About Joan
Joan has been a certified teacher and a private tutor for many years. In fact, she had the first of her many tutoring jobs when she was still in high school. Right after college, she taught English, grades 7-12 in New Haven, CT, at The Gateway School and at The Hopkins School. She then taught English, 9-12, in the Bedford, NY, public schools. In Bedford, she also taught study skills/executive functions, math, social studies, and humanities. She planned and led international, interdisciplinary, enrichment trips for high school students; she created and implemented a model program to teach self-confidence and effectiveness. She has also taught teachers at Bank Street College New Perspectives program.
Joan earned her BA in English at Washington University, St. Louis; she was awarded a Danforth Fellowship for graduate work and earned her MA in teaching from Columbia University, NYC. During her studies, she developed a particular interest in new methods of teaching and testing.
Joan has been recognized nationally and regionally for creating and using these innovative methods of teaching and testing. She was selected as the NYSAEA Teacher of the Year and the NIE Outstanding Teacher of Writing, for example. She has been a consultant to many districts in New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, and Massachusetts, where she trained teachers, developed new programs, and organized new systems of testing and test preparation. She has published extensively on methods of teaching and testing and on ways to teach thinking skills. Her book Schoolwise: Teaching Academic Patterns of Mind, shows why schools must focus on “how” children learn as well as on” what.”
In her tutoring, she has worked with students from public and private schools, elementary through graduate school. She has demonstrated success with all types of learners. She focuses on assessing the student’s individual strengths and teaching to the student’s individual needs. Joan has a good sense of humor and establishes a friendly rapport with students; she expects and gets high achievements.
Featured Testimonial
“Joan provided personally targeted essential tutoring for my daughter in preparation for the SAT. She worked with her over an extensive period of time and the results were tremendous. Joan is dedicated and highly skilled. She is an exceptional educator. I highly recommend her to anyone looking for English and SAT tutoring or guidance.”
-Marion H., Parent Mt. Kisco, NY