🩰 Taylor's Story: From
“Math Just Isn’t My Thing” to
Full-On Confidence
When I started working with Taylor, she was in 7th grade.
She lived in Queens, New York with her mom, Brenda— a single mom who had clearly raised a kind, driven, and creative daughter.
Taylor is one of those students who shines in every area except the one that happens to be on the schedule before lunch: math.
She’s a dedicated ballet dancer. She plays volleyball. She’s funny, emotionally intelligent, and sharp. But math never quite felt like “her thing.”
In our first few sessions, she was polite but skeptical. I could tell she wasn’t sure this would work — not in a mean way, just in that “I’m used to this subject being hard” kind of way.
But she stuck with it.
📈 A Quiet Climb
First came Pre-Algebra, then Algebra 1, and most recently Geometry in 9th grade. Now, she’s heading into Algebra 2 and Trigonometry for 10th grade.
And through it all, Taylor kept showing up — even when she didn’t feel like a “math person.”
I adapted my teaching to how she learns. We broke problems down to their emotional core — what made them frustrating, confusing, or overwhelming. And then we built them back up, step by step.
It didn’t take long before something shifted. Taylor started saying things like:
“Wait, I actually get this one!”
“Ohhh… this is kind of satisfying.”
“Okay, let’s try another one.”
That’s how math confidence builds. Not all at once — but in small, sturdy steps.
💬 What Her Mom Says
“Dean has worked with my daughter since 7th grade. She’s a dancer, a volleyball player—and math was always the one thing that didn’t come easily. But with Dean’s help, she found her footing. Her confidence showed up quickly, and we’ve trusted him ever since.”
– Brenda
🎯 Why Her Story Matters
Taylor’s story isn’t about some dramatic 180-degree flip.
It’s about steady growth. It’s about trust — from a student and a parent.
And it’s about how showing up week after week with the right guidance can change the way a kid sees themselves.
That’s what I want to offer your family too.
✅ Ready to See the Same for Your Child?
I work with middle and high school students all over the country (just like Taylor!) — helping them not just pass, but grow.