Meet Our Tutors!
LORI SPENCER
CERTIFIED SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER and OWNER
Tutors Grades:
K-5th grades
Subjects:
Math
Tutoring Locations:
Online and in our Alpharetta office
Tutoring Math In Lori's home in Dacula
Ward Striggles
CERTIFIED TEACHER
Tutors Grades:
6-12 grades
Subjects:
Math & Science
IEP, ACT/SAT Prep
Tutoring Locations:
In-home in the Roswell, Johns Creek, Alpharetta, Milton areas
PEGGY DUNLEAVY CERTIFIED TEACHER
Tutors Grades:
K-6th grades
Review from Client: "Peggy is the best! I’m so thrilled for her to work with my son." - T.Shepard
Subjects:
Reading, Writing, Special Education
Tutoring Locations:
Alpharetta office, online, in-home (Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Dacula, Grayson) Alpharetta office, online, in-home (Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Dacula, Grayson) Alpharetta office, online, in-home (Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Dacula, Grayson)
Peggy is an IEP advocate for students with special needs!
KIM MARIE HEDGES CERTIFIED TEACHER
Tutors Grades:
Pre-K through high school students
Subjects:
Reading/English/Language Arts/
SAT Instructor
Tutoring Locations:
Tutors in our Alpharetta office, in-home (Alpharetta, Johns Creek, and Peachtree Corners areas.) Also tutors online
Review by a client: "Very pleasant experience! Kim Marie Hedges is an instructor who I wholeheartedly recommend. With my son's short attention span, she is incredibly tolerant. Repetition is not a problem for her, and she is trustworthy and punctual. She is very courteous, so you will be informed if she is running behind schedule. Both reading and arithmetic abilities have increased for my son. I'm hoping to get her again for the upcoming academic year." -Mel R
Jane KatesSpecial Education Teacher
Tutors Grades:
K-6th grade
Subjects:
All subjects
Orton Gillingham
Tutoring Locations:
In our Alpharetta office, and In-home in Alpharetta & Buckhead
MACK DOUCET
Tutors Grades:
Middle School through college
Subjects:
Math through high school, SAT and ACT Instructor, French Tutor
Tutoring Locations:
In-home in Cobb county and Alpharetta, On-Line and at our Alpharetta Office
DANIEL KWAN
CERTIFIED TEACHER
CERTIFIED TEACHER
Tutors Grades:
6-11th grades
Subjects
Math ACT and SAT Instructor
Tutoring Location:
In-Home in the Duluth area, or east of 85 in Suwannee And On-line Biography
ANDREW LEE TEACHER AND SAT & ACT COORDINATOR
Tutors Grades:
5-10. grade
Subjects:
All Subjects ACT and SAT Coordinator/Instructor
Tutoring Location:
Online, In Our Alpharetta Office, and In-Home in Johns Creek, Suwanee, and Duluth areas.
KAREN SUMLIN
Teacher and SAT & ACT Teacher
Teacher and SAT & ACT Teacher
Tutors Grades:
9-12. grade
Subjects:
Math, ACT/SAT Prep, Spanish
Tutoring Location:
On-line, In-home in Cumming and Milton areas
TRACI NEWTON
CERTIFIED TEACHER
CERTIFIED TEACHER
Tutors Grades:
K-12th grade.
Subjects:
Reading, Writing, Math K-5,
Orton Gillingham trained.
Tutoring Locations:
Canton, Roswell, Alpharetta, Milton
From our Owner: LORI SPENCER
I started this company in 2017 after almost 19 years in public education working with students with special needs. As a special education teacher I never felt like I was truly helping children in the way they deserved to be helped. There were just too many obstacles in the way. Some of these obstacles were large class sizes, paperwork limiting the time with my students, and limited staff. It was frustrating and I became unhappy. I had a dream to be able to work with a student one-on-one, focusing on his/her individualized needs; tailoring a plan just right for the student. There is nothing like seeing that aha moment in a child's eye!
