Meet Breakthrough Tutoring’s Team!
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SAT/ACT Prep
ISEE/SSAT Prep
ELA and Writing (all levels)
Social Studies (all levels)
Math (through Algebra I)
Science
Spanish & Italian
Executive Function Coaching
Academic and Career Advising
College Application & Essay Support
Rachel Arky, Founder & Director
I have always been passionate about education and working one-on-one with students of all ages and backgrounds. I graduated Phi Beta Kappa and summa cum laude from Barnard College, Columbia University, received my Master’s in Music from Manhattan School of Music, and went on to pursue a Graduate Certificate in Academic Advising through the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA). As the founder of Breakthrough Tutoring, I bring over 13 years of experience as a tutor, adviser, mentor, educator, and administrator. Over the course of my career, I have worked with hundreds of K-12 students in diverse subjects, designing and implementing individualized syllabi and adapting lessons to the specific needs of my students.
Beyond foundational tutoring, I have extensive experience working in college access and higher education administration, which has given me a deep understanding of the challenges students face at all the major inflection points of their academic lives. I have developed curricula for school- and district-based initiatives focused on college and career readiness, and managed mentorship programs supporting thousands of alumni. My background includes supporting the strategic operations within the President's Office at Barnard College and serving as Chief of Development Staff and Director of Special Programs for a college-access nonprofit. I am also deeply committed to educational equity; I have mentored first-generation college students and advised young adults through every step of the complex college application process.
My approach to tutoring and advising is fundamentally strengths-based. I meet students where they are, build on the strengths they already have, and work together to come up with a rigorous yet attainable plan for meeting their goals. Drawing on the discipline, focus, and resilience required in my own parallel career as a professional opera singer, I understand firsthand what it takes to master complex material and perform under pressure. I believe in the power of hard work, encouragement, and perseverance, and I strive to instill a lifelong growth mindset in every student I work with.
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AP Calculus AB
AP Calculus BC
AP Statistics
AP Microeconomics
AP Chemistry
Pre-Calculus
Algebra
Geometry
Pre-Algebra
SAT and ACT (all sections)
Josh A., Tutor
I love teaching, and I have been teaching professionally in classroom, small group, and one-on-one settings for the past decade. After finishing my B.A. in Sustainable Development from Columbia University, I spent the next years performing opera around the country. Along the way, I earned a M.M. in Classical Voice from Manhattan School of Music. I stopped performing as a soloist in 2022, moved to Germany, and earned a M.Sc. in Integrated Natural Resource Management from Humboldt University in Berlin. I am currently earning my California teaching credential, with the aim of teaching high school math.
I have discovered over the years that my background in the performing arts and interdisciplinary studies has helped me to communicate complex problems with clarity and enthusiasm, aiding learners across a wide spectrum of experience- and skill-level. My specialty is in bringing the abstract to life, blending analytical precision with artistic communication.
I model my teaching off those teachers who have inspired me to follow my curiosity, express myself, and connect the many faces of artistic and scientific knowledge. I strive, always, to bridge the knowledge gap, but also to equip my students with the learning tools they need to feel confident and courageous in the face of unknowing.
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Algebra I and II
Geometry
Calculus
Statistics
SAT/ACT Math
Math for Standardized Tests
Middle School Math
Peter G., Tutor
I am a Rutgers University–Newark graduate with a B.A. in Mathematics and a minor in Data Science as well as a graduate of Millburn High School. Currently, I am in the Master of Information Technology and Analytics (MITA) program at Rutgers Business School. With experience tutoring mathematics at Rutgers, I enjoy helping students build both confidence and independence in their problem-solving abilities.
My tutoring approach focuses on getting to the root of a student’s challenges rather than simply helping them complete the problem in front of them. I take the time to understand how each student thinks, where confusion begins, and which foundational concepts may need to be strengthened. From there, I break difficult material into clear, manageable steps and adapts my explanations to the student’s individual learning style.
My goal is not just to help students arrive at the correct answer, but to help them understand why an approach works and how to recognize similar patterns in the future. By emphasizing reasoning, strong foundations, and thoughtful problem-solving habits, I aim to give students the tools to approach new and unfamiliar challenges with greater confidence on their own.
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ELA (all levels, with a focus on K-8th Grade)
ISEE/SSAT: Reading & Verbal Sections
Science (through 8th Grade)
Math (through 4th grade)
Executive Function Skill Development
Shannon M., Tutor
Hi! I’m Shannon, an experienced educator who has been working in education for over a decade. I currently teach upper elementary English Language Arts, where I help students strengthen their reading comprehension, writing, vocabulary, and overall confidence as learners.
I hold a Master’s degree in Autism Spectrum Disorders from Grand Canyon University, which has given me additional experience and training in understanding different learning styles and adapting instruction to meet individual student needs.
As a tutor, my goal is to create a supportive, encouraging environment where students feel comfortable asking questions, making mistakes, and building their skills at their own pace. I believe learning should be engaging, approachable, and tailored to the individual child. I’m excited to help students grow academically while developing greater confidence in themselves as learners!
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ELA (all levels)
ISEE/SSAT
Social Studies
Math (through 5th grade)
Executive Function Skill Development
Renee M., Tutor
I began my teaching career several years ago after earning my Bachelor of Arts in English, with a minor in Education, from St. Elizabeth’s University. I went on to earn my master’s degree in Educational Theatre from New York University.
After graduate school, I worked as an actor-teacher for an educational theatre company. Through this work, I developed and presented educational programs addressing topics such as bias and prejudice, multiculturalism, and diversity. I spent six years in this role before taking a break from teaching to raise my three sons.
In 2012, I joined The Winston School of Short Hills. I have taught reading, science, and math in grades 3–5, as well as drama and public speaking in grades 4–8. I have also directed numerous school plays.
Currently, at Winston, I teach reading and language arts to students in grades 6–8. My students have a range of language-based learning challenges, including dyslexia, auditory processing disorder, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, and apraxia. I have extensive training in the Orton-Gillingham approach and morphology-based instruction.
Outside of school, I enjoy going to Broadway shows, playing tennis, and spending time with my three sons.
Neysa D., Tutor
I am currently a mathematics teacher at Carteret Junior High School, and previously taught Honors Geometry, Algebra I/II, Trigonometry, and Statistics at Verona High School and Jonathan Dayton High School.
As a tutor, in addition to math subjects, I have supported students with Physics, Chemistry, and SAT/ACT prep.
I received my Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from William Paterson University. Before pivoting to teaching, I began my career as an Associate Consultant in the financial services division of Capgemini America, where I was part of the data change management team.
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Math (all levels)
SAT/ACT Prep