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.”
✏️ 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.”
Parent and Student Testimonials
✏️ “George is a good teacher because – he makes me think the math out, he is always prepared for what I need to learn, thinks of problems to illustrate a math concept on the spot, drills me on what I do not know, makes me tell him how I arrived at the answer, understands me and how I learn, focuses and encourages me, talks to me.”
✏️ “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.”
✏️ “We would heap praises, but facts speak better. With a ‘C’ in 8th grade math, and teachers happy with ‘the C’, which translates to just passing 8th grade MCAS at the cut-off grade, we looked to George to teach our child. The weekly two-hour session is productive and fun for our child! We would never have imagined our child sitting for two hours on High School Algebra – but it happens every week – only with George. George finds a way to teach and convey concepts in math – overcoming our child’s learning disabilities. Our child brought home a B+ in Algebra, and in one Algebra quiz, got the first time ever 100%. Our child has gained confidence which beats the frustration and ‘I hate math’ during 8th grade.”
✏️ “We felt like we struck gold shortly after George began to tutor our son toward the end of his junior year. The impact was almost immediate. He skill level went from a fail to pass in a few sessions. George has an expertise in communicating math and science surpassed by no one. He was able to identify and fill in the gaps in our sons math education in two-hour per week sessions when regular classes and after school failed. Our sons precalculus and calculus teachers were unable to communicate the subject matter in a way that our son could understand. Our son proclaimed that George was the best math teacher he ever had in his entire high school career. He had somebody who could explain abstract concepts in a way he could understand. George prepared our son for the SAT exam and continued tutoring our son during his senior year in high school for advanced math. Honors precalculus and calculus are hard enough subjects for anybody to grasp or master, but they are especially difficult when you have a learning disability. We have no reservation in giving George our highest recommendation.”
✏️ “George has worked with my children on test prep for the SAT, ACT, AP exams, and the SAT subject matter tests. My two oldest — for whom math is their worst subject — scored a 740 and a 790 on the SAT math section. My youngest just scored an 800! I, and they, attribute the high scores to their work with George. He not only helps them with the substantive skills needed for success, but also with the practical hints that come in so handy on standardized tests. He works through many practice exams and works to educate them about their particular strengths and weaknesses so that the right emphasis in studying can be made. All three of my children report that they feel that working with George has made a big difference in their school performance and test scores.”
✏️ “When I first met George, he gave me a diagnostic practice SAT math, and I scored a 530 on the SAT. Now, I can hit 800’s with time to spare. George has taught me new math topics, but he has mainly taught me how to think. He has shown me that each math problem can relate to the other, so you can solve each problems in a myriad of ways. We have sat down together and searched for new ways to solve the most difficult problems. It is almost like George unlocked something in my brain that now allows me to see all of the different solutions to each problem. Once I see all the possibilities, I can choose the most efficient and safe solution which now allows me to score 800’s.”
✏️ “George’s math skills and patient manner have increased my son’s confidence and competency in his own math skills. He is able to explain complicated math concepts in simple terms while making the process enjoyable. George’s enthusiasm for math is contagious and helps ensure his students to be equally enthusiastic.”
✏️ “George is a wonderful example of a professional instructor for mathematics and science. The quality of instruction administered in a calm, patient, and open manner reflects his true concern for the student. The dialog that exists between teacher and student is superb, as the knowledge that is sought and shared establishes itself. We are glad that academia has produced such a top notch instructor for our son.”
✏️ “George is a godsend. He breaks math down in a language students understand while making the process enjoyable. By laying out the mechanics of math, he lays down a foundation for comprehension the student carries forward throughout their academic career. He also gets results. My son quickly grasped the concepts and went from a C+/B- student to an A student. He also moved up two class levels in his math placement. His improvement correlated directly with his confidence, which soared. He now thinks of himself as the math guy. The greatest compliment is that I recently asked him what he wants to be when he grows up and he said a math teacher.”
✏️ “We have had many tutors in the past and George by comparison is extraordinary. George’s weekly sessions helped my high school boys achieve never before A’s in their math classes. My husband and I were so impressed with his intelligence, dedication and patience. These qualities allowed my boys to truly understand SAT test taking and math strategies. We highly recommend George!”
✏️ “What a revelation to learn that instead of being bad in math, our daughter just wasn’t being taught in the manner in which she learns best. George identified her individual learning style and the results have been astonishing. He does a superb job of dovetailing his tutoring of math at the high school level with his preparatory course for the math portion of the SAT.”
✏️ “George is a wonderful tutor that has made a significant impact on my daughters learning. He discovered her weaknesses and has worked tirelessly with her to fill in the gaps in her learning and prepare her for the SAT. He cares deeply about his students and communicates weekly with me on her progress. George is like no other!!”
✏️ “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.”
