Elementary School Archives

Chris Ruenes

March 29, 2014

Chris Ruenes began teaching when he was in 7^th grade, offering guitar and piano lessons to younger children as well as to his peers. Since that time he has privately tutored continuously in various disciplines, ranging from test preparation to music theory. Chris graduated from Columbia College at Columbia University in May 2013 with a BA in Music Composition and American Cultural History. During his senior year, he was singled out for departmental honors in recognition of his music thesis, a composition entitled “Ruptures.” Inspired by the creative applications of computer science that he witnessed at Columbia’s Computer Music Center, Chris became determined to learn as much about programming as he could before graduating, attaining proficiency in Java as well as in the more music-centric Max/MSP by the time he left. He currently works as a software developer.

Chris’ experiences with computer programming have had a real impact on his teaching philosophy. Initially apathetic about computer science, Chris quickly became a voracious student after seeing how much it overlapped with music composition, both in its practical applications, and in the state of mind it required. This experience helped confirm Chris’ belief that any subject can be taught in a way that will make it resonate with any student—it is just a matter of tackling the subject with the tools that a student is already comfortable using, and from a point of view that he or she already finds intellectually stimulating. Chris believes that this resonance is essential to a student’s ability to truly understand a topic. In the short term, the enthusiasm it generates provides an entry point into the material. In the long term, it reinforces what the student has learned and allows this material to stick.

Besides teaching, Chris enjoys spending his time biking, running, rock climbing and exploring New York with friends. He sings and plays guitar and piano, and joins open mic nights and group improvisation sessions throughout the city whenever he can. He is currently the assistant music director of the Columbia University Gospel Choir, and is in the process of getting a new band off the ground, called VoXX-ing (pronounced “voice crossing”). His current composition projects include collaborations with filmmakers, visual artists and dancers, as well as with other musicians.

Jade Giffin

March 12, 2014

Jade Giffin, MA, LCAT, and ATR-BC, is a New York State licensed and nationally board certified Creative Arts Therapist. Jade earned her master’s degree in Art Therapy from New York University, where she was the recipient of the Governor and Mrs. Lehman Art Therapy Award for outstanding scholarship and clinical work. She received her bachelor’s degree in Visual Arts and Psychology with distinction from Barnard College.

Jade has worked as an Art Therapist since 2010, working with adults, teenagers, and children. She currently divides her time as an Art Therapist in both private practice, and in a school setting for children with a broad range of developmental needs. Having worked extensively with children at all levels of development, Jade individualizes treatment for each child she works with. She has accrued fifteen years of experience working with various populations, including children with autism spectrum disorders and developmental delays, at-risk adolescents, and adults with dementia or impacted by chronic illness.

Jade has facilitated art therapy abroad in Cape Town, South Africa and continues to present her work nationally. She lives in New York.

Zubeida Ullah

February 11, 2014

Zubeida Ullah, M.S.Ed. is a New York State licensed Learning Specialist who focuses on relatedness and socialization skills for early childhood and school-age learners. She holds certification in Therapeutic Crisis Intervention in Schools via Cornell University and is proud to be a Breathe for Change Wellness Champion. Additionally, Zubeida is a Registered Yoga Teacher, via Yoga Alliance (RYT-200), who works to incorporate mindful movement and meditation into social/emotional, as well as, academic support services for learners of all ages.

With a deep commitment to a team-based approach to inclusion, Zubeida works in collaboration with parents, classroom teachers, therapists, school administrators, and related service providers to develop and implement an in-depth, individualized plan for social and academic success. Zubeida also provides home-based dyadic interventions with parent and child and coordinates and facilitates specialty workshops. Zubeida is currently employed as a full time ICT/Special Education and Yoga Teacher with the New York City Department of Education.

Zubeida attended Bard College and received her B.A. in American studies. She then went on to receive her Master’s from Adelphi University in Special Education for School Age Learners (K-12) and Elementary Education (Pre-K – 6), writing her Master Seminar Paper on depression in Pre-School Aged Children. She worked as a lead teacher at Barrow Street Nursery School in an inclusive classroom, and she has since worked as a Special Education Itinerant Teacher (SEIT) with the Bank Street College Home and Community Program, the Rivendell School in Brooklyn, and Starting Point Services for Children. Zubeida is also a member of the Association of Educational Therapists.

