Award-Winning Executive Functioning Tutors
serving Pittsburgh, PA

I hold a Master's degree from the University of Pennsylvania in developmental psychology (with a focus on cognition) and a B.A. from Swarthmore College in theatre and English. I enjoy working with students who are looking to improve their executive function skills as a part of their overall goals for tutoring because I believe in a whole-self approach to time management and skill building. I also thoroughly enjoy tutoring in English literature, high school and college writing, organizational skills, and standardized testing. I've spent 15 years teaching high school English, public speaking, and written expression at elite independent schools, while moonlighting as a public speaking coach. My professional experience includes providing speechwriting and coaching for a now-US Senator during his first congressional campaign. Prior to becoming a teacher, I worked as a director for multiple professional theaters, and my passions for English and Theatre converge in a deep love of Shakespeare. I love to talk about literature and dissect its craft in writing, and I believe everyone can write strong essays with the right coaching and framework.

Claire teaches concrete systems — color-coded planners, task-chunking methods, priority matrices — rather than vague advice about "staying organized." Her background across a wide range of academic subjects means she can tailor these executive functioning strategies to whatever coursework a student is actually struggling to manage, from essay deadlines to exam prep schedules.

Planning a multi-step assignment, managing time across subjects, keeping materials organized — these are skills most schools expect but rarely teach explicitly. Charles's counseling psychology training gives him concrete strategies for building these executive functioning habits, from using visual task breakdowns to teaching students how to self-monitor their own focus and prioritize effectively.

Hello! I am an Arizona State University graduate with a Bachelors of Science in Biological Science. My academic background is grounded in both technical problem-solving and a deep curiosity about how systems, whether digital or human, function. Outside the classroom, I've had the opportunity to work with students across a range of ages and abilities, from mentoring engineering and premed undergraduates at ASU to tutoring high schoolers in SAT/ACT prep, as well as K-12 students through Teach for America. I am comfortable with a range of subjects and am willing to work to meet your needs. Below are some of courses I have successfully tutored for in the past. K12 Subjects Elementary School (K5) Math (Basic Arithmetic, Word Problems) Reading & Phonics Writing & Grammar Science Social Studies Study & Organization Skills Middle School (68) Pre-Algebra Algebra I General Science (Life, Earth, Physical) English Language Arts (Reading, Writing) U.S. History & World History Intro to Coding / Computer Science High School (912) Algebra I & II Geometry Trigonometry Pre-Calculus Calculus AB/BC Biology (General, Honors) Chemistry (General, Honors) Physics (Conceptual, Algebra-Based) English Literature & Composition Essay Writing & Editing U.S. History & World History Psychology Economics & Government Health / Human Development Ethics / Philosophy Study Skills / Test Prep Standardized Test Prep SAT: Math, Reading, Writing & Language, Essay ACT: Math, Science, English, Reading, Essay PSAT MCAT (Content review & strategy) TOEFL / ESL (Certified ESL experience) AP Subjects AP Biology AP Chemistry AP Physics 1 AP Environmental Science AP Calculus AB AP Statistics AP English Language and Composition AP English Literature and Composition AP Psychology AP U.S. History AP World History AP U.S. Government & Politics AP Human Geography AP Macroeconomics / Microeconomics AP Computer Science Principles AP Seminar / Research College-Level Subjects STEM & Premed General Biology I & II Cell Biology Genetics Human Anatomy & Physiology General Chemistry I & II Organic Chemistry I & II Biochemistry Physics I & II (Algebra-Based) Calculus I & II Statistics (Introductory / Biostats) Humanities & Social Sciences Intro to Psychology Intro to Sociology Scientific Writing & Critical Thinking Medical Ethics Bioethics Philosophy of Science / Biology Research Writing & Academic Essays Business & Economics Intro to Macroeconomics Intro to Microeconomics Principles of Finance Financial Literacy / Budgeting Basics

Planning a multi-step assignment, managing time across subjects, breaking a big project into smaller pieces — these are skills that don't come naturally to every student. Heather's clinical psychology training gives her a framework for teaching organizational strategies that actually stick, and she tailors each system to how a student's brain already works rather than forcing a one-size-fits-all planner approach.

