Decorah Math Tutoring • Hundreds of Testimonials and Esteemed Verifications

Private Math Tutoring • Grades 7-12

Algebra • Geometry • Trigonometry • Precalculus • Calculus

This collection of hundreds of parent and student testimonials along with prominent named endorsements is a tribute to all my tutoring students over the decades. It’s about the intellectual journeys we have taken together, your love for learning, your hard work and perseverance, and your achievement of educational excellence. Congratulations to every one of you; approbation with distinction and well done!

Dr. George
Harvard Ph.D.
MIT B.S.
Perdocere Inc.
phone: 833-MATH-833


Prominent Endorsements

✏️ From:
Marlyn E. McGrath
Director of Admissions
Harvard University

“I think George is not merely a tutor – he is a real educator. He knows that what helps students perform well on tests is the same as what makes them good students. A solid academic foundation pays dividends throughout schooling and careers, and George never loses sight of that in his work.”

Perdocere Tutoring - Prominent Named Verifications

✏️ From:
Prof. William A. Goddard III
California Institute of Technology
(Caltech)

“I have known George for decades. He has a very clear and dramatic effect enabling students to think and rise to their full potential. George’s influence on so many lives has had significant impact, and I greatly admire him for doing this.”

Perdocere Tutoring - Hundreds of Parent and Student Testimonials

Parent and Student Testimonials

✏️ “George is very involved in making sure our son is studying the material he needs to succeed and getting a clear understanding of what is expected of him. George takes time each week to prepare for our son as an individual. Our son enjoys the way George teaches him; it’s a great mix of teaching and really caring about the student. We know George was the right choice, our son went from failing to passing with an A.”

✏️ “Our daughter was transferred to Dover-Sherborn High School as a sophomore last year. We thought she needed some math guidance before taking the ACT/SAT, and discovered Perdocere Math Tutoring while searching online. George turned out to be the best discovery we made. His brilliance, patience, and structured tutoring style made our daughter feel at ease with the fundamental concepts of math. Needless to say, George’s guidance was reflected by an outstanding score last month. For math tutoring, George should be your first and final contact.”

✏️ “George has tutored my son for the last two years and my daughter for the last year. He has helped them easily master the skills they need to be successful in high school. Further, the one-on-one sessions enable him to push them both a little further and expand their understanding. As a result, my children are very confident students. Best for me – no more math drama.”

✏️ “George was flexible and accommodating when my daughter and I found ourselves overscheduled one month before three scheduled SAT-2 examinations. He organized a study program, identified the appropriate tools, and worked out a mutually acceptable schedule on short notice. His thorough understanding of the information and the test process coupled with his kind and cheerful personal style was very effective. The outcomes met our very high expectations, and we look forward to working with him in the future.”

✏️ “Whether in a group or individually George is by far the best tutor I have had. His knowledge is extensive and he teaches in a way that complex subjects are easy to understand. I’ve used other tutors and centers and none compare to George. He is such a great teacher that I kept bugging him to teach at my high school.”

✏️ “George, over the past few months, we have been amazed at the progress you have made with our daughter. While the improvement in her ‘trial run’ SAT scores has been significant, of equal note has been the change in the way she now approaches math problems: she thinks differently! Your ability to explain the processes behind the formulae, and the way that you teach to each student’s strengths, is a thing of beauty… For a 17 year old to stay focused on math over and entire summer is a testament to your ability to engage someone’s imagination and intellect. I am grateful for all of the encouragement and focus you have provided. And, while I look forward to much improved success in our daughter’s upcoming SAT scores as a direct outcome of your work, I also appreciate the confidence you have helped her build over the summer. She is clearly far more prepared for the tests ahead than she was in early June. My only regret? We didn’t do this sooner.”

✏️ “George, you are perpetually a star! Thanks so much for all your help with our son. We are so very appreciative.”

✏️ “George enthusiastically provides the most positive atmosphere for thorough understanding, solid development and concrete achievement in mathematics. He teaches in the spirit of a love for learning and instills an intrinsic desire for continued learning and understanding. George holds our daughter to a higher standard of achievement which she reaches for with great pride in accomplishment.”

✏️ “George is a truly amazing teacher. Not only is he incredible capable and knowledgeable but also sincere and caring. He knows how to captivate a student’s focus and how to motivate them. There is nobody better than George!”

