About Us

Our Teachers:

We are a collection of qualified and competent teachers who understand the potential of utilizing research-based instruction, know how to provide high-quality instruction, have experience teaching students in the classroom, and care deeply about helping students achieve their academic goals and foster a sense of confidence.

How We Help Students

Option 1: by directly meeting with students during sessions.
Option 2: by partnering with one of our private tutors, who meets with students during sessions. In this case, we curate an individualized curriculum & provide weekly activities that our tutors then guide the students through.

We utilize data from formative assessments taken during the first tutoring session to curate an individualized curriculum & weekly lesson plan for each student we work with.

Our Tutors:

We are a collection of high-achieving individuals who know firsthand what it takes to succeed academically. In addition to bringing subject knowledge, we also bring strong study habits, real-world experience with today’s academic expectations, and a relatable, encouraging presence that helps students stay motivated and on track.

How We Help Students

Option 1: by partnering with one of our private teachers. We guide students through the individualized curriculum & weekly lesson plans that our private teachers create for each student
Option 2: by solely working with families who provide the homework, textbooks, and other materials. In this case, the family provides the weekly activities rather than our private teachers.

We work closely with our private teachers to plan, prepare, and address students' academic needs. This helps maintain the quality of our instruction, ensuring our sessions are effective while also providing greater access and scheduling flexibility for families.

Why are there 2 options... a Private Teacher or a Private Tutor?

Sessions can be scheduled with either our teachers or our tutors.

Private teachers and tutors play distinct but complementary roles in supporting a child's academic growth at different stages.

In the early years, younger students enter school with a wide range of abilities—some may be reading chapter books while others are still learning the alphabet. This can make it challenging for classroom teachers to fully differentiate instruction for every student's academic needs in a large group. A private teacher can help fill that gap by providing necessary one-on-one support and an individualized approach to help young students learn vital foundational skills such as how to read.

As children grow older, their independence as learners & the academic playing field tends to even out—for example, most students begin algebra from a similar starting point. At that stage, a private tutor can play a valuable role by offering guidance through complex assignments, test preparation, and time management, complementing the instruction they receive at school.

FAQ: Session Rates

Session rates depend on the session's length, format, & topic of focus. Typically, sessions with our teachers start at $110+/hour and sessions with our tutors typically range from $75-$100/hour. We let you know the rates prior to booking a session.

Andrea Rieck

TEACHER

Native to Austin, Andrea earned her degree in Early Childhood Education with a specialization in reading from The University of Texas at Austin. In addition to being certified to teach grades K-6th, Andrea is certified to provide dyslexia intervention as well as instruction to individuals for whom English is a second language.

Andrea is designated as a 'master' teacher by the state of Texas, a recognition awarded to the top 5% of educators based on instructional excellence & student outcomes. Additionally, Andrea has received her National Board Certification, a recognition held by 3% of teachers.

An in-home & virtual private instructor and classroom teacher for over a decade, Andrea has experience working with students who are in Pre-K thru high school in various subject areas including reading intervention, strengthening math fluency, handwriting, test preparation including ISEE and SSAT, & college applications. In every teaching experience, Andrea utilizes research based, effective instructional strategies to create a streamlined curriculum that meets the current needs of each student. Andrea enjoys partnering with students and their families to create a plan and set goals. Seeing the impact one-on-one instruction and enrichment opportunities have on a child's academic journey brings Andrea so much joy!

Andrea founded The Contemporary Classroom LLC in an effort to help families who need opportunities that effectively help their children through their academic journey.

Chelsea Warner

TEACHER

Chelsea earned a Ph.D. and an M.Ed. in reading education from Auburn University, an Ed.S. in elementary education from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and a M.A. in early childhood and elementary education from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She previously taught PreK-8th grade in public, private, and charter schools in Alabama and Washington, DC.

After transitioning to higher education, Chelsea taught graduate and undergraduate education methods courses at Texas A&M University-Central Texas and Auburn University. In her role as a university professor she founded the Texas A&M University-Central Texas’s Dyslexia Education Micro-credential. The program aims to expand and deepen teachers’ pedagogical practice of evidence-based literacy intervention and assessment for students with dyslexia and other reading differences. Chelsea is a self proclaimed literacy nerd and loves helping students reach their goals and become lifelong learners.

