Ian Cheung got his start in education as a sophomore in high school, where he peer tutored his classmates in English, Calculus, and even Constitutional Law. That experience, combined with his time captaining his tri-state math team to a top 3 finish nationally at the 2018 ARML, inspired him to bring his leadership and communication skills to university and beyond.
However, during his first year studying finance at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, COVID-19 forced the world to transition from in-person activities to increasingly online ones. Ian, struggling to find meaningful internships now that he was in a separate country, returned to his roots as a teacher and leader. It began with online tutoring family friends, then gradually expanding his base of students, his modes of tutoring, as well as his repertoire. By the time he was allowed to return to Canada and finish his studies, Ian had successfully tutored students in math (helping several students get a 5 on AP Calculus AB), English (including one student going from a C in their Honors class to an A), and standardized testing (where his students gained 250 points on the SAT on average).
As the University of Waterloo finally returned to in-person classes late in Ian’s junior year, he resolved to finish his finance degree while continuing to develop his tutoring enterprise. This allowed him to balance the growth of his hard and soft skills and become a more well-rounded individual. After graduating summa cum laude in 2023, he committed fully to building his own teaching brand. He built lasting relations with students and families across the northeast while also leading classes in several math circles around New York City. This includes both Math-M-Addicts and New York Math Circle, where he has led both classes and seminars on discrete math. As of 2025, he has 8 years of experience tutoring and teaching students ages 9 to 19 in topics ranging from prealgebra to multi-variable calculus, Physics 1 to Physics C, and the SHSAT to the SAT.
Throughout Ian’s time on both ends of the teacher-student relationship, he was able to fully appreciate the intricacies of mentoring. He learnt how to learn and, ultimately, how to teach. Far from the crowded blackboards, erudite subject terminology, and over-worked staff, education entails a process of self-maturation that extends beyond merely getting a good test score. He recognizes that many different students all process information differently (some visually, some with hands-on examples, some with independent inquiry) and tailors his teaching accordingly. Through private tutoring, Ian gives his unique students the personalized, distinct teaching style they deserve.
Megan Foley has worked in communications for 20 years as a published author, editor, teacher and creative strategist. For the past decade she has worked in news media, most recently at Axios, and she is excited to return to what she loves best: working with students. She believes that empathy and encouragement are the keys to successful teaching relationships, and she enjoys getting to know each of her students and finding ways to work with their innate strengths and interests to help them achieve their goals.
Brielle Babiar is an experienced writing coach, English professor, and academic tutor with over a decade of experience in education and pedagogy. With a teaching background in both secondary and higher education, she has a comprehensive understanding of students’ academic journeys. Her tutoring sessions offer inspiring and thoughtful instruction. She has an engaging teaching style that prioritizes curiosity and critical thinking, encouraging her students to ask questions and take ownership of their education.
Deborah Berebichez is the first Mexican woman to graduate from Stanford University with a PhD in Physics, and she uses her education and background to make science approachable to a wide range of audiences. Debbie co-hosts Discovery Channel’s Outrageous Acts of Science TV show, where she uses her knowledge of physics to explain the science behind extraordinary engineering feats. She also appears as an expert on the Travel Channel, NOVA, CNN, FOX, MSNBC and numerous international media outlets.