✏️ “For the last two years, George has done everything he could to help me in both Algebra 2 and Honors Precalculus. My grades improved significantly in a very short period of time, and were maintained throughout the school year thanks to him. He knows the material very well, he is extremely good at explaining it in simple terms, and above all, he is a very easy person to get along with. I highly recommend George as a tutor, not only for the effort and attention he put into preparing each of my lessons, but also because I know he invests that same effort and attention in every lesson he gives.”

✏️ “George is a very sound investment for parents seeking to help a struggling student. George genuinely cares about the teaching aspect of education and his concerns are focused on ensuring the student understands each concept thoroughly. He recognizes that while grades are the formal measurement of results, just as important is the student’s confidence level and comfort with the subject matter. As a consequence, our daughter’s grade rose from a C- to an A- in two months, but equally satisfying is seeing her growing confidence in herself and her abilities.”

✏️ “I love working with George. He is so intelligent and can explain concepts in so many ways that it is easy for me to understand. What I appreciated the most is how supportive he is. He makes me feel that I can achieve anything!”

✏️ “George is the best math tutor our daughter has ever had. He has given her the critical skills to understand, encode and recall mathematic principles to achieve her best possible classroom scores.”

✏️ “George was everything we’d hoped for in an SAT tutor – and more. Just by the enthusiasm our son had for completing the between-session assignments (‘George work’ often came before homework!), we knew we’d made the right choice. Not only did he feel totally confident taking the SAT, his time with George helped him sharpen his ability to complete regular school assignments, as well; he is now tackling honors calculus with ease. Our son fully recognizes how much he benefited from George’s coaching: when his math SAT score came back 130 points over his first attempt, he said: ‘Way to go, George!’ ”

✏️ “Before I started working with George, I lacked the confidence and tools to complete my math year with a strong ending. After just three meetings with him I began to receive A’s rather than C’s. Not only does George teach with passion, but he also tailors his explanations and the presentation of the material to fit my specific needs. His commitment to my learning is exemplified by willingness and ability to describe the real content and meaning of the work rather than simply relying on the memorization of formulas. Working with George has made me believe that the key to successful learning is dependent on a great teacher – and George is a great teacher.”

✏️ “Far more than a brilliant teacher, George’s warm and positive attitude has been truly therapeutic by giving our daughter a new confidence and competence in math.”

✏️ “We just keep coming back for more! George has been working with at least one of our children for the past five years. He has firmly grounded them in mathematics and physics and has given them the confidence to handle any problem set that is assigned. Perfect or nearly-prefect SAT and SAT-II scores have also come the children’s way during this time – and George can truly take credit for readying them for these standardized tests. He knows that strength in fundamentals and hard work are the most important variables in the success equation. George is an educator first and foremost. He explains concepts in a clear and concise manner and has a way of consistently reinforcing these concepts. He pushes his students to achieve… but always in an extremely supportive manner. George does what is necessary to ensure that his students understand what is being taught. He wants all of his students to succeed – and is truly vested in their success. In sum, we can’t say enough good things about George… now if only we could clone George for the SAT critical reading.”

✏️ “Even though my strength has always been in writing and English, I am now an A student in math and science as well because of George.”

✏️ “George is awesome. He pushes me hard, but it is because he knows I can do it. George is so smart. He has a thorough knowledge of all the material and he makes sure that I learn it just as completely. His one-on-one sessions really give me a chance to get a better grip on what we are learning in class and to explore deeper some of the things we do not get a chance to spend a lot of time on in school. As a result, I am a very confident math student.”

✏️ “George is by far the best teacher I’ve ever had! The way he teaches and presents the material is unlike anything I’ve come across. I’m not sure why I’ve never witnessed this way of teaching before, because it clearly works! The math really does become clear with George at the reins. When I look at any sort of math problem, I can truly say I understand all the pieces and how they interact. My way of thinking about math has always been a way that has irritated and frustrated my teachers because I don’t always catch on as fast as the other students would. George is able to pick up on this and teach the math at any angle to suite my learning style. I am highly confident that he will do the same for you!”

