Meet Our Team!
Directors
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Alyssa Kwon
Aya Sleilaty
Hi! My name is Alyssa Kwon and I am the President of Stepping Stone Tutoring. I am a senior in the STEM Magnet program at Montgomery Blair High School and have been a part of the Stepping Stone team for the past 2 years. I swim competitively year-round and I am a captain of the school swim team. I love reading, Sudoku, playing the clarinet, and anything with matcha. My favorite subjects are math and chemistry. From teaching swim lessons over the summer to helping my siblings with homework, I am very passionate about working with youth. I'm so excited to work with you all this year!
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Hi! I’m Aya, and I’m the Vice President of Stepping Stone Tutoring. I am a senior at Bethesda Chevy-Chase High School. I have a strong interest in science classes, such as biology and chemistry, and am hoping to pursue a career in medicine in the future! In addition to sciences, I have a passion for the arts and am currently taking a two-year art course at school. Outside of academics, I am a part of multiple clubs, leading two. I believe in fighting for what’s right and have been doing so through the Women’s Club, and the Middle Eastern and North African Student Union I have initiated. Some of my hobbies include reading books, watching movies, and painting. I am so excited to work with you all and help you in any way possible! ​
Benjamin Katz
Hi, I’m Ben Katz, Director of Operations at Stepping Stone. I’m a junior at Bethesda Chevy-Chase High School, where I’m a member of Varsity Track and the Speech Forensics Team. I’m in the IB program and my favorite classes include IB Physics, BC Calculus, and IB Anthropology. I love music and play guitar and piano. I enjoy playing basketball and working out with my friends at the gym. I volunteer at Nourishing Bethesda, supporting individuals in need. I am passionate about helping others achieve academic success and would look forward to the opportunity to help any student needing assistance in an academic area where they’re struggling or where someone just needs a little extra help.
Nethaka Jayatilake
Cindy Qiu
Hi! I’m Nethaka Jayatilake and I am the director of outreach. I’m a junior at Richard Montgomery High School. My favorite subjects include math and science, due to their vast connections to everyday situations. I have volunteered in assisting the elementary summer programs at MCPS and gained some experience teaching other students. I have participated in STEM events for the past 3 years and it has encouraged my passion for math and science. I have been studying Spanish for the past 3 years and I am continuing through high school. In my free time, I like programming, reading, and playing the piano. I have been playing piano for the past 6 years and it is a stress-relieving hobby of mine. My goal is to tutor students so that I could help them understand a subject as well as solidify my understanding of the subject as well. I hope to tutor you soon!
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Hello there! My name is Cindy Qiu and I am the Director of Media for Stepping Stone Tutoring. I am a senior at Walt Whitman High School and my favorite subjects are science and English. Outside of academics, I am passionate about the arts. I am president of the National Arts Honors Society at my school, which makes both murals for the school and portraits for underprivileged children across the globe through the Memory Project. In my free time, I enjoy rock climbing at the Rockville climbing gym and immersing myself in a captivating book (the Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkein is wonderful!). Helping others by sharing my knowledge has always been one of my most meaningful passions, so I am grateful to be part of the SST team where I can reach out and build the academic confidence of anyone who needs it. I am looking forward to working with everyone on the SST team and connecting with more students!
Advisory Board
2020-2022 Executive Directors
Sumin Choi
Tharindi Jayatilake
Hi! I’m Sumin, the founder and advisor for Stepping Stone Tutoring! I graduated from the STEM magnet program at Montgomery Blair High School and I currently attend the Vanderbilt University with a major in cell biology and genetics. In my free time, I enjoy crafting, golfing, and biking to chase sunsets. As the former President of SST, I’ve gained insight from various students, tutors, and staff and learned a lot about leading an organization. I hope to use my experience to help SST grow and reach more people in our community. I’m excited to continue my work with Stepping Stone and so grateful for our wonderful team!
Languages I Speak: English, Spanish, and Korean
Hey! I’m Tharindi Jayatilake. I'm an advisor for Stepping Stone and I graduated from the STEM magnet program at Montgomery Blair High School. I currently go to the University of Maryland - College Park. My favorite subjects include biology, journalism, and statistics. I have volunteered and taught students at the MCPS elementary-level summer program. I’m excited to use that experience to help grow Stepping Stone. I was the former Vice President of Stepping Stone Tutoring, and I really enjoyed the experience of running the organization and helping students grow. I look forward to continuing my work with Stepping Stone Tutoring!
