Daniela was born and raised in New Orleans She is half Dominican and half Honduran. She speaks English and Spanish languages. Daniela graduated from The International School of New Orleans. She is currently in her 2nd year at Tulane University, majoring in Math on a full time Scholarship. At home, she likes to read comic books and animals. Daniela has 4 years of tutoring experience in Math, English, Reading, and Spanish. She looks forward to helping your children become the best student that they can be.

Kristen Lasseigne is a native of New Orleans. She attended Ursuline Academy and the University of New Orleans. Kristen graduated with Honors from the University, majoring in Elementary Education and minoring in Psychology. She also earned her Master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of New Orleans. To date, Kristen has completed all of her doctoral coursework and will be completing her dissertation in the future. She worked as a fourth grade teacher for fifteen years, and Kristen also has experience tutoring various ages and subjects ranging from Kindergarten reading to college level Algebra. Most recently Kristen has taught first time home buyer classes to adults seeking to purchase their first home, as she also holds her real estate license here in Louisiana. Kristen is a lover of animals and has been vegan/vegetarian for over twenty years. In her free time, she loves spending time with her 10 month old son and husband.

Teri Beth Putman grew up in St. Charles Parish, then relocated to Ruston to attend Louisiana Tech University. From there, she graduated with a Bacholers in Science in Early Childhood Education. She will soon be continuing her education at Nicholas University for a Masters of Science in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in Reading Interventions. During her free time, Teri Beth loves hanging out with her family and making lots of amazing memories. She currently is going into her tenth year of teaching. Teri Beth has worked as an educator in St. Charles Parish, Jefferson Parish, and now, Terrebonne Parish teaching prek through third grade. Through these experiences, she is driven to give students the skills to become not only fabulous readers, but students who love to learn!

Dr. Nakisha Whittington is a proud native of Vacherie, LA, with a PhD in curriculum and instruction from Penn State University. She also received her Master’s degree in Elementary Education and Teaching from Xavier University of Louisiana, and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Dr. Nakisha Whittington currently serves as an Assistant Professor of Teacher Education and Literacy within the Department of Teaching and Learning at Virginia Commonwealth University. Her research examines the use of digital literacy practices among young children in urban education. As a teacher educator, Dr. Nakisha Whittington also examines socially justice teaching pedagogies. Prior to joining the PKT Team, Dr. Nakisha Whittington taught Upward Bound students computer coding, served as an early literacy specialist at Children’s Literacy Initiative (CLI) in Philadelphia, and served as a first grade teacher from 2011 to 2015 at Fannie C. Williams Charter School in New Orleans. Dr. Nakisha Whittington is an avid runner (completing 3 half-marathons to date), loves a mountain view and chocolate candy.

My name is Torie Johnson and I have 10 years of education experience. I specialize in ELA, with a passion for helping kids of all ages succeed in school. With my years working in the education field, I understand the student’s needs and strive to find the best approach to boosting their grades and confidence. I’m an interactive and supportive tutor, using visual aids and modern technology to ensure the student’s needs are met and that their learning experience is both fun and informative. I look forward to working with your children!

Albert Moten, Jr. is a native New Orleans and a graduate of Loyola University New Orleans in Mass Communication. He is currently enrolled at Tulane University to continue his higher education goals. Albert has worked as an educator in Jefferson and Orleans Parishes in both Charter and Public School systems. Nothing satisfies him more than seeing children excel to their highest potential academically and to be productive students. As the Community Service Tutor Coordinator at Tulane Univ. he led over 200 Tulane students who worked as Teacher Assistants and Tutors from grades K-12. Under his leadership he helped Tulane Univ. to be ranked in the top 10 in the nation in Community Service.

As a seasoned tutor, Casandra Conrad, has 8 years of experience helping grade level students advance in literacy, numeracy, and logical thinking. This tutor is adaptive to the individual needs, age and abilities of each student. In 2004, Casandra earned her General Studies Bachelor’s Degree with a concentration in Business, Urban Studies and Sociology from the University of New Orleans. Professional experience include working as a freelance tutor (in- person and virtual) for K-8 Mathematics and Literacy, grade level Algebra and GED preparation for adults. Casandra Conrad has been a member of The National Tutoring Association since 2016 to present. Interests include reading, gardening, healthy cooking and overall nutrition and wellness. The most fulfilling activity is her time spent as a volunteer youth mentor for organizations such as Volunteers of America. She can best be described as a motivator. Casandra is a confidence builder who promotes step by step learning with patience and a great ability to make others feel comfortable around her. Casandra enthusiastically works diligently until the student masters their areas of difficulty.