✏️ “George has tutored my daughter in Pre-Calculus and Math SAT prep for the past year. George has very impressive credentials, but even more impressive is the math rapport he has with my daughter. Clearly, George understands math at a depth and breadth that few of us do. But his ability to teach it and be a successful tutor is really what impresses me the most. He is a natural teacher. He can see when a student isn’t “getting it” and he can explain a concept in a variety of different ways instead of merely repeating the same explanation again and again. And finally, George truly seems to love his job. He appears to be genuinely happy when my daughter accomplishes her goals or nails down a difficult concept. My daughter feels her time with George is always productive as he’s always prepared for their session.”

✏️ “Before working with George, I thought of math as a drudgery. The subject required a lot of work and study, but it seemed to me that no matter how hard I applied myself, I could not affect a change in my grade. Math was a chore and an ugly spot on my report card. After being taught by George, however, that all changed. George takes the time to explain the mechanics behind a formula, never allowing memorization where there is understanding to be had. Under George’s tutelage, I began to see the beauty of mathematics, and as my interest in the subject grew, I found myself considering it less a boring necessity, but a more rewarding challenge. George’s teaching has turned my opinion of math completely on its head, and also yielded pleasant results during the final exam. Although my term grades before meeting George were not fantastic, I was able to score highly enough on my final exam to bring my overall math grade up to an A-. Without George’s careful guidance, this certainly would not have been possible. I cannot recommend his services highly enough – under George, not only my grades, but also my outlook on math changed for the better.”

✏️ “George has been one of the greatest things to ever happen to me. Before George, I was struggling and basically failing math. Since I’ve worked with so many other tutors who completely failed me, I was a little apprehensive when I first met George but we soon became totally comfortable working with each other and even have inside jokes. He’s helped me in math so much. I used to hate math with a passion, but now it’s one of my easiest and most enjoyable subjects. George and I work together even if I’m sick. He makes me feel better, instead of wearing me out. If I have a bad day at school, George cheers me up. He’s basically your best friend and the best tutor. I love him! Thank you George!”

✏️ “George has instructed our son and now our daughter. We have found that George tailors his teachings to meet our children’s individual needs and not just the ‘text book’. George covers everything and then he covers it again making sure they understand thoroughly. It is with great confidence and pleasure that we recommend George to be the very best available!”

✏️ “George has been more than a math tutor for me. He has not only taught me everything I need to know to succeed in math class and on the SAT, he has also become a best friend during the process.”

✏️ “The SAT Subject Test for Math Level IIC is not an easy test. One must completely understand the topics that are covered to complete the problems, and one must have precision and speed to score high on the test. With George’s help, I was able to get high scores on many of the practice tests which reflected my real score. George has taught me the best ways to approach each problem; I can now solve each question quickly while understanding the math behind each question completely. I am very thankful that I was able to meet George, for his teachings and support allowed me to success on the SAT Math Level IIC test.” (780 SAT Math Level IIC)

✏️ “Ever since I began my sessions with George, I have significantly improved my mathematical skills and have consistently been able to maintain high test scores. George has restructured my foundation and constantly solidifies key concepts, which help me to take each problem step-by-step and achieve the correct answer while truly learning the material. George not only helps to get the correct answer but also goes far beyond what is asked and works out multiple solutions to the simplest and most difficult problems. George is able to break down problems into manageable pieces unlike any other math teacher I have ever had. I commend George for his knowledge on the subject. I know with George’s help and positive attitude, I am confident that I will do well. Without George both my algebra and chemistry skills would be nothing like they are today. Thanks George and I can’t wait for another successful year!”

✏️ “George’s results have been spectacular in terms of overall grasp of subjects and preparation for specific exams. He is the cause of one or more of our children getting perfect or nearly perfect scores on SAT or AP tests where, in some instances, the effort was there but, prior to George, not much interest or aptitude a specific subject. He visibly changes good students into superlative students.”

✏️ “Over the past three years, George has become the family’s de facto math and science consiliari. He has not only guided our first son to a string of 800’s but instilled in him a sense of academic confidence and curiosity that will serve him well in college. He also started down the academic path with our second son this year – a very different learner than the first – yet he has struck the appropriate chords with him. George is a born teacher. He is enthusiastic about his subjects, explains and teaches in a clear and logical manner, and patiently drives the learning process. We can always count on George and will continue to rely on him in the future.”