Languages I Speak: English, Spanish
2022-2023 Executive Directors
Anushka Poddar
Hi, I'm Anushka! I'm the former President of Stepping Stone Tutoring and an alumnus of the STEM magnet program at Montgomery Blair High School. I am passionate about math and science and in the future, I hope to pursue a career in medicine. I've also been studying Spanish in school for the past 6 years and I love learning both the language and the culture. Outside of school, I enjoy listening to music, playing guitar, and doing Indian classical dance. I also volunteer at Howard University Hospital and serve as the captain of the Blair Debate Team, where I compete and mentor students in public speaking and debate. Through tutoring, I hope to build connections with students and help them grow in the subjects they are studying. I am very excited to meet and work with you all!
Languages I Speak: English and Spanish
Arnav Poddar
Hi! I’m Arnav, and I'm the former Vice President of Stepping Stone Tutoring. I am an alumnus of Montgomery Blair High School. I have a passion for STEM, specifically physics, computer science, and math. I am currently taking multivariable calculus and linear algebra, and am planning on taking the highest level of computer science courses offered at Blair next semester. Outside of academics, I am an active member of the school’s robotics team, in which I am project lead. In my first three years of high school, I was a participant on both the county and national level debate teams for Blair. In the future, I plan on studying computer science with an application in physics or astronomy. Some of my hobbies include guitar, frisbee, and biking. I’m very excited to be part of Stepping Stone, where I am able to help students learn more about what they are passionate about.
2023-2024 Executive Directors
Anannya Trehan
Hannah Choi
Hi! My name is Anannya Trehan and I was the president of Stepping Stone Tutoring for the 2023-2024 school year. I graduated from the STEM Magnet Program at Montgomery Blair High School and am currently a computer science major at the University of Maryland, College Park. In my free time, I enjoy reading, dancing, and playing piano. I learned a lot as the former president of SST and I’m excited to continue contributing to SST as an advisor. I can’t wait to work with you all!
Languages I Speak: English, Hindi
Hi! My name is Hannah Choi, and I was the former Vice President of Stepping Stone Tutoring. I graduated from Winston Churchill High School and am currently a political science major at the University of Pennsylvania. In my free time, I enjoy singing with the Penn Glee Club and my acapella group! Through Stepping Stone, I learned a lot about running an organizations and found a lot of joy in helping students grow.
Languages I Speak: English, Korean
Tutors
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Aarna Rastogi
Nina Krishnan
Hi! My name is Nina Krishnan, and I am a sophomore at Winston Churchill High School. My favorite classes are AP government, AP human geography, and studio art. Also, this is my second year as part of the Model UN team, where I have learned about public speaking and collaborating with others. I love to dance and currently work as a dance teacher with kids! Moreover, I like playing the piano and have been playing for nine years. I always enjoy helping people learn new topics, so I can’t wait to be a Stepping Stone Tutor this year!
Languages I speak: English
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Gideon Nohe
Hello! My name is Gideon Nohe and I am a junior at Winston Churchill High School. Outside of school, I enjoy basketball, football, paddleboarding, and band among others! I love music in general, and I am a 5th year percussionist and on the drumline. I also love all the ins and outs of history and am especially passionate about US History, my favorite subject! I love volunteering my time to help others and this year, I'm looking forward to being on the Stepping Stone Tutoring Team and providing as much support as I can!
Languages I speak: English
Kaitlin Wright
Hi! My name is Kaitlin and I’m a senior at Winston Churchill High School. My favorite subject is English and I love reading and writing. I also like Spanish and am taking AP Spanish currently! In the future, I plan to study psychology and become a therapist. I work as a camp counselor in the summer so I have a lot of experience with kids. In my free, time I like to bake, pet my dog, hang out with my friends, and watch TV with my sisters. I’m super excited to be a tutor for Stepping Stone!
Languages I speak: English
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Matthew Dai
Hello, my name is Matthew Dai. I am currently a sophomore at Northwest High School. I'm very interested in chemistry, despite only being in honors and just starting the class this school year, but I am planning to take AP chemistry next year. I love to stay home and rest, and to read a nice book while on the couch. Some of my hobbies include reading, browsing the internet, and learning more about chemistry.
