I'm Ela, a psychology major at Bard College and an English, French, and music tutor in Red Hook, New York. Since I was young, I've explored teaching. I played games (like teacher-teacher) with my sisters when I was eight, coordinated Zoom calls during COVID, to help underprivileged students from kindergarten to college on various assignments, and joined an outreach program at my high school, helping children with disabilities learn. These experiences have deepened my passion for learning, for seeing growth, and it's why I decided to study psychology, and explore child development and memory. I tutor English, Math (Algebra or lower), Psychology, French, and Music (Piano, Violin, Guitar, Electric Bass). With a lifetime of music—piano from when I was five, violin for the past 10 years, self-taught guitar and electric bass—I love integrating musical elements into lessons, and also understand how to create tailored learning strategies that address everyone's unique needs. Beyond music, my passion for filmmaking and screenwriting has helped me explore subjects through visual storytelling and narrative techniques, making abstract concepts more concrete and memorable. Whether working with students who need extra support or those seeking to excel further, it's my hope that I can help someone not just with their academic improvement, but to foster a genuine love for learning.
Ela works with students from the following schools:
Ela offers in-person tutoring on or near the Bard College campus for families across Red Hook New York, Tivoli New York, Germantown New York, Dutchess County New York, Columbia County New York, Hudson Valley New York.
If you have a specific tutor in mind, you're welcome to request them directly — we'll confirm whether they're available and the right fit for your student. Otherwise, Ryan writes a personal email to understand your student's needs, learning style, and goals — then handpicks a tutor from the roster. You're not filling out a form and getting assigned randomly. If the first tutor isn't the right fit after the first session, we'll find you a better match at no extra charge.
Yes. Many families start with a single session to see how the tutor and student connect before committing to a regular schedule. There's no pressure to book in advance — reach out and we'll set something up.
Yes. Many of our tutors are strong across several subjects, and sessions can cover more than one if that's what the student needs that week. Flexibility is built into how we work.
Most of our tutors continue working through breaks, either online or in-person at the college if the tutors remain on campus during that vacation. We'll let you know in advance if a tutor has a gap in availability and arrange coverage with one of our other tutors — in-person or online — in the required subject.
Occasionally, if the student lives very close to the tutor's campus. Most sessions take place on or near the college campus or online. This keeps sessions in an academically focused environment — which tends to produce better results.
The families who see the biggest results are the ones who commit to a regular cadence — typically once, twice, or three times a week. One-on-one tutoring with a student from an elite college, who genuinely understands the material, is a fundamentally different experience from a tutoring center or an app. Most of our clients stay with us for multiple semesters.
Email Ryan@ShiresTutoring.com and mention which tutor and college town you're interested in, or fill out our Request a Tutor form. We typically respond within one business day.
That depends on where your student is starting and how consistently they show up. Ela will identify the specific gaps, focus sessions on them, and adjust as the student progresses. Families who stick to a weekly schedule typically see meaningful progress within four to six weeks.
Email Ryan@ShiresTutoring.com and mention you'd like to work with Ela at Bard College, or fill out our Request a Tutor form — you can also click the Request a Tutor button at the bottom of this page. We'll follow up within one business day to confirm availability and schedule your first session.