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20 years of dedicated experience in education motivating students
Thomas S.

Your first lesson is backed by our Good Fit Guarantee

Hourly Rate: $60
Response time: 3 hours

About Thomas


Bio

2025-2026 Massachusetts State Teacher of the Year Runner-Up

I am an educator grounded in equity, empathy, and capacity building, with experience teaching in public, private, pilot, and charter schools across the Northeast, the South, and internationally. I hold a Master’s in Teaching and Curriculum from Harvard University and a B.A. from Boston College, graduating with multiple academic honors. My certifications include ESL 5–12, English 5–12, History 5–12, Math 6–8, SEI, and TEFL,...

2025-2026 Massachusetts State Teacher of the Year Runner-Up

I am an educator grounded in equity, empathy, and capacity building, with experience teaching in public, private, pilot, and charter schools across the Northeast, the South, and internationally. I hold a Master’s in Teaching and Curriculum from Harvard University and a B.A. from Boston College, graduating with multiple academic honors. My certifications include ESL 5–12, English 5–12, History 5–12, Math 6–8, SEI, and TEFL, Bilingual Education, with Reading Specialist endorsement in progress. Inspired by visits from Freedom Riders, Holocaust survivors, and members of the Little Rock Nine, I bring a justice-centered lens to curriculum, instruction, and leadership.
Over nearly two decades, I have taught students ages 8–18 in classroom, small-group, and one-on-one settings, integrating differentiated instruction, UbD planning, inquiry- and project-based learning, restorative practices, and multilingual literacy strategies. I currently serve as a Grades 5–7 ELA teacher and Teaching Team Leader in Boston Public Schools, designing biliteracy-aligned curriculum, mentoring educators, and producing some of the highest literacy growth in my school. Previously, I have led ELA teams in Savannah, served as a Humanities Lead Teacher in Boston, and taught English in Mozambique with the Peace Corps, where I authored TEFL curriculum adopted nationally. Across all roles, I remain committed to rigorous, culturally responsive instruction that empowers students, families, and communities.


Education

Boston College
Communications
Harvard Graduate School of Education
MEd
  • Licensed teacher

Additional Languages

Portuguese
Spanish

Policies

  • Hourly Rate: $60
  • Rate details: Available for small group tutoring as well. Prices depend on group size.
  • Lesson cancellation: 12 hours notice required
  • No background check

  • Your first lesson is backed by our Good Fit Guarantee

Schedule

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Approved Subjects

ADHD

ADHD

I have extensive experience supporting students with ADHD across elementary and middle school settings, integrating structured routines, executive-function coaching, and multisensory learning strategies. As a certified educator trained in SEI, ESL, and multiple content areas, I design differentiated lessons that help students sustain attention, manage tasks, and build academic confidence. My work includes collaborating closely with families, special education teams, and mental health professionals to create consistent, strengths-based support plans. I prioritize a compassionate, individualized approach that helps students with ADHD thrive academically and emotionally.
Common Core

Common Core

I have over 15 years of experience teaching and designing Common Core–aligned curriculum in ELA, literacy, and humanities across grades 3–8. My work includes developing UbD units, close-reading routines, writing frameworks, and assessment practices that align tightly to the Common Core standards for reading, writing, speaking, and language. I have led instructional teams, trained teachers, and supported schools in implementing rigorous, standards-based instruction that is both accessible and challenging for diverse learners. My approach blends clarity, scaffolding, and high expectations to help students master grade-level skills and exceed Common Core benchmarks.
Creative Writing

Creative Writing

I have extensive experience teaching creative writing to students in grades 3–12, helping young writers develop strong narrative structure, voice, and descriptive technique. As a certified ELA teacher and curriculum designer, I have created writing workshops, project-based units, and mentor-text lessons that nurture imagination while building concrete craft skills. My classrooms regularly incorporate storytelling, poetry, memoir, and fiction, giving students multiple avenues to express ideas and emotions. I focus on empowering writers to take creative risks, revise thoughtfully, and develop confidence in their unique artistic voice.
Dyslexia

Dyslexia

I have extensive experience supporting students with dyslexia through structured, multisensory, research-based literacy instruction. As a certified educator with training in phonics, systemic functional linguistics, and reading intervention, I design lessons that build decoding, fluency, and comprehension skills in a clear, explicit, and supportive way. I regularly collaborate with special education teams, families, and specialists to ensure students receive consistent, targeted accommodations and intervention. My approach emphasizes confidence-building, individualized strategies, and helping each learner develop strong, sustainable reading skills.
Essay Writing