✏️ “As someone who usually finds math difficult and boring, I was relieved when I understood how easily George can get me to grasp concepts I couldn’t fathom on my own. In a span or roughly two and a half months, I have had results that were 150 points higher than my first SAT math score. George’s brilliance and enthusiasm made it easy for me to take my work seriously, and overcome my frustration and difficulty with SAT math. Nobody has the aptitude George has to boost math scores through efficient techniques for problem solving and test taking, or can rival his knowledge of mathematics.”
✏️ “Working with George has improved my math skills immeasurably. I was able to achieve a near perfect score on my Math SAT as a result of George’s dedication, patience, and skill in our tutoring sessions. He made sure I not only understood the concepts but had a deep knowledge of them. I also worked on my school work with George and felt that our work together put me well ahead of my fellow students.” (790 SAT Math)
✏️ “My senior year brought with it an abundance of math challenges. I had decided to enroll in BC Calculus, as well as take the Math II SAT2. I never considered myself to be particularly good at math, so I was very worried about how my various math undertakings would pan out – but, under George’s tutelage, I ended up doing better than I could have ever expected. Often investing extra time into lessons, George Patiently taught me enough about precalculus and calculus to raise my average SAT2 by more than 180 points and nudge my math grade to an A. George takes the time to explain the underpinnings of each theorem, never resorting to memorization when there is understanding to be had. Whenever I brought my confusions to George, he could explain with perfect clarity what had gone wrong in my calculations. Two years ago, I never would have envisioned myself having my current relationship with math – one where I can look forward to new challenges rather than dread tests and quizzes. Without George’s unparalleled skill as a teacher, I would never have improved in math to the point that I have. As a student, I cannot recommend George highly enough. More than achieve tangible results in terms of grades and numbers, I have developed an entirely new attitude towards mathematics thanks to George.”
✏️ “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.”
✏️ “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.”
✏️ “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.”
✏️ “Before I began working with George, I was getting good grades in math but much of the time I didn’t really understand what I was doing or why I was doing it. After my first session with George, I could tell he was a different kind of teacher. He really explained the concepts instead of just teaching me steps that I had to memorize. George always makes sure that I completely understand what I am working on before we move on to a new concept. I look forward to my sessions with George. George makes the sessions fun, interesting, and challenges me to think in ways that I haven’t been taught in school. George also happens to be funny and kind and I feel he really cares about me as a student.” (96% Final Math Assessment)
✏️ “When I began my sessions with George, I was very apprehensive. I didn’t enjoy math and spending two extra hours outside of school was not something that I looked forward to. As the weeks went on, my confidence in my abilities skyrocketed. George quickly defined my problems, and made a long lasting impression on the work I now do. Not only did my scores dramatically increase but so did my school work. I now approach problems differently and find math to be more enjoyable. George is a wonderful teacher and I cannot explain how much he changed my approach to math. If I have any advice, it would be to listen to everything he says. He knows what he is talking about and the next time I walk into a mathematical minefield I know there will be a trap in the dusty corners that I can conquer. Thanks for everything George!”
✏️ “George plainly has a mastery of math and science that runs both broad and deep, and he is very, very good at communicating with both students and parents in clear English pitched to their level of scientific understanding, wherever that may be. He clearly cares about his students, and we feel very confident that he is happy to help any way he can.”
✏️ “George recreates the art of tutoring: he is like a muse who inspires learning as an art.”
✏️ “George has been a helpful, effective tutor whom I would recommend to most anyone. He quickly shows you everything there is to know about SAT math and installs it into your memory. Furthermore he is a nice guy who genuinely wants you to improve.”
✏️ “Whenever I am concerned teachers may have assigned material that is too difficult, my daughter says “Don’t worry, I have the best tutor ever.” With George, you couldn’t ask for more. Brilliant and charismatic as a math tutor, and with a special winning personality, George is gifted in explaining math to teenagers.”
✏️ “George has been an excellent tutor and mentor to me. When I started with him I was failing my geometry class. Within only a couple months he helped my grade go up by three grade letters. Thanks to him I will be finishing the years with a solid grade. Not only has he helped me academically but he has also made me more confident in my classes and work. At my hardest struggle, George took his time to spend many extra hours with me. He teachers like no other teacher and is able to make strong connections with his students while teaching the best techniques and strategies to solving problems.”
✏️ “George’s stand-out credentials and many years of experience made him our first choice when we searched for a math tutor for our high school-aged grandson. As it turns out, George’s singular talents go far beyond these qualifications. He quickly established a genuine rapport with our grandson and made a thorough assessment of his academic strengths and weaknesses. In this context, he went back and rebuilt our grandson’s foundations in math, filling in gaps that would no doubt have become increasingly problematic in the coming years. He improved our grandson’s attitude toward learning and noticeably grew his confidence. He showed him what and how to study and how to apply his new knowledge effectively. George’s mentorship has surpassed our expectations and has proven to be an invaluable asset for our grandson. We are very pleased to have found him and recommend him highly.”
