Our Tutors

Casey first discovered a love for helping others achieve their academic goals by tutoring math for grades K-12 while she was getting her Associates in Science in Asheville, NC. She then moved to Chapel Hill to pursue a B.S. in Quantitative Biology at UNC. She currently works at Duke University in preclinical brain cancer research, and is working on a Masters degree in Physiology from NC State. In her free time, Casey enjoys discussing politics and theology with her husband, snuggling up with their 4 dogs, gardening, playing the alto saxophone, and baking.

Bruce is a Stanford graduate (Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science) and entrepreneur. He began tutoring for the SAT and ACT while raising three children, and his love for teaching quickly became evident. For Bruce, there’s nothing better than hearing a student say, “Oh, now I get it!”—that moment of clarity drives his work and inspires his teaching style.

He recognizes that every student thinks differently and takes pride in explaining concepts in ways that resonate with each individual. Bruce is caring and sensitive to the challenges today’s students face, helping them navigate the ebb and flow of demanding workloads while keeping them motivated. He makes preparing for the SAT or ACT as engaging and enjoyable as possible, using stories, occasional humor, and unwavering good cheer to guide students toward their goals.

Theresa is a native New Yorker. She graduated high school valedictorian, went to NYU, and finished her degree in just three years, thanks to AP credit. Now she works as a tutor and an actor/singer/dancer and director/choreographer. When she's not working with students or working on a show, she loves to play the drums, read, and hang out with Chowder (the best tuxedo cat in the world).

Theresa has been preparing students for their standardized tests for 15 years. She has helped over 400 students get the scores they want on their SAT, ACT, ISEE/SSAT, and AP English Literature and Language tests. Her extensive background in the arts helps her connect and communicate with all kinds of learners, including students with LDs, students with test anxiety, students aiming for perfect scores, and students who consider themselves "bad test takers."

Theresa believes that there is no such thing as a "bad test taker," because the skills needed to succeed on standardized tests are learnable. If a student feels like a "bad test taker," it probably just means they haven't learned the skills necessary for this test yet; that's where tutoring comes in. Personalized one-on-one tutoring is the best way to move test scores and grades; Theresa meets students where they are and tailors their program to their individual needs.

‍

Tyler (they/them) has 20+ years as a high school math teacher, curriculum writer, teacher trainer, and tutor. This year, Tyler’s going back to the classroom as a graduate student in Physics at NCCU, specifically working on a Nuclear Astrophysics project with a professor from the University of North Carolina. Tyler graduated from Duke with a B.A. in History and an M.A.T. in Teaching Mathematics. Tyler also received an advanced degree (ABD) from North Carolina State University in Mathematics & Statistics Education.

In addition to teaching, tutoring, and studying, Tyler serves on the Board of Directors of 1:11 Art & Healing Space, where they host a game night and teach an occasional mixed-media art class. A passionate learner, Tyler is always trying new things. Right now they are enjoying learning to box and exploring their creativity through art. After fostering a plethora of kittens with Independent Animal Rescue, Tyler now has a crew of 5 mostly “unadoptable” cats at home living their best lives.

‍

Chrissy started teaching immediately after graduating from Princeton University, and she’s been helping people learn ever since. As a former Montessori teacher in the public school system, she has unique experience in combining student-led discovery with standardized test prep. Chrissy loves radishes and daffodils, Ang Lee and Lu Xun. She can knit a Möbius strip and a pretty good approximation of a Klein bottle. When she’s not tutoring or working on her mini-homestead with her family, Chrissy can most often be found swimming in the Eno, paddling on Jordan Lake, or taking a road trip to visit friends.

Ben was born and raised in Raleigh, North Carolina, graduating from North Carolina State University summa cum laude in 2022. Throughout high school and college, once they had gained a good grasp of the subject material in a class, they would quickly turn around and begin helping their peers understand the material and succeed. They quickly discovered a passion for using their knowledge to help others learn and understand new concepts. Since graduating from high school in 2019, Ben has been tutoring students and peers in test prep, math, and science. They strive to create a safe and comfortable environment that challenges students in their tutoring sessions, allowing them to learn without fear of making mistakes or asking for help. In addition to being a Mindspire tutor, Ben also works on sets for local commercials and films. They enjoy learning new subjects, animating, and playing video games.

Owen is a Ph.D. candidate in nuclear engineering with a graduate certificate in Nuclear Nonproliferation Science and Policy. He holds degrees in mechanical engineering, economics, and Chinese studies. Owen hopes to encourage his students to harness their intellectual curiosity to find fulfillment in their lives. His approach to tutoring centers around finding ways to make learning as directly relevant to his students' interests as possible. This is informed by his own experience in high school and college; the courses that built his own academic confidence most were those in which teachers went the extra mile to make the material salient to him. Beyond the office, Owen spends his spare time beekeeping, propagating native pollinator plants, playing tabletop miniatures games, and spending time with his cat.

Trenton is a biologist, an educator, and tutor who wants to play a role in training future academics, researchers, and professionals. He graduated from UC Berkeley with bachelors degrees in biology and economics, and gained a masters in microbiology at NC State. In the meantime, he held research jobs at the USDA and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, where he worked on projects such as hypoallergenic wheat flour, artificial ecosystems, and bacterial genomics. Trenton is currently teaching biology at Wake Tech Community College and is working to ensure more students in the Raleigh-Durham area are prepared to take advantage of the RTP’s biotech opportunities.

