Our Coaches
Miranda
she/her
Focus: Executive Functioning, Reading, Writing, and History
Location: In-person in the East Bay and San Francisco, and Virtual
Miranda founded MES to provide excellent, tailored educational and advocacy services to students and families with a massive dose of empathy and connection. When Miranda was a student, she faced her own learning challenges that inspired her to pursue a career in education. Miranda is Dyslexic and 2E, giving her great insight into her students and the field of education. As a teacher she incorporated direct instruction in executive functioning, reading and writing and her students thrived!
Experience and Education:
Miranda holds a BA with Honors in History from UC Berkeley and an MA in Teaching with an emphasis in literacy from Teachers College, Columbia University. Miranda has taught middle and high school students reading, writing, executive functioning skills, and history, served as department chair, and trained new teachers. She is also trained in Writing Revolution, Orton-Gillingman techniques, and executive functioning skills from the Hallowell Center.
Fun Fact:
Miranda loves to travel and has been to 27 countries.
Caitlin
she/her
Focus: Middle and High School Writing, Executive Functioning, College Admissions
Location: In-person in Oakland and Berkeley, and Virtual
Short-term academic success becomes long-term transformation thanks to Caitlin’s thirty years of experience, her commitment to excellence, deeply intuitive coaching, and lots of love.
Experience and Education: A veteran high school teacher and principal, Caitlin has taught in the graduate school of education at Mills College in Oakland, and has founded and run a nationally-recognized leadership program for girls. For the past decade, she has been supporting teachers and school leaders as an instructional coach, working with individual educators and full school staffs. Caitlin earned a BA in English and art from Carleton College and an MA in Education with an emphasis on Secondary Education from San Francisco State University. In addition to her years in education, Caitlin has worked for the last eight years as an editor in the K-12 education publishing field.
Fun Fact: Caitlin has sailed a small boat 16,000 nautical miles across the Pacific Ocean and back, and is currently writing a memoir based on that experience. She still gets seasick.
Daniel
he/him
Focus: English and Spanish Reading Comprehension, Writing, History, ELA
Location: Virtual Only
Daniel is a keen listener and strong communicator. Even quiet students have something to say and by engaging them in conversation, Daniel is able to connect with students of all ages and understand where to help them.
Experience and Education: With a BA in Hispanic Studies from Wheaton College and an MA in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages from Adelphi University, Daniel has over 15 years of classroom and tutoring experience in New York, Chicago, and Mexico City.
Fun Fact: Once, Daniel biked from Chicago to San Francisco in 47 days. Another time, he rode from New York City to Washington, D.C. in four.
Lindsey
she/her
Focus: Math, Science, Executive Functioning; Structured and multisensory
Location: In-person in Marin or San Francisco, and Virtual
Lindsey’s teaching philosophy is about making mistakes and embracing a growth mindset to help each student succeed and achieve their personal academic goals. She helps students break down tasks into manageable bites to help them stay organized and avoid overwhelm.
Experience and Education: Lindsey has a BA in Zoology from Miami University and MA in Special Education–with a focus on Autism–from Notre Dame de Namur University. Lindsey has taught in San Francisco and Marin, in and out of the classroom at schools specializing in serving neurodivergent students.
Fun Fact: Lindsey loves fishing in the Bahamas every summer.
Maricela
she/her
Focus: Spanish and French
Location: Virtual Only
Maricela adapts to the needs of her students by building on student interests, deploying strong visuals, and using the science of music in learning languages.
Experience and Education: Maricela has her primary degree as a teacher of French as a foreign language at the Université de Bourgogne and also completed a certificate program in Applied Linguistics in Teaching Foreign Languages at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). With ten years of experience teaching French and Spanish, Maricela has cultivated an expertise in helping neurodivergent students excel in foreign languages.
Fun Fact: Maricela also received professional training as an artist from the National Institute of Fine Arts and Literature in Mexico.
May
she/her
Focus: Executive Functioning and Writing, College Success Prep
Location: In-person in the East Bay and Virtual
May helps clients identify and connect their values, experiences, and strengths to real-life action plans for growth. With years of experience in coaching, she is a skilled communicator who is able to listen, partner, and provide strategies that enable clients to leverage their existing strengths and find success in their lives.