Languages I speak: English, Chinese
Hello! I am Micaela Cubilla and I’m a sophomore at Walt Whitman high school. Outside of school, I partake in my schools robotics club! We design, build, test, and program one giant robot that can perform various tasks depending on the year’s challenge. Inside school, my favorite class is Intro to Design Engineering, in which we learn how to design, prototype and 3D model. I hope to apply the skills I learn here in my future career! As for now, I’ll be helping other students succeed in their academics. I’m so excited to be tutoring here at Stepping Stone!
Languages I speak: English
Micaela Cubilla
Hi! My name is Daniel Berhanu and I’m a freshman at Springbrook High School. My favorite subject is Math, but particularly Algebra I and Geometry. I am in the International Baccalaureate Program at SBHS.I like math because I dream of becoming an IT Expert when I grow up. I am part of a Math club at my school where we do cool things such as math games, and puzzles. My hobby is reading books and making math problems. I am very excited to be tutoring at Stepping Stone.
Languages I speak: English, Amharic
Daniel Berhanu
Sahana Parikh
Hi! I’m Sahana Parikh and I’m a junior in the Communications Arts Program at Montgomery Blair High School. My favorite subject is science; I’d like to work in sports medicine and nutrition and possibly become an educator. I play field hockey and lacrosse for my high school and soccer outside of school. I’m in Math Honors Society, French Honors Society, and multiple clubs and I’m a writer for the school newspaper, Silver Chips. I founded Blair Yoga & Mindfulness Club this year with my friend in hopes of improving the well-being of other Blair students and giving students a break from school stress. My passions include traveling, hiking, biking, yoga, and coaching. I’ve been teaching elementary and middle school girls field hockey for the past two years, which I really enjoy. I’ve also had experience working with kids at Nature Lab, a summer camp and aftercare program, where I’ve worked since I was a freshman. A fun fact about me is that my favorite food is pasta! When I was younger, I absolutely loved Annie’s Mac and Cheese but now it’s homemade pesto pasta. I’m excited to be a tutor so that I can help students who need that extra boost in school and help to level the education playing field. I'm so excited to be a Stepping Stone tutor!
Languages I speak: English, French
Alexander Rosenberg
Hi, I’m Alex Rosenberg. I am a junior at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School in the IB Program. I love all things science, history, math, and writing. In my free time, I like to spend time with family and friends, play the piano and saxophone, which I have been playing for most of my life, and ride my bike. I hope to become a doctor one day. I also love to play with and walk my dog, Buddy. I’m very excited to be tutoring here at Stepping Stone!
Languages I speak: English, Spanish (I am in my sixth year of studying it and can speak conversationally)
Corey Majewski
Hi! My name is Corey Majewski, and I am a Junior at Rockville High School in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (IBDP). My favorite subjects are English and History! I'm on my school's dance, softball, debate, and mock trial teams. Outside of school, I love reading, baking, and ice skating! In the future, I hope to work in the legal field, and plan to pursue this. I have previous experience in child care and have tutored for the National Honors Society, Science National Honors Society, Math Honors Society, and Spanish National Honors Society at my school. I am so excited to work with Stepping Stones this year, and I strongly believe the most exciting part of tutoring is watching students grow, improve, and learn.
Languages I speak: English
Qwyen Le
Hi, I’m Qwyen, and I’m a junior at Winston Churchill! My favorite subjects are computer science and statistics. In my free time, I enjoy creative writing, graphic designing, and listening to music. At my school, I’m currently the president of the Midnight Writers club, vice president of the Asian American Alliance club, and secretary of the Engineering Club. Additionally, I teach introductory Python and Java to students outside of school. Recently, I started my own nonprofit, cherielle, that empowers girls in computer science. As a tutor in SST, I’m looking forward to connecting with students!
Languages I speak: English
Grace Gedamke
Hi! My name is Grace and I am a junior at Albert Einstein High School! My favorite class is IB Psychology and I have hopes to major in Criminal Justice in the future. I am an avid writer, with poetry published in a few books, and a book lover! I am currently in my sixth year of Spanish classes, and I have dedicated much of my time to learning Spanish as I hope to continue it throughout my high school career. I work as a summer camp counselor for KAH, helping kids ages three to six! I run cross country and track, with distance being my speciality, and will often share my love for it with my peers! In my free time, I enjoy reading, running, writing, hiking, and watching Criminal Minds. I'm so grateful to have the opportunity to work with Stepping Stone and can't wait to support individuals not only as a tutor, but as a mentor and guide!
