Meet Our Team
Tutor Doctor South Tampa
Virgilia James
Tutor
My name is Virgilia James. I am a veteran teacher with twenty-seven years of experience, with a Master’s degree in Education. I have taught all grades at both the elementary and high school levels. For the past seven years, I taught Chemistry to grades 9 through 12 and Biology to grades 9 to 11. I have also taught Integrated or General Science at both levels.
I am passionate about teaching as I believe that every child can learn. My job as a teacher is to give students the necessary tools and accommodations to facilitate their learning styles and to help them reach their full potential.
I am originally from the Caribbean, St. Lucia to be exact. I am a mom of two as well as a grand-mom to two adorable grandkids. For me learning never stops and so, currently, I am pursuing an accelerated Nursing degree because of my love for Science. I love traveling especially back to my home country to visit family and friends.
I look forward to making a positive impact on your child’s learning growth.
Sandy Martin
In 2003, I earned my Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees in Learning Disabled/Emotionally Disturbed from Florida State University. I was an ESE teacher for five years in Hillsborough County and taught in a homeschool co-op as well. I have been tutoring for 18 years. Working one-on-one with students and seeing them flourish is the reason I love being a teacher! My favorite pastime is spending time at the beach with my husband and three kids as well as watching FSU sports!
Indra Valdez
I have been working closely with students and families for the past six years. My background is mainly in early childhood development, although I have had the pleasure of supporting both K-12 and college students for the past four years in English and test prep. I am a recent graduate from the University of South Florida and proudly hold a BA in English. My concentration at USF was Professional and Technical Writing, and I am well-versed in reading comprehension, writing, and grammar. I am also a native Spanish speaker and hold a special interest in history, current events, travel, and language learning. I look forward to working with and supporting your family’s academic needs!
Peter Kanjorski
A native English speaker with a degree in English and Political Science and two TEFL certificates, I’ve been teaching English to beginning and advanced students since 2012. I also score the speaking sections of the TOEFL iBT and TOEIC exams and have prepared many students to take the TOEFL as well as other international English exams. I’ve taught thousands of hours of English to scores of students over the past nine years and consider myself an expert in the field. Some of my students have been with me for five years or more and have become like family. I enjoy watching their development and helping them achieve their goals.
Robbin Jones
Robbin Jones received her degree in Secondary Education and English from Guilford College in Greensboro, NC, and a master’s degree in Instruction and Curriculum from Columbia College in Columbia, South Carolina. She has worked with students of all levels – from remedial needs through advanced placement and honors – in both regular educational settings as well as in environments for students struggling academically or with behaviors that stand in their way of learning. Robbin believes all students can be motivated to enjoy and be successful in learning – most just haven’t found the right road map to get there. She prides herself on helping learners develop and stay on a path to success by finding the tools that work for each student.
Karin Parman
My name is Karin Anez Parman and I am originally from Bolivia, South America. My native language is Spanish but I am also fluent in Portuguese and conversant in Italian. With more than 20 years teaching students of all ages and helping each child progress in all areas of their development- academic, social, language, and motor- this is a challenge that I am honored to accept daily. I strive to create a community of learners that nurtures this growth in a positive, fun environment.
I have been happily married for 25 years and I have a fantastic 24-year-old daughter who is currently in Tel Aviv, Israel finishing a Master’s Degree.
Derek Dunston
Derek Dunston has spent many years of his life focused on creating safe and fun learning environments. While earning his Associate of Arts in general studies and substitute teaching certificate, Derek worked as a party entertainer for all ages, performing a plethora of services for children’s events, while also substitute teaching throughout Broward County Public Schools for three years. He continued to complete his Bachelor of Applied Science in the education of mathematics grades 5-9 in the Broward College Teacher’s Education Program, requiring over 100 hours of field experience/observation and a short-term internship in public K12 classrooms throughout Broward County. Derek has also passed all requirements by the Florida Department of Education to earn his professional teaching certificate. Derek has experience in developing curricula for diverse learners and embraces the cultures and subcultures of his students to inspire an intrinsic passion for learning real-world skills for real-world problems. He is currently near completion of a Master of Science in leadership, and is driven to provide equitable, quality services for every student, no matter the obstacle.
Noelvis Venereo
I was born and raised on the beautiful island of Cuba, I finished university in Cuba and graduated with a Law degree from the University of Havana. In 1998, The same year I left my country and moved to the city of Montreal, QC, Canada. I spent over 8 years there and am a proud Canadian citizen as well as an American one. Montreal allowed me to study and learn French, a language that I considered full of beauty. In 2004 I relocated to the vibrant city of Miami where spent 14 years. I work as a paralegal and also with the State of Florida with the access program. This program helps people to become eligible to obtain Public State Benefits. I have two beautiful children Sebastian, who is 13, and Sofia, who is 8, my husband Frank, and both my parents. We have a beautiful family who is always ready to give support and love. In 2018 we sold our house in Miami and went back to Canada for 16 months as my husband had a work contract. My children were able to attend school in French and English, enjoy the long Canadian winter, and learn a lot through different cultural exchanges. In 2019, we purchased a beautiful house in the Brandon area and we are settled here. I will be delighted to provide my experience and knowledge to help children and young adults in their educational journeys. I was very lucky to have it for free, all the way to the University level, but I do value all parents’ efforts to get their children’s education, and the costs incurred.
