Meet Our Tutors
Kaplan Premier's tutors are the foundation of our service.
Having graduated our rigorous training and development program,
they all share the same level of excellence: near-perfect scores
(in the 95th percentile or above), previous instructional
experience, and—most importantly—the ability to create an
interactive one-on-one learning environment based on the
individual needs of each student.
Here are just a few of the tutors who work with Kaplan Premier
students in Southern California. At the onset of any tutoring
program, your Academic Coordinator will conduct our Tutor
Matching Interview to find the best possible tutor for
your child.
Gregory
Location: Encino
Subjects Tutored: SAT, SAT Subject Test - Math,
ACT - Math/Science, ISEE - Math
Teaching/Tutoring experience: I have more than
ten years experience tutoring/teaching math with elementary,
middle school, high school, and college students.
Hobbies/Passions: I am passionate about
education and physical fitness. Moreover, I enjoy downhill
skiing, most sports (attending and participating), and
traveling.
Degrees Earned: B.A./M.P.A. (Master's in Public
Administration)
Fun Fact: I originally wanted to be a math
teacher, but changed my major to attend Law School. However,
during graduate school, I realized that I would be valuable to
society as an educator instead of an attorney, which is why I am
currently in the process of returning to school to get a
doctorate degree in Education.
What I enjoy about tutoring with Kaplan Premier:
It allows me to help others succeed in an exciting and fun
environment.
Tony
Location: I work out of the Westwood
Center.
Subjects Tutored: I tutor the SAT math
section.
Tutor Since: I have been with the company since
August 2005.
Teaching/Tutoring Experience: Currently I am a
substitute teacher for the Santa Monica Malibu Unified School
District. I have been a sub for over five years. My first
tutoring job was in high school for Score! Advantage. I also
tutored in college for middle school students through a program
called East Bay Asian Youth Center.
Hobbies/Passions: I moved to LA because of the
entertainment industry so you could say that I am passionate
about acting. I also love food. And sports. And chilling. Not
always in that order.
Degrees Earned: I have a bachelor's in economics
from UC Berkeley.
What I enjoy about tutoring with Kaplan Premier:
I enjoy the relationship that you develop with the student and
the family. I also like seeing the light bulb turn on, especially
for subjects the student dislikes or struggles with.
Allison
Location: I live in the beautiful and sunny
Los Angeles, CA.
Subjects Tutored: I tutor SAT Math, Critical
Reading, and Writing, as well as ACT, Math SAT Subject Test,
ISEE, and SSAT.
Tutor Since: I've been a tutor with Kaplan since
August 2005.
Teaching/Tutoring Experience: I've also taught
Pre-Calculus and have been tutoring since my freshman year in
college.
Hobbies/Passions: My hobbies are soccer, hiking,
screenwriting, and anything to do with movies.
Degrees Earned: I have a B.A. from Scripps
College, where I double majored in Math and English.
Fun Fact: I can't think of a particularly fun
fact about myself, but fun movies that I love are The Royal
Tenenbaums, Old School, Big Trouble, and
Napoleon Dynamite.
What I enjoy about tutoring with Kaplan Premier:
The thing I love most about tutoring with Kaplan Premier is my
students!
James
Location: Fullerton, CA
Subjects Tutored: SAT Math, ACT Math and
Science, SAT Subject Test - Math, Pre-Calculus
Tutor Since: August 2005
Teaching/Tutoring Experience: I have two years'
experience as the editor of an independent Arts and
Entertainment publication at the University of Pittsburgh. I was
required to mentor freshmen and sophomore students in writing
news stories consistent with Associated Press style, creative
non-fiction, and reviews.
Hobbies/Passions: I enjoy desert hiking and
exploring offbeat local attractions (in abundance in Southern
California, from homemade spiral towers to abandoned tungsten
mines). I also enjoy travel to offbeat locations. Odd as it
sounds, I am passionate about the study of Economics, as I am
keen in the scientific study of developing a Third World country.
I read extensively on issues in Development Economics and
Environmental Economics, as well as Science Fiction and African
Literature (J.M. Coetzee, Naruddin Farah, Bessie Head, being
particular favourites). I also dabble occasionally in creative
writing, theatre and art, with all three usually having something
to do with issues in Development Economics.
Degrees Earned: Bachelor of Science in Economics
from the University of Pittsburgh, and I am currently working
towards my Master of Arts degree in Economics from California
State University, Fullerton.