Languages I speak: English
June Leahy
Hi! I'm June and I'm a freshman at Damascus Highschool. My favorite subjects to learn and help others in has always been Math and English. Every Sunday I volunteer in the children's ministry at my church inside of the Kindergarten-1st grade room. I participate in the highest orchestra at my highschool, am a part of ASCYO (Academy of Saint Cecilia Youth Orchestra), and am also teaching a 2nd grader how to play the violin. I have a strong passion for traveling, and want to see more of the world every year, having already been to Turkey, India, and over 40 U.S. states. After highschool I plan to go to college to become a Pediatric ICU nurse. My goal while being with Stepping Stone Tutoring is to make sure each student is confident with the materials they are learning, and not feeling like they are being left behind.
Languages I speak: English
Brooklynn Rippee
Hi! My name is Brooklynn Rippee, and I’m a freshman at Damascus High School. My favorite subject in school is math. I am taking my first year of geometry this year. Outside of school I enjoy talking to my friends, coloring/painting, making different creations with small beads, and making bracelets. I have 3 pets, a dog and her name is Coco, a hamster and his name is Milo, and a bearded dragon and his name is Homie. I enjoy singing and I have been in chorus for 6 years. I love math because it’s one of the many subjects I understand the most. I love helping others and helping people with many different things. I am looking forwards to be on the Stepping Stones Tutoring Team and helping and giving as much support as I can.
Languages I speak: English
Nyomi Aboagye
Hi, my name is Nyomi Aboagye, and I’m a sophomore at Montgomery Blair High School. I have a strong interest in science, with biology being my favorite subject. In my free time, I enjoy baking and spending time with my twin sister.
I’m actively involved in HOSA, the Love Yourself Club, and Girls That Lift. Through the Love Yourself Club, I gained valuable experience teaching elementary school students, which sparked my passion for education. I strongly believe that everyone deserves access to quality learning opportunities, and I’m excited to contribute as a tutor at Stepping Stone.
Languages I speak: English
Viraj Bahade
Hi! My name is Viraj Bahade. I'm a junior at Winston Churchill High School. My favorite subjects are math and biology, because of their applications to the real world and the problem-solving skills involved. Outside of academics, I'm involved in Model Congress, Mock Trial, and HOSA, which helped me hone my public speaking skills and my passions for politics, activism, and biology. I love to read, write, and watch movies in my free time. My favorite types of books to read are classics and realistic fiction. With my various academic interests and passions, I hope my diverse knowledge can help you not only understand what you learn but genuinely enjoy and care about!
Languages I speak: English
Sifan Kabeta
Hello, my name is Sifan Kabeta and I am currently a junior at Gaithersburg High School. I am very excited to be a tutor with Stepping Stone Tutoring because I am very passionate about helping others and love to. My favorite class has to be math, specifically Algebra because I love the excitement of solving equations and figuring out what needs to be done next. Other than school, I love to play field hockey and am in many clubs such as Debate and the African Student Association. In my free time, I love to watch shows, especially K-dramas and comedy shows. I look forward to tutoring students and seeing them succeed.
Languages I speak: English and Oromo
Hi! My name is Sheylin and I am currently a freshman attending Watkins Mill High School. My favorite class is history but I’m very good at other subjects as well. I love to read, last year I read a total of 40 books and so far this year I have read 33 books! I am part of a leadership club at my school and am also part of John Hopkins Medical Exploration. I have 3 younger siblings and I often help my friends at school when they don’t understand a topic and do my best to be an understanding friend. I am so excited to be tutoring with Stepping Stone and will do my best to contribute to their goals!
Languages I speak: English, Spanish
Sheylin Alvarenga
Hi! I’m Courtlyn Pointer and I'm a junior at springbrook high school. My favorite subjects are anatomy and math. I’m also a part of my school's swim team and the events/calendar coordinator of the national english honor society. I love to read and I’m working towards hopefully becoming a neurosurgeon in the future! I’m super excited to be tutoring with Stepping Stone and hope to see you!
