PrepNow Tutor - Alex L.
Alex has led a varied professional life, but tutoring has always been a part of it. He began test-prep tutoring in 1988 and continued to do so as he earned a BA in psychology from Purdue University. At that time, he worked with SAT, ACT, GRE, and GMAT students. Upon graduating, Alex took a job with Microsoft, helping to develop MS SharePoint, Windows XP, and numerous versions of Office. Since that pursuit, Alex spent a decade living and opening test-prep training centers in Moscow, Russia, and subsequently helped launch a handful of tech startups. All the while, tutoring was a persistent focus. In fact, Alex’s tutoring career allowed him the flexibility to take the job he is most proud of: stay-at-home Dad. Now that that job is complete, Alex works as a chef and historical tour guide, even as he continues to tutor. Obviously, Alex’s decades of test-prep experience make him a true expert in the field.
Alex approaches tutoring as a cooperative enterprise. For Alex, it is crucial to first teach students that they must be the agents of their own success. He says, “I tell my students that I am not the capital-T ‘Teacher,’ an authority to be obeyed. I can nudge and advise, but it is ultimately up to the students to create their own futures.” With this understanding in place, Alex uses Socratic questioning and encouragement to help students find their way. In addition, he believes in the power of stories and parables to help students understand things more holistically.
Given Alex’s varied career path, it is not surprising that he wants to continue to pursue various interests. Among his current research projects, Alex is studying forensic psychology and low-cost desalination, all while working on a couple of NASA proposals. In addition, he is developing a plan to drive a Ford van around the world, selling tacos along the way. Finally, when not considering new projects, Alex loves playing games, inventing objects, and urban and wilderness exploration.
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