Sara Miller
In her 14 years as an educator, Sara Miller has worked with a diversity of learners across a wide range of age groups and ability levels. After earning her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Illinois Wesleyan University in 2006, Mrs. Miller started her career as a fourth-grade classroom teacher in a public school just outside of the city of Chicago. She served in that school district for another two years as a Gifted Reading teacher to fourth- and fifth-grade students. During the summers, she was an instructor and program assistant for Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth.
After earning her Master’s Degree in Reading and Specialized Instruction from DePaul University in 2011, Mrs. Miller moved to Maryland, where she was a middle school teacher at a private school for students with learning differences. While there, she took on an additional role as the school’s Technology Integration Specialist and served as the instructor for two summer courses-- Executive Function and Writing--for middle and high school students.
Mrs. Miller has worked as an educational consultant for the MathWorks Company, providing professional development workshops and classroom observational feedback to middle school math teachers. Additionally, Mrs. Miller has presented at research conferences on the topics of Multicultural Children’s Literature, Technology Applications for Differentiation, and Engaging Reluctant readers.
Mrs. Miller is a lifelong learner and passionate educator, who enjoys spending time with her husband, three children, and puppy, Edgar.
Leigh Baker
Leigh Baker is a six-year veteran teacher. A Maryland Certified teacher in special education and reading with a post-graduate certificate in dyslexia, she has worked with students from pre-k to middle school with a variety of abilities. Leigh has a passion for teaching, building relationships, and making learning fun & relevant.
Mrs. Baker started her teaching career in 2015, in Indiana as a middle school life-skills teacher, while pursuing her Masters in Special Education. Upon earning her degree and moving back to Maryland in 2017, Mrs. Baker began working as an elementary special education teacher within AACPS. It was there that she developed a passion for reading instruction and pursued her Reading Teacher certification, as well as a post graduate certificate in dyslexia. A lifelong learner, Leigh just completed four units of the LETRS professional development focused on literacy instruction.
Mrs. Baker employs a student centered, multi-sensory, approach to learning. She believes in making learning fun, engaging, and meaningful.
Leigh and her husband welcomed a baby girl in June 2021. Leigh is excited to continue working with students through Severna Park tutoring, while being home with her daughter full time.
Sharon Misek
Sharon Misek is an 18-year veteran teacher in Anne Arundel County Public Schools. Continuing her education has been a priority. She is currently a National Board Certified Teacher in the area of Early Childhood and holds a masters degree in curriculum and instruction from McDaniel College.
After earning her degree in psychology and her teaching certificate in early childhood education from UMBC, Mrs. Misek began her teaching career in elementary school in AACPS. She taught grades Kindergarten-3rd for 12 years. Currently, she is a certified Literacy Teacher. She has worked with kids from Pre-K to 5th grade, growing their phonics, reading, and writing skills through specialized instruction. She has a passion for teaching, especially reading, and incorporating play into learning. She is trained in Wilson programs as well as other literacy interventions. She has also begun the training courses for The Science of Reading.
Mrs. Misek believes that students learn best when they are actively engaged in their own learning. She sets high expectations for every child and will create engaging plans for them to meet all of their goals. Making reading fun and relevant is what she aims to do best!
Mrs. Misek and her husband have 2 daughters, a son in elementary school as well as two dogs and two cats. She is looking forward to working with your child!
Kayla Smith
Kayla Smith brings eight years of teaching experience and a passion for literacy to her role as a tutor. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of Maryland in 2017 and began her career teaching 3rd grade at a charter school in Annapolis, MD. She later taught 1st grade in Baltimore County and currently teaches 2nd grade in Severna Park, MD.
Her experience working with a diverse group of learners has honed her ability to meet the unique needs of each child she teaches. In 2023, Mrs. Smith earned her Master’s degree in Reading Specialization from Goucher College and became a certified reading teacher. She is passionate about helping children develop strong literacy skills and fostering a lifelong love of reading. Her professional development in the Science of Reading informs her evidence-based approach, ensuring her students receive the highest quality instruction tailored to their individual needs.
When she’s not teaching, Mrs. Smith enjoys spending time with her husband, their baby daughter, and their golden retriever, Ollie. She is thrilled to be part of a team dedicated to helping students succeed and looks forward to empowering your child to reach their full potential.
Paige Thumel
Paige Thumel graduated summa cum laude, as a mathematics major from the University of Mary Washington, in 2016. She completed her Master of Science in Elementary Education in 2017 and holds a certificate in education grades 1-6 and a certificate in mathematics grades 7-12. She is currently working on her National Board Certification.
She began her teaching career at the Monarch Academy in Annapolis as a third grade teacher. She was honored as a Children’s Guild “Monarch Award” recipient for leadership, dedication, and determination. As a sixth year, third grade teacher, now teaching at Oak Hill Elementary School, she has a vast range of teaching experiences with ELL, special education, and gifted students, teaching in person, virtual, and hybrid.