Languages I speak: English
Courtlyn Pointer
Grace Oguntomilde
Hi! I’m Grace Oguntomilade, a freshman at Thomas S. Wootton High School. My favorite classes are math and computer science because they become really fun when you understand them. Outside of school, I enjoy watching shows and listening to international music. I love helping others and am so excited to be tutoring at Stepping Stone. I look forward to making learning an enjoyable experience!
Languages I speak: English
Tolly Gershberg
Hi! My name is Tolly Gershberg, and I’m a sophomore at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School. My favorite subject is AP European History, but I enjoy chemistry and English as well. I’m also a student ambassador and plan to participate in a research fellowship for my school next year. I genuinely enjoy helping others, having volunteered for the National Center for Children and Families (NCCF) last summer. Outside of school I enjoy playing tennis, cooking, and spending time with my family and friends. I love both learning and volunteering and am so excited to be tutoring here at Stepping Stone!
Languages I speak: English
Hi! My name is Aarna Rastogi! I’m currently a senior at Thomas Wootton High School. I absolutely love science, especially astronomy, and like to think of myself as pretty good at math. I hope to go into an astrophysics career where I can follow through with my passion to explore the universe. I love to read, listen to music and play guitar in my free time, which I have recently begun learning. In the past, I have volunteered at a daycare and I like to think that I’m pretty good with kids. I’ve also volunteered at my old elementary school, so I suppose I’m pretty good with teaching!
Languages I speak: English, Hindi
Mahit Chekuri
Hello, My name is Mahit Chekuri and I am a sophomore at Thomas Wootton HS. Some of my hobbies include reading, coding, playing tennis, and watching anime. I am currently enrolled in AOIT, my school's official computer science program, and I’m going to join the school's AI club and competitive programming club this year. My favorite subjects are computer science, math, and french. I am extremely passionate about tutoring, and got every single one of my SSL hours from tutoring 6th graders at my school last year, which helped me gain a lot of experience in tutoring. I am very excited to help my students become proficient in the subject I teach them, and look forward to helping them grow academically. Can’t wait to tutor you all!
Languages I speak: English, Telugu
Suki Lin
Hi! My name is Suki Lin, and I’m a junior at Winston Churchill High School. My favorite subjects in school are math and science, and I am a member of Science Honor Society. In my free time, I enjoy playing volleyball, baking, and cooking. I am always excited to search for new hobbies and try new things. I also love listening to music and traveling. I am eager to work with other students, and I look forward to tutoring here with Stepping Stone.
Languages I speak: English, Chinese
Alyssa Wang
Hello! My name is Alyssa Wang and I am a junior at Thomas S. Wootton High School.A little bit about me is that I enjoy logic-based classes like math and programming! I am the secretary of our school’s French Honors Society, a part of the Principal’s Advisory Council, and hold leadership roles in multiple programming clubs because I have a deep passion for it! My favorite hobbies include reading because it feeds my imagination and playing with my dog. I have a lot of experience in tutoring and I’m very excited to be tutoring here at Stepping Stone!
Languages I speak: English, French, Chinese
Josephine Brunn Lake
Danica Huang
David Kim
Hi! My name is Danica and I am a junior at Winston Churchill High School. I am part of the school's DECA and soccer team, and orchestra. I specifically enjoy anything math-related, however, I also enjoy learning about business. A little about me is I love finding new books to read in my free time, and I coach 2-5-year-olds soccer. I have always loved helping others learn and understand better, so I am excited to tutor here at Stepping Stone Tutoring!
Languages I speak: English
Hi there, my name’s Josephine – but you can call me Jojo!
I’m currently a junior at Montgomery Blair High School.
I love all things science and enjoy learning whatever I can in my free time about the subject, right now I’m taking AP Physics C. Beyond that, I’m a large fan of video gaming, drawing, superheroes, and music! My current favorite game is Baldurs Gate 3!
I’m excited to tutor alongside Stepping Stone Tutoring, and can't wait to work with all my tutees!
Languages I speak: English
Hello! My name is David Kim, and I am currently a senior at Walter Johnson High School. My favorite subjects in school are Math and Computer Science. I love looking at complex Math and programming problems and figuring out how to solve them. In my free time, I usually look after my younger sister and my cat, hang out with my friends, and play video games. I'm passionate about teaching others and would be happy to help you learn and understand the subject areas you are struggling with!
