Meet Some Of Our Expert Tutors
If you are looking for an expert tutor, Firefly Tutors are qualified individuals with expertise in the subject matter you need help with.
Tutor Of The Month
August 2026
Amy Madril
We're delighted to celebrate Amy Madril as our Tutor of the Month for August 2026! Based in Phelan, California, Amy brings patience, warmth, and a genuine love of learning to every session, helping her students discover just how capable they truly are.
Amy holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and has been tutoring with Firefly Tutors since January of 2025. She specializes in Math and ELA, working primarily with elementary-aged students during some of the most important foundation-building years of their education.
What Amy loves most about tutoring is watching her students work through their challenges and come out the other side beaming. "I love watching the students figure out their struggles and watching them be proud of themselves," she shares. For Amy, that moment of self-pride is what tutoring is all about.
Her proudest moments come when a student succeeds at a learning activity that once felt out of reach. And her favorite tip? She reminds her students that it's okay not to know the answers. Finding the tricky spots and working on them together, she tells them, is exactly what makes a great session.
Outside of tutoring, Amy treasures quiet days at home and time spent with her grandson. She'll tell you a classroom or school setting is her happy place, and when it comes to seasons, Winter wins every time - she'd much rather bundle up than beat the heat!
Amy's steady encouragement and heart for her students make her a wonderful part of the Firefly Tutors team. Thank you, Amy, for the patience, the pride-filled moments, and the care you bring to every session.
Our Recognized Tutors
Amy Madril
Based in Phelan, California, Amy specializes in Math and ELA for elementary students. "I love watching the students figure out their struggles and watching them be proud of themselves," she shares. Her patience and encouragement make her a wonderful part of the Firefly Tutors team.
Read More About Amy Madril
Allie Kagamaster
Allie Kagamaster brings creativity, warmth, and a can-do spirit to every session, helping students of all ages build confidence, discover their unique talents, and develop a love of learning.
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Joy Smalley
Gracie Winn
Gracie Winn is a passionate educator and Firefly Tutors team member who brings warmth, energy, and a love for helping students achieve breakthrough “lightbulb” moments in learning.
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Elizabeth Winkler
Elizabeth Winkler brings 17 years of international teaching experience, specialized certifications in classroom instruction and language education from Germany, and a creative, confidence-building approach that blends structure and imagination across math, English, and German instruction.
Read More About Elizabeth Winkler
Cheree Scott
Cheree Scott is Firefly Tutors’ Tutor of the Month for January 2026, bringing a thoughtful blend of structure, creativity, and compassion to every session. With nearly three years at Firefly Tutors, she helps students build confidence and reach their potential across reading, writing, math, and French.
Read More About Cheree Scott
Trudy Marchant
Jessica Medellin
Jessica Medellin is a warm, dedicated educator who specializes in individualized Reading, Writing, and Math support, helping students build confidence, master new concepts, and thrive through personalized one-on-one learning.
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Victoria Patton
Monica Galilea Vides
This September, we’re thrilled to celebrate Monica Galilea Vides as our Tutor of the Month. Monica’s unique blend of energy, creativity, and care makes her stand out among our incredible team. Families and students alike appreciate the way she personalizes each lesson, building both academic skills and lasting confidence. From her background in biology to her love of working with students across every grade level, Monica brings an inspiring mix of expertise and heart to her tutoring.
Read More About Monica Galilea Vides
Paul Nguyen
Paul Nguyen, our August 2025 Tutor of the Month, is a Westminster, CA-based math tutor whose patience, precision, and structured yet encouraging style help students build confidence and become independent problem-solvers. With a Bachelor’s in Mathematics, ongoing Master’s studies, and over a year and a half of experience at Firefly Tutors, Paul’s dedication and passion make him an invaluable mentor to learners at all levels.
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Irina Vaysertreyger
Firefly Tutors proudly honors Irina Vaysertreyger as our July 2025 Tutor of the Month for her exceptional dedication, subject expertise, and inspiring ability to help students grow in confidence and curiosity.
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Josh Walton
Josh has made a meaningful impact by helping students grow in confidence and communication, especially in reading and writing.
Read More About Josh Walton
Katherine L. Cornish
Sandra Walters
We're proud to recognize Sandra Walters as our April Tutor of the Month! With a strong academic background, a passion for helping students succeed, and a heart full of encouragement, Sandra brings joy, dedication, and inspiration to every tutoring session.