Fun Fact: I'm an avid cricket fan (go England
and Yorkshire County!) and like to play the odd casual
game.
What I enjoy about tutoring with Kaplan Premier:
Being able to instill confidence in a young student under
pressure so that they can ace the standardized test hurdle of
their passage into the college of choice.
Abby
Location: Pasadena, California
Subjects Tutored: SAT Critical Reading &
Writing; ISEE total for Lower & Middle Levels, Verbal
sections only for Upper
Tutor Since: August 2005
Teaching/Tutoring Experience: Three years on a
volunteer basis with elementary school students and adult
literacy learners.
Hobbies/Passions: My daughter and husband,
movies, environmentalism
Degrees Earned: Bachelor of Arts from New York
University
Fun Fact: I'm a serious goofball.
What I enjoy about tutoring with Kaplan Premier:
Having the steady opportunity to watch the transition between
"Huh??" and "I know that!" unfold.
Debbie
Subjects Tutored: SAT Verbal, Writing, and Math. ACT English, Math, Reading, and Science. SAT Subject Test in Literature. SSAT and ISEE.
Teaching/Tutoring experience: Over seven years as a teacher and tutor with Kaplan. I also teach and tutor college graduates who are preparing for the GRE and GMAT exams. I am a tutor trainer for Premier Tutoring, and a graduate teacher trainer at the Encino Kaplan Center.
Hobbies/Passions: Yoga, hiking, and buying fresh produce at the wonderful farmers' markets in southern California.
Degrees Earned: B.F.A. with honors in Acting from New York University
Fun Fact: I am an actress who has appeared onscreen with celebrities such as Mark Harmon, Anthony LaPaglia, Bea Arthur, Mike Piazza…and even Alf!
Favorite KP Experience:
Hearing back from students after test day and congratulating them on their success!
Lauren
Subjects Tutored: SAT Verbal and Math; ACT English/Reading/Writing and Math/Science; ISEE Verbal and Math; SAT 2 Subject Tests in US History, Math IC, Math IIC, and Physics; AP Tests in Calculus AB and BC, Physics Mechanics, Macroeconomics, and US History
Teaching/Tutoring experience: I tutored all throughout High School and College by volunteering at local schools and at my own school before joining Kaplan Premier. I am also a Teaching Assistant at UCSD.
Degrees Earned: B.A. Mathematics at University of California at San Diego (December 2007)
Fun Fact: I usually go on an annual three-week or longer trip in the outdoors, such as dog sledding in Maine or sea-kayaking in Alaska.
Hobbies/Passions: Tennis, Movies, Backpacking, Outdoors Activities, Reading
Favorite KP Experience: To be honest, I cannot think one favorite experience as working for Kaplan has been the best part of my college career. The people are incredible, and each success I have with every one of my students makes tutoring easy and enjoyable.
Rad
Subjects Tutored: SAT Verbal and Math, ACT English/Reading/Writing and Math/Science, SAT Subject Tests in Literature, US History, Biology, and Math Level 2, ISEE Verbal and math, GRE, GMAT
Teaching/Tutoring experience: Two and a half years with Kaplan tutoring and teaching in the classroom.
Hobbies/Passions: Triathlon, marathons, writing.
Degrees Earned: B.A. in English, Wake Forest University
Fun Fact: When I'm not tutoring, I coach the USC triathlon team.
Favorite KP Experience: Having students call me months after tutoring to say how much it helped them in the college application process.
Owen
Subjects Tutored: SAT Verbal, ACT Verbal, SAT 2 Subject Tests in Literature, World History, and U.S. History, AP Tests in English Language and English Composition, ISEE Verbal.
Teaching/Tutoring experience: Over twenty one years as a practicing attorney in Massachusetts, California and Nevada strengthening my reading and writing muscles; over 2 years tutoring for Kaplan Premier.
Hobbies/Passions: Diehard Red Sox fan (takes up most of my time), volunteer work with abused children, reading 'classics', Seinfeld.
Degrees Earned: B.A. in Philosophy, Connecticut College. JD in Law, Suffolk University.
Fun Fact: While in college I was featured in the SI column called 'faces in the crowd' for my achievements as a goaltender for the Women's Field Hockey team.
Favorite KP Experience:When I get the call and/or email after the scores come out, reflecting the student's [and parent's] happiness in achieving a good score. This allows me, believe it or not, to remain humbled, because the students are the ones who do the work and put in the time to work for the score that will place them in the university or college of their choice.