Languages I speak: English, Russian
Skye Cushing
Mercedes Lorenzi
Evan Koblentz
Hi! My name is Mercedes Lorenzi and I am a junior at Albert Einstein High School. My favorite subject is art! Since freshman year I have been enrolled in a magnet program called VAC (Visual Arts Center) located at my school. We do all sorts of projects including, paintings, still lifes, and much more. Apart from art, spanish is my second language and I am currently taking an AP spanish course. I played volleyball my freshman and sophomore year, and I am in Key club, a club made to support the community! I love to work with kids, and people of all ages in general, specifically to help them with educational purposes or grow their personal interests! Thus, I am very excited to have the opportunity to be a tutor here at Stepping Stone!
Languages I speak: English
Hi! My name is Evan Koblentz, and I am currently a freshman at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School! Some of my favorite subjects in school include math and history. At BCC High School, I am a member of the Model United Nations team and the robotics team. In my free time, I like to play soccer, run, and build websites, and when I have time, I like to run workshops teaching kids how to build their own websites! I also enjoy watching my favorite football team, the San Francisco 49ers, and my favorite soccer team, Leeds United. I love to work with students to develop their skills, and I’m looking forward to helping people out at Stepping Stone Tutors!
Languages I speak: English
Hello! My name is Skye Cushing and I am a sophomore at Wootton High School. My favorite subjects are psychology and math! Outside of school I love playing field hockey and have been playing for six years, I also love to bake. In the past, I have tutored my friends and family and I am so excited to start tutoring with Stepping Stone!
Languages I speak: English
Macoura Niambele
Abhinav Majeti
Eric Zhang
Hi! My name is Abhinav Majeti, and I am a sophomore at Thomas S. Wootton High School. My favorite subject is physics because I enjoy understanding how the universe works through science. Outside of school, I am a Sergeant for the United States Air Force Auxiliary. In addition, I am a member of both the robotics and Science Bowl teams. I also teach math and physics, which has deepened my passion for helping others learn. In my free time, I enjoy playing the violin, designing engineering projects through CAD, and exploring aerospace concepts. I hope to study aerospace engineering in the future and work at NASA or SpaceX. I love working with kids and have experience tutoring them. Whether it's helping them with school subjects or encouraging their personal interests, I enjoy supporting them in reaching their goals. I am so excited to have the opportunity to tutor here at Stepping Stone!
Languages I speak: English, Telugu
Hi! My name is Macoura Niambele and I’m currently a junior at Paint Branch High School! My favorite subjects are Social studies and English. I’m a part of my schools’ newspaper and I love writing opinion pieces on topics that interest me! In the future I hope to be an investment banker as I also am quite passionate about STEM. I’m the media coordinator in my school's Women in Stem club and an active member in the social studies honors society. Outside of school, I enjoy reading romance novels, crocheting, binge watching tv shows, eating sushi and traveling! I am extremely excited to work with Stepping Stone as a tutor and I can’t wait to help students!
Languages I speak: English, French
Hello, my name is Eric Zhang. I am a senior at Clarksburg High School. My favorite subjects are mathematics, physics, and computer science, although I also enjoy learning other branches of science such as astronomy. One of my favorite high school courses is AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism because it taught the principles behind common electrical components such as capacitors. In addition to my school courses, I am the lead programmer of my school's robotics team and work on programming projects such as physics simulators. My greatest non-academic interest is the viola, which I have played for about eight years. I have always been obsessed with memorizing information and learning, and I often give more information than necessary. At SST, I want to share both my knowledge and passion with other people so that they may benefit from it.
Languages I speak: English and Mandarin Chinese.
Valeria Kiggundu
Emily Arriaza
Hannah Slivka
Hello, my name is Emily. I am a senior at Albert Einstein High School, and a dual enrollment student at Montgomery College, who intends to go there and then transfer to my preferred choice of University. I intend to pursue being a Neonatal Nurse, which has made me interested in helping younger kids than me. Which I look forward to gain experience and imply experience and knowledge through dual enrollment classes. My hobbies consist of reading, writing, listening to music, and walks. With Stepping Stone I hope to help as much as I can and make sure kids get the required help they need with my best support.