May works with students to enhance study strategies and build strong time management, planning, and prioritization skills. She specifically focuses on managing motivation and procrastination through holistic skill-building for school and everyday life.
Experience and Education: May has a BA in Psychology from University of San Francisco and MA in Education from Teachers College at Columbia University. She spent 15 years in non-profit leadership designing, implementing, and managing educational programming for middle, high school, and college students.
Fun Fact: May lives in Alameda with her two kids, husband, and dog. In her free time, she loves to cook, eat, and spend time outside.
Willa
she/her
Focus: Foundational reading and literacy skills Kindergarten–3rd grade, Math K-6; Structured and multisensory
Location: In-person in the East Bay
Since learning is both a complex and vulnerable process, especially for those who struggle in school, Willa deeply values building rapport with her students. She knows from experience how powerful it can be to combine strong foundational knowledge with self-esteem. Willa is excited to help her learners feel supported as they grow their knowledge, skills, and confidence.
Experience and Education: Willa holds a BA in Education and an MA in Elementary Teaching from Colorado College. She is trained in Orton-Gillingham and science of reading approaches. She also holds state teaching licenses in both Colorado and California for Kindergarten - 6th grade. She has taught Kindergarten- 3rd grade in both traditional and Montessori schools, and tutored Kindergarten -10th grade with a focus on reading, spelling, and math.
Fun Fact: Willa grew up in the Bay Area and moved back from Denver, Colorado in August 2024. She loves seeking out restaurants, and cool spots to explore. She also has a BA in Art History and is excited to visit all the great museums in the Bay Area.
Diana
She/Her
Focus: Executive Function, Writing, Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking, AP English, College Applications and Essays, Personal Statements, SAT/ACT prep
Location: In person in Alameda, Oakland, Berkeley, and the surrounding Bay Area, Virtual
Diana is a teacher, writer, and award-winning filmmaker who loves helping students find their voices. Diana brings six years of classroom teaching and over a decade of specialized tutoring and college advising to her work with students. She helps learners strengthen their writing, reading comprehension, and analytical skills, while also guiding older students through the college application process with clarity and confidence.
Experience and Education: She has taught English, Critical Media Analysis, Writing for Social Justice, and Creative Expression, blending film, art, and writing. Diana has worked with students in a variety of environments, including charter, public, and private schools and homeschool programs. She has an MFA from Northwestern and a teaching credential from Notre Dame de Namur. In addition to her degrees, Diana is trained in teaching reading comprehension, the Writing Revolution framework, and executive functioning.
Fun Fact: Diana is a working artist who has produced a play Off-Broadway in New York City, acted professionally in Chicago, and performed stand-up comedy around the Bay Area.
Ryan
He/Him
Focus: Math and Executive Functioning
Location: In-person in the East Bay and San Francisco, and Virtual
Ryan Church is a friendly and dedicated teacher who loves helping students discover confidence and joy in learning math. Ryan brings patience, empathy, and a personalized approach to every lesson, making sure each student feels respected and supported.
Experience and Education: Ryan has a Bachelors of Arts in Applied Mathematics with a cluster of studies in Computer Science from the University of California, Berkeley. With over twelve years of tutoring experience, he specializes in supporting middle and high school students, especially those with neurodivergent life experiences. Ryan has also taught mathematics as a teacher in a one-on-one private school setting.
Fun Fact: Ryan is a new father and a hobbyist video game developer.
Molly
She/They
Focus: Executive Functioning, multiple modalities, kinesthetic and visual learning in mathematics and sciences.
Location: Oakland and in the East Bay, Virtual
Molly is a passionate and experienced educator who works with clients to help them access their entry points in science and mathematics. An expert at kinesthetic and visual learning, Molly brings models to life, making abstract concepts tangible while giving students tools to complete assignments independently. In addition, she has training in executive functioning and Making Math Real. Molly is also a firm advocate for trauma-informed teaching and mental health needs.
Experience and Education: Molly holds a Master's Degree in Gender Studies from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, as well as a Bachelor's in English Language and Literature. They hold teaching licenses in Math and Science and have over 17 years of experience teaching Middle and High school math and science, leading academic departments, and a decade of coaching teachers.
Fun Fact: When they are not teaching, Molly is a graduate student at the California Institute of Integral Studies in their Integral Counselling Psychology program. She is an avid meditator in the Buddhist Theravada tradition, and absolutely loves cats.