Elementary Math & English Tutor and Language Technician

Thomas G.

I'm Thomas! I studied Music at the University of Maryland (Go Terps!) and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Percussion Studies. I spent my fair share of time in both the classroom and the concert hall, and in that time I learned that one spectacular moment on stage feeds off months of good, undramatic, habitual practice behind the curtain. Repetition and patience took me to new heights before I even knew I’d left the ground, and now I help students learn Math and English in precisely the same way.

I recently completed a year of service with City Year, an AmeriCorps program geared towards service to a cause greater than self. I served in a 4th grade classroom as a small group instructor, an academic coach, and program lead after school. I became CPR certified, and was trained in Whole School Whole Child (WSWC) protocol. I learned to go beyond caring "about" students and care "for" them. Most importantly, I connected with students, and watched them grow into brilliant young learners.

Across a lifetime as an athlete and musician, and now credentialed as a City Year Alumnus, I’ve spent countless hours in 1-on-1 instructional settings. I remember one tennis lesson, in particular; I’d spent 30 minutes bashing serves trying to make just one, but I could not stop missing left. I couldn’t change the outcome. I felt powerless. My coach asked where my toe was pointed, and when I looked down… it was pointed left. Before that, I was sure I was doomed to miss every serve for the rest of my life. But my coach waited patiently until I was ready to listen, and gave me what I needed to solve my own problem. He’d completely transformed me from feeling powerless to feeling immensely powerful, and I relish every opportunity to do the same for my students.