Languages I speak: English, Spanish
Hi! My name is Valeria Kiggundu, and I’m a college sophomore at Montgomery College while also finishing up my senior year at Thomas S. Wootton High School. I’m pursuing a degree in science, but for now, I’m just trying to survive high school! My favorite subjects are biology and mathematics, especially algebra and statistics. Outside of school, you’ll usually find me playing games like Fortnite, Sims 4, and Roblox (once my schoolwork is done, of course!). I’m also passionate about volunteer work and spend time helping out at Lakewood Elementary School.
Fun fact: I’m a digital content creator for Roblox, Sims 4, and Pinterest! I’ve played basketball for over five years, including two years on my school team and two years with a club. I’ve also been honored with the African American National Recognition Award from College Board, earned Dean’s List recognition at Montgomery College, and am a proud member of Phi Theta Kappa. I hope to one day become a doctor, specializing as either a cardiologist or a neurologist. I’m so excited to be tutoring here at Stepping Stone!
Languages I speak: English
Hi my name is Hannah Slivka. I am a senior at Thomas Wootton High School. One of my hobbies is singing! I am very excited to be tutoring here at Stepping Stone!
Languages I speak: English and French
Zixuan Zhao
Jemma Gruber
Jenna Sherman
Hi! My name is Jemma Gruber. I am a sophomore at John F. Kennedy High school in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program, Leadership Training Institute and Healthcare Professions Academy. I am the president of the Math National Honor Society, member of the Science National Honor Society, Model United Nations, and the Engineering team. I am very passionate about everything STEM related and I dream of working in the medical field! In my free time, I enjoy reading, biking, and drawing. I also have a second dan black belt in Taekwondo and work as an Assistant Instructor. I love teaching skills and helping others understand areas/subjects they’re struggling with! I can’t wait to tutor with Stepping Stone!
Languages I speak: English, Russian
Hey there! My name is Zixuan Zhao! (I know, I know — it’s a tough one to remember or pronounce! I’m actually thinking about getting an English name to make it easier. ) I’m a 10th-grade student at Walt Whitman High School, currently working through Honor Precalculus. Math is my strong suit — I absolutely love it and really enjoy helping others understand tricky concepts. There’s nothing more rewarding than seeing someone have that “aha!” moment. I also tutor my 6-year-old sister, which has definitely taught me a lot of patience (kids, right? ).
My English is still a work in progress, and sometimes I might not express myself perfectly, but I see tutoring as a chance for both of us to learn and grow together. I’m here to help with whatever subject you need, and I’ll do my best to make it fun and understandable. Helping others makes me really happy and helps me become more patient and understanding, and I’m excited to share that energy with you!
Languages I speak: Chinese, English
My name is Jenna Sherman. I am ecstatic to help others excel in their classes! I am a freshman at Damascus High School. My favorite subject is English. In my free time, I passion dance and geography. I love traveling, too. I look forward to tutoring students at Stepping Stone!
Languages I speak: English, Romanian
Hadley Pawlowski
Hi! My name is Hadley. I am a junior at Albert Einstein High school. I am currently working towards graduating with a Seal of Biliteracy Diploma, World Languages Medal and a certificate from the Visual & Performing Arts Academy. My favorite subjects are art, english and law. I am also a part of the Varsity Cheerleading team at Einstein. I love to hang and help out with the Special Education students at my school, they have inspired me to take Special Education into consideration as a future career. Outside of school, I like to do nails, go shopping, and hang out with my family & friends. I’m so excited to be tutoring here at Stepping Stone!
Languages I speak: English, Spanish
John Tyaba
Hello! My name is John Tyaba, and I'm currently a freshman enrolled at Sherwood High School. My favorite subjects in school are Math and English. Outside the classroom, I am an active athlete running Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field and Cross Country, and I am a part of my school's FCA. Hobbies I enjoy playing basketball and video games. Major accomplishments I have achieved in school include the Bronze Star level of Student Engagement award, scoring the highest grade in my whole middle school for the English progress Check, and being a Division III champion for Cross Country. I am very excited to be a part of the Stepping Stone Team.