Read More About Sandra Walters
Emily Allen
Firefly Tutors is proud to recognize Emily Allen as our March Tutor of the Month! With over 20 years in education and community service, she has helped recruit top-tier tutors, interviewing over 200 candidates and onboarding 116 in just one year. Her passion and dedication make her an invaluable part of our team—thank you, Emily!
Read More About Emily Allen
Noelle Dickenson
With an impressive 27 years of experience in public education, Noelle brings a wealth of knowledge, passion, and dedication to every tutoring session. Based in Seal Beach, CA, Noelle has taught a wide range of subjects to students from 1st to 6th grade and is known for her ability to connect with each student individually, helping them unlock their full potential.
Read More About Noelle Dickenson
Stacey Boykin
We're excited to celebrate Stacey Boykin as Tutor of the Month! Stacey began tutoring with Firefly in April of 2024, bringing over 25 years of experience in teaching and tutoring. Based in Los Alamitos, CA, she is passionate about helping students succeed, and her dedication to their growth shines through in every session.
Read More About Stacey Boykin
Samantha Mirabal
Introducing Samantha Mirabal, our inspiring Tutor of the Month for December 2024! Based in Huntington Beach, Samantha has been a valuable part of the Firefly Tutors family for the past year. With over 10 years of experience in education, her exceptional dedication to her students and ability to spark confidence in learning make her an incredible asset to our team.
Read More About Samantha Mirabal
Jeanie Hatfield
Introducing Jeanie Hatfield, our inspiring Tutor of the Month for October 2024! Jeanie resides in the vibrant city of Fullerton, CA, and has been an incredible asset to the Firefly Tutors team since joining in August 2024. She brings over 30 years of teaching and tutoring experience, and a wealth of knowledge and dedication which she applies to each student she tutors.
Read More About Jeanie Hatfield
Alex Zhong
Alex values making new friends with students and passing on knowledge to help them. Alex’s favorite tip is; “We find success from our failure, and it’s ok to make a mistake if we are willing to correct it.” He suggests, “When my students share their happy and sad thoughts with me, that’s the moment I know we have built a trust and connection with each other so I can pass on my knowledge and experience to them.”
Read More About Alex Zhong
Alexis Singleton
An interesting fact about Alexis is that she was a young tutored student of Diane Lewis (CEO of Firefly Tutors). Alexis is now following in Diane's footsteps, becoming a tutor herself.
Alexis tutors reading, math, and writing.
Read More About Alexis Singleton
Anicia Hibdon
What Anicia loves most about being a tutor is serving the unique needs of each student and helping them succeed. “Each student and each assignment is different -- the opportunities are endless for a flexible and rewarding service to others.”
Read More About Anicia Hibdon
Araid Denson
Araid loves sharing her expertise with students in the areas where they struggle. Araid’s favorite tip for students is that students deserve respect. Once they understand their concerns, viewpoints, and general outlook on life they are more motivated to learn and work with the teacher. She believes it is important to assess and reflect upon the lessons taught on a daily basis.
Read More About Araid Denson
Ashley Furst
Ashley Furst is an accomplished singer, writer, and anchor. She is one of the singers featured on a Sony album titled "Christmas Classics" which became a Certified Gold Record along with some of the biggest names in music including; Beyonce, Christina Aguilera, and Tony Bennett.
Read More About Ashley Furst
Bo Neshat
A resident of Riverside, California, Bo has been tutoring with A+ In-Home Tutors for over seven years. What Bo loves most about being a tutor is the fulfillment he receives through supporting his students to achieve success. “My greatest reward comes when I see that light in my student’s eyes,” says Bo.
Read More About Bo Neshat
Brandon Lim
Presenting Brandon Lim, our esteemed Tutor of the Month for February 2024! Hailing from the vibrant city of Long Beach, CA, Brandon brings a wealth of knowledge and dedication to the Firefly Tutors team.
Read More About Brandon Lim
Dakota Reistad
Dakota is based in Palm Springs, California. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Physics with a minor in Mathematics and has been tutoring for Firefly Tutors since October of 2022. Dakota specializes in algebra, pre-calculus, calculus, trigonometry, geometry, and physics.
Read More About Dakota Reistad
Danelle Barr
Introducing Danelle Barr, our outstanding Tutor of the Month for September 2024! Danelle resides in the beautiful city of Laguna Niguel, CA, and has been a valuable member of the Firefly Tutors team for a year. She brings over 20 years of experience working with children.
