Dr. Hugh Gilgoff grew up here in the city and was the eldest of five children. His dedication to children began early on, as a counselor at daycare centers and day camps, an umpire in Little League, and a homework helper. He attended the University of Pennsylvania, where he majored in Biological Basis of Behavior, earning Dean's List all semesters and graduating summa cum laude. He worked summers at the Young Adult Institute, helping developmentally disabled youths. He also worked as an activity specialist at Long Island Jewish Medical Center's therapeutic program for children with ADHD. During his years at Penn, he directed the University New School's after-school program, and worked for both Pennlincs and Medteach, where he educated middle and high schoolers on the cultural and practical applications of science. He tutored fellow students in math and science and did research at the Penn Infant Study Lab with Dr. Adelle Diamond, testing cognitive development in babies and toddlers.
Dr. Gilgoff went to medical school at the University of California at San Francisco, and led research projects on ADHD at the Haight Ashbury Free Clinic. He worked at the Outdoors Unlimited Nature day camps, where he emphasized the interplay between individuals and their environment. In addition, he started a tutoring business that matched fellow medical students with high school and college students.
Returning home to the East Coast, Dr. Gilgoff attended Mt. Sinai for his pediatric residency. He stayed on staff with Mt. Sinai as part of a collaborative effort with the Children's Aid Society, and worked at a community health center in Harlem for more than three years. He also taught medical students and residents and precepted nurse practitioners at two neighborhood school health clinics. He then spent five years as the attending pediatrician at the William F. Ryan Community Health Center before arriving at his current position as medical director of ambulatory pediatric services at Long Island College Hospital. In addition, Dr. Gilgoff serves as an adjunct professor in the Department of Community Health and Social Medicine at City College, teaching medical students the value of empathy, quality of care, and cultural sensitivity.
Matt is the chief of our Elementary Division. He has more than 15 years of experience with the education and development of young minds. He brings to Housecalls Tutoring a broad background in educational pedagogy and theory, including a bachelor's degree from Goucher College and a master's degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Matt is a teacher, tutor, learning specialist, and most recently a school administrator, developing curriculum and supporting the instruction of teachers at independent schools. In addition, Matt participates on leadership panels at various schools and other education-minded organizations. He has also published several articles on the nature of intelligence and how intelligence relates to learning theory and practice.
Heidi, chief of our Standardized Tests Division and College Admission Division, graduated magna cum laude from UNC with a B.A. in English and Creative Writing. She taught high school English at an elite private school for a while, before returning to the academic world and obtaining her master's degree from Columbia. Currently, she runs a non-profit educational group specializing in college admissions and excelling on the SATs and ACTs.
Heidi has mentored students for the past 12 years in History, English Literature, Composition, SAT (Verbal), SAT-II (Literature), AP (Literature and Language), college admissions, organization and time management. She believes in learning for the sake of learning and offers not only her expertise and strategies for tests, but also ways to make the material applicable, interesting, and fun.
All of our tutors are warm, personable, and have a special gift for communicating difficult ideas. Read on to find out more about just a small but representative sample of our many amazing tutors, then check out some of the feedback that our clients have given them. Complete resumes, track records, and performance reviews are available upon request.
Matthew went to Brown, where he majored in Psychology. He received a master's in fine arts from New York University for Creative Writing and helped run the Starworks Foundation, which brightens the lives of hospitalized children via therapeutic expressive poetry. Matthew is currently writing his latest novel, and works as a writing specialist and college admissions consultant for Housecalls Tutoring.
Ruben graduated summa cum laude from Cooper Union, with a degree in Chemical Engineering. He then received his master's and Ph.D. in Chemistry from Yale. He is now a professor back at Cooper Union and has been a Housecalls tutor for all levels of math and science for more than five years.
Bethany attended Barnard College and majored in English. Upon graduation, she began tutoring and worked with the NYC Teaching Fellows, teaching 7th and 8th grades, while obtaining her master's in Childhood Education. Bethany is now working toward her doctorate in theatre, and continues to tutor elementary and middle school children.
Koon went to Amherst College and majored in Chemistry. He went on to receive his master's degree at Columbia and is presently pursuing a Ph.D. in Chemistry. Koon has taught chemistry at both Amherst and Columbia, and is a tutor for both SAT-II and AP Chemistry.
Matt is a graduate of Cornell University, where he triple-majored in Art History, Physics, and Math. He brings a worldly view to the SATs and has tutored through Housecalls Tutoring for many years while pursuing actuarial goals.
Curran received her bachelor's degree in French and Art History, and then attended New York University for her master's in French Literature. As she works toward a Ph.D. in French at New York University, she tutors French through Housecalls Tutoring.
Jerry attended MIT, where he majored in Biology. He has worked with children in all spheres, from hospitals to camps to the Science Olympiads. He is now at Cornell Medical School and lends his expertise in all levels of math and sciences.
Nancy earned degrees in English, Political Science, and Russian. While at Brown University, she earned a master's degree and Ph.D. in English and Slavic/Comparative Literature. For more than ten years, Nancy has tutored English and specializes in the verbal portion of the SAT; she is one of Housecalls Tutoring's all-star veteran tutors.
Igor received his bachelor's degree in Physics, graduating with honors from the California Institute of Technology. He is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in Physics at Columbia University and tutors all levels of math and physics.
Joan has been educating young children for more than four decades. She has 19 years of experience at the International Preschools as both a teacher and program director. She earned a master's degree in English from Columbia University's Teacher's College and another in Special Education from Yeshiva University. She also has years of experience teaching English in New York's public and private schools. Joan recently received a meritorious citation from International Preschools for "Excellence in Early Childhood Education," for her unique talents and unlimited patience and love of young children. As a parent and grandmother who has had two children in New York City's independent schools and as a past representative to the Association for Independent Schools, Joan knows firsthand about how much is expected (perhaps unfairly) from very young children. She is skilled at boosting children's confidence while shielding them from those pressures.
Summer Edell has been a learning specialist in New York City since 2005. She received her B.A in Sociology from the University of Mary Washington, and was accepted into the New York City Teaching Fellows a year after graduating. She attended graduate school at Brooklyn College and holds an M.S. in Education for the Teaching of Students with Disabilities as well as an M.S. in School Leadership, which was earned in conjunction with the Federal Education Leaders Fellowship program. She currently works as a Special Education Coordinator at a small high school in Manhattan where she oversees all services and personnel relating to students with special needs. She coordinates and provides academic support both on an individual and group basis, as well as guidance and professional development to other teachers and learning specialists. She specializes in reading, organization, as well as developing spatial awareness and reasoning skills.
Marietta Snyder, a New York City native and alumna of Riverdale Country School, has been a middle school learning specialist at a rigorous Manhattan independent school since 2006. After graduating from Harvard University in 2003 with a BA in Psychology, she received her MA in Applied Behavior Analysis from Teachers College at Columbia University, during which she worked extensively and intensively with students with developmental and learning disabilities. She is currently extending the scope of her expertise by earning an MS in Neuroscience and Education at Teachers College. She has worked with Housecalls Tutoring for years and has received impressive results and amazing reviews.
If you are a highly qualified individual who is interested in joining our specialized team of tutors, please refer to our guideline for potential applicants.