Hello! My name is Mr. Tyler, Teaching Assistant at Tip-Top Brain. I’m an avid reader, writer, and occasional chef. I’m passionate about language, and my greatest joy comes from helping others feel confident in their own voice and express their unique artistic vision. I’m also a strong advocate for environmentalism and urban planning. I have previously worked as a writing tutor and have also worked as a remote tutor for middle-grade students in ELA studies.
I’m originally from St. Louis, Missouri, and I graduated summa cum laude from Fort Zumwalt West High School. I took a variety of AP classes in high school, including AP Language, AP Literature, AP Statistics, AP Environmental Science, AP World History, and AP Government. One of my most memorable experiences in high school was joining the Youth in Government program, where each year myself and my peers would go to the Missouri state capital and debate bills we had written in the actual Missouri Assembly Chambers. This experience taught me how invaluable unique learning opportunities can be. I also helped found the first environmentalist club at my high school.
I graduated from Oberlin College in 2023 with a Bachelor’s in English Literature and a minor in Art History. I wrote my senior thesis analyzing contemporary climate fiction and how it resembles the utopian thinking often found in early colonial narratives. I question the usefulness of utopia on a societal scale but affirm the power of utopian thinking in constructing our ideal selves. I also volunteered for Sunrise Oberlin, a local chapter of an environmental advocacy network. We engaged in a statewide campaign focused on expanding public transit access.
As an undergrad, I worked in Oberlin’s Writing Center as a Writing Associate. Though I had some experience tutoring in high school, it was in the writing center that I fell in love with teaching. In my time as a writing tutor, I worked with students across all proficiencies and backgrounds, brainstorming thesis ideas, creating outlines, or guiding students through the revision process. We also started an outreach program to ensure that all students were informed and comfortable taking advantage of the center and other institutional resources at their disposal.
The best part of working at Tip-Top Brain is seeing the remarkable personal growth of our students. It’s incredibly rewarding to witness them get comfortable and evolve from uncertain learners to confident, independent thinkers. Tutoring is an act of collaboration. My goal is to make every student feel heard and afforded the same respect that they give their teachers. My teaching practice is heavily informed by linguistic diversity. I believe it is important to teach students the standards they need to succeed and thrive in their educational and professional careers while also affirming their unique identities. I believe that learning is not confined to the classroom, and that each moment is an opportunity to grow.
