Our Champaign Math, Science, ACT, SAT & SSAT Tutors
Elizabeth Sotiropoulos
I'm the owner and one of the full-time tutors of Illini Tutoring. If you call or email Illini Tutoring, either as a current client or a prospective one, you'll likely talk to me first! I also work with my own limited number of students.
I have been tutoring since I was in high school. After I graduated from Centennial High School, I studied Molecular & Cellular Biology at the University of Illinois, and I graduated with distinction. As a student, I took many courses in biology, chemistry, physics, math, and more, along with completing senior research in the Gillette Clockworks Lab, where I studied the effect of light on the protein cascade that controls the internal clock of mice (in other words, how do mice regulate their eating and sleeping patterns when they live in darkness?) I was in both the Centennial marching band as a clarinetist and a drum major, and then the Marching Illini where I again played clarinet. I have a teaching certification in EFL. Education is my passion. In the Spring of 2017, I was the lead organizer for the March for Science: Champaign-Urbana. I don't just want to teach math and science - I want to be a leader in the movement for making math and science accessible to everyone.
I have 12 years of tutoring experience, 7 of which have been full-time tutoring. I've worked with several thousand students of all different ages, backgrounds, and academic abilities. In high school, I wasn't the student who knew all the answers right away. Math was never easy for me and I had to work pretty hard to do well in nearly every math course. I understand why so many students struggle in math, as well as science, and because of my own experience, I can relate to the frustration and anxiety many students feel when it comes to homework and tests.
I have always loved learning, and though I did pretty well in high school and college, I'll be the first to confess that learning in a classroom was very difficult for me. I always wanted to go at my own pace, which often meant finding subjects I was interested in and teaching myself. One of the ways I continuously strive to make Illini Tutoring better is to work with tutors myself -- I both manage our tutors and help them learn how to work with students even better, and I also continue learning new subjects on my own and work with tutors from different cities. This way, I never lose touch with what it's like to be a student.
I have been tutoring since I was in high school. After I graduated from Centennial High School, I studied Molecular & Cellular Biology at the University of Illinois, and I graduated with distinction. As a student, I took many courses in biology, chemistry, physics, math, and more, along with completing senior research in the Gillette Clockworks Lab, where I studied the effect of light on the protein cascade that controls the internal clock of mice (in other words, how do mice regulate their eating and sleeping patterns when they live in darkness?) I was in both the Centennial marching band as a clarinetist and a drum major, and then the Marching Illini where I again played clarinet. I have a teaching certification in EFL. Education is my passion. In the Spring of 2017, I was the lead organizer for the March for Science: Champaign-Urbana. I don't just want to teach math and science - I want to be a leader in the movement for making math and science accessible to everyone.
I have 12 years of tutoring experience, 7 of which have been full-time tutoring. I've worked with several thousand students of all different ages, backgrounds, and academic abilities. In high school, I wasn't the student who knew all the answers right away. Math was never easy for me and I had to work pretty hard to do well in nearly every math course. I understand why so many students struggle in math, as well as science, and because of my own experience, I can relate to the frustration and anxiety many students feel when it comes to homework and tests.
I have always loved learning, and though I did pretty well in high school and college, I'll be the first to confess that learning in a classroom was very difficult for me. I always wanted to go at my own pace, which often meant finding subjects I was interested in and teaching myself. One of the ways I continuously strive to make Illini Tutoring better is to work with tutors myself -- I both manage our tutors and help them learn how to work with students even better, and I also continue learning new subjects on my own and work with tutors from different cities. This way, I never lose touch with what it's like to be a student.
Elizabeth specializes in ACT, SAT, elementary math all the way through calculus I, high school physics, and high school chemistry. She started Illini Tutoring in August 2010.
Taso Sotiropoulos
I am the co-owner and a full-time tutor of Illini Tutoring. I am also the Test Prep director. I have been teaching privately for 7 years. I studied Chemistry and Music Composition at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign. I am also a certified EFL teacher.
I work primarily with students who are preparing for the ACT, SAT, and SSAT, and I also work with students who need help in their math classes. I really enjoy tutoring students for the ACT, SAT, and SSAT because these tests are a huge deal. How well a student does will determine where they'll go to college, what they'll major in, and ultimately, what career they'll have some day. Helping students with these high stakes tests is challenging and extremely rewarding. I love helping students find strategies that will work for them - my job is to help them reach their full potential.
I like running, watching and playing soccer, basketball, and a lot of other sports. I also play piano. I speak English, Greek and a little Spanish. My wife, Elizabeth, and I have two young children.
I think I have the best job in the world because I work with some of the best kids and young adults in the world. I always look forward to meeting new students.
I work primarily with students who are preparing for the ACT, SAT, and SSAT, and I also work with students who need help in their math classes. I really enjoy tutoring students for the ACT, SAT, and SSAT because these tests are a huge deal. How well a student does will determine where they'll go to college, what they'll major in, and ultimately, what career they'll have some day. Helping students with these high stakes tests is challenging and extremely rewarding. I love helping students find strategies that will work for them - my job is to help them reach their full potential.