Teachers as Tutors has grown and we have many wonderful new teachers that have joined our staff. These teachers share my dream of helping the individual learner. It's an honor to work among so many talented teachers/tutors! We now tutor students in special and regular education; in all subjects and grades! Since Covid-19, we can tutor online, and yes we still tutor in our Alpharetta office! Further, we can tutor in your home offering one-on-one assistance that is convenient for your family. Earlier this year we even developed learning pods for digital learners offering students and their parents a certified teacher to navigate through the learning day at home. I can't say enough how proud I am of this company! Did I say we have also become advocates that can actually go into IEP meetings with you to make sure your child receives the best plan available? Please call and schedule an appointment with one of our tutors today!
Tutors children in math from ages K-6th grades online or in our Alpharetta office.
SUE HOLDER
Sue graduated with a Masters in Business Administration from Fairleigh Dickinson University, and then received certification from the University of Georgia in Special Education P-12.
In addition to Special Education, Sue is Certified in General Education Math and Reading 4 -12, and has taught in public schools for 17 years. Sue's teaching experience is middle school and high school, and she recently retired from high school teaching, primarily Algebra. Sue takes pride in helping students understand that which they find difficult and to work with both students and parents to help children realize their capabilities and gain confidence.
Sue tutors children from grades 3 - 9 in Mathematics online.
Ward Striggles
I earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Purdue University and a Master of Business Administration degree from Emory University. Both as an undergraduate student and as a graduate student, I enjoyed being able to help fellow students in mathematics and statistics.
I spent the first part of my career working in finance, engineering, and information technology. Working in information technology as a consultant in various roles, I spent time developing and delivering training on newly implemented technology. This time was very rewarding.
In search of further rewards and with a desire to help younger learners develop, I enrolled in a Transition to Teaching Program at Indiana Wesleyan University. I became a certified and licensed teacher of mathematics for middle/junior high/high school. As a teacher, I was fortunate to be able to work in a standard classroom setting and in an alternative education setting. The alternative education setting provided students with individualized instruction to accommodate their learning styles.
I am now looking forward to helping more learners develop and succeed.
Peggy Dunleavy
Peggy has taught special education in the public schools for 31 years. During her tenure, Peggy received Teacher of the Year 3 different times! Her experience ranges from teaching children from kindergarten age through grade 6 as well as teaching high school equivalency classes. She is certified at the bachelor’s level in Regular Education K-6 and teaching of students with Mild/Moderate Intellectual Disabilities. She is certified in teaching students identified with Learning Disabilities and Behavior Disorders, at the master’s level. She also has a Specialist Degree in Leadership and Reading instruction. Additionally, she has taught in private settings for five years. Within those years, she taught General Education for two years, but the majority of her experience is in working with special needs students.
She just retired from the Gwinnett County School System in June of 2021, Osborne Middle School in Hoschton, GA. She is excited for a new teaching chapter that continues to allow her to instruct children who need improvement in their reading and written expression skills, but also allows her more time to spend with her family. She greatly looks forward to this new experience and with doing her best to assist the children under her care.
Peggy is an IEP advocate for students with special needs!
Tutors in the Alpharetta office, online, in-home (Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Dacula, Grayson).
Kim Marie
Originally an English and Communication major graduating from Canisius College of Buffalo, New York, Kim Marie became a certified teacher to share her love of English/Language Arts with children of all ages. She has taught in the elementary and middle grades classrooms for over 15 years, implementing and facilitating a creative literature and grammar curriculum for her classes in both public and private school systems in Georgia, Florida, and Texas. She has also tutored with over 20 years of experience.
Kim Marie tutors Pre-K through high school students, specializing in reading comprehension, grammar, writing, and literary analysis.
Kim Marie tutors in our Alpharetta office; in-home in the Alpharetta, Johns Creek, and Peachtree Corners areas. She also tutors online.
Janes Kates
I started tutoring when I was in 6th grade! earned a BAE in Special Education in 1978 and a MEd in Special Education in 1979, both from the University of Florida. I earned an MAE in Reading Education in 2009 from University of West Florida.
I taught Special Education in Birmingham Alabama and Ft. Walton Beach Florida. I taught Special Education and ESL for Gwinnett County Public Schools from 2009 until I retired at the end of the 2023 school year, but I'm not ready to stop teaching.