Billi Christina Allen was born in Jefferson, Louisiana in 1994. She grew up in Destrehan, LA where she was raised by her father, Mallory Allen, and her mother, Chrystal Carter. She attended Destrehan High School where she first discovered her love for helping others as a mentor for freshman classes. She went on to the illustrious Southern University and A&M College where she studied Psychology. During her tenure at Southern she was inducted into the Collegiate 100 Black Women of Southern University. In this organization she was able to continue her love for helping others by supporting the development of social, emotional, and educational need of the youth through mentorship and role modeling. After graduating in 2018 she went on to work with children on the spectrum and teaching them life lessons and preparing them for school for 2 years. She always made time for children through volunteering as well and continues to do so today. In her spare time Billi enjoys baking and decorating sweets. She loves baking for loved ones and seeing the smiles that comes across their faces. She is looking forward to getting to know each child at PKTHSA and helping them thorough this journey called life.

Adron Vining is currently a sales manager with a home security company. He previously worked as a behavior technician at a Autism Spectrum school where he implemented applied behavior. He developed a love for special needs children while attending Southeastern Louisiana University, where he majored in Criminal Justice. He grew up in Amite Louisiana where he was heavily influenced by his family, church, and sports. As a member of Omega Psi Phi fraternity he was introduced to new avenues of community service that lead him to the Ronald McDonald House, where he became a 4 year volunteer. Adron is a proud father of 3 girls, a member of Grant Chapel Church where he sings in the choir and writes all the childrens plays. Adron continues to look for ways to uplift his community everyday.

Carlos Bernal is an MA in Romance Languages and a teacher based in Louisiana with more than 10 years of relevant experience. In Cuba, he was Literature Professor at University of Havana for 5 years, and after moving to the United States, he became first a Spanish Teacher at The University of New Orleans, and later a Certified Elementary Educator in the band of K-6. Since 2020, he works at International School of Louisiana, giving Spanish, Social Studies, and Mathematics to 2 nd Grade students. Also, he offers hours of tutoring online for English Language Learners and for English native speakers looking for help in the areas of Linguistics and Creative Writing. Teaching is for him an essential part of his life. More than a profession, teaching is his way of living. He feels rewarded when students exhale “Ahhh, I understand”, when his sessions end with a feeling of relief and a stronger trust of his students in themself. A good teacher never rest you might see him reading, planning lessons, or practicing sport during his/her free time, but he/she is just looking for new ideas, new connections to engage his/her pupils.

Bessie studied engineering at the University of New Orleans. She has tutoring experience in various individual and group settings. Bessie is a huge fan of Marvel movies. Her favorite Marvel superhero is Captain America. Bessie hopes to create an experience for your student that will create a lifelong love of learning.

Cynthia Diaz is married to her husband Erik of 19 years and lives on the southern border in Del Rio, Texas . They have two dogs a Chihuahua named Blondie and a Sheltie mix named Bella. Cynthia has a Bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from Sul Ross State University RGC and a Master’s Degree in Library Science from the University of North Texas . She is a certified teacher in the state of Texas specializing in Reading 1-8 and also certified to teach bilingual students EC-4th. She was a teacher for SFDRCISD in Del Rio for nine years teaching grades 2nd through 4th. After that she moved to San Antonio where she worked for NISD as a substitute teacher working in elementary classrooms Pre K through 5th grade. She has currently been working as an online tutor and is looking into becoming a school librarian in her hometown of Del Rio. Some of her hobbies include reading, exercising, cycling, painting and photography. She belongs to the Athena’s book club and attends monthly meetings. She also, recently completed her second year of the Great Cycle Challenge this September and received a medal for her continued support in helping fight kids’ cancer. She is excited to become a part of the Philips Kids Tutoring group of tutors and looks forward to working with students to help them achieve their best potential!