When it comes to teaching, Trenton specializes in exploring material from multiple perspectives and offering students the “big picture” so that learning doesn’t feel like memorization. Students that work with Trenton often remark that old material has finally been explained in a way that makes sense. Due to the collaborative nature of our tutoring sessions, students often gain verbal confidence as well. For Trenton, the joy of this job is watching students grow and helping students achieve their highest academic potential.  

Henry grew up in the Chicago suburbs, was high school valedictorian, and has a B.A. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. During his undergrad years, he started volunteering at local schools and discovered a passion for helping students. Since then, he has spent over 10 years helping students with school work, standardized test prep, and college applications. His favorite part of the job is watching students transform and become more confident. He also loves to cook, bike, and spend time with his partner and their cat.

Originally from Auburn, California, Scott graduated from Duke University with a B.S. in Psychology and a minor in Linguistics. He has been tutoring and mentoring since high school and continued to do so at Duke, working as a peer advisor and helping fellow students achieve their academic and extracurricular goals. After graduating from Duke, Scott spent nearly 2 years teaching English and SAT courses in Vietnam, and he excels at effectively teaching students from diverse backgrounds. Upon returning to the United States, it didn’t take long for Scott to end up back in North Carolina, and he looks forward to helping local students exceed their standardized testing goals. When he’s not tutoring, Scott can be found lifting weights, running, and listening to music.

Lindsey discovered her love of tutoring in 2019 while getting her undergraduate degree in Writing and Rhetoric at the University of Central Florida. Since then, she's tutored students from a wide variety of backgrounds, academic disciplines, and education levels. Lindsey moved to Raleigh in 2022 for graduate school, and she graduated with her MA in English from North Carolina State University in 2024. Lindsey believes that an individualized approach to tutoring is important in helping each student do their best. When she's not working, she loves to sing, read sci-fi and fantasy novels, and spend time with her dog, Zero!

Mindspire was founded by Shahar Link, who has been teaching in high schools and tutoring standardized tests for more than 20 years. Shahar earned his Master’s degree in History from Stanford University, where he wrote his thesis on the history of IQ testing. His research sparked a lasting commitment to helping students succeed—both on standardized tests and in their academic journeys.

Lucy grew up in Lebanon, New Hampshire, where she enjoyed spending time outside, reading and playing sports. She graduated as valedictorian of her high school and went on to Williams College, where she earned a bachelor’s degree, magna cum laude, in Environmental Policy in 2016. While at Williams, Lucy tutored students in biology courses and worked as a math teaching assistant. After graduating, Lucy lived in Bolivia for 9 months and worked on farms in New England before moving to Durham in 2017. She has spent the past two years working with middle school students as a substitute teacher and math interventionist at Central Park School for Children and as a summer teacher at Student U, a college-access enrichment program. She is currently attending the Masters of Arts in Teaching program at UNC Chapel Hill, focusing on Special Education and Mathematics. Beyond working with students, Lucy loves to cook, ride her bicycle, and explore the trails along the Eno River.

Steven is a kind and curious educator and math enthusiast. His teaching philosophy focuses on cultivating the students' problem-solving skills and creativity. He has been a math teacher for over six years, teaching and tutoring students of all levels from grade school to college. Steven earned his Ph.D. from NCSU in 2021, with research in understanding the underlying theoretical properties of real-world models; he also has experience in the software engineering field. Outside of teaching, Steven loves the outdoors and is an avid musician, chef, and gardener.

Jennifer Fischler specializes in early literacy and the foundational skills that support young readers, including phonological awareness, decoding, and fluency. She has more than a decade of experience working with elementary‑age children as they develop confidence and proficiency in beginning reading. Jennifer earned her B.A. in Child Development from Sonoma State University and her M.A. in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of Colorado Denver. She is currently an Ed.D. candidate in Literacy, Language, and Culture, where her work focuses on early literacy development and the core components of beginning reading. She is passionate about ensuring that all children are able to read as a foundation for lifelong learning and is committed to making learning a positive and joyful experience.

Outside of work, Jennifer enjoys reading, cooking, and spending time outdoors with her dog and son.

‍

Raised in Korea and Washington, Sarah recently graduated from Dartmouth College, where she studied Neuroscience and Government. Since high school, she has been tutoring her classmates and younger students. Sarah currently works as a researcher analyzing public health policies and intends to attend graduate school in the future. In her free time, she can be found reading, cooking, exploring restaurants, hiking, or knitting.

Meitra graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a B.S. in Neuroscience with Distinction and minors in Chemistry and Data Science after attending the Roanoke Valley Governor’s School for Science & Technology. She scored a 35 on the ACT and has multiple years of tutoring experience, including founding a free online math tutoring service and working with middle and high school students.

Meitra especially enjoys helping high school students make learning less intimidating and more enjoyable. She focuses on giving students tangible strategies and problem-solving skills they can continue using in future classes and tests.

In her free time, Meitra enjoys playing sand volleyball, baking, and spending time with her cat, Wilbur.