Read More About Danelle Barr
Eliza Ross
Eliza is from Apple Valley, California and while she is best versed in anatomy, physiology, and math, she tutors all subjects from Kindergarten through 12th grade. “What I love most about tutoring is that I am actively engaged with the minds of our future,” says Eliza. “I enjoy seeing how much progress students make and the joy that radiates from their faces when they know they have accomplished something great.”
Read More About Eliza Ross
Jeremiah Vue
Hailing from Sacramento, CA, Jeremiah has been a dedicated member of the Firefly Tutors family for over a year, with an impressive five years of tutoring experience under his belt. He holds a B.S. in Mathematics, making him a valuable asset in the world of education.
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Joel Elkins
Joel’s favorite tip for students is in math. “Think of the numbers not as abstract concepts but as real things. Negative numbers are how down they go, positive numbers are how up they go. Fractions are how many slices of pizza they have. Equal signs are like fulcrums on a scale.”
Read More About Joel Elkins
Joseph Previtali
From Woodside, California, Joseph has been educating others for over ten years. “My proudest moment as a tutor is whenever a student, especially one who was struggling, achieves mastery of an important concept.” At Firefly Tutors, we value tutors celebrating the victories of their students.
Read More About Joseph Previtali
Kristi Miller
Kristi L. Miller, a dedicated tutor from Big Bear City, California, has been named the Firefly Tutors November Tutor of the Month for 2023. With 1.5 years of experience as a tutor, Kristi's passion for teaching shines through as she tutors a wide range of subjects, including Reading, Writing, English, Math, Science, Spanish, Poetry, Life Coaching, and Guitar, for students ranging from K-12 to college/university levels.
Read More About Kristi Miller
Meghan Tristan
Meghan’s favorite memory from tutoring was when her niece was homeschooling. Her niece displayed low self-esteem and didn’t believe in her own capabilities. In her 8th grade year, she received the honors award from her school for a 3.6 GPA. She was in disbelief of receiving the award showcasing a huge smile that came across her face. This is why tutoring her niece was all worth it.
Read More About Meghan Tristan
Melissa Marmo
Melissa shared her favorite memory with one of her students. “A favorite memory is when one of my students was very excited to take on a text-evidence close reading ELA activity. He is only in 2nd grade, and he did wonderfully on this third-grade supplemental task. He loved being challenged and learning a new skill.”
Read More About Melissa Marmo
Mengran Liu
Mengran tutors the beautiful Chinese language of Mandarin. Native to China, Mengran appreciates that more and more people want to learn her mother language. She observes that many people like herself were born in a non-English speaking country and grew up learning English. Mengran continues to teach Chinese and hopes that Mandarin will become a popular international language the same as English.
Read More About Mengran Liu
Morgan Hartshorn
The most important tip Morgan shares is to build relationships with students when teaching them. Morgan says; “Gaining their trust makes kids much more willing to learn, and discovering their interests reveals different methods for effective tutoring. For example, if a fourth grader loves animals but dislikes math, make story problems that relate to running a veterinary practice. Just like Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal, try many different strategies and see which ones work.”
Read More About Morgan Hartshorn
Pierre Peasha
Pierre received a magna cum laude from California State University, Bakersfield with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Accounting and Finance Concentration. He currently is a Communicative Disorders leveling student at Eastern New Mexico University. Pierre plans to get his Master of Science in Communicative Disorders from California State University, Northridge to complete his education to become a speech-language pathologist.
Read More About Pierre Peasha
Randel Chow
Randel's favorite tip to students is for students who have trouble with writing assignments, I find that discussing the topic with the student helps him/her discover what to write. Randel also is an avid musician. Up until the pandemic, he performed semi-professionally on stage as a guitarist.
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Rebecca Aimone
I started with a student during her seventh-grade year. She was getting D's and F's. With some intense hours of tutoring in study skills, math, and science, she was able to bring her grades up and she graduated from middle school on the Honor Roll. She is a sophomore in high school now and has maintained her grades in the A's and B's.
Read More About Rebecca Aimone
Rebecca Anderson
Introducing Rebecca Anderson, our dedicated Tutor of the Month for April 2024! Hailing from the serene city of Lake Elsinore, CA Rebecca brings a wealth of passion and expertise to the Firefly Tutors team!