Languages I speak: English
Pranav Aravindan
Hi! My name is Pranav Aravindan, and I’m a junior at Poolesville High School. I have a strong passion for technology, coding, and problem-solving. I’ve always loved math—not just in the classroom, but in the way it connects to problem-solving. Outside of STEM, music is a big part of my life! I love both listening to different genres and producing my own beats. When I’m not working on a project or exploring new tech, you can probably find me watching a movie or playing sports! I’m excited to share my knowledge and help others grow in their learning journey!
Languages I speak: English
Natanim Hailu
Hello! My name is Natanim Hailu, but you can call me Nini. I'm a sophomore at high school. My favorite subjects are Algebra and Biology. Outside of school, I love to skateboard and bake, especially yummy cookies. I love listening to music, my favorite artist is wave to earth! I also love to write stories and combine both my love of drawing and story-telling by creating comics! I spend most of my free time either playing games or watching shows, but I want to learn how to play the drums someday. I'm super excited to be tutoring here at Stepping Stone!
Languages I speak: English, Amharic
Nuhanim Michael
Hi! My name is Nuhamin Michael, and I am a sophomore at Montgomery Blair High School. My favorite classes are math and chemistry. I am passionate about STEM, especially computer science, and I want to become a software developer in the future. I have been on the field hockey team at my school for the past 2 years and ran track last year. Outside of class, I’m involved in a variety of clubs, including HOSA, Math Honors Society, Minority Scholars, Class Council, and the National Society of Black Engineers. In my free time, I enjoy baking, biking, spending time with my friends, and watching movies. I’m so excited to be tutoring here at Stepping Stone!
Languages I speak: English, Amharic
Karim Azour
Hey! My name is Karim Azour, and I’m a sophomore at the French International School. My favorite subjects are math, history, and chemistry. I love watching and analyzing sports like soccer, basketball, and F1. When I’m not following sports, I spend my time watching movies, starting a new game, or exploring different TV shows. I also enjoy biking to a park, finding a good spot on a bench, and listening to a new album. I’m so excited to be tutoring here at Stepping Stone and can’t wait to help students learn!
Languages I speak: French, English, Arabic
Hanny Eskender
Mahouli Agosse
Hi! My name is Mahouli Agosse, and I am a sophomore at Montgomery Blair High School. My favorite subjects are biology and math, and I’m passionate about STEM and learning how science connects to everyday life. I plan to pursue a career in the healthcare field where I can help others. I’m part of Minority Scholars, the National Society of Black Engineers, WiSTEM, Class Council, and MCR. Outside of class, I play volleyball and tennis, sing in my church choir, and volunteer in my community. I also enjoy dancing, staying organized, doing art, and spending time with my younger siblings. I’m so excited to be tutoring here at Stepping Stone!
Languages I speak: English, French, Adja
Helloooo! My name is Hanny Eskender and I’m a junior at Paint Branch High School. I love, love, love Psychology and usually spend my free time playing basketball with my friends and family. I hope to one day be involved in the legal system and study Criminology but for now, I want to focus on helping others learn and feel the same spark I do when learning too. That’s why I’m so excited to be a part of the Stepping Stone team this year!
Languages I speak: English
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Shakthi Girish
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Shekinah Ann
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Sinthia Reyes
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​Taata Otop
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Tolly Gershberg
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​​Ved Shewani
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Aaron Kong
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​Akayla Adkins
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Alyssa Morales
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Andrea Lopez Polanco
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Andrew Perera
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Aria Kimia
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Arjun Basu
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Armaan Chawla
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​Elena Alvarado
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​Eliel Torres Montano
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Eno Choi
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Eugene Guo
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Evelin Quintero Mendoza
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Hannah Sax
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Hayat Kezar
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Helen Gidey
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Hilina Solomon
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​Hoang Phuc Khang Nguyen
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​Ifeanyi-Makuochukwu Ike
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Isabel Tang
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Jacqueline Zarceno
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Janani Seneviratne
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Jayden Esperanza
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Jayden Yu​
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Jeffrey Huang
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​Joanne Manuzon
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Karim Azour
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​Maria Beltran
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Martha Haile
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Maya Allen Priest
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Natalie Marmelstein
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Nathaniel Fore
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Nicholas Bang
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Philip Shkeda
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​​Rachel Elcius
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​Raquelle David
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Rey Pundlik
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Sanjana Thalvayapati
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Sarah Rashid
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Scarla Maligaya