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What Makes Firefly Tutoring Unique?
Mona and Paul opened Firefly Tutoring in 2012, and know first-hand the needs of the community because they have experienced them. They have 4 children of their own ranging from 2nd Grade to College-Age, who have all gone through
the Seattle public school system. This has helped them develop a particularly insightful perspective in understanding what scaffolding is needed to help each student thrive in our local schools. Their expertise, warm hearts, genuine care for children and mission to spread a love of learning is apparent in Firefly’s high percentage of success stories.
Mona and Paul hire tutors who exhibit the same love of learning and care for the students, making the center a place of fun and community. We're delighted to have such a wonderful team of dedicated tutors from a variety of backgrounds!
Team
Jarrad
Head Math Tutor/Test Prep Advisor
Jarrad has been with Firefly for 6 years, with a Masters degree in Public Policy and Economics, and a Bachelor’s in Math and Finance from McAllister College. His creativity and special blend of inspirational and focused style has turned Jarrad into our most popular math tutor. Kids respond to his ability to describe mathematical concepts in a way that they can relate to, and many have grown from disliking math to excelling in it. We are truly thankful to have Jarrad on our team!
Isabel
Tutor Manager/Reading/ELA
After growing up in Seattle, Isabel studied psychology at University of Montana and Central Oregon College. She has been working with kids in a classroom setting since 2015 as a lead pre-k and kindergarten teacher for much of that time. Isabel values learning about the unique thought patterns and perspectives of each child and believes these can all be strengths. Her passion for incorporating creativity into education has reportedly inspired purpose, meaning, excitement and joy into the lives of her students. In her free time, Isabel can be found diving into any number of crafty endeavors. Some of these include drawing (in sketchbooks or on rocks), collaging with vintage magazines, and exploring excerpts from poetic or informative texts. She will be continuing her studies in psychology, virtually, at Oregon State University.
Sascha
Math/Language Arts
Sascha was born and raised in Seattle, Washington, and has a great appreciation for the Pacific Northwest. Being the eldest of 5, Sascha is adept at engaging with kids and adapting to their needs and learning styles. Combining this with her passion for learning, Sascha works to ignite a similar level of excitement around academic advancement in every student. Sascha is an avid symphony bassoonist, and also plays the piano in her spare time. In addition to being a music-lover, Sascha is a “super nerd” and loves everything science fiction, especially superhero comics.
Nia
Math/Science/History/Test Prep
- On sabbatical until further notice -
Nia is a Washington local from Sammamish and is currently a student at the University of Washington hoping to major in applied math. She feels that tutoring is an inspiring opportunity to actually make a difference with what she's learned so far. Nia hopes to show students that math doesn't have to be the stereotypical dreaded class in school. In her free time, she likes to go outside, play the piano, travel, or attend concerts!
Briawna
All levels of Mathematics/Test Prep
Briawna is currently a student at the University of Washington studying math. She has spent many years tutoring young people, which has been a constant source of inspiration for her. She loves how students all learn differently, and she often marvels at their creativity and quick problem-solving methods.
Briawna believes that education is more than just academics; we learn skills that will help us navigate the world around us. When she's not studying or working, Briawna enjoys relaxing with tasty snacks and a movie or show. She also loves exploring her creative side through writing stories.
Robert
Math/Science
Robert is creative, motivated by tough problems, and has a keen eye for detail. Robert launched and managed an online tutoring business in which he has a total of 10 years experience, focusing on tutoring in software engineering and computer programming. He also has experience working with high school and college age kids in chemistry and math, as well as school age kids in math. He loves to work to help with understanding and innovation, and aims to make math fun for all levels.
Penelope
Spanish/Math/Language Arts/Test Prep
​Penelope is a former immersion school student from JSIS, who has experience with the Seattle school curriculum because she went through it. As a current sophomore at MSU studying business marketing and economics, Penelope is excited to guide kids going through the same program she went through and help them thrive. In her free time, Penelope enjoys exploring and being active outdoors by hiking and running.
Will
Math/Science/Language Arts
Will has a bachelor’s degree in studio art and art history and extensive post-baccalaureate work in geology and planetary science. He even worked with the Institute of Meteoritics (University of New Mexico) where he studied lunar and Martian geology and even briefly worked on the Curiosity Rover! He has been educating students of all ages for nearly a decade having worked as a tutor, museum educator, and GED instructor. Growing up, Will struggled with ADHD, dyslexia and dyscalculia, so he is deeply passionate about helping students navigate these and similar challenges to build self-efficiency and recognize their own potential. When he isn’t tutoring, Will can be found teaching youth swimming lessons and is a certified personal trainer. He also enjoys learning foreign languages, sports, reading about history and sociology, and experimenting with different artistic media.
Olivia
Math
Olivia is a senior at Holy Names Academy in Capitol Hill, where she has developed valuable experience tutoring students of all ages, from kindergartners to high schoolers, both at school and in her neighborhood. She enjoys discovering how each student’s unique thought process contributes to their learning journey. A dedicated member of her school’s varsity crew team, Olivia thrives in the close-knit, supportive community of athletes. Outside of her academic and athletic pursuits, she enjoys baking, running, traveling, and trying new foods.
Amina
Math/Language Arts/Sciences/Test Prep
- On sabbatical until further notice -
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Amina is a junior at the University of Washington where she is pursuing a degree in Cell and Molecular Biology. Amina loves working with students because they always teach her something new or bring a different perspective. She feels honored to be part of her students’ growth journeys as they overleap academic hurdles and scale to new heights. Amina has a great passion for languages and would love to travel the world someday.
Heidi
Language Arts
Heidi is an upbeat graduate student with teaching experience in English language and literature at the middle school, high school, and undergraduate levels. She focuses on bolstering students’ academic skills such as critical thinking, problem solving, and reading for synthesis, as well as key life skills such as motivation, time management, and executive functioning. Outside of sessions, Heidi enjoys riding her bike through the city, reading alternative comics, and developing her practice of slapdash bookbinding.
Kaela
Office Manager
Currently a student at Seattle Central majoring in Business Management, Kaela has years of experience doing administrative work as well as working with children from infants to 12 years of age. Kae also has a toddler of her own, which gives her a parental perspective and a passion for what we do at Firefly! She looks forward to putting her creative and organizational strengths to use in order to improve and run Firefly efficiently. In her free time, she enjoys traveling and self care activities like mediation, yoga, reading, etc.
Christopher
Math/Science
Christopher is currently studying Biochemistry at Seattle University. He previously worked as a STEM tutor at Highline College, helping fellow students tackle challenging subjects. His experience as both a tutor and a student sparked his passion for guiding others through their STEM journeys, especially since he understands firsthand how challenging these subjects can be. It’s a rewarding achievement for him when students begin to understand and apply their own thought processes to STEM problems.
Outside of academics, Christopher enjoys expressing his creativity through digital art and programming. He's currently working on a side project—learning how to design and program a video game just for fun. These hobbies allow him to combine creativity and logic, a perfect complement to his studies.
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