Search
Curtis Jerry S.'s Photo

Experienced, Patient Tutor | Spanish, English, History & Microsoft Off
Curtis Jerry S.

5.0 (21 ratings)

34 hours tutoring

Your first lesson is backed by our Good Fit Guarantee
Hourly Rate: $40
Contact Curtis Jerry
Response time: 7 minutes

About Curtis Jerry

Bio

I'm Curtis Jerry Smothers, an experienced educator, professional writer, and tutor with more than 20 years of experience helping students of all ages overcome academic challenges. I tailor my instruction to each student's needs and pace, using clear explanations and practical examples to build both competence and confidence.

I hold a bachelor's degree in Social Sciences with a minor in Spanish. I taught adult learners as an adjunct instructor at a California community college and later...

I'm Curtis Jerry Smothers, an experienced educator, professional writer, and tutor with more than 20 years of experience helping students of all ages overcome academic challenges. I tailor my instruction to each student's needs and pace, using clear explanations and practical examples to build both competence and confidence.

I hold a bachelor's degree in Social Sciences with a minor in Spanish. I taught adult learners as an adjunct instructor at a California community college and later tutored students at Arapahoe Community College. I have also tutored elementary, high school, college, and adult students both online and in person.

My specialties include Spanish, English and writing, American History, and Microsoft Office. I help Spanish students understand grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, and conversation rather than simply memorize rules. American History is a lifelong passion, and I enjoy helping students understand how people, ideas, and events fit together.

As a former Microsoft Office Master Instructor and community college instructor, I teach Word, Excel, and other computer skills through patient, hands-on instruction.

I also bring 20 years of professional freelance writing experience, producing articles, blogs, and white papers for clients through WriterAccess and Verblio. I help students with grammar, composition, essays, research, and academic writing.

Having completed four years of court reporting training, I also tutor court reporting students who need help with English fundamentals, grammar, vocabulary, and punctuation.

Whether you're stuck on one assignment or struggling with an entire subject, my goal is to identify the problem, unblock the logjam, and give you the skills and confidence to move forward independently.
I particularly like that last paragraph because it retains your original “unblock the logjam” idea.

Read more

Education

Chapman University
Social Sciences
  • Licensed teacher

Additional Languages

Spanish

Policies

  • Hourly Rate: $40
  • Rate details: I offer discounts for multi-hour bookings.
  • Lesson cancellation: 8 hours notice required

  • Background check passed on 1/21/2024

  • Your first lesson is backed by our Good Fit Guarantee

Schedule

Loading...

Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

Curtis Jerry hasn’t set a schedule.

We’re having trouble loading this schedule right now. Please try again later.

Approved Subjects

American History

American History

My undergraduate degree is in Social Sciences with an emphasis on history. I have taken four years of history courses from pre-Columbian to World War II. I have also written 10 research papers as well as dozens of history articles as a freelance writer. I have tutored students both online and in person in American History.
Career Development

Career Development

I spent 25 years in the U.S. Navy as an administrative specialist and human resources manager. I supervised teams of Navy career counselors, administered hundreds of promotion exams, and as a personnel specialist both at sea and at large shore stations, I managed personnel assignments, placement, and training. I later worked as a Vocational Education Specialist at a California community college. My work in career development consisted of student counseling and assisting the Dean of Vocational Education in managing the college’s extensive vocational education courses. I have also written freelance articles on job interview tips and how to prepare résumés. My articles included advice on healthcare industry jobs, the job market, and outlooks published by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Creative Writing

Creative Writing

This tutor is a published freelance writer with experience in short stories, poetry, and humorous articles. He has written hundreds of pieces across a wide range of topics and styles. He specializes in helping students refine their writing voice, strengthen structure, and bring clarity to their work. Ideal for high school students and college applicants developing personal essays or creative writing projects.
Criminal Justice

Criminal Justice

My undergraduate degree is in Social Sciences. In my undergraduate studies, I took courses in Deviant Behavior, the history of criminal justice, and the penal system. I have written several lengthy research papers on women in prisons, gangs, and Meghan's Law.
English

