from New York University’s ITP program and a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education.  She’s an educational technologist and former teacher who is passionate about education reform, and is continually exploring innovative ways to use technology to enhance learning.

In her former role as a classroom teacher, Jaclyn increased student achievement and created personalized learning experiences for her students through the use of instructional technology such as interactive whiteboard lessons, student response systems, and one-to-one iPads.  As a professional development specialist and instructional coach, she traveled to classrooms across NYC to deliver small and large group presentations, model instructional best practices, and coach teachers on how to integrate technology into their curriculum, instruction, and assessment practices.

Barbara Shelsky is the Director of Operations and Scheduling, Parent Liaison at Smith Street Workshop. Born and raised in Paris, Barbara is a native French speaker.  She graduated from La Sorbonne in 1995 with a Master’s degree in management and human resources, and from L’Institut de Gestion Social (IGS-RH) with an MBA with a focus on human resources.  

Moving to New York from France in 2000, Barbara employed her degrees in restaurant and then fashion retail management.  Both, the hospitality industry and her years in fashion retail, made customer relations the hallmark of her career.  Her involvement in the PS58 PTA as a Mother of 2 bilingual daughters, sparked an interest in education as a means and an end, to put her vast wealth of hospitality bona fides to more substantive use.  

Barbara joined the Smith Street Workshop and Smith St.Maternelle team in 2019. When you call us for information, or if you have any questions about our program she will be the one on the other end of the phone.  She will schedule your students’ sessions with their tutor(s) and will serve as your liaison, ensuring that you, as parents, are thoroughly on top of what your student is doing.  Moreover, beyond our program, Barbara is perpetually up to speed on current requirements for the specialized high school and college admissions and exam processes.  She will be a strong asset in helping to usher you through what can seem like a daunting process.