Read More About Rebecca Anderson
Rhiannon (Rio) Rodriguez
Introducing Rhiannon (Rio) Rodriguez, our Tutor of the Month for January 2024! Coming from the desert city of Helendale, CA, Rio has been an integral part of the Firefly Tutors family since July 2023, bringing her unique blend of expertise and passion to our team.
Read More About Rhiannon (Rio) Rodriguez
Rick Neisser
We celebrate Rick Neisser as our Firefly Tutor for May 2022. He resides in Costa Mesa, California and has been tutoring with Firefly Tutors for 3 years. Rick loves both the mental challenges and emotional rewards of tutoring. Preparing a lesson keeps Rick sharp, allowing him to relearn the subject while figuring out the best ways of presenting the material.
Read More About Rick Neisser
Samirah Martinez
Samirah shares one of her favorite student success stories. One of my students had been struggling to read for years. Once we found something that worked, she was able to read signs in stores and on TV. Her family was so happy, and I am glad to have been a part of that.
Read More About Samirah Martinez
Sarah Wells
Sarah reflects on her success story, “My proudest moment as a tutor has been seeing at-risk students get to graduate and walk with their class. The accomplishment and empowerment on their faces as they walked means that I did my job and I did it well.”
Read More About Sarah Wells
Shara Bernard
From tutoring young ones to older students, breaking larger tasks into smaller, manageable units is an invaluable key to prevent a student from feeling overwhelmed in learning a new skill or completing a project.
Read More About Shara Bernard
Sharon Wanderdam
We celebrate Sharon Wanderdam as our Firefly Tutor for April 2022. She resides in Davis, California, and brings over 7 years of experience to our program. Sharon loves making personal connections with each of her students. This special bond makes the sessions fun, and heartening for both. Trust helps students become more receptive and comfortable to ask questions and reach their academic goals.
Read More About Sharon Wanderdam
Sophie Stauffer
Sophie values the importance of building the confidence of her students. Sophie’s favorite tip to help her students learn is to allow students to make choices whenever possible. She suggests even proposing small choices such as, “would you rather practice fractions or word problems next?” Sophie emphasizes that this practice “gives students agency of your time with them.”
Read More About Sophie Stauffer
Taylor Nguyen
Taylor Nguyen is a dedicated tutor based in Garden Grove, CA. With a Bachelor's degree in Biochemistry and a Master of Arts in Counseling for Mental Health and Wellness, Taylor has been tutoring for Firefly Tutors for the past 10 months. Specializing in Math and Chemistry, she finds immense joy in helping her students understand complex concepts and witnessing their "light-bulb moments" of comprehension.
Read More About Taylor Nguyen
Trinity Conway
There are many proud moments as a tutor, but recently she worked with a young lady who struggled with her motivation to learn and even struggled to attend school due to mental health anxiety. After their first session, she told Trinity she hadn't enjoyed school at all in the past few months and had barely done any schoolwork. After their first tutoring session, her jest to learn was reignited and she looked forward to learning again.
Read More About Trinity Conway
Veronica Alvarez
Veronica earned her Behavioral Therapist and Behavioral Science Bachelor's Degree and tutors all academic subjects from reading, science, and mathematics. Veronica’s favorite subject is English and is amused by the amazing power of a good book.
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Yulia Song
Congratulations to Yulia Song, our April Firefly Tutor of the Month! She has been working with Firefly Tutors for seven month and has been tutoring, teaching, and mentoring for five years. The subjects she tutors are mathematics, reading comprehension, language skills, English, and science.
Read More About Yulia Song
Seirra Wolfe
Introducing Seirra Wolfe, our esteemed Tutor of the Month for May 2024! Sierra comes from the vibrant city of Auburn, CA, and has become a vital member of our Firefly Tutors team since joining us last December.
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Madison Hoover
We are thrilled to announce Madison Hoover as our Tutor of the Month for July 2024! Based in sunny San Diego, CA, Madison brings a remarkable blend of expertise and enthusiasm to Firefly Tutors.
Read More About Madison Hoover
Santiago Liera Campos
Introducing Santiago Liera Campos, our esteemed Tutor of the Month for August 2024! Santiago, resides in the vibrant city of Davis, CA, and brings a dynamic blend of expertise and enthusiasm to Firefly Tutors.
Read More About Santiago Liera Campos
