Alden Learning would like to thank its students and families for a wonderful NINE years of business.
As of June 2017, we no longer provide tutoring services.
As of June 2017, we no longer provide tutoring services.
Alden Learning is excellence in education. We provide one-on-one tutoring and enrichment in academic subjects across grade levels, from elementary through high school, including honors and AP courses. Our tutors focus on more than just homework help and test prep. We work with students on becoming critical thinkers and independent learners. We provide organizational support and academic guidance. Most importantly, we give our students a framework for increased confidence, mastery over subject matter, and ultimately mastery over themselves.
Nichole Alden, founder of Alden Learning, began teaching in 2002, in some of the toughest areas of the Los Angeles Unified School District. She spent five years serving schools in low income communities before joining the exceptional team of educators at Palisades Charter Elementary School where she was a classroom teacher until 2012. Tutoring after school with a growing waiting list for several years, she decided to find and train other exceptional educators who shared her vision, passion, and strong drive for results.
Today, Alden Learning has evolved into a collaborative team of top tier tutors who proudly serve the nearby communities of Santa Monica, Pacific Palisades, and Brentwood. We are thrilled with the work we do and grateful for our continued growth through our clients' generous recommendations and referrals. Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your child's educational journey.
Nichole Alden, founder of Alden Learning, began teaching in 2002, in some of the toughest areas of the Los Angeles Unified School District. She spent five years serving schools in low income communities before joining the exceptional team of educators at Palisades Charter Elementary School where she was a classroom teacher until 2012. Tutoring after school with a growing waiting list for several years, she decided to find and train other exceptional educators who shared her vision, passion, and strong drive for results.
Today, Alden Learning has evolved into a collaborative team of top tier tutors who proudly serve the nearby communities of Santa Monica, Pacific Palisades, and Brentwood. We are thrilled with the work we do and grateful for our continued growth through our clients' generous recommendations and referrals. Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your child's educational journey.
Meet some of our featured team members:
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Elise Culliton graduated from Loyola Marymount University where she earned a B.A. in Political Science, a B.A. in Dance, and minored in Business Administration. She is currently working on her J.D. at UCLA School of Law, where being ranked within the top 12 in her class has earner her the honor of being a Michael T. Masin Scholar. She began working with students as a writing tutor at Loyola Marymount where she helped undergraduate and graduate students with research papers, dissertations, and a variety of other materials including personal statements and essays for college applications. While tutoring primarily at a collegiate level, she has worked in a classroom as a teacher's assistant with students of all ages. She is passionate about helping students become strong writers and loves being a tutor and mentor to her students. She hopes to help her students become confident and successful both within a classroom and in their daily lives.
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Alisa Bealessio earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Southern California in Environmental Science with a minor in Sustainable Chemistry. While at USC she mentored international students, helping them to adjust to life in the U.S. while improving their English speaking and writing skills. Alisa hopes to spark her students' interests in math and science while teaching them to be confident in themselves and their abilities.
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Angela Du studies Psychobiology and Global Health at UCLA where she is also involved as a senior member in a neurophysics lab where she explores conscious behavior in response to a magnetic stimulation in C. elegans in an attempt to apply findings to human behavior. Angela volunteers at Ronald Reagan Medical Center, assisting medical staff and overseeing the admissions process for new volunteers. She's mentored underclassman and new researchers in the lab and coached K-12 students in tennis. Angela's style of teaching is fun and effective.
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Anna Mayer excelled as a Student Affiliate in the Spine Tissue Engineering Lab at Cedar Sinai and is currently studying Information Technology through Southern New Hampshire University's online program. She earned Dean's list honors in the spring of 2014. Anna loves helping students accomplish their goals while cultivating their skills and creativity.
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Yi Chang studied Biochemistry at UCLA and during his high school career took over 12 AP courses scoring a four or higher on every exam. He was the USA student coordinator for his university trip, where he and his colleagues explored the education, medical and business infrastructures of Cambodia. Outside of his impressive academic achievements, Yi excels at tennis and martial arts. Yi challenges students to push their fluency levels in each subject of struggle to achieve maximum results.
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Cindy DiTusa's love for teaching and tutoring began with her studies of Music Education at University of Illinois. After working as a elementary school band director for several years, she took advantage of the opportunity to work abroad with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra. Since moving to Santa Monica, she's enjoyed mentoring students through the Reading Partners program at John Muir Elementary school. During the school day, she currently works as an Instructional Aide at Will Rogers School. Her technique incorporates a structured approach to reading, spelling, and grammar. Her goal is to instill a love of learning and provide opportunities for achievable success to help each child reach his or her full potential.
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Mariel Calloway graduated from Princeton University with an English Literature and Creative Writing focus. She splits her time between the diverse roles of freelance writer, photographer, and educational consultant. Mariel loves working with students of all ages to help them grow as learners by improving their skills in writing, reading, and critical thinking. In her spare time, Mariel is an avid swimmer and triathlete.
