Dr. Laurie E. Westphal, Private Tutor
Building student confidence and academic relationships for over 12 years and over 200 students (including siblings)!
Get consistent help from start to finish, rather than just in emergencies!
Specializing in Grades 3 - 12!
Schedule a Tutoring Session today!
Send a Text: 281-610-0347
I'm a Michigan Girl at Heart!
Born and raised in a small town in northern Michigan, I found my way to Houston via Mexico and Brasil. I taught science and math in secondary classrooms for 15 years before striking out on my own - not because I no longer enjoyed the students - but because various districts started to hear about what I was doing and started requesting that I come and conduct trainings for their teachers on successful teaching strategies.
Although I hated to leave "my kids," it would not be fair to have them receive instruction primarily through substitutes more and more often; I also figured that if I worked with 100 teachers who worked with 150 students in day, I could potentially impact 1500 students. I had to do it.
I started tutoring 2000, while I was in the classroom and have kept up with it even now, so I can still see real results and the impact instruction can have on students. It is why I became a teacher.
Certifications:
2002 Texas Professional Teaching Certificate: Composite Secondary Math, Composite Secondary Science.
1995 Texas Professional Teaching Certificate: Professional Development K-6 and Earth Science.
1989 Michigan Professional Teaching Certificate: all subjects Grade K-5, all sciences grades K-8 and Spanish grades K-12
Education:
2013 to2018 Texas A&M, College Station, Texas. Doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction.
2007 to 2009 Jones International University, Boulder, Colorado. Master's Degree in Adult Education.
1990 to 1995 Framingham State University, Framingham, Massachusetts. Graduate work in K-12 Education
1985 to 1989 Grand Valley State University, Allendale, Michigan. Bachelors of Arts: Double Major: Spanish and Group Science with an emphasis in Chemistry
Work History (Teaching):
2006 to present Independent Educational Consultant/Published Author in the areas of gifted and science education, Texas. My books.
2004 to 2006 Horizons Gifted/Talented Helping Teacher, Cypress Fairbanks ISD Houston, Texas .
1999 to 2004 Science Department Chair and R.O.P.E.S. Facilitator, Thornton Middle School, Katy, Texas
2001 to 2004 WebMastering Teacher, 8th grade, Thornton Middle School, Katy, Texas
2001 to 2004 ESL Science Teacher, Thornton Middle School, Katy, Texas
1998 to 2004 Honors Integrated Physics and Chemistry Teacher, 8th grade, Thornton Middle School, Katy, Texas
1997 to 2001 Tutor (all subjects), Sylvan Learning Center, Katy Fwy
1997 to 1998 Science Teacher, 6th grade, Thornton Junior High, Katy, Texas
1995 to 1997 Earth Science Teacher, 8th grade, Thornton Junior High, Katy, Texas Students of all ability levels.
1993 to 1995 Classroom Teacher, 4th through 8th grade, Escola Pan Americana, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
1990 to 1993 Science Teacher, 5/6 Grade, American School Foundation of Monterrey, Monterrey, Mexico
Work History (Tutoring):
I began tutoring middle school math my first year teaching in Mexico. I have continued to tutor all levels of math, as well as other subjects and grades until the present time. I have worked with hundreds of students, one on one, anywhere from a few months to a year. I have taught or tutored all of the topics listed above in the areas of interest.
My Resume