PrepNow Tutor - Mickey O.
A lifelong educator, Mauriqua, who goes by Mickey, loves boosting her students’ confidence. She holds a BA in African and Black diaspora studies from DePaul University, where she is pursuing an MA in critical ethnic studies. In addition to her experience working with students with learning disabilities, she has a personable and warm personality that allows her to connect and be effective with all students regardless of ability. “I believe all students can learn and I pride myself on using creative techniques that appeal to students of all learning types,” Mickey says. After earning her BA, Mickey worked in FinTech as a fraud analyst before transitioning to education. For two years, Mickey was a teacher's aide in K-2 classrooms that catered to students with autism—before she shifted to teaching high school social studies. “During this time, I also started an educational consulting business, speaking at numerous conferences centering student experiences and addressing teacher bias,” Mickey says.
Mickey started tutoring during her sophomore year of high school. “I loved the experience so much that I knew teaching was my calling,” Mickey says. Her proudest moments as a teacher and mentor center around showing students why high school is so important. “Many students lack confidence at this age, and it affects their motivation at home and in school,” Mickey explains. “Seeing students motivate themselves after personally helping them through difficult schoolwork or trying life situations continues to fuel my ‘why.’ Sometimes, all it takes is that one teacher that has a little more patience than the rest to make it make sense, and I enjoy being that for students.” In addition to teaching high school social studies and working as a special education teacher’s aide, Mickey has tutored ACT and SAT prep since 2010.
Mickey’s teaching style is student-centered. “I do much more questioning, showing, and listening than telling because I want students to explain to me what they know and practice talking through information already available to them,” Mickey explains. “I want most of the talking to be from the student because if students can explain it, they know it. Whenever I ask questions, I often get ‘I don't know’ and they ALWAYS know when nudged.” Mickey hopes to increase her students’ confidence and help them see that many of the tools and knowledge they need to be successful are already within them. “I only step in to bridge gaps, clarify understanding, reteach when needed, and validate their ideas and logic when necessary,” she says.
In college, Mickey was on the dean's list and honors list. She tutored, played volleyball, participated in Best Buddies, and did theater. She loves reading, music, and watercolor painting, and has over twenty plants she tends daily. Mickey briefly studied Russian ballet in her youth with the Boistov Ballet.
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