English

Having written over a million words in my career as a freelance writer, I am an expert in English usage, syntax, and grammar. I excelled in high school in the subject, and I took four semesters of English and Literature in my undergraduate years. I have also tutored high school and college students online. As a court reporting student I excelled in English usage, punctuation, and grammar.
Essay Writing

Essay Writing

As an experienced educator and published writer, I guide students through every stage of the essay process. I specialize in helping them develop strong thesis statements and organize their ideas into focused, well-supported paragraphs. My sessions emphasize clarity, structure, and persuasive voice. Students leave with practical strategies and greater confidence in their writing.
European History

European History

My undergraduate degree is in Social Sciences with an emphasis on history. I am knowledgeable and have tutored students in European history. I can tutor students in every aspect of European history from ancient to modern times. I have written extensively on European history subject matter.
General Computer

General Computer

My experience with computers goes back to my first 20-meg MS DOS model in the early 1990s. I was a computer operating systems instructor at a community college. I am familiar with MS Windows and Mac OSX operating systems.
Government & Politics

Government & Politics

My undergraduate degree is in Social Sciences with an emphasis on history. I am knowledgeable and have tutored students in U.S. government and politics. I can tutor students in every aspect of government theory from monarchy to representative democracy.
Grammar

Grammar

English is my native language and I have studied grammar and composition during 12 years of grade- and high school as well as college. I have extensive experience in composition as a freelance writer and I have tutored students online and in person in grammar and composition.
Information Technology

Information Technology

I bring years of hands-on experience as an information technology administrator, supporting real-world systems and users. I also taught IT business applications as an adjunct college instructor, helping students master practical software and workplace technology skills. As a tutor, I use a patient, step-by-step approach tailored to each learner’s goals and experience level. My sessions focus on practical, immediately usable skills that build confidence and independence.
Literature

Literature

Having written over a million words in my career as a freelance writer, I am an expert in English usage, syntax, and grammar. I excelled in high school in the subject, and I took four semesters of English and Literature in my undergraduate years. I have also tutored high school and college students online.
Macintosh

Macintosh

My qualifications with Macintosh hardware and software are as an experienced end user from the time I switched from Windows to the Macintosh platform in 2009. My experience with the Mac operating system began with Mac OSX and I currently use an iMac Pro desktop, a MacBook Pro and an iPhone XR. I have upgraded and used each device as new operating systems have come on line and am fully qualified in a variety of Mac Office iPhone apps and associated operational software.
Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Excel

I have been working with Excel spreadsheets for over 30 years. I am familiar with the advanced features of this application and have migrated spreadsheet data into data bases. I can help you create charts, pivot tables, and use the wealth of templates available within the application.
Microsoft PowerPoint

Microsoft PowerPoint

I am a Microsoft Corporation Master Instructor. I have composed and prepared PowerPoint presentations on a variety of subjects from academic lessons to administrative briefings.
Microsoft Windows

Microsoft Windows

I taught for six semesters as an adjunct instructor at the College of Sequoias in Visalia, CA. My subjects were Windows, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Access Data Base, and Microsoft Excel. I wrote the class syllabus for Microsoft Access. My teaching was evaluated as excellent and I received consistent positive feedback from my students. Having completed all the qualification requirements for Microsoft Office, I received a Master Instructor Certificate from the Microsoft Corporation.
Microsoft Word

Microsoft Word

My experience with MS Word goes back 30 years when the application was first released. Prior to that I used other versions of word processors like Word Perfect. I also taught MS Word to community college students when I was an adjunct instructor at the College of the Sequoias in Visalia, California.
Personal Statements

Personal Statements

I help students craft compelling personal statements that reflect their voice, values, and goals. With experience guiding applicants to med school and graduate programs, I know what makes a story stand out. From brainstorming to final polish, I focus on clarity, authenticity, and strategic structure. My support helps students turn their experiences into persuasive, memorable narratives.
Political Science

Political Science

My undergraduate degree is in Social Sciences with an emphasis on history. I am knowledgeable and have tutored students in political science. I can tutor students in theory and types of government structures. I have researched and written extensively about politics and political science.
Proofreading

