My name is Joanne, and I am an Ithaca, NY tutor and a junior at Cornell University, majoring in the Industrial and Labor Relations school on a pre-law track, while also pursuing a minor in Business. I have several years of experience tutoring and mentoring students from elementary through high school, with a primary focus on English, writing, history, and humanities-based subjects. My tutoring approach emphasizes clarity, confidence, and curiosity. I love helping students strengthen their reading comprehension, writing skills, and ability to express ideas thoughtfully and persuasively. Whether a student is working on essays, literary analysis, reading skills, or school assignments, I aim to create a supportive environment where they feel comfortable asking questions and developing their voice as a learner and writer. I have worked with students in academic and enrichment settings through organizations such as the Immigration Family Services Institute (IFSI) and as a Casey Dunne Achieve Tutor, supporting students across subjects and helping them build strong study habits. While my passion lies in the humanities, I am also comfortable tutoring math and science up to the early years of high school! At Cornell, I continue to serve in various mentorship and teaching roles, including as a Peer Mentor, or as Director of New Member Education for my law review, where I support new staff writers’ academic development and writing skills. I also enjoy working with students on standardized test preparation, drawing on my own performance on exams such as the ACT and SSAT, to teach effective strategies and confidence in test-taking. In addition to academics, I am fluent in Korean and have over 12 years of experience playing the violin, including private instruction and performing with orchestras such as the New England Conservatory Youth Philharmonic Orchestra. I am happy to help students with violin technique, repertoire selection, and audition preparation. I also have a strong background in creative and academic writing, and in high school I received multiple writing awards and essay recognitions, including honors from the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. I especially enjoy helping students refine essays, prepare competition submissions, and build confidence in their writing. I bring patience, enthusiasm, and adaptability to every session, and I genuinely love teaching. I look forward to partnering with families to help students build the skills, confidence, and motivation they need to thrive, both in school and beyond!
Joanne works with students from the following schools:
Joanne offers in-person tutoring on or near the Cornell University campus for families across Ithaca New York, Lansing New York, Dryden New York, Trumansburg New York, Cayuga Heights New York, Tompkins County 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. Joanne 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 Joanne at Cornell University, 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.