The Team

A National Merit Finalist, Tal earned his B.S. from the University of Illinois and his J.D. from Emory University’s School of Law. After practicing law, he found his true passion in education and joined Applerouth in 2013. Known for his sharp intellect and methodical approach, Tal inspires confidence and mastery in his students. He describes his tutoring style as individualized: "I like to get to know a student to determine their learning style, goals, and personality. Based on that, I can be laid-back, no-nonsense, or a combination of both. I challenge all my students to set high goals and emphasize the importance of practice and effort."

Matthew joined Applerouth in 2011 and quickly became a key curriculum designer, developing numerous lessons and practice tests, while serving as the primary author of the SSAT and writing guides. With a BA from UC Santa Barbara and an MA from Emory University, where he taught for nearly a decade, Matthew's creative teaching style helps students build strong academic foundations. He is praised by many families for his engaging approach, good sense of humor, and proven success.

Lynda joined Applerouth in 2016, bringing over 20 years of experience as a Montessori high school math and science teacher. With a BS in Biology and a PhD in Biophysical Chemistry from Georgia State University, Lynda combines deep expertise with a patient, reassuring approach. She describes her tutoring style as student-centered and adaptive: "I excel when I work one-on-one, adjusting to each student's learning style." Inspired by her children, Lynda left science research to pursue teaching.

Since joining Applerouth in 2009, John has been a sought-after educator known for his expertise in standardized test strategies and Executive Function coaching. A triple-major graduate of Emory University in Religion, History, and Art, John holds an MA in Religious Studies and an MAT in Teaching with a focus on Social Studies. John helps students develop systems for success and think strategically like test writers, explaining, “The difference between a high score and a perfect score is the difference between thinking like a test-taker and a test-writer.” As Director of Training, John develops programs and trains educators nationwide in Applerouth’s curriculum and methods.

Eric is a transformative educator known for helping students master even the most challenging concepts. A National Merit Scholar and graduate of the University of Georgia, he joined Applerouth in 2015. As both an Elite Tutor and a Tutor Manager, he mentors students and fellow tutors alike. Eric employs a scaffolding approach to learning, offering structured support and step-by-step guidance to build confidence and independence. Eric explains, "I focus on building, starting with areas of strength or familiarity and using those concepts to build confidence and bridge into new ideas."

Eliza brings unparalleled academic credentials - a B.A., M.A., and M.Phil from the University of St. Andrews - and an engaging, encouraging teaching style to her work in test prep, AP and IB classes, study skills, and middle and high school subjects. Since joining Applerouth in 2009, she has earned a reputation for her wide-ranging content expertise and dedication to student success, tailoring every session to meet her students' unique needs.

A dedicated educator, Brooke has been helping students excel at Applerouth since 2015 while also teaching science in the public school system. With a Master’s in Instructional Technology from Kennesaw State University, she combines her expertise in science education with a talent for simplifying test strategies and amplifying each student’s strengths. Known for her innovative approach to standardized test prep, Brooke sums up her philosophy, saying, "Work smarter, not harder."

Bess has been with Applerouth since 2013, working with students from diverse backgrounds. She holds a BA from William & Mary and an MFA from George Washington University. With an infectious love of learning, Bess inspires students to take ownership of their academic journey, encouraging them to ask, "What can we get curious about?" By tailoring her approach to each student’s unique learning style, Bess challenges them to set ambitious goals and stay engaged in every step of the test preparation process—from mastering content to refining strategy.

Jenna is an Elite Tutor, the D.C. area Tutor Manager, and the IEC Account Manager for DC, Maryland, and Virginia. She's worked with over 175 Applerouth students since joining the team in 2012 and is the most-requested tutor in the D.C. area. She's also tutored multiple students to perfect section scores on both the SAT and ACT. A native of Arlington, Virginia, Jenna attended the University of Virginia as an Echols Scholar, where she earned a B.A. in English (with distinction) and a minor in Theatre. Jenna spent five years in London, honing her acting skills at LAMDA, before returning to D.C. When it comes to tutoring, Jenna's style is encouraging and reassuring. "Don't let the test get inside your head," she says. "And remember - it's always simpler than you think."

