LAURA S.

Japanese, English, Writing, Math, SAT / ACT prep, Grant proposals, Executive functioning
Career coaching

Laura has two decades of experience teaching and motivating students of all ages to help them achieve their academic and career goals. Growing up bilingual in the US and Japan, she draws on her diverse educational background to hand-pick the best pedagogical methods that align with each student’s learning needs.

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Laura teaches a variety of subjects as a private tutor, in classrooms, and in corporate settings. Her students have gained admission to the universities of their choice, including Ivy League schools and elite international institutions. Laura’s teaching philosophy combines discipline with joy, encouraging students to find excitement in learning by gamifying lessons and setting SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-Bound) goals. Before tutoring, Laura enjoyed a successful career as a classical pianist, performing worldwide from a young age. Drawing on her experience with performance anxiety, she teaches relaxation and focus-building techniques that are highly effective for standardized test preparation.​

Laura holds a Master of Liberal Arts degree from Harvard's Institute of Advanced Theater Training and Bachelor’s degrees in Music and Dramatic Arts from UC Davis, where she worked as a veterinary technician and was inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi, and Golden Key honor societies. She received a full scholarship thanks to her high standardized test scores, passion for community engagement, and International Baccalaureate diploma.

When Laura isn’t teaching, she’s acting on screen/stage and producing theatre through SoHo Shakespeare Company. She enjoys being a mom, dog mom, and baker. An avid traveler, her dream is to visit all seven continents and become a polyglot along the way.