✏️ “George is a tutor extraordinaire. He is a born teacher who genuinely enjoys the kids he teaches and the work he does. He inspires his students to do their best and is able to establish a rapport with each of them. George has tutored my three teens for several years, responding to each one’s different abilities. He has helped them in all kinds of math, chemistry, physics, ACT, SAT – you name it, George can handle it! George has given each one a very positive learning experience, leading to greater self-confidence and enthusiasm for the subject matter. George encourages each child to take responsibility for his or her own learning. George has a wonderful ability to present concepts in a highly organized manner. All three of my kids report that George’s explanations are better than what they received at school and help them to really understand the concept as opposed to a mechanical application of ‘the rule’. None of the three ever grumbled about working with George. If they are having difficulty with a topic, they don’t panic because they know George will explain it and help them understand the issues. They all three see George as a friend as well as a tutor, as do I. When my two oldest are now home from college, they love to visit with George and bring him up to date on their academic progress.”
✏️ “We first looked for a tutor when it became clear that our son did not understand the material in his honors pre-calculus class and was moving from a passing grade to a failing grade as the material became more difficult. We asked George to work with our son. He first worked to stop the immediate problem by working with him on a quiz by quiz basis. As this crisis diminished, he has devised a longer-range plan to bring our son up to the point where he can achieve on his own. George has a rare skill of understanding the material and being able to communicate it in a way that our son could understand. Thanks to George, our son has renewed his confidence and improved his grades enough that he is now on a course to respectfully pass his honors pre-calculus course.”
✏️ “He takes the time to understand the individual needs of our child, and goes the extra mile to make sure our son has all the material needed to be successful. He builds a clear picture for success with forward thinking and planning, makes sure the child is at ease, and provides great feedback on each lesson.”
✏️ “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.”
✏️ “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 has been tutoring me for eight months. While he has a relaxed personality, he thoroughly explains all important concepts and makes sure that I full understand the topics before moving on. His knowledge is vast and I really enjoy working with him.”
✏️ “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.”
✏️ “We simply could not ask for a better qualified, kind and sincere educator for our son.”
✏️ “Thank you for all that you do for our son!”
✏️ “Thank you so much for all you do for our son, and for us!”
✏️ “Math has always been an interesting topic to me; however, I never liked math class and the ways most of my teachers taught. George has been teaching me for two months so far and I feel like he has opened a whole new door of math for me. He has taught me many new topics and new ways to think. I really enjoy learning from George and I am very thankful that I was able to meet such a great teacher.”
✏️ “George hands down takes the prize for the best overall math tutor. He brought my math SAT score up 220 points while maintaining my honor role status. George is an authentic man who truly cares about his students.”
✏️ “My daughter went up two letter grades from a C to an A. In my book George gets an A+.”
✏️ “I’ve always struggled with pre-calculus and calculus. My teachers never taught the theory behind the problems, or how it was connected to the big picture. George makes it his mission to make sure you thoroughly understand the concepts of the subject.” (college calculus student)
✏️ “I’m proud of my accomplishments since he has worked with me.”
✏️ “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!”
✏️ “With SAT’s looming, I hired George to access and fill in the gaps in my son’s math knowledge. My son scored a 550 on his first practice SAT with George, so there were plenty of areas that needed attention! George came up with a comprehensive plan to rebuild my son’s math knowledge from the ground up. George taught my son to look at math through a completely different lens, which enabled him to think creatively as opposed to mechanically when he approached math problems. This strong foundation coupled with a creative approach to problem solving resulted in a 780 on the SAT. George was professional, methodical, and thoughtful during each session, and knew how to motivate and inspire my son. Although the work was hard at times, my son was always happy and grateful to be working with such a brilliant and kind teacher. I only wish all of my son’s math teachers could be as exceptionally qualified and compassionate as George!” (780 SAT Math)
✏️ “When George takes on a student, for him it is not just a job, for him it is a commitment which he honors spectacularly. A commitment to help you do well in school and also a commitment to actually learn the subject matter.”
✏️ “You have set the ‘gold standard’ that I don’t think anyone else can approach.”
✏️ “George is a brilliant mathematician who has the rare ability to convey that knowledge to our teenagers. He is an effective communicator who teaches with patience, determination and perseverance. George understands that confidence is the most important ingredient for learning and empowers our children to believe in themselves.”
✏️ “George worked with my son all summer to help him improve his math skills for the SAT’s. He’s enabled my son to feel more confident, and he has certainly instilled him with stronger math skills in preparation for the test – and equally important – for his future education. We’re hoping for good results on the SAT! We thank George for his ability to provide personal individual attention to our son.”
✏️ “Our middle school son started to have difficulties in mathematics. After working with him, George was able to assess and pinpoint his areas of difficulty. In addition, George had the patience and teaching strategies that worked with our son. Now he enjoys the challenge of math and feels so much better about his abilities. His grades have gone from a C+ to a B+, and now A’s.”
✏️ “Math SAT 800, 36 on the ACT Math, and 99% in Math Honors Pre-Calculus. In the time that we have worked with George that was the result. I do not believe anybody could have achieved better results. George, however, makes it look easy. What else can you say.”