Mark Blacher holds a B.A. in English from Columbia University, where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa and summa cum laude, and an M.A. in comparative literature from UCLA. As an instructor in UCLA’s Humanities Series, he introduced students to classics of world literature while helping them to improve their essay writing. He found that he loved teaching and was able to get young people excited about demanding texts. As a tutor in UCLA’s Academic Advancement Program, he first experienced the privilege of working with students one-on-one.
Returning to his undergraduate alma mater, Mark taught high-achieving high school students in Columbia University’s Pre-College Programs, which led to a two-decade administrative career within Pre-College. Holding various leadership positions, he played a central role in the program’s growth from fewer than a hundred students to over three thousand. As Director of Faculty and Instruction from 2016 to 2021, he recruited, trained, and supervised hundreds of instructors and focused on ensuring and maximizing pedagogical quality. In 2021, Mark finally returned to his true passion, teaching, and since then he has been leading Pre-College Programs classes in literature and expository writing.
Recently Mark has also been doing some private tutoring, both in person and online. Whether it be 9th graders or graduate students, he has helped learners to become stronger writers (of academic and personal essays), readers, and thinkers. His work includes supporting students with college application essays.
Mark’s approach to teaching is based on the following precepts: (1) The most effective way to foster learning is by making the material interesting, pertinent, and fun. (2) Writing should be a tool for developing and fine-tuning one’s thinking, rather than an impediment. (3) Learning to read, write, and think effectively is the ideal preparation for everything from succeeding as a doctor, lawyer, or financier to functioning as a responsible world citizen.
Outside of teaching, tutoring, and reading, Mark enjoys experiencing art and music, being in nature, taking photographs, exercising, and exploring the world.
Amy Glickman is a native New Yorker. She was born and raised in Brooklyn and now resides and works in Manhattan. Amy earned a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary and Special Education from Brooklyn College and a Master’s degree in Learning Disabilities from Teacher’s College, Columbia University. While at Columbia her work focused on the assessment and remediation of reading and math disabilities. Each semester she interned at the Child Study Center where she gained experience in administering a battery of classroom based and standardized assessment measures to identify strengths and weaknesses of individual students and then developed an intervention plan based on the assessment findings. Upon graduating from Teacher’s College, she worked as a classroom teacher at the Stephen Gaynor School, where she taught students with language-based learning disabilities. While at Stephen Gaynor Amy developed and implemented an after-school computer skills training program which was tailored to the individual needs of the students.
Marie Leblanc guides diverse learners of all ages as they navigate their academic endeavors. She is a New York State certified 7-12 ELA teacher, reading specialist, student advisor and private tutor who holds a BA from Fordham University in Literature, an MA degree in English and American Literature from New York University and an MA in Teaching and Learning also from NYU. In addition, Marie has earned an advanced certificate in TESOL (Teaching English to Students of Other Languages) and is certified as a 
Shelly October applies her experience as a K-12 English teacher, advisor, speech-language pathologist, and 
Born and raised in Paris, France, Nathalie Biju-Duval spent summers in Catalunya, Spain, where her family still owns a home in the small town of Begur. It was here, while playing with other children her age, that Nathalie became fluent in Spanish.