Meet the instructors:
All of our instructors are experts in the fields in which they teach! Like our clients, they are often students themselves, culled from top graduate programs in the area. Each instructor is hand-picked for their ability to convey complex concepts in a straightforward and easy to comprehend fashion. They are then given comprehensive training in our highly effective methodology. Most instructors are already actively involved as TAs, classroom teachers, and research assistants. They therefore relate to students very well. Here are their profiles...
Ian Young - Director and Instructor
Ian Young has worked with hundreds of secondary and university students to help them achieve their academic goals. A teacher and educator with nearly a decade of experience, Ian started The Learning Shack in 2002 after two years teaching SAT and GMAT Test Preparation classes at Princeton Review, where he recognized a pocket of opportunity for individual and small group work. Ian is currently completing a book on The New SAT, which should be available as both an electronic book and Learning Shack course book in winter 2009. A graduate of Corona del Mar High School, Mr. Young earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in American Literature (minor in chemistry) from the University of California, Los Angeles, and an MBA with a specialization in entrepreneurship and management from the University of Southern California. In his spare time, Ian enjoys playing guitar with his band ThinkTank, trading futures, outdoor adventures, reading, and traveling the world.
Jim Canary - Instructor
Jim Canary has tremendous experience as a teacher, manager, and student mentor. After graduating with a BS in Chemistry, Mr. Canary entered the aerospace industry, where he worked as an engineer. Several years later, Jim completed his MA in Educational Technology, initiating a long and successful teaching career at the junior high and high school level. A chemistry teacher and later head of the science department at Corona del Mar High School from 1980-2005, Jim Canary taught and mentored fortunate students and budding minds, such as Ian Young. Currently retired and living in Costa Mesa, Mr. Canary has been generous to offer his time and energy to improve the lives and grades of students in the sciences through The Learning Shack program. We are very pleased to have him!
Erin Bowen - Instructor
Erin Bowen graduated from Brigham Young University with a B.S. in Mathematics Education. During her studies at BYU she tutored several peers in various math classes and has experience teaching math on the Junior High level. In addition, she has prepared students for the SAT II Math subject tests with The Learning Shack for the last 2 years. Erin loves helping people understand math! When not teaching math, she spends her time being active by surfing, playing soccer (and any other sport!), or running.
Sophie Duong - Instructor
Sophie graduated from the University of California, Irvine with a B.A. in Criminology, Law, and Society and a minor in Biological Sciences. She is a research assistant at the UCI Child Development Center and has had much experience working with children with special needs. Sophie has a passion for teaching others as well as learning new things herself. She plans to pursue a career in medicine and eventually be able to teach it to others.
Kam - Instructor
With his Physics background, Kam enjoys teaching Physics and Math and has tutoring experience both at high school and college levels. He loves traveling to and discovering new exotic places and aims to improve his Spanish since he moved to Southern California. His dream of becoming a soccer star never came true, but he still gets to spend his Saturday afternoons on the soccer field when he can.
Adriana Hampton - Instructor
Adriana Hampton is a third year senior at the University of California, Irvine. She plans on graduating from the Campuswide Honors Program at UCI this coming summer with a major in Chemistry with American Chemical Society certification and a minor in Criminology, Law and Society. Her dream is to go to graduate school, earn a Masters or Ph.D. in Forensic Science, and one day work in a crime laboratory. She has previous tutoring experience in both professional and casual environments, in all subjects, and with students from preschool to high school. Her education has given her confidence and opportunities that she would not have had otherwise, and she hopes that she can build others knowledge to allow them to have the same confidence and opportunities. In her free time, Adriana loves playing softball, watching baseball, and doing arts and crafts.