April has a bachelor’s degree in animal science from The Ohio State University and is currently pursuing her master’s degree in ruminant nutrition, where she studies linear modelling and goal-programming scenarios for the dairy industry. She has a passion for math, science, and community outreach through volunteering, although she also enjoys proofreading essays in her free time. She is happiest sharing information with others, and has been an active teaching assistant, college bound mentor, and on-campus mental health advocate. She has worked with middle- through high school aged students to help them prepare for college and learn their place in the life science world. April enjoys engaging with students and taking a flexible, holistic approach to learning and teaching.

Deena received her Bachelor of Science in Biology from Keene State College in 2013. While at KSC, she was heavily involved in leadership as an orientation staff member, a peer advisor, a student ambassador, and a research lab manager. She also was heavily involved in the college's tutoring program, assisting students with biology, chemistry, and math.  After graduation, Deena joined forces with Adam Leiser, the prior owner of Your Ticket to College LLC. Deena quickly became an invaluable member of Adam's team, teaching courses to high school students, training other tutors, and designing the methods currently used for the science section of the ACT. Since 2013, Deena has helped hundreds of students reach or exceed their target exam scores. In 2017, she and her husband Steven Buttery became owners of Your Ticket to College LLC. She earned her PhD in Nutrition from The Ohio State University in 2020 and is now a Postdoctoral Fellow at The University of Vermont College of Medicine. Deena gets great satisfaction out of working with our students and training our tutors, and loves helping students achieve their goals!

Jaylon is a recent graduate from Tuskegee University with a B.S in Animal Sciences. Jaylon is now a MU PREP Scholar at University of Missouri - Columbia, studying emerging diseases, in hopes to one day earn a PhD. Jaylon's instructing background comes from helping instruct new laboratory students  as well as previous years of working at summer programs , such as summer band camps and summer biology camps.

Kate graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Dietetics from Michigan State University (Go Green!) in 2010. While at MSU, she was able to help teach classes and put on community programs. After graduation, Kate did a Dietetic Internship at the Cleveland Clinic and became a Registered Dietitian. While working as a Registered Dietitian, besides seeing patients in outpatient clinics and in the hospital, Kate precepted Dietetic Interns and helping them begin their career in the Dietetics field. That is when she realized her passion for teaching. Kate went to Kent State University to obtain her master’s degree in Nutrition in 2016. Once completed, she knew a Ph.D. was the route she needed to pursue educate the future Dietetics professionals and is now a doctoral student at The Ohio State University. Her research explores the effects of omega-3 fatty acids and breast cancer. She joined YTTC in 2017!

Kelsey graduated with a B.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from MIT in 2015 and currently works as a researcher in the Advanced Materials Group at Battelle. She has a passion for learning about anything and everything, especially subjects outside of her expertise, and finds it very rewarding to share her knowledge with others. Throughout high school and college, Kelsey gained experience tutoring students in various levels of math, science, and English. Kelsey has first-hand experience with how conflicting learning styles can lead to struggle. She enjoys taking advantage of the 1-on-1 tutoring format to create the most engaging and productive lessons possible for students. For her, patience, consistency, and positive reinforcement are the key for academic success.

Lauren graduated from the University of Mount Union with a Bachelor's in Education in 2005.  She has continued her education in Curriculum and Development and Special Education at the University of Ashland, in their Master's of Education program. Lauren was a public school teacher for seven years before deciding to start a family and devoting herself to her role as a mother.  From 2012 to present, she has been private tutoring part time while raising her children.  Over the course of her teaching career, she has specialized in accommodating students with ADHD.  An avid runner, Lauren has completed five marathons. She believes that running, like all goals you put your mind to, requires hard work and dedication. This is something that Lauren uses as a tool every time she works with her students: believe it or not, training to take a standardized test is a lot like training for a marathon! 

Mandy received her bachelor’s degree from The Ohio State University in neuroscience and has been working in both industry and academic research since. As the oldest of six, she has been in a nurturing role since she was young. Her first experience in teaching involved swim lessons, and she has also worked as a lifeguard instructor, OSU Language lab intern at COSI, undergraduate research trainer, and subject tutor. Mandy’s forte is in math and science, but she is an avid fan of reading anything she can get her hands on. Mandy enjoys looking at problems from different perspectives and helping students solve them in their unique best ways.

Naomi Waldon completed her undergraduate studies in 2020 at Tuskegee University in Tuskegee, AL, where she was an active member of the band and clarinet section leader for her final two years. She is a currently PhD student in the Department of Animals Sciences at The Ohio State University and resides in Wooster, OH. Naomi has always enjoyed learning and recently learned she loves teaching as well. She often assists her parents, elementary and middle school teachers, with their students, and enjoyed her time as a math tutor at Tuskegee her junior year. She hopes to help many students achieve their test goals and gain an easier path to college.