DAVE LEMMON

Dave is a licensed English teacher with over seventeen years of teaching and tutoring experience. His initial educational experience came from his nine years teaching sixth, seventh, and eighth grade language arts at Lawton C. Johnson Summit Middle School. While at the middle school, Dave taught district workshops in classroom management and cooperative learning to both new and experienced teachers. Dave was also a seventh grade team leader during his final two years at LCJSMS. After leaving the middle school, Dave began his own private tutoring business in 2006 and has remained a full-time tutor since then. Dave has over fifteen years experience teaching private SAT/ACT Test prep courses and has created verbal test prep materials currently being used by numerous instructors and tutors. Dave specializes in college essay and college application assistance. His students have been accepted by nearly every top school in the country including Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Brown, and Stanford. Dave's combination of content-area knowledge and a relaxed, amiable demeanor allows him to connect with students personally and help them find success.

Expertise In:
SAT/ACT/SSAT/ISEE Test Prep
College Essay and Application Assistance/Editing
Elementary Language Arts
Middle School Language Arts
High School English (including Honors and AP)
Individual Writing Assessment and Development
Reading Comprehension
Vocabulary Improvement
Study Skills Improvement

BRIAN MILLER

Brian is a licensed mathematics teacher with a master’s degree in computer science and doctorate (ABD) in mathematics education. He has a combined 27 years experience teaching advanced high school mathematics and computer science, and masters level mathematics courses at Montclair State University.  As a tutor, Brian has worked for nearly three decades creating test prep materials and helping students achieve their AP, SAT, ACT, and SAT Subject test goals.  In addition to tutoring students living in the Summit region, Brian has been very effective at using Virtual Tutoring to provide mathematics, statistics, and computer science assistance to college and private boarding school students.   Brian’s advanced content-area expertise, years of experience, and passion for all things “nerdish” make him highly effective at inspiring his students and encouraging them to reach their peak.

Expertise In:
Calculus AB/BC (AP* Test and College Level) 
Statistics (AP* Test and Introductory College)
Computer Science (AP* Test and College Level)
Pre-Calculus
SAT, ACT, SAT Math Subject Test, and GRE Test Prep

FRANCESCA Pellegrino

Francesca holds a NJ Principal’s and Supervisor’s license, a teaching certificate in Math Secondary Education, a master’s degree in Pure and Applied Math, and a master’s degree in Educational Leadership. After tutoring throughout college, Francesca began working as a Director of Operations at a Sylvan Learning Center and continued there as an advanced math and SAT tutor. Through Montclair State, Francesca participated in a GK-12 Fellowship, funded by the National Science Foundation. The fellowship brought integrated math and science lessons to sixth grade students in Kearny, NJ. She taught at Villa Walsh Academy in Morristown, NJ for five years before switching to Hilltop full time. With over 10 years of tutoring experience, Francesca strives to create independent learners and shed new light on mathematics for her students.

Expertise In:
Pre-Algebra
Algebra I & 2
Geometry
Trigonometry
Pre-Calculus
Calculus
SAT/ACT Test Prep 

MATT SERCUS

Matthew has a love of both mathematics and teaching. He attended Purdue University from 2007-2010 while studying Mathematics and Education, and he has always been someone to whom his peers turned for help. As a result, Matthew has many years of tutoring experience already.  

Expertise In:
College Level Math (Any Level)
Calculus
Pre-Calculus
SAT Test / ACT Test Prep
Geometry
Middle School Mathematics

Alex Saville

Alex is an adjunct professor of English at Rutgers University, where he teaches composition, creative writing, and literature courses. Alex holds an MFA in writing from Columbia University and a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Journalism from Rutgers. Prior to his teaching career, Alex worked as a journalist, newspaper editor, and magazine copy editor.

Expertise In:
High School English (Including Honors and AP)
Individual Writing Assessment and Development
Reading Comprehension
Vocabulary Improvement
SAT/ACT Prep
Creative Writing
Elementary Language Arts
Middle School Language Arts
History/Social Studies
Elementary Mathematics
Middle School Mathematics
Study Skills
Homework Coaching

Heather Yaros-Ramos

Heather is an adjunct professor at Montclair State University and William Paterson University, where she teaches General Chemistry and Experimental Organic Chemistry. She has taught non-major, introductory and graduate level courses in chemistry and chemical engineering at various institutions, including Skyline College, Santa Clara University, San José State University and University of California, Berkeley.  Prior to teaching, Heather worked as an environmental engineer specializing in Integrated Water Resources. Heather holds a bachelor’s degree and PhD in Chemical Engineering from Northwestern University and the University of California, Berkeley, respectively.  