After school private tutoring and intervention services can be provided with respect to each child’s specific goals, learning style, and needs. Service locations often vary to meet student need. Zubeida’s favorite places to teach include, but are not limited to, playgrounds, museums, client homes, camps, and community programs.

Shuhan Hu

November 3, 2013

Shuhan Hu graduated Magna Cum Laude from Rutgers University with a B.A. in English Literature and Political Science. She is a native Mandarin Chinese speaker who was born and raised in the United States. She grew up in an environment enriched with the Chinese language and culture, however Shuhan took her Chinese language skills to a higher level by immersing herself in Chinese culture, living in Taipei, Taiwan for two years. There she studied Mandarin Chinese at ShiDa University and worked as a private English tutor.

She taught elementary through advanced level English to native Chinese speakers in Taiwan and has had students of all different ages ranging from Pre-K to young professionals.

Shuhan Hu believes in an interactive classroom, so whether it is a private tutoring session between tutor and student or a large class of 20 kids, she believes communication and a strong connection between the teacher and student is imperative to a successful learning experience. This is why she takes the time to build a relationship with each of her students, learning how they learn and what they are passionate about. She caters each of her lessons to the needs and interests of her students incorporating activities such as games and arts and crafts for younger students and a diverse selection of novels, articles and short films for older students.

Regardless of the specific topic of the lesson, Shuhan always integrates critical thinking, note taking, reading comprehension, and brainstorming skills into each lesson. She believes these are essential skills to have both in the classroom and out of the classroom in every day life. Although acquiring efficient study skills is important for a successful academic career, she believes pure rote memorization of vocabulary words is not conducive to actual learning. Learning is a fun and dynamic activity!

Shuhan is passionate about languages and different cultures; she loves to travel to learn as much as possible. She started off early in life, traveling to France in high school on a student exchange program. Living abroad for a mere three months, she experienced her first culture shock, learning just how diverse the world truly is. After France, Shuhan continued with her interest in different cultures and languages by focusing her thesis on the political climate of South Africa. She studied abroad in South Africa where, she learned Afrikaans and the Zulu language as well. In her spare time, Shuhan likes to discover new books, music and artists alike.

Gail Kleiner

October 27, 2013

Gail Kleiner brings over 30 years of teaching experience to private tutoring. She has taught in New York City public schools and in the Westchester suburbs. She has successfully tutored students in reading, writing, history and other social science subjects. Gail brings a wealth of knowledge and great compassion to her individualized tutoring work.

“Nothing brings me more satisfaction than getting to know students on an individual basis and helping them strengthen their skills and produce work they are proud of and delighted by.”

Gail Kleiner is passionate about working with all types of students—those who excel and strive to reach even greater heights and those that struggle to keep up with the pace and quantity of work assigned. She works with students to learn how to learn so they can apply the skills practiced during tutoring sessions to their independent work. She has successfully helped students write analytic and personal essays for English, research papers on a range of topics for social studies and history classes as well as prepare for exams in these same subjects. Gail also enjoys working with students to develop literacy skills more broadly so they can feel stronger and participate more fully in all of their classwork.

Gail Kleiner’s familiarity with school and teacher expectations allows her to guide students to produce high quality work that will satisfy these expectations while ensuring that they maintain and develop their own ideas and perspectives. Gail’s students describe feeling empowered to develop and clarify their own ideas and to powerfully and coherently express them. After recently working with a student on a lengthy, challenging research paper, the student expressed surprise and delight at seeing how the incremental process of approaching the task now became doable.

Parents and students alike appreciate Gail’s friendly demeanor, level of energy and expertise and her ability to help students realize their potential.

From her first day in the classroom, Gail knew that working with young people was her calling. She continues to cherish time spent with her students and is honored to help them develop confidence and new skills. She values the bonds that develop as teacher and student sit side-by-side, accepting and overcoming challenges together.

Chris Ruenes

Zubeida Ullah

Shuhan Hu

Gail Kleiner

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