My goal is to make sure that with love and understanding, we create the foundation to solidify that knowledge and that we prepare them for the years ahead. Education is an amazingly valuable asset and cannot be taken away from us.
Ved Muthusamy
I can help students with my recent experience taking and excelling in advanced courses. I understand the difficulties and stresses from a student’s point of view. I also know which material is covered in the AP exams. I can then tell my students which material is important to study and which details are irrelevant. I can show them high-yield questions and skills tested by the remodeling of the AP exams. Also, I can help students with the prerequisite skills and courses(elementary, middle, and on-level high school) with minimal difficulty. I understand the flawed mindset of several students, prioritizing memorization over application, and can work to eliminate this mindset and apply academic skills to novel problems and projects. I have achieved a high SAT score and can apply proven techniques to boost other students’ scores. When not studying for school, I enjoy competing in geography, Model UN, and QuizBowl contests. I have won national and international awards in these activities. I also enjoy following and volunteering in politics. Finally, I love watching sports and listening to music.
Josiah Leonard
I am thrilled to serve your student as a tutor! This aspect of serving others has always been a passion of mine. I received my bachelor’s degree in foreign policy, with a minor in Arabic and political science, in 2019. Immediately following this, I began to pursue my MPA. During this pursuit, I obtained my TESOL Advanced Certification from the American TESOL Institute in Tampa. This qualification has helped me tremendously as I teach English to speakers of other languages – child learners and adult learners alike. I have enjoyed the blessing of traveling internationally throughout my life, experiencing the Middle East, Africa, and Europe. These traveling experiences have ignited within me the passion to learn as many aspects of other cultures and languages as possible. I am excited to continue this endeavor by partnering with Tutor Doctor.
Ali Bishop
I recently graduated from Florida International University studying Electrical Engineering. I studied math at Hillsborough Community College and earned my Associate’s in 2020. I have been tutoring for a combined 6 years, on and off. I specialize in math and science, but also enjoy reading and writing. My experience ranges from elementary to college level. I consider myself a very engaging and interactive tutor. My goal is to always make my students feel comfortable in the areas they don’t believe they’re “good” in. I use unique and fun ways to reinforce and build on the learning subject. I also try to connect with my students to figure out the best way to learn together.
Sarah Abitbol
I have been an ESL teacher for over 13 years. I have taught students from all over the world and of all ages. I have a BA in Psychology and a Masters Degree as an ESL Teacher. My interest in languages started when I was a young child. I grew up in a bilingual home and wondered what was the process that led to learning a new language. Presently, I speak fluently English, Spanish, and intermediate-level French.
Some of my interests are traveling, learning about new cultures, sports such as weight training and tennis, cooking, animals, nature, and meeting new people.
My teaching style is student-centered. Always being patient, kind, and supportive to my students. I encourage my students to reach their goals. Their success is my success too.
Jessica Rodriguez
I obtained my Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology in 2015 via the University of Phoenix and currently completing my Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling at Capella University, expecting to graduate Summer of 2022. Many of my previous and current positions have involved me working with children from Pre-K through 12th grade in teaching and case management services. I have extensive experience working with children of all personalities and learning abilities, including my children. I am excited to be able to teach your child in the future. Please feel free to ask me questions that I have not covered here.
Kristi Chatham
I’m a High school Algebra 2 teacher who has a BS and MA in Education from the University of Alabama, as well as 10 years of tutoring experience. I was a graduate research assistant in the Education department at the University of Alabama for 2 years. I have a passion for tutoring and helping students succeed and find learning fun! Math and SAT/ACT prep are my specialties. My students say that I have brought them back to enjoying math again and that’s my favorite part of working with students!
Carrie Chernov
I have worked for many years as both a lawyer and as a public and private school and college-level teacher. I love tutoring and breaking difficult material down into easily accessible steps and parts. I have taught law courses at the college level and also taught varied levels (from elementary to high school) of English, U.S. History, Social Studies, Economics, Biology, Spanish, and English to Speakers of Other Languages. As a former teacher, I held highly qualified licenses in almost all of the subject matters mentioned above. I am adept and love teaching reading and decoding to any age student. Moreover, I greatly enjoy tutoring students who are taking standardized tests including the LSAT or Multistate Bar Exam.
I graduated Magna Cum Laude from Brown University and also hold both a Juris Doctor in Law from New York University and a Master of Law from Georgetown University. I obtained my professional teaching license from American University.
As an attorney, I have worked in the areas of civil litigation, environmental law, natural resources law, and estate planning. I also served as an American Attorney of Counsel to an Argentine law firm; served a fellowship at the United States Agency for International Development; and worked as Counsel for the Subcommittee on Environment, Science Committee, at the United States House of Representatives.
