INSTRUCTOR PROFILE:
I grew up in a wonderful, big family in New Mexico. We visited my grandparents in Phoenix often, and I decided that’s where I wanted to live. After several years of accounting study at Arizona State University, I realized that teaching was truly where my heart belongs. I received my Bachelor of Arts in Educational Studies from ASU. Shortly after that, I completed my Master’s in Education from the University of Phoenix. I am a Certified Teacher in Arizona with a Math Middle School Endorsement, as well as a K–12 ESL Endorsement.
I currently teach middle school mathematics. I started as an elementary school teacher and discovered that my passion is teaching middle schoolers. I have taught for over 30 years, most of them in the same district. I have been a tutor for the last ten of those years and thoroughly enjoy it. Working one-on-one is very satisfying for both the teacher and the learner. My experience with tutoring has also helped me become a better classroom teacher.
I truly believe that students learn best when they feel valued and important. I provide an easy-going, loving approach. I understand that math is often the last thing most adolescents want to think about. Finding connections with students as people we care about fosters success. I struggled with math growing up and remember feeling frustrated. That memory helps me to have patience and genuine confidence that everyone can learn. I want kids to understand why math works in addition to how it works. Middle school can be difficult on many levels, and students thrive when they are comfortable.
When I am not working, I enjoy spending time with my adult daughter, Adrienne, and my two “granddogs.” They are relaxing to be with, and the dogs always keep me laughing. I love to garden and have finally come to understand the complexities of the Arizona climate. I read a lot of historical fiction, my favorite genre, and I’m always up for having coffee with friends or family.
Math is my expertise, but I also enjoy supporting students in building executive functioning skills, including initiation, planning, organization, and task completion. I offer general homework support as well.
Testimonial:
“Linda is a fantastic math tutor who made a huge difference in a short amount of time. When she began working with my son during the last quarter of his 7th grade accelerated math class, he was struggling with a low grade and feeling frustrated and overwhelmed. Linda brought so much patience, flexibility, and encouragement, quickly building a great rapport and helping him regain confidence in his abilities. She was incredibly accommodating, always willing to adjust her schedule or provide extra support as needed. Thanks to her help, he was able to turn things around, significantly improve his grade, and, most importantly, feel much more confident in math. I am truly grateful for Linda’s support and highly recommend her to anyone looking for a skilled and caring tutor.”