Ndeye Khady Badiane is a 23 year old, originally from Senegal, West Africa who moved to Metairie a year ago from Rhode Island with her fiancee. She is in her final semester of college in pursuit of a bachelor’s degree in nonprofit business management and a minor in psychology at Keene State College. In her free time she likes to cook, paint, listen to music, exercise and enjoy the outdoors. She has tutoring experience with people ages 5 years old to 40 years old in Rhode Island and Louisiana. She is looking forward to being a part of your education journey.

Chelsea Reed is a paraprofessional with six years' experience in teaching first through fifth grade content. She achieved an associate's degree from Delgado Community College in teaching first through fifth grade as well as on-the-job training/experience in behavior intervention. Chelsea enjoys reading and listening to a good book, watching movies, dancing, spending time with family and friends as well as playing outdoor sports. Chelsea is currently teaching fourth grade math following the Louisiana Common Core Standards using the curriculum of Eureka Math. A strong believer in the power of positive thinking and progress over perfection. Chelsea is excited to assist students in reaching their academic and personal goals while growing and learning together.

Hampton Holloway is a native of Louisiana, born in Baton Rouge. He attended Baton Rouge Magnet High School, and then obtained a bachelor of science degree in Biology with a minor in chemistry from Louisiana College. He taught in Houston, Texas for two years, but ended up moving back home. After moving back to Louisiana, he taught middle and high school science in Baton Rouge for five years. Other than education, Hampton has worked in mental health and pest control. He has a great appreciation for old cars and 1980’s music, collecting the latter a lot on vinyl records.

Born and raised here in New Orleans, Louisiana, Tom is a senior college student at the University of New Orleans. He transferred to UNO after attending Xavier University of Louisiana for 4 years. His hobbies include playing video games, reading, and exploring delicious new food places. Space and the mystery of creation have always been his interests. Tom has over a decade of experience working at Kumon, an afterschool tutoring program focusing on Math and Reading from grade K-12 th . Seeing scholars improve and grow in their academic journey is one of the greatest joys for him.

Phillip is a New Orleans native and has tutored students in a diverse array of ages and backgrounds. He graduated from the University of New Orleans with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He majored in Political Science with a Law concentration and has a minor in History. Phillip has tutored in a variety of tutoring positions for over seven years across the Greater New Orleans area, both in schools and in home environments. Phillip has a track record of success and a good rapport with his students. He also has a flexible schedule and can accommodate different schedules at the student's convenience.

Alicia Warner, a New Orleans native currently lives and works in Houston, Texas. She is highly qualified Primary & Secondary educator, specialty of content Math, Science & ELA (English Language Arts), known for her creative approach and attention to detail. With a background in Education and Behavioral Health for the past 17 years, Alicia has worked with many diverse backgrounds and economic status. Her ability to understand and translate students/client needs into academic and mental health sets her apart. Alicia finds inspiration in “community support, craft, youth engagement and disadvantage population." Alicia is former student of L.W. Higgins High School (1999), college graduate of the Southern University A&M College of Baton Rouge, LA (2003) and currently working on her Master of Art in Marriage and Family Therapy/ LPC (License Professional Counseling) at Liberty University to be completed Fall of 2025. Alicia is also certified as a QMHP (Qualified Mental Health Professional). Alicia favorite hobbies are shopping, singing, crafting, and helping those in need. Ms. Alicia is currently a Middle School Health and Athletic Coach. She enjoys her day-to-day interaction with her students and the staff. This encounter reflects her pursuit to continue her goal of opening her own School and Community Connection Center perspective date 2028. Her daily motivation is to “embrace today for tomorrow validate nothing without the challenges you fulfill right now.”

Candice Campbell is a native of Laplace, La. She is the oldest of four. She graduated from Nicholls State University with a bachelor’s in general studies. She is currently pursuing her Master of Arts in Education at the University of Phoenix. Ms. Candice enjoys writing books, creating board games, sewing, and cooking. She has seven years of tutoring/teaching experience. She is a creative person who is honored to work for the PKT team.

