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Transforming Students into Scholars
Specializing in All Subjects & Test Prep
Meet the Founder
ATHENA, CEO OF ATHENA'S TUTORS
Athena is a highly accomplished educator, boasting a wealth of experience and expertise across multiple disciplines. With teaching certification in five states, Athena stands out as a distinguished professional in the field. She holds dual licensure in both Special Education and Mathematics, exemplifying her commitment to diverse educational needs.
Athena's academic journey reflects her dedication to excellence. She holds a total of 60 credits towards a PhD in Mathematics complemented by an undergraduate and Bachelor's degree in Mathematics. Her passion for inclusive education led her to pursue a Master's degree in Special Education, equipping her with a comprehensive understanding of diverse learning styles. With a total of 13 teaching certifications, Athena continues to inspire and empower students to achieve their fullest potential.
As a Mathematics test prep coach, Athena possesses a unique talent for deciphering patterns in exams and predicting future questions. Her innovative approach to teaching has transformed average and failing students into scholars, while also facilitating honors students to graduate early or skip grade levels. With her engaging and comprehensible teaching strategies, Athena possesses the knack for transforming any student into a scholar.
Athena, often called the Mary Poppins Tutor because of her unique approach to teaching and bubbly personality. Athena believes in not only helping students grasp their current coursework but also in setting them up for success in future grade levels. She focuses on teaching study skills and organizational techniques to ensure students are prepared for the challenges ahead. Athena is one of the most sought-after tutors due to her comprehensive approach to education, leading her to expand her business to meet the growing demand for her expertise. She firmly believes that every student is unique and that identifying their individual learning needs is paramount to their success. Considering the overwhelming positive feedback from students, she founded Athena's Tutors.
Certifications
California Single Subject Teaching Credential in Mathematics, Grades Pre-school-12th and Adults
California Special Education/Education Specialist/Extensive Support Needs
New York State Initial Teacher Certification in Mathematics, Grades 7-12
Mathematics 5 to 6 extension
Students with Disabilities Initial Teacher Certification Grades 7-12 Generalist
Students with Disabilities Initial Extension Annotation in Mathematics Grades 7-12
Special Education Initial Extension Annotation in Severe or Multiple Disabilities Grades Pre K-12
Michigan Professional Teaching Certificate, K-12 Learning Disabilities (SM)
Michigan Professional Teaching Certificate, 6-12 Mathematics (EX)
State of North Carolina Professional Teaching Certificate, Mathematics 6-12
State of North Carolina Professional Teaching Certificate, K-12 Learning Disabilities
South Carolina Teaching Professional Certification, Mathematics Higher Education
South Carolina Teaching Professional Certification, Mathematics Mid Level
South Carolina Teaching Professional Certification, Special Education: Multi-Catagorical
ATHENA'S STORY
Athena began teaching in a NYC Public High School with over 4,700 students at the age of 22. She contributed to the Mathematics department's prestigious #1 ranking in NYC for five consecutive years, earning herself the designation of a Highly Effective educator. She taught 170 students per year with 34 students in each classroom. During Athena's first 2 weeks of teaching, she was drowning in work. The textbook was too wordy and there just didn't seem to be any information out there to better assist the students in a way Athena felt aided their needs. The classroom was also a mess, the kids were talking, everything was out of order.
Then came the unthinkable. Just 14 days into her first teaching position, Athena's mother became terminally ill and slipped into a coma. Suddenly, she found herself in a precarious situation; she couldn't afford to quit. Now, she had to shoulder the financial burden of her mother's care while juggling hospital visits. It put Athena under a great deal of pressure to figure out how to help these kids and do it fast. Athena needed to be able to figure out solutions to help reach the needs of all unique learners in the classroom. It forced her to stop thinking and come up with solutions. After trial and error, she was able to implement strategies that would help students beyond the classroom. With the inventions of her famous calculator hacks and step by step hand crafted worksheets, she was able to help students ace any exam.
Athena had a knack for classroom management and realized without proper organization and discipline in the classroom, there would be chaos, hence why most students don't learn as much as they should. Athena emerged as the model teacher for educators within the district where others would visit her classroom from around the state to learn from her best teaching practices. Athena is releasing two new books for teachers entitled "The Lazy Teacher | Get more work done by doing less work (Never bring your work home again)" and "The Educator’s Guide to Classroom Management & Organization."
ATHENA'S SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT IN LOS ANGELES
Athena's classroom before....
After a decade of teaching, Athena retired from her school position to reach more students beyond the classroom. Upon relocating to Los Angeles, she was approached by a school with a special assignment. Athena agreed to temporarily return to classroom teaching, this time for a group of very special students. She couldn't say no.
One of her life missions is to change the education curriculum to make learning easier for students. She also plans to create after-school programs to keep students in underprivileged neighborhoods out of trouble and teach them life skills, such as financial literacy and entrepreneurship through math. Additionally, she aims to develop programs to support special needs students in their transition to adulthood, particularly after the loss of their loved ones.
Athena's classroom after her first 3 weeks of being hired...
Athena, who has a passion for writing, chose to create a movie-themed classroom to combine her love for storytelling with her goal of inspiring people worldwide through great filmmaking. She aims to create inspirational movies that encourage students and adults of all ages to realize their worth and pursue their dreams, regardless of others' opinions.
Organization is the foundational step to achieving success. Without clear goals and a well-ordered classroom, chaos arises. Additionally, a visually unappealing learning environment significantly hinders the learning process.
Can't forget the outside of the classroom....
Athena's goal was to impact not just her students, but every student and adult beyond the classroom. With 22% of high school students contemplating suicide each year, Athena aimed to inspire anyone passing by. She posted encouraging messages on the walls, hoping to lift spirits, especially on bad days. Her efforts were successful—faculty members she didn't know would often stop by to thank her for the messages.
What led Athena to care so much about making others feel worthy?
First and foremost, everyone deserves to feel loved and valued. Growing up, Athena was bullied for being different and standing out. She was often excluded or "forgotten" by both students and teachers. As a freshman in a senior math class, she was picked on by teachers for being "too smart" and frequently called stupid by her math teacher for taking too long to finish exams. Additionally, she was left out during group activities. These experiences motivated Athena to create an environment where everyone always feels loved, appreciated, and welcomed.
Meet Nathan
Nathan is a very talented artist who will be turning 18 this year. He loves to draw and paint. He has a special talent for drawing all kinds of unique bunnies in different scenarios. How fun would it be if his illustrations were created into children's animations? If anyone can help bring this vision to life please email Athena at Tutor@AthenasTutors.com with the subject line Nathan.
FUN FACT
For a decade, Athena spent her holiday vacations hand-grading over 10,000 state exams. This experience allowed her to see firsthand where students from different schools across New York State were struggling. Shortly after her first year, she began offering Test Prep Courses for state exams. By analyzing each mathematics exam ever given through the archives, Athena identified patterns and predicted future questions. She also invented calculator hacks to decode exams before they were administered, helping her students pass. Athena often received new students mid-year who couldn't pass in other classes. After a few months in her class, these students' scores improved from around 30 to over 85 on state exams.
For fun, hope you enjoy a little teacher humor. Pictured below are two hand-drawn images by Athena during her breaks from grading the state exams.
