My name is Kana, and I am a tutor in Northampton, Massachusetts and a biochemistry major and prospective mathematics double major on the premed track at Smith College. I will graduate in 2028 and have taken general chemistry, organic chemistry, cell biology, multivariable calculus, linear algebra, discrete mathematics, and statistics courses. I am most familiar with teaching in STEM, particularly chemistry, biology, and mathematics up to AP Calculus BC, as it aligns with my studies, but I am also passionate about English, writing, and Psychology, as well as Japanese (I am fluent). I am happy to tutor standardized tests such as the SAT (I scored 1560), the ACT (I scored 35), and all the AP exams I took (my scores are in parentheses): Biology (5), Calculus BC (4), English Language and Composition (5), English Literature and Composition (5), European History (4), Japanese Language and Culture (5), and Psychology (5). I was a peer tutor in high school, tutoring peers in biology (honors, AP), algebra II (honors), and trigonometry (honors), and I often assisted my peers during class time in many of my classes, such as physics and economics. I enjoy teaching and love tutoring.
Kana works with students from the following schools:
Kana offers in-person tutoring on or near the Smith College campus for families across Northampton Massachusetts, Florence Massachusetts, Leeds Massachusetts, Hadley Massachusetts, Westhampton Massachusetts, Hampshire County Massachusetts, Hampden County Massachusetts.
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. Kana 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 Kana at Smith 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.