Ms. Thumel enjoys supporting the students and families in the community through her role as an educator, as the Severna Park High School girls lacrosse JV assistant coach, and by tutoring learners towards academic growth and success.
In her spare time, she enjoys mountain biking and traveling with her husband and Australian Shepherd, Kiwi.
Mary Catherine
Mary Catherine brings nearly a decade of elementary and middle school teaching experience to her work at SP Tutor. After graduating from Vanderbilt University with a degree in elementary education, she began teaching in the Nashville Public Schools. In 2016, she earned a master’s degree in urban education, also from Vanderbilt.
A passionate advocate for all learners, Mary Catherine believes that language and literacy are foundational to an educational experience that sets a child up to pursue his or her own individual interests and path to success. As part of her commitment to that work, she served as a member of the Tennessee Education Literacy Council.
Since moving to Maryland, Mary Catherine has pivoted from classroom work to a full-time position in educational technology. She is proud to be a part of the SP Tutor team, where she has the opportunity to continue her work with individual learners, assisting them in gaining the confidence and skills to be engaged and successful students.
In her spare time, Mary Catherine enjoys spending time with her husband, her extended family, and her two rescue pets. She is an avid football and Navy athletics fan and a proud sponsor of a Midshipman.
Alexa Edwards
Alexa Edwards is a 2018 Towson University graduate with a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education. She is completing her Master's program at Goucher College and will graduate in the Spring of 2024 with a MSDE certification as a reading specialist.
After graduating from Towson University, Ms. Edwards worked for Baltimore County Public Schools, then moved to Anne Arundel County where she has been with AACPS for the past 5 years. Ms. Edwards is a fourth-grade teacher, has a wide range of students in her classroom, and teaches all subjects. Ms. Edwards is the head of the Gifted and Talented program for math and reading at her school and works with a variety of students including ELL and special education students.
Ms. Edwards has a long history with working with children, beginning with working in a special education program at Kennedy Krieger while a freshman in college. Also, during her college years, she interned and volunteered with K-8 teachers, and at private, charter, ELL, and Title I schools. Before coming to Severna Park Tutoring & Educational Advocacy, she was a private tutor for students ranging in age from pre-k to 9th grade. Ms. Edwards is also a part of a tutoring program at her elementary school for students that are reading below grade level.
In her free time, Alexa loves to cook, bake, and spend time with family and friends.
Diane Schulkowski
Diane Schulkowski has been teaching for 14 years and substitute teaching for 10 years. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science with a minor in mathematics from University of Maryland. She has enjoyed teaching students of all ages but prefers the middle school and early high school students.
Ms. Schulkowski began her career as a software engineer for 7 years split between CAE and Motorola. She then started a family and wanted to work part time. She began her teaching career as an adjunct instructor with AACC teaching C programming for adult workforce development. As her two daughters began full time in the AACPS school system, she decided to substitute teach within that school system. Once these daughters were in college, she decided to teach math full time. She first taught one year of math in high school and then most recently middle school math grades 5, 6, Pre-Algebra and Algebra 1.
Ms. Schulkowski enjoys finding creative ways to help students make sense of mathematical structures and its application within our everyday world. She has also enjoyed leading a Rubik’s Cube club where students could learn to solve a variety of cubes.
Ms. Schulkowski enjoys hiking and singing in her free time when not cuddling with her newly adopted fur sister dogs.
Barbi Chapman
Mrs. Chapman started her teaching career over 20 years ago in Long Island, NY after earning her Master’s Degree in Special Education. She is a National Board Certified Teacher with a Lifespan Certification.
She moved to Maryland in 1996 and began teaching Elementary Special Education in Prince George’s County. As a military spouse she has moved 12 times earning multiple state licenses. She has enjoyed teaching everything from Pre-k to 12th grade among her many moves. She has served in the public and private school settings, served as a liaison between the public school districts and home-schooling co-ops, been hired to turn around underperforming classrooms and most recently served as an Individual Education Plan (IEP) Specialist with Maryland State Department of Education.
Mrs. Chapman enjoys catering instruction to each child’s learning style and communicating with parents to partner for success not only in the classroom, but for the child as a whole. She enjoys seeing how valuable one-on-one teaching is to a child’s learning growth.
Mrs. Chapman and her husband have two daughters in college and a son in high school. They enjoy playing sports, traveling and playing board games.
What People Are Saying
“Mrs. Miller inspires my kids in a way that no teacher has before. They recall what she says, and they are motivated to continue learning.”
— Bethany, Parent
“Mrs. Sara is the best teacher I’ve ever had. She just gets me.”
— Jace, age 8
“I didn’t like reading before, but now I love it and it’s fun!”
— Maren, age 5
“My son LOVES attending Book Club. He cannot stop talking about everything he learns and how much fun he has.”
— Erin, Parent