I like running, watching and playing soccer, basketball, and a lot of other sports. I also play piano. I speak English, Greek and a little Spanish. My wife, Elizabeth, and I have two young children.
I think I have the best job in the world because I work with some of the best kids and young adults in the world. I always look forward to meeting new students.
Taso is our Test Prep Director. He also specializes in all levels of math through calculus II. He has been with Illini Tutoring since August 2011.
Brandon Heller
My desire has always been to help people see math and science in a new way. I can remember what it was like to struggle and not understand a concept, so I work to incorporate that viewpoint in all I do. Even in high school, I always found that helping in peer tutoring gave me a great deal of fulfillment. As an Eastern Illinois University student, I saw many different teaching techniques and was able to learn a great deal of what works and what doesn't in a classroom. When I student taught, I found myself always drawn to the students who didn't understand a concept, and I would help them approach it how they learn best. It was my goal to treat each student as an individual learner, one who brings their own strengths and goals to the table. Most recently, I completed my Master’s degree in Natural Science at Eastern Illinois and defended my thesis on echolocation this fall. This opportunity has afforded me contact with some of the best science teachers in the state and to see some of the newest techniques that have been developed. In my first two years of teaching, I have taught courses ranging from Chemistry, Earth Science, Physical Science, Zoology, and Physics.
To have the opportunity to work with students on a one on one basis is one of the best chances for me to help make a difference in how they view the material. My goal is to help them see the material in a way that is applicable to their lives and will persist in all that they do. I am not an advocate for rote memorization, feeling we serve students better by teaching them how to think critically and solve problems, rather than ask for rapid recitation.
Outside of teaching, I enjoy teaching marching band basics during the summer and martial arts. I have trained in the Isshin-ryu style of Okinawan martial arts for 6 years and love to work with our youth belts to learn self-defense and learn discipline skills that last throughout their lives. Most of all, in all I do I love to share my enthusiasm and passion.
To have the opportunity to work with students on a one on one basis is one of the best chances for me to help make a difference in how they view the material. My goal is to help them see the material in a way that is applicable to their lives and will persist in all that they do. I am not an advocate for rote memorization, feeling we serve students better by teaching them how to think critically and solve problems, rather than ask for rapid recitation.
Outside of teaching, I enjoy teaching marching band basics during the summer and martial arts. I have trained in the Isshin-ryu style of Okinawan martial arts for 6 years and love to work with our youth belts to learn self-defense and learn discipline skills that last throughout their lives. Most of all, in all I do I love to share my enthusiasm and passion.
Brandon is a certified physics teacher and he is our Academic Coaching Director. He specializes in all levels of math through calculus I, physics, high school chemistry, test anxiety, and study skills. He has been with Illini Tutoring since August 2013.
Sam Shaw
My passion for teaching and educating others goes as far back as I can remember. Throughout my years at school, I was always a student that others would approach if they did not understand a topic or wanted to know more about it. This was due to my patience and genuine desire to help them do better and improve themselves. This is how my relationship with many of my closest friends began.
While I knew that I wanted to be involved in helping others and making the future better, I entered the University of Illinois unsure of how to best do this. After a variety of experiences in both engineering and education, I decided that receiving my teaching certification would be the best way to allow me to help others in the future. My certification endorses me in all of the high school sciences: chemistry, physics, biology, earth science, and environmental science. I also have several years of experience working as a professional math tutor on material ranging from basic addition to calculus ll.
In my spare time, I enjoy playing soccer. I enjoy working as a team to accomplish our goals and watching the team grow over time as we improve both our individual skills and our ability to work with each other. I coach soccer in my free time as another way for me to help students live a balanced life and hopefully find something they can be passionate about.
I want to use my time here at Illini Tutoring to help students improve themselves in both the classroom and beyond. I believe that learning is a lifelong endeavor that rewards us as we turn every corner. I am excited to be able to work one on one with students in order to best address their needs and help them begin to see how awesome learning can be.
While I knew that I wanted to be involved in helping others and making the future better, I entered the University of Illinois unsure of how to best do this. After a variety of experiences in both engineering and education, I decided that receiving my teaching certification would be the best way to allow me to help others in the future. My certification endorses me in all of the high school sciences: chemistry, physics, biology, earth science, and environmental science. I also have several years of experience working as a professional math tutor on material ranging from basic addition to calculus ll.
In my spare time, I enjoy playing soccer. I enjoy working as a team to accomplish our goals and watching the team grow over time as we improve both our individual skills and our ability to work with each other. I coach soccer in my free time as another way for me to help students live a balanced life and hopefully find something they can be passionate about.
I want to use my time here at Illini Tutoring to help students improve themselves in both the classroom and beyond. I believe that learning is a lifelong endeavor that rewards us as we turn every corner. I am excited to be able to work one on one with students in order to best address their needs and help them begin to see how awesome learning can be.
Sam is a certified science teacher and he specializes in all levels of math through calculus II, physics, and high school chemistry. He has been with Illini Tutoring since May 2018.
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