Hi! I'm Tessa, a sophomore here at Middlebury College. I'm a Political Science and Creative Writing double major, and have a love of all things learning. I plan on pursuing political journalism and law post-grad. I tutored my fair share of students in high school, prepping for standardized tests, helping with essay and writing skills, and going through the general motions of coursework for elementary through middle schoolers. I also worked with Baltimore City Public School youth, tutoring disadvantaged students before and after school in math, english, and history. Along with tutoring, I've been the tutoree, and understand the nuances of how to interact and support a child's needs. I got a 1550 on my SAT, scoring a 790 on the math section, and 760 on the english section. I studied (maybe a bit too much) for that, and feel confident in my ability to help students foster healthy and effective studying habits. I'm a writing fanatic, and spend my free time writing letters to friends or stories to be. I did a lot of college essay tutoring when I was in high school, tutoring peers regarding supplementals and personal statements, and can help you all make the college process a little less daunting. Outside of academics, I'm a part of Middlebury Discount Comedy, our version of SNL where I write and perform sketches with an ensemble of students. I'm a card game fanatic, and you'll frequently find me pestering friends to play one more round of Cribbage or Smudge. I also play on the ultimate frisbee team, (although I tend to be more of a benchwarmer...) Regardless, I love community, being part of a team, and fostering an environment full of laughing and learning. I cannot wait to work with you all!
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. Tessa 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 Tessa at Middlebury 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.