Expertise in:
Physics
Chemistry
AP Chemistry
Chemistry Subject Test
Algebra 1
Algebra 2
Pre-Calculus
Calculus
AP Calculus AB
AP Calculus BC

Garrett Nieddu

Garrett is a PhD student studying Environmental Management at Montclair State University where he works with faculty researchers in stochastic population dynamics and mathematical epidemiology. Garrett earned a bachelor’s degree from Montclair State in Mathematics and Physics, as well as a master’s degree in Mathematics. Garrett has a love for math and science, and enjoys sharing his enthusiasm. Tutoring has been a part of his education since he was an undergrad, first as a peer tutor, and then as a tutor in the MSU Mathematics Learning Center. Garrett spends his summers as the Physics lab instructor at MSU, as well as an Algebra instructor and math tutor.

Expertise In:
Middle School Mathematics
Pre-Algebra
Algebra
Trigonometry
Pre-Calculus
Calculus
Physics
AP Physics
AP Environmental Science

Ashley Fox (Gianfrancesco)

Ashley is currently a math teacher in Bradley Beach, NJ.  Ashley holds a teaching certificate in Elementary Education, Mathematics (all grades), Science (grades 5-8), and ESL.  She earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and mathematics, as well as, a master’s degree in elementary education at The College of New Jersey.  Beginning as a peer tutor at the TCNJ Tutoring Center, Ashley has over ten years of tutoring experience.

Expertise In:
Middle School Mathematics
Pre-Algebra
Algebra 1 & 2
Geometry
Trigonometry
PARCC Test Prep
SAT and ACT Test Prep

AL Ongsuco

Al has been tutoring for the past nine years and was substitute teaching for five years beforehand. He first started tutoring mathematics while attending NJIT for his Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering minoring in Applied Mathematics. He found further inspiration to expand his tutoring repertoire with physics while he pursued graduate studies returning to NJIT for a Master's Degree in Mechanical Engineering. He is quite passionate about helping students learn, grow and achieve their academic goals by catering his teaching style to each individual student's learning abilities.

Fun fact : he loves bowling and can fold paper into swans, peacocks and dragons - yes dragons, most often as rewards to students who have shown exceptional academic excellence.

Expertise In:

Algebra I
Geomerty
Algebra II
Trigonometry
Pre Calculus
AP Calculus AB
High School Physics (Introductory and Honors)
AP Physics 1
SAT Subject Physics

James Misvesky

James is a graduate assistant at Fairleigh Dickinson University, where he is completing a M.S. in Chemistry and previously completed his B.S. in Biology. James is the lead researcher in the Elshaer Research Group at FDU, working on various projects ranging from complex NMR studies to synthesis of composite materials. He began tutoring at FDU’s Academic Support Center helping his underclassmen and peers in both lower and upper level science courses. He serves as an adjunct lab instructor for Chemistry for Health Science course at FDU.

Expertise In:
Chemistry
AP Chemistry
Chemistry SAT Subject Test
Biology
AP Biology
Biology SAT Subject Test

Alex Graffeo

Alex has a bachelor's degree in English Literature from the City College of New York, and a master's degree in Fantasy Literature from the University of Glasgow. She is passionate about literature and writing, both academic and creative. She is also a certified TEFL instructor and teaches ESL classes, as well as working as an editor for a literary magazine.

Expertise In:
Language Arts
Literary Analysis
Essay Writing
SAT Prep
ACT Prep
ESL Instruction
TEFL Instruction

AKILAH MATEEN

Akilah is a PhD student in the 3B Lab at Seton Hall University (SHU), pursuing a degree in Chemistry. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from Goucher College and is currently researching the rational design of antifungal peptidomimetics. Prior to joining Hilltop, she worked as a chemistry and math tutor for middle and high school students at C2 Education. Akilah also works as a teaching assistant for General Chemistry and Biochemistry laboratory courses at SHU during the academic year. She enjoys helping students gain a better understanding to reinforce the connections between the subject matter and their homework and exams.