Joe Wodjenski
Hi, my name is Joe Wodjenski. I graduated from the University of New England in 2005 with a Bachelor’s in Science in Marine Biology and Psychobiology. My love and fascination with marine science started as a small boy watching Jacques Cousteau’s TV show that featured what most of the world had never seen before, an underwater film of marine animals. I was already an animal lover by then, we had cats and dogs at home. I kept reptiles for pets that I caught in the wild and then released at the end of the summer hoping to catch them again the following year so I could play with them, feed them, and let them go again. During my 1st year at UNE, I signed on for an internship aboard Cape Anne Whale Watch out of Gloucester MA. This is where I gained experience teaching children about the wonders of the Ocean. On our way out to and from seeing the whales, I walked around with hands-on teaching tools and talked to the whale watchers about the whales, Stellwagen Bank, and why there was so much wildlife in that area. Since then, I’ve taught in many capacities including bringing a live touch tank to my daughter’s classroom for a day each year from kindergarten to 6th grade. I also conducted career day and At-Sea Safety training yearly for my department while working as a marine biologist for the state of Maine.
I’m presently married with a daughter in 8th grade. We live in Brandon, FL. My wife is a full-time registered nurse. We have a dog and two cats. My full-time job now is solar sales. I’m a total science geek and love helping people understand science, its many fascinating wonders, and its working methods.
Malik Tunc
Hello, I am Malik! I was born in Turkey, raised in France, and came to America to pursue my higher education while continuing to play basketball. Therefore, I speak English, French, and Turkish fluently. I enjoyed my student-athlete experience, but I am now fully focused on academics. I received my B.S. in biochemistry from The University of Tampa, accredited by the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. I had the chance to be a lab mentor and tutor for biochemistry labs and classes, which I enjoyed. I have a passion for science, and I believe that sharing knowledge is the best way to contribute to the well-being of the community.
Alex Taborn
I’m Alex! I graduated from the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee with a bachelor’s degree in Criminology and a Minor in Sociology. In college, I realized the classes I enjoyed the most weren’t necessarily the subjects I was most interested in. Rather, it was the professors who made learning enjoyable and comprehensible when teaching the material. I try to bring this example to my tutoring approach and do everything I can to make learning a fun and engaging experience. I have 2 years of tutoring experience in grades 1st- 5th. I nannied throughout college and a common responsibility was assisting the children with their schoolwork, going over homework questions and assignments, and helping the children study for school tests. I have also completed a Child Development course, which I truly enjoyed. During the course, I created and taught lesson plans that were composed of material for Pre-K and Kindergarten-aged children.
I am easy to reach and will always provide fast responses.
Mika Richardson
I graduated from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN with a B.A. in Psychology in Spanish. I then traveled in South America for about a year before attending law school in Tucson, AZ where I received my J.D. from the University of Arizona in May 2015. I graduated summa cum laude and was able to secure a judicial clerkship with the Arizona Supreme Court. After that, I worked briefly at a top-tier law firm before moving to Europe and becoming a data privacy expert and a legal consultant for tech companies. All the while, I remained very active with tutoring. I have been tutoring for over a decade now! A large part of my success academically has been the product of great tutors and mentors along the way, so I am excited about the opportunity to tutor in a broad range of subjects. When I’m not working, I’m busy traveling and watching sports. I’m also a bit of an extreme sports fanatic – surfing, cliff diving, etc.. I look forward to working with you (or your child) to help you achieve your academic goals!
Tonya Sharper
I have a diverse educational background which includes four degrees. My educational experience has been working with students of all ages and stages of their lives. It also includes working for Hillsborough County Schools and teaching at two different charter schools. Working as an educator for the past five years has been incredibly rewarding. I love working with students on a day-to-day basis. Seeing the light in my students’ eyes when they “get it” is such a joy! When I am not teaching, I enjoy spending time with my family which includes my 3 dogs. I also enjoy reading, riding my bike, and painting. I always say, “A job is not a job when you do what you love and love what you do.” That is how I feel about my work with students and in the education field. It’s a true passion!
Abigail Cruz
I graduated in 2018 with my bachelor’s degree in Science, majoring in Community Health from Florida Gulf Coast University. I am currently going back to Hillsborough Community College to take my prerequisites, so I can receive my Doctorate in Physical Therapy. I have been tutoring for about 3 years. I have tutored different subjects such as Reading, Chemistry (8th grade), History (8th grade), English (8th grade), Spelling, Math/Algebra (Elementary/Middle School Level), and Anatomy & Physiology. I enjoy helping children learn, excel, and gain the confidence they need to succeed. Currently, I work with children on the autism spectrum, so I teach from 8 am-5 pm, and I love it. I follow programs and provide a fun environment for my students. Some of the programs I use allow me to be very creative and I can make the work fun and engaging for the students. I teach things from potty training all the way to math in the work I do. I have students with high-end behaviors to non-verbal learning such as gestures like clapping and high-5s. I love teaching and hope to continue to help children become who they are destined to be. Since I have experience working with all ages and all types of different learning styles, I am very patient. I understand kids will always be kids, so why not make our time together really special and fun?