Lindsey Gabel

TEACHER

Lindsey earned her undergraduate degree in special education from Texas A&M University in 2014. During her time at Texas A&M, she had the opportunity to work with a diverse range of students, from Pre-K through high school, in both one-on-one and large-group settings. She later earned a master’s degree in counseling and development, with an emphasis on school counseling and clinical mental health, from Lamar University. Lindsey began her career as a Functional Academics Classroom teacher in Round Rock ISD, where she taught students from kindergarten through fifth grade. In recent years, she has worked for an EdTech company, collaborating with teachers across Texas to implement special education and social-emotional learning curricula.

Beyond her professional work, Lindsey is an active member of the Junior League of Austin, where she serves on the Coats for Kids committee, helping to distribute winter coats to children across Central Texas. She also volunteers as a guardian ad litem for CASA of Travis County. In her free time, Lindsey enjoys gardening and spending time with her dog, Olive.

Ariana Alba

TUTOR

Ariana is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in Speech Pathology with a Pre-Health Professions Certificate at UT Austin. Ariana has experience working with children through her time at the UT Priscilla Pond Flawn Child and Family Laboratory, where she observed and studied early language acquisition.

Ariana is passionate about supporting elementary & middle school students as they build confidence and develop a love for learning. In her free time, she is a member of the Texas 4000 for Cancer cycle team. Next summer, she will cycle from Austin to Alaska to spread hope, knowledge, and awareness in the fight against cancer.

Whitney Schaefer

TUTOR

Whitney is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in Psychology with a minor in Data Science, as well as her master's in Accounting at UT. In addition to tutoring, Whitney has experience working with children through her time as a Registered Behavior Technician, providing ABA therapy.

Whitney is passionate about working with children professionally and through volunteer opportunities. In her free time, she loves finding new hikes around Austin, visiting the Wildflower Center, and spending time with her dog, Ellie.

Sarah Berlanga

TUTOR

Sarah is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in Speech Language Pathology with a minor in Business at UT. Sarah has experience working with children of all abilities. In addition to tutoring, Sarah has worked as a Registered Behavior Therapist, helping children with autism develop independence in the school environment. As a swim instructor, Sarah helped children ranging in age from six months to 13 years, strengthening her ability to connect with and support learners of all developmental stages.

Sarah is passionate about working with children and values the opportunity to make a positive impact in their lives. She is dedicated to helping students build confidence both in and out of the classroom. In her free time, she loves running and is currently training for the Austin Marathon in February.

Kajal Chatha

TUTOR

Kajal is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in Informatics with a concentration in Human-Centered Data Science and a minor in English from The University of Texas. She hopes to pursue a career in technology, with a focus on product management and human-centered problem solving. In addition to tutoring, Kajal has experience working with children as a swim coach, where she enjoyed teaching young swimmers new skills and building their confidence.

Kajal loves tutoring because she values creating supportive, encouraging environments where students feel comfortable asking questions and excited to learn. In her free time, Kajal enjoys baking, exploring new coffee shops around Austin, and reading. A fun fact about her is that she has been swimming since she was nine years old and continues to swim with the Longhorn Swim Club.

Aiden Ortiz

TUTOR

Aiden is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in Finance at UT. In addition to tutoring, Aiden also has experience working with children through his time volunteering with SCORES, an after-school program that teaches essential life skills to children in underprivileged areas.

Aiden genuinely enjoys seeing others grow and succeed, which is what draws him to tutoring. In his free time, he enjoys going to the gym and learning about nutrition. A few fun facts about Aiden include that he used to competitively ballroom dance and is a massive soccer fan - especially of the English team Chelsea FC.

Deliann Montecillo

TUTOR

Deliann is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in Health and Society with a Pre-Health Professions Certificate at UT. In addition to tutoring, Deliann has experience working with children through her time at Launch Pediatric Therapy where she observed and assisted therapy sessions through play-based learning.

Deliann is passionate about working with children professionally & through volunteer opportunities and strives to help them learn and build their confidence. In her free time, she loves exploring coffee shops in Austin, watching sports games, and spending quality time with her friends and family.

Sarah Adams

TUTOR

Sarah is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Government with a minor in Social Work at UT. In addition to tutoring, Sarah has experience working with children from her time spent observing and studying child development at the UT Priscilla Pond Flawn Child and Family Laboratory.

Sarah is drawn to tutoring by her passion for working with children and her desire to help them build confidence and succeed academically. In her free time, she enjoys going on roadtrips, finding new plants for her apartment, and cooking with her roommates.

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