As a Special Educator, I worked primarily with students who had IEP's and have written both IEP's and Re-evaluations. I evaluated students to meet them where they are, and then provided Specialized Direct Instruction in Reading, Math, Writing, and other academic subjects.
In addition, I taught my students to ask for help and how to ask for help and navigate the classroom. I never assume a student knows something, so I provide background knowledge, teach or re-teach fundamental skills, and teach and model learning strategies. If a student didn't learn something in one grade, it can make every other grade difficult. Filling in those gaps in learning provide a stronger foundation for future learning.
My teaching career has been devoted to students who struggle to learn. I want learning to be joyous as well as productive, so I use songs, games, and laughter to engage students. I use a variety of multi-sensory approaches to teaching Math, Reading, and Writing, including Words Their Way sorts and Orton-Gillingham phonics activities. I focus on what the child CAN do and celebrate every step forward! I would love to help move your child from frustrated and discouraged to motivated and confident.
Daniel Kwan
I graduated in 1988 with a bachelor’s and master’s degrees in computer science from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. I worked as a Software Analyst in the Healthcare/Hospital systems from 1988 – 2006.
I changed careers to become a High school Math teacher in 2007.
I have taught high school math for 16 years, and currently teach in Gwinnett County.
The subjects I have taught include Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry and Precalculus.
I am teaching my students to acquire problem analytic and solving skills in math. Also, I have been tutoring middle school and high school students in math for over 10 years.
Mack Doucet
Mr. Mack has a Bachelor’s of Science (Math), a BS in Industrial and Applied math, and a MA, in Math Education. In his profession he has worked as a professor of math in locations from Haiti to New York City. French is his first language; however, he speaks English proficiently.
Mr. Mack can tutor math from middle school through college. Further, he can tutor French.
Mr. Mack effectively introduces and communicates math courses in everyday life and demonstrates how to apply mathematics principles in various scenarios. He would like to tutor and mentor students.
He is fluent in English, French, Kreyol, and some Spanish.
Andrew Lee
Originally with a pre-med background, and after getting accepted to medical schools, he went back to school and achieved a Professional Educator License (secondary education in Illinois) and has taught students in all subjects ever since. Andrew has been teaching and coaching students of all ages for over 30+ years in private (and group) tutoring and in public and private schools.
He specializes in middle-grade math and English.
He also has many years of experience with college application essays and ACT / SAT prep and guidance.
Andrew believes in helping students to able to become self-sufficient in learning.
He sums up his teaching philosophy as “I teach students to ultimately be able to catch fish for themselves instead of continuously relying on others to catch fish for them.”
KAREN SUMLIN
My name is Karen Sumlin, and I bring over 25 years of educational experience with me, spanning from homeschooling to traditional classroom teaching. I specialize in tutoring high school and college level mathematics, SAT/ACT preparedness, Spanish and English as a Second Language (ESL.)
All high school students are required to take a foreign language.
Maybe your student is struggling with Spanish. I teach Spanish with a true accent because I learned it as a child.
My particular gift is the ability to explain difficult concepts in a way that the student can grasp. I have a BS in Mathematics, earned with a GPA of 4.0.
Many students tell me that they can't do math, but what I have found is that they just haven't had the material that they are trying to grasp explained to them in a way that they can understand.
I would love to help your student realize their true potential!
Traci newton
I am Traci Newton. I have come to Teachers as Tutors with a wide range of experience. I have been teaching for 30 yrs. and wouldn't have it any other way. I have taught PreK- Juniors in college. I spent 11 yrs. mentoring and tutoring high school students and 3 yrs. teaching English in China. I have my GA Teaching Certificate in Elementary Education, my master’s in education, and a license in Educational Leadership. Most of my teaching experience has been working with students with special needs. I have worked with a Co-Teaching model, leading students with behavior disorders, autism, down syndrome, hearing impaired, and many learning disorders. Traci is trained in Orton-Gillingham.
The most fun I have ever had in school is when I watch the "light bulb" come on with a student who has been struggling. One special needs student just smiled and giggled when she understood! I love inventing new ways to teach and learn, bringing Social Studies into Reading lessons and Science into Math lessons.
Albert Einstein said, "Creativity is intelligence having fun".
This is my motto for my life.
Located in the Canton/Alpharetta/Milton areas;