PrepNow Tutor - Jared D.
For over seven years, Jared has taught and worked with students in various subjects: 5th-grade ELA and social studies; 4th-grade social studies, math, and science; K-8 literary support; and high school humanities and SAT prep (all sections). For the past two years, he has worked as a 5-8th-grade ELA teacher and a literacy coordinator and interventionist. He emphasizes supporting each student’s unique learning processes. “It’s important to understand and practice how to learn best for yourself, as that is a skill that will take you through the rest of your life, regardless of where life takes you,” he states.
Jared earned a BA in English and journalism with a minor in creative writing from the University of Minnesota, where he graduated cum laude.
Since graduating, he has worked as an elementary school teacher in Memphis, TN, through Teach for America; served as a paraeducator and tutor in Santa Cruz, CA; and, most recently, taught middle school in the Twin Cities. As of 2026, he’s pursuing work as an intervention teacher at the middle or high school level.
Teaching runs in his family. “My parents were both educators, and so I grew up with an appreciation and great respect for education,” says Jared. Once Jared joined Teach for America, it was clear that education was his ideal career. “There are many proud moments I have as a teacher, but one that stands out is seeing my 8th-grade students walk for our middle school graduation this spring and knowing that I have prepared them well for high school,” he reflects.
Jared’s approach is geared toward empowerment, in and out of the classroom. “I believe that it's important for students to take ownership of their skills and their learning processes. When you feel that you are a primary driver of your own development, as opposed to just a passenger having your choices and learning made without your input, you care about it more, and you have a personal interest and excitement for your growth,” he explains. He models curiosity and creative thinking with his students to foster confidence in their own processes and a passion for learning. Ultimately, Jared wants his students to find success in whatever they care about in ways unique to them.
Jared’s stellar GPA and ACT score earned him admittance into the honors program at the University of Minnesota, and he was a 4-year recipient of the Dave Larson Scholarship. In high school, he was a valuable member of the Knowledge Bowl team, which performed in the state competitions in 2015. He also ran track and cross-country.
In his free time, he loves reading and writing, especially fantasy, science fiction, and thrillers. He’s also a big gamer—board games, card games, and video games—and experimenting in the kitchen. “I have more recently begun painting as a hobby and have become enamored with it,” he adds.
Fun familial fact: “I have over 200 known living members of my extended family in 4 generations. My mother has 9 siblings, my dad has 8, and as a result, I have 52 first cousins and at least as many second cousins.”
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