Hi! My name is Alicia.

I believe students are not born good or bad at English.

Reading, thinking, and writing are learned skills that develop over time through curiosity, practice, thoughtful feedback, and the willingness to try again. That is how learning works. My role as an educator is not to provide students with all the answers, but to help them develop the habits, strategies, and confidence to discover answers for themselves.

For me, English has always been about much more than reading books or writing essays. Literature invites us to wrestle with uncertainty, encounter perspectives different from our own, and ask meaningful questions about ourselves and the world around us. The task of meaning-making lies with each reader, and I believe that process has the power to develop not only stronger readers and writers, but more thoughtful, empathetic, and intellectually independent people.

That belief shapes every coaching relationship. Whether we're preparing for Honors or AP English coursework, strengthening analytical writing, navigating summer reading, developing stronger planning, organization, and study skills, or crafting college application essays, my goal remains the same: to create a learning environment where students feel challenged, supported, and capable of tackling difficult ideas. I ask a lot of questions. I give detailed feedback. I encourage students to revise their thinking as often as they revise their writing.

I currently teach high school English at one of New York City's leading independent schools and am entering my eighth year in the classroom. I hold a B.A. in English and African American Studies from UMass Amherst and an M.Ed. from Harvard University.

If there is one lesson I hope students carry with them long after they leave my classroom, it is that every student deserves the opportunity to try. 

You won't be successful every time, and you won't fail every time. But if you continue asking thoughtful questions, engaging deeply with ideas, and remaining willing to revise your thinking, you will continue to learn.

Above all, I want students to leave our sessions knowing not just what to think about a text, but how to think.

I hope we can connect soon and partner together to help your student achieve their goals!