(M. Ed.) ELA & ESL Instructor / Creative Writing Coach

Ian S.

PLEASE READ:
-DO NOT TEACH WEEKENDS OR NIGHTS (per Mountain Standard time)
-WITH CERTAIN EXCEPTIONS, MY CLASSES ARE 45 MINUTES LONG = YOU WILL NOT BE CHARGED MY FULL HOURLY RATE

Howdy! I’m Mr. S, an Arizona state-certified General and Special Education teacher with 15+ years of experience teaching English, ESL, Reading, and Writing to students of all ages.

I bring deep classroom experience—both in person and online—and a teaching style that’s engaging, creative, and structured. I specialize in making learning approachable while building critical thinking, reading fluency, and strong writing skills. My background in both general and special education has helped me refine what works and how to adapt instruction to each learner’s needs.

Areas of Focus:
1) English / ESL (Reading Comprehension & Fluency)
I’ve taught English from K–12, using a wide range of materials—from state-aligned curricula to literary classics such as Crime and Punishment and The Iliad. I work with both native and non-native English speakers and have extensive experience supporting reading comprehension, fluency, and confidence. I’ve also taught ESL abroad, drawing on strong public speaking skills, nonverbal communication, and my Oxford Seminars ESL certification.

2) Academic & Creative Writing
Writing has been a lifelong passion, beginning with my first history paper in elementary school and continuing through my professional career. My Anthropology degree instilled a rigorous approach to academic writing, which I’ve continued to refine while teaching students of all ages. I help writers develop clarity, structure, voice, and confidence—whether for school assignments or creative projects.

Education & Credentials
• 15+ years of direct teaching experience (general & special education)
• 3 years teaching abroad (South Korea & Qatar)
• Arizona Department of Education Teaching Certificate
• Standard Special Education (Mild–Moderate) K–12
• Standard Elementary Education K–8
• SEI Endorsement (PreK–12)