Expertise In:

Chemistry
AP Chemistry
Algebra I
Algebra II
Geometry
Pre-Calculus
SAT & ACT prep

Reuben Rios

Reuben is a Mathematics Teacher at Columbia High School in Maplewood, NJ. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and a Ed. M. with Certification in Mathematics Education, both from Rutgers University. Over the years, he's worked at various schools and tutoring centers including North Plainfield High School, Pennsauken High School, Huntington Learning Center, Mathnasium of Montclair, Rutgers EOF Summer Institute, and Camden County College. He strives to aid students in developing meaningful connections between mathematics and their daily lives.

Expertise In:

Pre-Algebra
Algebra 1
Geometry
Algebra 2
Trignometry
PreCalculus
Calculus AB
Calculus BC
Multivariable Calculus
SAT/ACT Prep

Rana Ibrahim

Rana is a Ph.D. Candidate at Stevens Institute of Technology where she is studying to get her degree in Biomedial Engineering. Rana’s research is focused on developing and applying different 3D printing techniques to better mimic the microscopic organization found in biological tissues. While Rana enjoys her research, her real passion is in teaching and mentoring students in upper STEM courses. As an undergrad, she taught her own classes and study groups in Calculus II, Physics I and II, Thermodynamics, and General Engineering. She also worked as a Peer Tutor at Rutgers, teaching all first-year engineering classes including Statics, Calculus I & II, Multivariable Calculus, and Chemistry I & II. At Stevens, Rana assists in teaching a graduate level lab while mentoring highschool, undergraduate, and master students in research. Rana previously worked at another center primarily focused on SAT and ACT tutoring prior to moving to Hilltop Tutoring.

Expertise In:

AP Physics I & II
AP Physics C (Mechanics)
AP Chemistry
Chemistry I & II
Algebra I & II
Calculus I & II
Statistics

Bart Sayre

Bart has a BA from Wesleyan University and a master’s degree in Information Science from Stevens Institute. He is a retired information technology professional. Having started his career as a computer programmer, he went on to focus on the field of business intelligence, first with Barnes & Noble’s online unit and then at SiriusXM Satellite Radio. Since retiring he has been working as a volunteer middle school math tutor with the PEP program in Summit, and tutors the R programming language through the Varsity Tutors online platform.  He has a love of math and enjoys researching R programming topics related to statistics and data visualization.  He recently earned a Data Science Professional Certificate from HarvardX through the edx online course platform.  A longtime Summit resident, he has 3 grown children who went through the Summit school system.

Expertise In:

Middle School Math
Pre-algebra
Algebra I & II

Jonathan Tarella

Since October 2007, Jon has spent over ten thousand hours tutoring high school students privately and at learning centers, both in group and individual settings. Earlier that year, he completed his B.S. in Applied Physics from Rutgers University, graduating with highest honors.

While Jon believes that there is value in learning testing strategies and does teach them to his students, he is a firm believer that the best strategy for doing well on a math test is knowing how to do the math.  His goal as a test prep tutor is for his students to not only improve their standardized test scores, but to leave tutoring as more complete and proficient math students overall.

Expertise In:
Physics
AP Physics I, II, & C
Chemistry
AP Chemistry
Algebra I & II
Geometry
PreCalculus
Calculus I, II, III
AP Calculus AB/BC
Differential Equations
Linear Algebra
Statistics
SAT & ACT Prep
GRE Math

Nicolette Pizzigoni

Nicolette Pizzigoni is a fervent believer in the power of writing. As such, she holds a MFA in Creative Writing from Rosemont College and is completing her MA in Publishing from that same institution. Starting her work as a writing tutor as an undergraduate at DeSales University in 2016, she has continued in the world of education as both an elementary art teacher and a circulation assistant at both her undergraduate and graduate libraries. Additionally, she has held positions as a writer and editor for DeSales University’s literary magazine, WEAL, and president for DeSales University’s creative writing honor society, Discourse. 

Expertise In:
Language Arts  
Literary Analysis  
Composition and Rhetoric 
College Essay Composition  
SAT/ACT Prep 
Creative Writing
Poetry Analysis
Study Skills and Executive Functioning
ADHD Support