Tutor Spotlight: Shae K.
Meet Shae.
Shae brings nearly seven years of classroom experience to her work as an educator. She has ample experience supporting neurodiverse learners in subjects ranging from middle school social studies to college admissions essays, and is passionate about creating learning environments where students feel engaged and empowered.
What's one thing you love about tutoring?
I love being able to provide completely personalized learning. Every student is different, and tutoring lets me meet them exactly where they are.
How do you keep students engaged During tutoring sessions?
I pay attention to what my students care about and use that to shape our sessions. If they mention a topic or activity they enjoy, I find ways to bring it in. It keeps them invested, and sometimes I end up learning something new, too!
What's one study tip every student should know?
Studying does not mean reread your notes! Studying looks different for everyone, but one thing I swear by is study out LOUD. If you can teach it, you know it. Try explaining the material to your parent or roommate — they’ll probably ask questions. If you can answer them, you know it. If you can’t, now you know what you don’t know, and you can go back and look.
What was your favorite class in high school and why?
AP US History. Hands down. It’s the reason I became a teacher, actually. My teacher was incredible: brilliant, honest, and she cared deeply about us and her subject. I even liked taking notes in her class!
Can you share an example of a student you were proud of for reaching their goals?
I had an ESL student who’d fallen through the cracks and was reading at about a fifth-grade level in eighth grade. By the time she came to me, she was in tears, convinced she couldn’t read and had already failed. We worked together all year. I watched her improve with every benchmark and eventually start reading chapter books for fun. When she raised her end-of-year test score by ten points, we cried together. I’ve never stopped being proud of her.
What do you admire about your students?
Their resilience. Every student I work with has a story, and despite whatever challenges they face, they show up. They’re determined. They don’t give up until they get where they want to be.