Essay Writing

I am a Harvard-trained educator with nearly two decades of experience teaching ELA, literacy, and ESL to students ages 8–18 in public, charter, pilot, and international schools. I specialize in differentiated instruction, multilingual literacy development, and designing rigorous, culturally responsive curriculum that supports diverse learners. As a certified ELA, ESL, History, and Math teacher, I have led instructional teams, mentored educators, and consistently produced high student growth in reading and writing. My approach blends research-based literacy practices with engaging, student-centered methods that empower learners to build confidence and mastery.
Executive Functioning

Executive Functioning

I have extensive experience supporting students in developing executive functioning skills such as organization, planning, task initiation, and sustained attention. As a certified educator with over 15 years in diverse classroom settings, I integrate structured routines, visual aids, checklists, and individualized coaching strategies that help students manage academic demands more independently. I regularly collaborate with families and special education teams to create consistent, strengths-based support systems for students who struggle with executive functioning. My approach emphasizes practical tools, confidence-building, and habits that foster long-term academic success.
Fiction Writing

Fiction Writing

I have extensive experience teaching fiction writing to students in grades 3–12, helping young authors develop strong characters, compelling plots, and vivid descriptive detail. As a certified ELA teacher and curriculum designer, I create workshops and scaffolded writing units that guide students through brainstorming, drafting, revising, and polishing their stories. My instruction blends mentor texts, craft lessons, and individualized feedback to support writers at all levels. I focus on cultivating creativity, confidence, and the narrative skills students need to bring their ideas to life on the page.
Homeschool

Homeschool

I have extensive experience supporting homeschooling families by designing flexible, standards-aligned learning plans that accommodate diverse schedules, learning styles, and goals. As a certified educator trained in multiple content areas, I create engaging, individualized lessons in reading, writing, and project-based learning that help students build strong academic foundations. I have guided parents in implementing effective routines, assessment strategies, and executive-function supports to make home learning structured and successful. My approach blends clear instruction, creativity, and compassion to help homeschooled learners thrive both academically and emotionally.
Linguistics

Linguistics

I have extensive experience applying linguistics in the classroom, particularly through systemic functional linguistics and multilingual literacy development. As a certified ESL and ELA educator, I design lessons that make grammar, syntax, and language structures explicit and accessible for learners at all levels. My training includes work in language acquisition, biliteracy principles, and discourse analysis, which I integrate into reading, writing, and speaking instruction. I help students understand how language works so they can communicate more effectively, analyze texts more deeply, and develop strong academic and personal voices.
Public Speaking

Public Speaking

I have extensive experience teaching public speaking, presentation skills, and academic communication to students and adults across diverse educational settings. With a background in Communication from Boston College and a Master’s in Education from Harvard, I integrate research-based strategies that build confidence, clarity, and persuasive speaking techniques. I have led professional developments, coached teachers and students, and facilitated community events that require strong verbal communication and audience engagement. My approach emphasizes structure, storytelling, and presence, helping learners speak with purpose, confidence, and authenticity.
Thesis Writing

Thesis Writing

I have extensive experience teaching students how to craft clear, focused, and academically rigorous thesis statements across a range of grade levels and writing genres. As a certified ELA teacher and curriculum designer, I have developed structured writing frameworks that help students analyze prompts, build strong claims, and support their ideas with meaningful evidence. I regularly guide learners through the full writing process—brainstorming, planning, drafting, revising, and refining their arguments. My approach helps students build confidence in their analytical thinking and produce well-organized, insightful thesis-driven essays.
United States History

United States History

I have extensive experience teaching U.S. History, Civics, and Humanities to middle school students, creating engaging, inquiry-driven units that connect historical events to students’ lived experiences. As a certified History 5–12 teacher, I design lessons that emphasize primary source analysis, critical thinking, and connections to social justice and democratic principles. My work includes developing curriculum with organizations such as Facing History and Ourselves, Discovering Justice, and the Boston Bar Association. I help students build a deep understanding of the forces that have shaped the United States while empowering them to think critically about their role in civic life.
ACT English
ACT Reading
Elementary Math
ESL/ESOL
Literature
Phonics
Reading
SAT Reading
Study Skills
TOEFL
Vocabulary
World History
Writing
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Response time: 3 hours
Hourly Rate: $60
Response time: 3 hours
Contact Thomas