✏️ “In preparation for high school, I asked George to find and patch the holes that we knew existed in my daughter’s math knowledge. Although my daughter has been an A student in math, it was apparent to me that she was getting by without really understanding the logic and meaning behind what she was doing in math. Because of this mechanics, memorization based approach to math, she found the subject to be her least favorite. George promised that he would find the holes in her knowledge and would then equip her with a deeper, more functional way of attacking math problems. In only a few sessions, the change in my daughter was evident. Her test grades improved, but most importantly, so did her confidence and creativity in finding solutions to math problems. My daughter happily sits through her sessions with George and is 100% engaged and happy. George is brilliant, thoughtful and kind and really understands how to work with kids. I feel that George is fully invested in my daughter’s success. I wish that all teachers were as wonderful and George!”

✏️ “George enabled me to get an 800 on the math SAT and, for most parents, that may be all they need in a tutor. However, George isn’t just an effective tutor, he actually cares about the student. When I first started with George math was my least favorite subject, mainly because I just didn’t ‘get it.’ However, now, math is my strongest subject and I adore the class. George allowed me to not just ‘get by’ in my class, but to understand the material, and, through understanding excel. I can’t recommend George enough on both a professional and personal level.” (800 SAT Math, 36 ACT Math)

✏️ “George has reinvigorated my son’s interest in math and confidence in his abilities. Each week, George would carefully focus on classroom assignments, while bolstering broader areas of study. Lessons were purposeful, positive experiences, which immediately translated into improved test scores and a more meaningful understanding of concepts. My son was able to introduce advanced strategies in the classroom, and his teachers consistently remarked that his contributions greatly enhanced their class discussions. George has a warm personality and a true gift for teaching material in a compelling, yet fun, manner. My son truly enjoyed the experience of working with George, and has emerged as a far stronger student for it.”

✏️ “Thanks again for everything you have done for the boys – you really have a gift!!”

✏️ “I have always struggled with math, but George has helped me conquer the beast.”

✏️ “Dear George. You saved the day. Or rather, the semester. The few sessions you spent with our son made a world of difference – not only to his grade but to his state of mind. You showed him not only that he could grasp the concepts of his math class, but that he could enjoy the process. Thank you, thank you, thank you. We are forever grateful.”

✏️ “George is the best tutor that our family has ever used. No one else is even close. He quickly identified my son’s strengths and weaknesses, and then set about in an orderly, sensible and strategic way to fix the weaknesses. There was a purpose to every problem set or test that he assigned. George customized his approach to the individual child which in turn created ‘buy-in’ from my son, who realized that he was not going to be assigned busy work, but focused problems designed to address areas that needed work. Bottom line my son got a 55 on the PSAT math and 8 months later, with George’s help, got a 770 on the SAT math.”

✏️ “I understand my math now, I can go to class knowing the material on the test and am confident on what I need to know to get a good grade, I have gone from failing in math to being an A student.”

✏️ “George is the best tutor out there. With his thorough teaching, he has increased my Math SAT score by over 200 points in the past year. Since the eighth grade, George and I have been working to increase my math grades at school, and together we have been nothing but a great success. George is extremely talented. I think that to him, Perdocere is more than a clever Latin name for his tutoring business, it’s a philosophy. George knows everything about the system, whether it be public school, the SAT, or math in general. He didn’t acquire this knowledge through tricks and memorization. He learned it through simply learning the math thoroughly. I can speak from experience. Once George and I had conquered Algebra, I had the skills to conquer problems that would have been insurmountable to me just a few months before. It’s quite simple. It all comes down to his philosophy of teaching thoroughly. George produces results.”

✏️ “This is exactly what we have discovered in George – To Teach or Instruct Thoroughly. George not only has read our son’s Advanced Algebra book, he has wrapped himself around it. He teaches with enthusiasm and a deep concern for our son. He genuinely cares that our son not only understands the many different concepts but also makes sure that our son is able to effectively apply them. Our son has 125 new problems every week and George makes sure our son fully understands each and every one. Our son’s grade has improved from a B- to an A- and we expect this trend to continue along with his growing mathematical confidence. Our son smiles broadly at the end of every session. George is the MVP of the academic playing field! Thank you George.”

✏️ “George gave our son the tools and confidence to achieve results above and beyond what he believed was possible. He is a terrific teacher.” (college student parents)

✏️ “George gave me the confidence to believe that I could succeed in exams. He is a very patient teacher and is just the best at explaining difficult concepts. He makes it easy to concentrate and focus on the key parts of the course content.”

