category: High School

Neer Asherie

September 30, 2014

Neer Asherie is a full time, tenured professor of physics and biology at Yeshiva University where he teaches Introductory Physics (algebra-based), General Physics (calculus-based), Waves and Optics, and Biophysics.

Throughout Neer’s academic career he has been an active teacher and tutor, with students ranging in age from 14 to 50. His research focuses on protein phase behavior and self-assembly. Currently, he is working with undergraduate students at Yeshiva University to investigate the role of chirality (lack of mirror symmetry) in protein crystallization.

Neer has an eclectic educational background, studying in private and public schools and in both the American and British systems. He received his BA and MA degrees in natural sciences (physical) from Cambridge University and a PhD in physics from MIT. He is fluent in five languages, including English, Italian, Spanish, French, and Hebrew.

In addition to his scientific publications, Neer has authored a novel and several short plays.

Kovan Pillai

August 28, 2014

Kovan Pillai, PhD, is the Executive Director of the New York Math Circle and currently provides private tutoring and enrichment teaching with My Learning Springboard. He previously taught at the United Nations International School.

Kovan Pillai started teaching mathematics in 1985 and in between teaching stints has worked as an astrophysicist, a medical researcher and a portfolio manager, applying mathematics in these different fields. He graduated from Oxford University with a First Class Honors degree in Mathematics and also holds a PhD in Statistics from NYU, where he won the prestigious Edward Deming Fellowship. He has published research articles in General Relativity and also on the development of CPAP technology in the medical field. Kovan has taught in Hong Kong, London and New York and has extensive experience with students of all levels and ages from 6^th Grade through college.

As a parent of a Trevor Day School alum and private tutor, Kovan has developed a deep understanding of mathematical challenges faced by students at each grade level and has prepared students for standardized tests, including the ACT, SAT, SAT subject tests (Math 1 and 2), AP Calculus AB and BC and also the mathematics competitions AMC 8, AMC 10, AMC 12 and AIME. He also tutors college students, including mathematics majors.

Areas of expertise: Pre-algebra, Algebra I, Algebra II, Trigonometry, Geometry, Number Theory, Pre-Calculus, Calculus (AB and BC), various undergraduate mathematics courses and statistics.

In his spare time, Kovan enjoys cycling around New York.

Ally Sheedy

April 22, 2014

Ally Sheedy has been working in film, television and theatre since she was 15 years old. She started off doing television commercials while in high school, and attended the University of Southern California as a student in the BFA theatre program. While pursuing her studies in theatre, Ally shot several successful films, including: War Games, directed by John Badham; The Breakfast Club, directed by John Hughes; St. Elmo’s Fire, directed by Joel Schumacher; and Twice In A Lifetime, directed by Bud Yorkin, starring Gene Hackman, Ellen Burstyn, and Ann Margret. Ally also worked one summer at The Denver Center for the Performing Arts.

Ally has since starred in over 50 films and television series, as well as appeared onstage. She won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Actress for her work in High Art, written and directed by Lisa Cholodenko. Ally starred off-Broadway in Hedwig and the Angry Inch, and in Triptych, written by Edna O’Brien at the Irish Repertory Theatre.

In 2013, Ally filmed Full Circle, a mini-series written by Neil LaBute, and shot her fifth season in a recurring role on USA’s series psych.

Ally has studied drama at New York City theatre institutions Circle In The Square and The Neighborhood Playhouse, as well as a summer program created by Julliard at Skidmore College. She also participated in a Shakespeare workshop at The Public Theatre, taught by Harold Guskin, and continued to study with him independently.

For the past three years, Ally has been teaching an on camera film class at La Guardia High School, and in that time, has co-directed four productions. She works one-on-one with senior drama students on film for professional work, and coaches them individually on their monologues for college and conservatory auditions. In her private tutoring work with My Learning Springboard, Ally coaches students one-on-one in preparation for college auditions or performances.

Because Ally started her career at such a young age, she is uniquely suited to offer guidance and help develop the natural skills of young performers. She is the proud mother of a college student, and particularly loves discussion, exploration and the development of ideas with students in this age group.

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.

category: High School

Neer Asherie

Kovan Pillai

Ally Sheedy

Chris Ruenes

Company Overview

School Planning

Private Tutoring

Test Preparation