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Peter Markoe graduated from Colby College in 2013 with a BA in English. He took advantage of the liberal arts education by taking classes in the different departments his entire freshman year. After finding his calling in literature, Peter studied Contemporary Italian Fiction in Verona, attended the Sundance Film Festival as a student, and enjoyed learning the best and worst of Shakespeare, Keats, and Nabokov. Throughout his time at Colby, Peter never forgot his experience as a middle school and high school "mathlete." In Fact, Peter won first place awards in a regional competition, and scored a 5 on both the AP AB and BC Calculus Exams. In addition to tutoring, Peter runs a sustainable agriculture business that he co-founded in 2015. He hopes to help students from all backgrounds with reading comprehension, grammar and vocabulary, and middle school and high school writing.
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Shannon Goulding majored in Education and French at Flinders University of South Australia before returning to the U.S. to begin teaching students of various ages in one-on-one settings. Shannon engages students with a fun approach and a contagious enthusiasm for learning.
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Sara Castro graduated from Texas Tech University with a B.A. in Mass Communications and Spanish, with an emphasis in Photography. She is currently in pursuit of her Masters in Education through the University of New Orleans. Sara gathered interest in helping children learn early on in her college career while working as a tutor. That interest quickly became a passion, and led her to a career in elementary education upon graduation. Sara has 7 years of experience engaging with students as a full-time classroom teacher of technology and in Spanish. She believes in helping every child find his or her unique strengths which can be harnessed in order to increase their success within the classroom. She works hard to provide her students with the motivation and inspiration they need to become lifelong learners. Sara is also a yoga enthusiast, music-lover, and avid photographer.
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Conor McRae is currently studying Mathematics with a specialization in Computing at UCLA, where he is also a member of the chess club and editor for the student newspaper, the Daily Bruin. Conor encourages a sense of curiosity in his students, with the aim of guiding them to their own unique understanding of the subject matter.
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Elise Strader studied psychology at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. After graduation, she spent six months teaching English as a Second Language to students in Thailand, both in the classroom and as a one-on-one tutor. Elise loves creating new and interesting ways of teaching and are engaging and fun.
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Sam Megowen studied Mathematics and Economics at the University of Southern California. In addition to his academic strengths, he has a great deal of experience working with middle and high school aged students as a skilled tennis coach. Sam has a passion for helping students and athletes realize their full potential both on and off the court. Sam expects to enter a sports management MBA program next year.
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Eric Wilson completed his undergraduate education at the University of Southern California where he graduated with BS degrees in Mathematics and Astronomy. After obtaining his PhD at the University of Michigan in Atmospheric and Space Sciences, he spent over a decade involved in NASA projects aimed at gaining a greater understanding of our solar system. Having taught and advised students at the university level, Eric brings his expertise and experience at helping students learn how to approach problems and realize their full potential.
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Madison Weiss is finishing her studies at University of Southern California in Social Sciences with an emphasis in Psychology. She has begun the graduate school application process, applying for a Doctorate in Education. Through USC's tutoring program, she works with local middle and high-school students in all subject areas. With a passion for education, Madison emphasizes that while understanding the material itself is important, engaging students via each child's individualized learning style provides the strongest foundation for learning.
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Dominic Reiss earned his BS in Physics from Imperial College London and a MS in Mathematics from the University of Cambridge, before coming to Los Angeles to pursue a PhD in Physics. Since joining UCLA, he has been continuously employed as a Teaching Assistant and has led discussion sections in many introductory physics classes. In addition to working with students at the university level, he has tutored a number of middle and high school students in physics and math classes, ranging from the fundamentals of algebra to AP physics. Dominic prefers to emphasize concepts and intuition in his lessons, helping students understand why things are done a certain way allowing students the ability to create solutions to problems they may not have seen before.
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Ymonne Tajzoy is in her final stages of Electrical Engineering study at California State Polytechnic University. With a fierce passion for learning and success, Ymonne strives to encourage her students to learn, grow, and become exceptional individuals.
Spanish Language
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Mark Hoadley studied history and English literature at Harvard University. He worked at the investment bank UBS in Singapore, and later as a trader at a hedge fund in New York. Since 2013 he has been studying fiction writing, with the eventual goal of publishing a novel. He scored an 800 on the SAT Math, a 790 on the SAT Verbal, and a 770 on the GMAT. Mark imparts ways of thinking that prepare students to reach their full potential on the tests in addition to presenting strategies to help students meet the broader challenges of life.
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Nichole Alden, founder of Alden Learning, began teaching in 2002, in some of the toughest areas of the Los Angeles Unified School District. She spent five years serving schools in low income communities before joining the exceptional team of educators at Palisades Charter Elementary School where she was a classroom teacher until 2012. Tutoring after school with a growing waiting list for several years, she decided to find and train other exceptional educators who shared her vision, passion, and strong drive for results.
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