Our Team
I. Foster Learning tutors have decades of experience teaching and tutoring in a variety of academic settings.
Isaac Foster: Beginning as a middle school teacher in a public school in East Harlem and then as a tutor and team leader in both Paris and New York, Isaac has worked with thousands of students over his nearly two-decade career. An expert in American admissions testing as well as the college and graduate school application process, Isaac is a trusted resource and partner for all things related to the American education system. Isaac attended Williams College and holds a Master’s in Education from Brooklyn College.
Patrick Augello: Patrick attended Rutgers University where he received his Bachelor of Science in applied mathematics. He worked as a high school math and physics instructor for three years before going to Temple University, where he received his Master’s degree in applied biostatistics. When not tutoring, Patrick works as a research biostatistician at Memorial Sloan Kettering cancer center, where he applies his knowledge of statistics, mathematics, and data science to help drive discoveries that improve cancer care.
Brenden Bready: Brenden is from Wallkill, New York and recently completed his M.S. in statistics from Virginia Tech. Before that, he studied math and stats at St. Lawrence University, where he also completed a semester abroad in Kenya. Brenden loves helping students understand math, and enjoys showing students all the ways math relates to our everyday life. Outside the classroom, Brenden enjoys playing or watching soccer, and he can often be found cheering on his favorite team, Tottenham Hotspur.
Hallie Della-Volpe: Hallie was born and raised on Long Island. She graduated from Williams College in 2021 where she majored in psychology. Upon graduating, she joined Teach for America and spent four years working in classrooms in New Orleans and Winthrop, Massachusetts. She’s taught special-education reading, writing, and math to students with mild and moderate disabilities. She believes in fostering growth mindsets and discovering how best to teach the distinctive brains of her students. Hallie tutors for the SSAT, TACHS, SAT and ACT. When not tutoring, Hallie enjoys coaching tennis, singing, reading, and dancing in Zumba classes.
Marisa Dinko: Marisa was born and raised in Canton, Ohio and is the youngest of three. She went to the University of Virginia as an Echols Scholar to study computer science and global studies, with a focus on security and justice. She tutors a wide variety of subjects, and has a soft spot for math, languages, and literature. In her free time, Marisa enjoys dog sitting, painting, hosting dinner parties, and going on a run in her neighborhood.
Luke Gardiner: Luke Gardiner graduated with honors from Columbia University, earning a bachelor’s degree in English Literature and Film & Media Studies. During his time at Columbia, he also worked in the Admissions Office. He now tutors students in essay writing (including college essays) and ACT, SAT and SSAT preparation. Outside of tutoring, he can usually be found at an AMC theater or exploring a hiking trail.
Sarah Greenspon: Sarah Greenspon graduated from Kenyon College in 2021, where she studied Math and Music. Prior to that, she graduated from the Brearley School in New York. For the past two years Sarah has taught middle school math at Success Academy. When she is not tutoring Sarah enjoys reading and walking her dog Darcy in the park.
Alina Halliburton: Alina is a graduate of Williams College and a current Jill Davis Fellow at New York University's Master of Fine Arts program. She holds a CTLE College Advisor Certificate from Columbia University. In addition to Alina's experience working with students applying for BFA or MFA programs, she has personal experience gaining acceptances to fine arts programs at Columbia University, the New School and Brooklyn College, alongside NYU.
Maya Hatley: Maya is a third-year medical student at NYU Grossman School of Medicine planning to go into ENT. She is a 2021 graduate of the University of Virginia where she majored in Biology and attended on a full merit-based scholarship. Maya tutors for the SAT, ACT and French, and has been tutoring in STEM subjects and reviewing applications for peers and high school students throughout her academic career. Outside of school, she loves *trying* to cook new dishes, running, and hanging out with friends in NYC's green spaces.
Simi Klein: Simi is an expert tutor with over 12 years of experience both teaching and developing content for Standardized tests. An accomplished test taker himself, he received a perfect score on the SAT and scored in the 99th percentile on the GMAT. Simi is a native New Yorker, and graduated from NYU Summa Cum Laude with a BA in both Economics and English. Simi received his graduate degree from Columbia Business School in 2020, where he focused on Strategy and Entrepreneurship. In his free time he enjoys surfing, scuba, boxing, photography and exploring new restaurants and art exhibits.
Sarah O’Hare: Sarah graduated magna cum laude from NYU with a B.A. in Comparative Literature before completing her M.A. in English Literature at Hunter College. She also holds a Masters in Social Work at Hunter College with a specialization in school-based social work. Sarah is a passionate educator who has worked with all grade levels and learning styles. For nearly a decade, she taught English at the City University of New York. She also worked as an elementary school teacher for an elite private school in South Korea and most recently as a small-group elementary-level pod instructor. Sarah currently works at an elementary school as a school-based therapist. She tutors in all elementary school subjects, bringing compassion, humor, and warmth to the role.
Myles Parnell: Myles currently teaches AP Calculus in Houston, Texas. He has previously taught Geometry, Algebra 2, PreCalculus, and Trigonometry. Myles attended the University of Houston where he studied Mathematics with a minor in Economics before pursuing his Master's in Secondary Math Education. His tutoring superpower is making students feel at ease and helping them discover their strengths while working towards their success. In his spare time Myles enjoys learning Spanish and going to trivia with friends.
Drew Rollins: Drew is from Elkton, Maryland, and attended the University of Virginia, where he majored in English and Cognitive Science on a pre-med track. He has taught a variety of subjects including math, writing, music, and psychology. Moreover, he likes helping students prepare for the SAT, the ACT, the LSAT, and other standardized tests. Outside of academics, Drew enjoys playing pickup basketball, singing, practicing guitar, reading fiction, writing poetry, and getting very very lost whilst trying to navigate the New York City subway system.
Jackson Schwartz: Jackson is from Needham, Massachusetts and recently graduated from Columbia University where he majored in the interdisciplinary humanities field of American Studies. During college he explored many academic passions, focusing on film, Spanish language, and the history of the US prison industrial complex. He tutors Spanish, history, and test prep for the SAT/ACT. Outside of school, you can find Jackson writing music, performing improv comedy, or trying to beat his roommate’s long-standing high score in Tetris.
Esther Woo: Esther is a tutor dedicated to serving students' unique needs as they grow in confidence and self-compassion. Born in Thailand to South Korean parents, Esther spent her formative years in New Jersey, then at the Hotchkiss School and Yale University where she cultivated her love for the humanities. With prior experience supporting the Yale Admissions Office and teaching in Ukraine, Germany, and South Korea, Esther especially loves helping students hone their writing voice and shape their stories to demonstrate resilience, self awareness, and attunement to the needs of their communities. Esther holds a B.A. in Russian Literature, M.F.A. in Creative Writing, and is currently pursuing an MS in Couples & Family Therapy in Oregon. Esther loves bouldering, reading with her cat, and watching The Sopranos.