✏️ “After reviewing the yellow insert in the newspaper, I made a note to myself: Call Perdocere? I wondered: What does Perdocere mean? After my daughter’s ACT math results, I felt it was important to take action, so yes I did call Perdocere and spoke with George. After listening to our story, George met with my daughter to begin immediate math tutoring. We had limited time, six months, to accomplish a lot of learning in order to achieve a more successful math test score. Equally important, my daughter was to improve on her math for success when at college. George is a brilliant and enthusiastic teacher. He shared his plan with us and we quickly moved ahead. He had my daughter take both the SAT and ACT practice tests to see which would be best for her. He watched her to see how she worked. He prevailed upon our busy schedule for intense tutoring. George expects a lot from his student, but he gives much in return. For my daughter, she learned that math from him, and he instilled confidence. For me, he kept me in the loop and patiently worked with our schedule. At the six month point my daughter retook the test with George’s best wishes (and his calculator as her calculator shut down days before the test), and she exceeded her goal. Perdocere means to instruct thoroughly, Perdocere is George! Thank you!”

✏️ “George is very patient and explains everything in language that I can understand. He always encourages me and praises my accomplishments. I know that my SAT scores will be the best I am capable of. George has really made a difference!”

✏️ “George knows his stuff! He’s helped me go from an average student to an above average student in my Advanced Algebra class. He has improved my study habits and mathematical confidence.”

✏️ “George started working with our teen last year after being recommended (highly) from a friend. We were impressed immediately – he connected with our son and tuned into his style of learning from the very first session. Not only has our son improved in math, but the PSAT/SAT prep work he is doing now is sure to reap benefits during this coming year. We just wish we had found George years ago!” (700 SAT Math)

✏️ “George is a super tutor that has made a significant impact on our daughter’s learning. Her progress has been beyond belief. He has worked diligently and patiently with her to fill in the gaps in her learning. She no longer memorizes formulas without knowing the why’s and how’s of problem solving. She is well grounded in the fundamentals and has gained the confidence to take on additional academic challenges. George’s math knowledge isn’t his only recipe for success, he also knows how and when to motivate a student.”

✏️ “As parents, we all know how different our children are – and this certainly translates to learning styles. George has had to adapt to three very different types of learners over that last seven or eight years. He has successfully navigated one child through a string of 800s… brought another near that coveted goal, thus ensuring his place at the college of that child’s choice (thank goodness!!)… and now has the unenviable task of guiding our daughter through the shoals of high school mathematics and preparation for the SAT. All three of our children have enjoyed working with George; he has related to each one on a very personal level and he has adjusted his teaching style to match how they learn. He is always encouraging and has instilled in all of them the ability to ask questions and explore the whys and wherefores rather than just the answers. At the same time, however, George sets the bar high for each one of them and pushes them to achieve. Not only have they and will they be accountable to Mom and Dad – they are also accountable to George – and they seem to be more concerned about the latter rather than the former (which is fine with us). George has an extraordinary gift for teaching and for instilling a love of learning in his students. He is insistent that fundamentals be strong and he works those so that his students are equipped for higher tasks. On child ended up majoring in math in college and is now doing sophisticated quantitative analysis in an investment firm; another is doing a wonderful job navigating econometrics. We can only hope that our last one can achieve this success. With George on our side we think that this can be achieved. We heartily recommend George to all.”

✏️ “This year, I am taking the most rigorous math course my school has to offer, AP Calculus BC. BC calc is extremely fast paced because of the AP test in May. Some of the topics are only covered for a fraction of a class; however, with George’s help, I am a month or two in front of the class. Because of the two month lead, George is able to show me more advanced topics that will never be covered in BC calc. The way that George teaches calculus incorporates everything that was previously learned in calc while still covering a lot of material extremely thoroughly. In class, I have done well on all of my tests. George has allowed me to obtain an understanding of calculus which seems impossible to get from the class alone. I am very thankful that I have George guiding me through BC calc.”

✏️ “I’m proud of my accomplishments since he has worked with me.”

✏️ “George taught me a new way of thinking. He retrained my brain to think the way he does. I never have to memorize formulas, or remember a certain method. George taught me how to analyze the core math behind a problem, and derive how to solve it on the spot. It is a skill that has paid off incredibly. Thank you George!!”

Click Here for the Complete List of Hundreds of Parent and Student Testimonials. What’s Shown Above is a Small Sampling.