Meet Our Tutors

Jennie Baker - They/ Them/ Any

Jennie is an educator with a passion for supporting writers, readers, and learners of all ages. They hold dual B.S. degrees in Secondary Education of English and Social Studies, as well as an M.A. in Literature. Before beginning graduate school, they taught both subjects to grades 7-12 in Michigan with a focus on literacy and writing across the curriculum. Currently, Jennie is an instructor of writing for the Program in Writing and Rhetoric at UW and working on a PhD in Literature and Culture. They research ways of making learning experiences more accessible and equitable for all students.

Jennie’s teaching philosophy is centered on student empowerment. They delight in helping students become flexible and confident readers, writers, and thinkers. They are experienced in teaching reading and writing strategies, test preparation, and habits of good writing for school, work, and life.

Jennie also tutors math through Middle School with our sister brand, Fusion Math, www.fusionmath.com

Melinda Lai - She/Her

Melinda is a former mechanical engineer with a strong background in building electrification and energy efficiency. She brings years of tutoring experience in math, physics, and STEM subjects, as well as test preparation for the SAT, ACT, SSAT, and ISEE in both Math and Reading/Writing. In addition to her STEM expertise, Melinda is proficient in both Spanish and Mandarin.

She has led university-level review sessions for groups of over 100 students, provided personalized one-on-one tutoring, and supported peers through various leadership and mentoring roles. Melinda’s approach centers on building confidence through clear, connected thinking—breaking complex problems into manageable, strategic steps.

Outside of tutoring, Melinda enjoys biking, playing New York Times mini games, and indulging in sweet treats.

Melinda also tutors math with our sister brand, Fusion Math, www.fusionmath.com

Margot Lavitt - She/Her

B.S. Microbial Biology (Honors), minor in Data Science, University of California, Berkeley, 2025

Margot received the IB Diploma from Ingraham High School and earned her BS at UC Berkeley, where she participated in research throughout her studies. She has always been fascinated by the natural world, and her scientific interest lies in understanding the ways microbes impact our lives and environment, using genetics and computer science for investigation. 

Margot has several years of teaching experience, tutoring Berkeley's Intro to Data Science class for undergraduates, supporting peers in their STEM classes, and coaching soccer for kids ages 5-13. Margot has always enjoyed working with kids; she spent the past year as an au pair in Paris, honing her French and teaching English. Her goal is to impart a passion for learning to her students and make STEM less intimidating. Her philosophy is to follow each student's thought process and guide them to build their critical thinking skills. She is available to tutor students of all ages in a range of topics: science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics), math (up to AP Calculus), Computer Science (up to AP CS), and French (all levels). She can also help with brainstorming, writing, and revising essays, lab reports, or creative pieces. 

In her free time, she loves watching and playing soccer, getting outside (hiking, running, skiing), practicing her French (reading, podcasts), and knitting.

Margot also tutors math and science with our sister brand, Fusion Math, www.fusionmath.com

Mary Douglass, MSW - She/ Her

Mary has B.A. in Human Biology/Psychology from Stanford University and an M.S.W. from Simmons School of Social Work. Mary has worked in various capacities in student counseling, psychological and career services at Harvard University, UCLA, UCSB, and Edmonds College. These experiences give her a wide breadth of knowledge in supporting students in the college and career development arenas.

For the last decade, Mary has been using her unique skill set to support students, including her own children, through the private high school and college admissions process, as well as internship and job applications. She particularly enjoys helping students identify and craft captivating personal statements and essays about topics they are passionate about. She believes the college search and application process offers a valuable opportunity for students to embark on a journey of self discovery that can be empowering and enjoyable.

Mary also understands and can break down the basics of financial aid programs and applications. She also enjoys supporting parents as they embrace their new role as the parents of emerging adults.

Dylan Medina, Ph.D. - He/ Him

Dylan earned his PhD in Language and Rhetoric from the University of Washington. He has has spent over a decade studying and teaching writing. His research focused on how people learn to write and how writing instruction can either support or hinder that learning. Dylan has taught writing at Western Washington University, the University of Washington, and Seattle University. In addition, he has tutored writers from grade school through high school. Dylan believes in meeting each student where they are. He helps students feel successful while giving them the framework and the tools they need to achieve their writing goals. Dylan is available for one to one tutoring in writing and also teaches special classes designed for High school students and tutors SAT, ACT, SSAT, ISEE, and any other standardized test prep and has also taught our SAT Camps taught through Fusion Math