Hugo has a BFA in graphic design from Watkins College of Art (2008). Since graduating he has worked with various clients including United Methodist Communications, Grow Dat, Tulane Mellon Graduate Program, and Simon and Schuster. He co- authored a published graphic novel called Wake: The Hidden History of Women Led Slave Revolts in 2021 Recently he worked with Good Trouble Productions doing poster illustration. In the past he has worked as an art teacher for summer camp at Watkins College of Art, and the New Orleans Contemporary Art Center, among others. He also has a proficiency in conversational Spanish which he has used to interpret for the state of Tennessee and various medical institutions such as Vanderbilt Hospital. Some of Hugo’s interests include history, science, religion, spirituality, art, comic books, video games, animation, and storytelling. Hugo Martínez is an engaging person who cares deeply about access to knowledge and human potential. In his experience he has found that the understanding of one’s personal experience opens the doors to a greater understanding of the world through literature, art, science, and language.

Ms. A’maara is a dedicated to ensuring student growth and mastery through tutoring. She gained her Bachelors in Africana Studies & History at Lehman College in 2018. From there, she moved to New Orleans to follow her dreams to become an educator. After a few years, she realized that her passion was in leadership and teacher development. She went on to get her Masters in Educational Leadership from LSU in 2022. In her free time, Ms. A’maara enjoys arts and crafts, writing poetry, coaching volleyball, and reading James Baldwin novels. She currently has 6+ years teaching and 2 years in coaching teachers. Ms. A’maara is beyond excited to be joining the Phillips Kids Tutoring Family !!!!

Megan Brown has been passionately pursuing music her entire life. She began in the classical world, studying vocal and instrumental music throughout junior high and high school. Megan studied music and obtained her Bachelors at Chapman University in Southern California, after which she immediately entered into the workforce. Megan spent the next twenty years dedicating her career to the education and empowerment of others, initially with music and later crossing over into all subject matters of learning. She acquired experience teaching in a plethora of environments as well as providing improved outcomes with a wide range of clientele, including traditional classrooms, mobile education, international high school, parks and recreation, GATE (Gifted and Talented Education), private and semi-private, tutoring, experiential processing and facilitation, sound healing, sensory groups, and being the creator and founder of an education-based experiential music program with a focus on alternative learning styles. Megan's focus is to provide a safe environment in which students can feel comfortable to engage in a meaningful process to utilize creative solutions and discover the joy of learning! She has special knowledge and experience with process implementation, customized curriculum, foundational processing strategies and developmental learning, and alternative learning needs. She also carries additional accreditations in Motivational Interviewing, Sounds Healing Practitioner, and CPR/First Aid. When she is not teaching, Megan can be found hiking with her dog or taking an adventure with her backpack savvy cat.

Christine Edomwande is a Dallas, TX native who has lived in New Orleans since 2018. She is a 4th year medical student at LSU Health Sciences Center with the goal of becoming a family physician. Christine attended the University of Texas at Austin where she obtained her B.S. in Human Development and Family Sciences and an interdisciplinary certificate in Children and Health. She later obtained her M.S. in Physiology from Tulane University prior to starting medical school. Christine enjoys tasty food, photography, and playing video games. She also has an interest in learning about history and visiting museums. Christine has 3 years of experience as a caseworker for Texas Child Protective Services. She was a reading tutor for 1.5 years in New Orleans and also taught science related curriculum to elementary school students for 2 years through a medical school organization known as Tiger Cubs. In college, Christine mentored and provided homework help for students in underserved communities for 2 years. As someone who has also benefited from tutoring, Christine is excited about giving back and helping the next generation in their education and reaching their greatest potential.

Kalise DeRoche was born and raised in Duluth, Minnesota, but has been living in New Orleans since 2021. Kalise graduated from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities in 2020 with a degree in Sociolinguistics, starting undergraduate studies in high school at the University of Minnesota Duluth before moving to Minneapolis to pursue a more specialized degree. During this time, Kalise also attended the Université Paul-Valéry in Montpellier, France in 2017 and the University of Jordan in Amman, Jordan in 2019 with the goal of doing in-depth dialect and societal research. Kalise is an artist of many mediums, including dancing, acting, sewing, drawing, oil pastel, and watercolor painting, as well as writing poetry and novels in English, French, and Arabic. Additionally, Kalise is a musician (flute, hand flute, and vocalist) and an avid human/environmental rights activist who dreams of a more inclusive, cohesive community both here in NOLA and around the world.