Proofreading

Proofreading is a passion of mine, having been a professional administrator during my working life. I have written over a million words as a freelance writer and have tutored students online. My college work required over 50 research papers on a variety of subjects, which required careful attention to detail and solid proofreading skills.
Psychology

Psychology

My undergraduate degree is in Social Sciences. I took several courses. I also wrote research papers on subjects like abnormal psychology, psychotherapy, and the process of grieving.
Public Speaking

Public Speaking

Throughout my career in the military and later as a vocational education specialist, I had many public speaking and presentation engagements. I have helped students and have tutored PowerPoint preparation and have written scripts for clients.
Social Studies

Social Studies

My undergraduate degree is in Social Sciences with an emphasis on history. I am knowlegeable in federal government organization and the U.S. Constitution. I specialize in U.S. history from the colonial period to modern times.
Sociology

Sociology

My undergraduate degree is in Social Sciences. My studies included several courses in Sociology. I also studied Criminology, Psychology, and deviant behavior. I have written several research papers on those subjects.
Spanish

Spanish

Spanish tutoring experience both online and in person since 2003, helping students of all ages from beginning through advanced. Specialize in Spanish grammar and vocabulary building, with particular stress on proper Spanish pronunciation. Bachelor’s degree with three years in Spanish studies and extensive travel to Spain, the Caribbean, and Latin America. Contact me for a link to my 8-week online Spanish tutoring course.
Vocabulary

Vocabulary

A good vocabulary is essential to academic success in any subject area. I have written over a million words during my career as a freelance writer. Plus I have accumulated a wealth of specialized vocabulary during my studies of anatomy and other specialized areas.
World History

World History

My undergraduate degree is in Social Sciences with an emphasis on history. I have tutored students in World History both online and in person on a wide variety of world history subjects from ancient times to the 21st century. I have written and researched extensively on world history topics.

Examples of Expertise

Curtis Jerry has provided examples of their subject expertise by answering 34 questions submitted by students on Wyzant’s Ask an Expert.

See all of Curtis Jerry ’s answers ›
Curtis Jerry S.'s Photo

Questions? Contact Curtis Jerry before you book.

Still have questions?

Contact Curtis Jerry
Response time: 7 minutes

Ratings and Reviews

Rating

5.0 (21 ratings)
5 star
(21)
4 star
(0)
3 star
(0)
2 star
(0)
1 star
(0)

Reviews

AWESOME SERVICE

Jerry is fantastic!!! He kept his cool and was extremely helpful through what I considered an impossible task. My project is 10 times better because of him!!! FULL STARS

Amanda, 1 lesson with Curtis Jerry
Tutor responded:

I was delighted to be able to help Amanda with her Word table of contents and pagination challenges. We had a constructive and friendly session. She was engaged and patient.

Very knowledgeable and patient

Curt knows his stuff. He had a great knowledge of the Mac and specifically the Word program. He was very patient and he was willing to prepare a lesson plan or go with my specific queries. Plus he’s a really nice, relaxed guy. I recommend him.

Paul, 1 lesson with Curtis Jerry
Tutor responded:

I especially enjoy tutoring adult students. Paul came to the session ready to learn and eager to master his new MacBook and the Word application. It was great watching those "Aha!" moments occur as Paul got deeper into thesession.

Jerry SAVED ME!

I was doing taxes with foreign bank statements with mixed numbering systems. He came up with a solution! He taught me a solutions I would never have found from online help or forums He showed me several techniques in Excel to drive the demons out of tax time

Tucker, 2 lessons with Curtis Jerry

California history

Curtis helped me understand a comprehensive background of California history for a project. I was able to learn about indigenous life and culture. I also learned about many expeditions and battles that the Spanish took on the California Coast.

Alex, 4 lessons with Curtis Jerry
Tutor responded:

I enjoyed my session with Alex. He is a bright, eager student with a passionate interest in California history.

Hourly Rate: $40
Response time: 7 minutes
Contact Curtis Jerry