Chelsea is both an Elite Tutor and the Seattle area Tutor Manager, and she has worked with over 200 Applerouth students since joining the team. She is in the top 10% of Most Requested Tutors and has helped multiple students earn perfect section scores on both the SAT and ACT. A Florida native, Chelsea participated in the International Baccalaureate program in high school. She then went on to earn both a Bachelor's in Biological Science and a Master's in Biology and Science Education, both from Florida State University. During her time at FSU, she worked in a laboratory and taught college-level science classes to undergraduates. She has experience teaching a wide range of students, both individually and in groups. Chelsea takes a student-led approach to tutoring, saying, "I do not give direct answers to students; instead, I prefer to ask questions that help the student work out a problem-solving process that they can apply in the future."

Jeff is an Elite Tutor who has worked with over 350 students since joining the Applerouth team in 2012. A professional with degrees in both political science and teaching, Jeff has worked with multiple students who have gone on to achieve perfect section scores on their college admissions tests. He also assists our creative team by editing content for our books. Jeff believes that effective practice requires students to have a goal in mind: "To use a baseball analogy, smart ballplayers don't try to hit home runs in batting practice. Rather, they simulate game situations and ask themselves, "Given this situation, how would I react?" Similarly, whenever you do your homework or take a mock test, you should always practice with a purpose in mind."

Tom is a longtime Elite Tutor and the Director of Tutor Services here at Applerouth. Tom earned a Bachelors of Science with a Double Major in Economics and Finance Magna Cum Laude at the University of South Alabama before earning his MBA from the University of Rochester, focusing on both Corporate Accounting and Finance. After working in the finance world for several years, Tom went back to school, earned teaching certifications in Broad Field Business, Economics, and History at the University of Georgia, and taught high school for over 13 years. Since joining the team in 2011, Tom has tutored over 850 students and is one of our Top 10 Most-Requested Tutors of all time. Tom has tutored multiple students who have achieved perfect section scores and perfect composite scores on the SAT and ACT. He sums up his tutoring philosophy simply and decisively: "Take a two pronged approach: master the material and master the test."

Sarah is an Elite Tutor who has tutored over 140 students since joining the team in 2013. Sarah earned a degree in Mathematics from Harvey Mudd College before moving on to do graduate work in Mathematics and Theoretical Computer Science at Georgia Tech. Once she started PhD work, however, she realized that her true love was teaching, rather than research. She tutors SAT/ACT, math of all levels, as well as chemistry, physics and other sciences. Sarah's broad base of knowledge, combined with her dedication to her students, has cemented her place in our top 10% of Most Requested Tutors. Her dedication pays off: several of her students have achieved perfect section or composite scores in their SATs and ACTs. In addition to tutoring, Sarah serves as our Math Specialist, creating content for our books and online practice; she is the Applerouth authority on the SAT and ACT's math problems! Sarah's tutoring philosophy focuses on breaking difficult problems into steps: "It is good to keep the big picture in mind, but the best approach to most any problem is to take things one step at a time.

Shara-Sue is an Elite Tutor and a Tutor Manager for the Atlanta and Chicago markets. Since joining Applerouth in 2014, Shara-Sue has tutored over 1,000 students, several of whom have gone on to achieve perfect section scores on both the SAT and ACT. Shara-Sue's dedication and infectious enthusiasm are impossible to miss: she is one of Applerouth's Top 10 Most Requested Tutors and won the company-wide Above and Beyond Award in 2015 for her willingness to go the extra mile for her students and their families. Before joining Applerouth, Shara-Sue taught in the public school system for several years. Shara-Sue describes her tutoring style as "lively, adaptive, energetic, visual, and auditory." She works hard to empower her students and build their confidence as they get ready for test day.