Ms. Tara Franklin would love to be your child’s teacher! She believes they can have some FUN learning adventures!! She is from Alexandria, Louisiana and have been teaching for 17 years on both traditional and online platforms.  She have taught from preschool to fifth grade and been a Mentor Teacher to new teachers.  She has an Associates Degree in Liberal Arts, a bachelors degree in General Studies with a concentration in Psychology, a masters degree in Early Childhood Education, and I am currently pursuing my MD in Clinical Psychology. She has a 120-hour TESOL Certificate and Louisiana State Teaching Certificate Level 2.  She loves learning new things, so I became a teacher because there is always something new to learn. And the more she knows, the more she can bring back to her students, which will be future leaders in her eyes. A few fun facts about her is she's a diehard Disney Fan!!!  "I LOVE MICKEY!", she says. In her spare time, she love spending time with her son, her yorkie “Lillie,” traveling to Disney World, going to the beach, and reading. Teaching students to read in the classroom, online, or just in public has always been her passion. she love the way sounds are put together to make words, then words are put together to make sentences, and finally sentences are put together to make stories. She believes that her passion and love for reading rubs off on her students and those around her. When she's working on a unit in reading, she likes to decorate or make the setting come to life for her students. When students are having fun they do not realize they are learning. This also creates a safe learning zone for students. In her classroom, students will go on incredible new adventures in the world of learning.  She will strive to make learning a fun and enriching process for her students. They are future tomorrow leaders. Tara's teaching philosophy is that every student can learn if she give them the tools they need to succeed. They always remember that every student is different, so each student will need separate tools to succeed. Her classroom motto is "All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them" - Walt Disney. Mrs.Tara

My name is Greg Duhe born in New Orleans and raised in Mandeville . I tutored 4 th -8 th grade math for 2 years before joining Phillips Kids Tutoring. He graduated from the University of New Orleans with a Bachelor and Master of Arts degrees in American History. He studied Vietnam and WW2 history with Stephen Ambrose and published 3 university level articles and book reviews. He studied at Tulane University for secondary social studies certification and student taught for 2 years. He completed student teaching at Banneker Elementary, Lusher, and SciTech Academy. He is currently completing elementary math certification at Tulane. He is a member of the Irish Channel St. Patrick’s Day Club and Downtown Irish Club. He also joined the Tulane Greenbacker booster club. I am excited for the opportunity to work with new students to show how ELA/Math can improve their young lives.

Meet Muhammad Elzehery, a passionate and experienced educator who's ready to embark on a learning adventure with you! With a Bachelor's degree in Translation and Linguistics and a Master's in Education, Muhammad brings a wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm to the classroom. Having taught English as a Second Language from kindergarten all the way through high school, Muhammad knows how to make language learning fun and engaging for all ages. They also have a knack for making math enjoyable for primary students and bringing history to life through captivating Social Studies and World History lessons. Muhammad has had the amazing opportunity to teach in Türkiye, China, Dubai, and Egypt, gathering exciting stories and experiences from each place. They love creating a classroom environment where everyone feels welcome and eager to learn. Get ready for a year filled with curiosity, creativity, and lots of learning. Muhammad can't wait to get to know each of you and explore new ideas together.

Originally from Baton Rouge, Sydney studied History and African American Studies at Xavier University of Louisiana, where she graduated with honors in 2017. She has taught at subjects in Social Science, Humanities, and Civics at several schools in the New Orleans metro area including Lafyette Academy of Choice Foundation Schools, Paul Habans Academy, and Bard Early College of New Orleans. Graduating with a master’s degree in museum science from Southern University at New Orleans and a master’s in history from Jackson State University, Sydney has worked for nearly a decade in the field of Museum Education and Public Programming at institutions in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee. Currently she holds a position at the Historic New Orleans Collection. Outside of her professional career, Sydney enjoys cooking, caring for her garden, and spending time with her family.

Hello, my name is Avery and I live in the United States. I graduated with my bachelor's degree in neuroscience and psychology from Loyola University of New Orleans and from Bossier Parish Community College. Currently, I am working on my master's and work in the theatre industry. I recently received my TEFL certification, but have been teaching ESL for almost 3 years now. I began tutoring 6 years ago. I mainly work with the immersion style of teaching, but am very adaptive to all learning needs and abilities.