Hi, I'm Nur! I specialize in SAT preparation, helping students build strong Reading and Writing and Math skills, master different question types, develop effective test-taking strategies, and feel confident on test day. I create personalized SAT lesson plans based on each student's strengths, areas for improvement, and learning style, breaking down challenging concepts into clear, manageable steps. In addition to SAT preparation, I work with elementary, middle school, and high school students across reading, writing, math, and science. I especially enjoy supporting students with ADHD, executive functioning challenges, and dyslexia by using structured, evidence-based strategies that make learning more accessible and less overwhelming. I also incorporate essential skills such as organization, time management, study habits, and test-taking strategies to help students become more independent learners. My goal is not only to improve grades and test scores, but also to build confidence and

Planning, prioritizing, and self-monitoring don't come naturally to every student — they're skills that can be explicitly taught. Cristiana breaks executive functioning into concrete habits: using checklists to initiate tasks, time-blocking to manage sustained attention, and post-session reflections to build self-awareness about what strategies are working. Her own experience managing a demanding dual-major course load gives her practical techniques to share, not just theory.

As a tutor for 20+ years, I bring ample experience and knowledge. I specialize in standardized testing (MCAT, SAT, ACT, GRE, & more), medical school and pre-med courses, and undergraduate STEM subjects. A former medical school student and Master of Public Health, I opted for what truly brings me joy: tutoring, teaching, and guiding students to lifelong academic success.

A PhD in philosophy trains you to hold complex arguments in your head, sequence multi-part proofs, and manage long-term research without external scaffolding — Christine now unpacks those same cognitive skills for students who struggle with planning, task initiation, and self-monitoring. Her breadth across math, writing, and business subjects means she can embed executive functioning strategies directly into whatever assignment a student is actually stuck on, whether it's a geometry problem set or a college essay draft.

I am a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania with a Masters degree in Education and have been an Elementary and Middle School educator for over thirty years. I have worked with students in the inner city, suburbs, Appalachia, and Deep South. I love teaching and children, and have discovered my passion in tutoring students who are struggling in Reading and Math. I have taught children with learning disabilities to read, and coached students with dyscalculia in math and reading. I worked as a principal for the past eight years, so was working with students from Pre-K to 8th grade, coaching teachers, analyzing data, and tutoring individual students in math and reading. I have worked as a national park ranger in the past, so social studies and history are areas of strength. Students that I teach respond well to my teaching style and enjoy working with me. I believe that education is extremely important for children's futures and do everything that I can to help them be successful.

I am a veteran college-level English instructor with more than 20 years teaching in person, hybrid, and online. My focuses are on expository writing, essay writing, research papers, and creative writing. With my background in linguistics and second-language acquisition, I can also provide understanding of how and why the English language works the way it does, both in terms of style and grammar. I believe in supporting people's learning from wherever they're starting and I will customize tutoring to meet your needs. Besides subject tutoring, I can provide support with executive functioning and study skills. Additionally, with a wide interest-base, I can help you with your writing in many disciplines, including APUSH, AP/IB Social Sciences, IB Extended Essay, CLEP, or College Admission letters.

The best part of tutoring is promoting students' long-term success through mastery of reading, writing, math, study skills, organization, and critical thinking. In particular, I enjoy helping students build test-taking strategies and core skills for the ACT, SAT, and other admissions tests. I also support pre-K and K-12 students learning math and ELA. Before joining Varsity, I tutored in a Reading and Writing Lab for university students with learning disabilities where I earned a College Reading and Learning Association (CRLA) certification. Since joining Varsity, I have completed continuing education through the Lastinger Center for Learning. I graduated from the University of Arizona in 2021 with a BA in Cultural Anthropology. In addition to tutoring, I have worked as an instructional aide for an art program, an applied anthropology researcher, and a nonprofit program coordinator. Out of all these experiences, I enjoy tutoring the most. I look forward to working with you!

Running a natural sciences department at a bilingual elementary school in Ecuador meant Joy wasn't just teaching content — she was building systems for planning, prioritization, and task completion across two languages and multiple grade levels. She applies that same structured approach to executive functioning skills like time management, organization, and breaking long-term assignments into manageable steps.

Managing art projects from concept to finished piece — juggling sketches, revisions, material prep, and critique deadlines — forced Laura to develop the exact planning and sequencing skills that executive functioning coaching targets. She teaches students to build visual workflows and concrete routines for breaking down assignments, initiating tasks, and tracking deadlines across subjects, drawing on the same project-management instincts that drive her studio practice. Rated 4.9 by clients.