PrepNow Tutor - Jacquelyn M.
A passionate educator, Jacquelyn loves helping students break down tough science and math concepts into clear, manageable steps. “My goal is to boost both understanding and confidence so students feel prepared not just for the next test, but for whatever challenges come their way,” Jacquelyn says. She holds several degrees: a PhD in physical chemistry from the University of Mississippi; an MEd in curriculum and instruction with an emphasis in secondary science from the University of Mississippi; and a BS in chemistry with a minor in mathematics from Henderson State University in Arkansas. Since graduate school, Jacquelyn has been tutoring and substitute teaching for multiple school districts. She plans to become a certified teacher and have her own classroom soon.
Jacquelyn first started teaching and tutoring during her junior year of undergrad. “After about two weeks, I was hooked and knew that I wanted to go into teaching as a career path,” Jacquelyn shares. During her first seven semesters of grad school, Jacquelyn taught and tutored over 300 students in general chemistry as well as lab classes. “My proudest moment as a teacher happened when I received my end-of-year student evaluations in my second year of grad school. One of my students said, ‘You answer all my questions without making me feel stupid. You know what you are doing, and you seem to have a passion for chemistry, which makes the class more enjoyable.’ It has stuck with me ever since!" Throughout her career, Jacquelyn has mentored hundreds of students in science and math from high school to college using patience, encouragement, and real-world examples to make learning less intimidating and more enjoyable.
“I would describe my tutoring style with two words: Differentiated Instruction,” Jacquelyn says. “I don't subscribe to any singular style of teaching. The way I teach entirely depends upon my students and how they learn best. Sometimes, a student needs concepts broken down into smaller bits of information so that they aren't overwhelmed. Other times, a student might be able to easily answer conceptual questions but struggle with problems that are more math-based and therefore need to work more examples. It's my job to tailor my teaching to fit my students' needs.” Jacquelyn feels very strongly about this because that's exactly what she needed as a student. “One of my teaching philosophies is that a teacher learns and benefits just as much in the successful classroom as his or her students do,” Jacquelyn shares.
In high school, Jacquelyn participated in quiz bowl and robotics club. In college, she was involved in the chemistry club and the American Chemical Society (ACS).
As to her accolades, Jacquelyn was the recipient of the Academic Excellence Fellowship for Outstanding Undergraduate Performance and the ACS Undergraduate Award in Physical Chemistry for Outstanding Performance in Physical Chemistry Courses; she also belonged to Kappa Mu Epsilon (Mathematics Honor Society).
Jacquelyn has four cats and enjoys reading, shopping, and coloring in her free time. “My favorite hobby, though, is playing Pokémon Go!”
