Who We Are
Ms. M - owner & private tutor
Hi there! My name is Meri Sue Michalak (AKA Ms. M) and I’m the owner of Learning with Ms. M, as well as one of the private tutors here. You’ll find that I’m an engaging, personable and quirky teacher who values relationships with students and their families. Most of my students recognize me from my laugh and flexible style of teaching. I believe every student deserves an equitable and quality education. This means that they deserve the time spent to find the best way that works for them; we’re here to guide and scaffold them into that place. Tutoring and education isn’t just about content, it’s about becoming a life-longer which in turn affects every aspect of life. I believe that if your child finds excitement in learning, has confidence and has the tools and strategies needed for their style of learning, they will succeed. 100%, without a doubt. Children never cease to amaze me.
Ms. M has a Bachelor of Science degree in Interdisciplinary Studies and is a certified educator, Early Childhood-8th grade. She has over 10 years of professional experience in childcare and educational settings. She lives near Austin, TX with her husband, spunky daughter, two dogs Luke and Willie, and two hamsters Betsy and Timmy.
Ms. Payton - Virtual Private Tutor
Hi there! My name is Payton and I live in Texas with my husband and two dogs. I graduated from the University of South Florida with a bachelor’s degree in health science, concentrating in biological sciences and social and behavioral health. I am also currently pursuing a master’s degree in speech and language pathology in hopes of becoming a speech therapist. I have over five years of ELA and math tutoring experience combined, and have had the opportunity to work with a wide variety of ages both online and in-person. Teaching and working with children is a great passion of mine. I strive to help students achieve their goals by building foundational skills to strengthen their confidence and allow them to be successful in all of their academic endeavors. Whether your preschooler is working on letter sounds, or your middle schooler is dealing with equivalent fractions, I have the experience necessary to help your child grow in whatever area they need. When I’m not tutoring, I love cooking, running, and hiking with my dogs. I can’t wait to see you in our next session! :)
Ms. Kathy - In person Private tutor
Hi there! My name is Kathy Hill, and I am a private tutor at Learning with Ms. M. You'll find that I am passionate about learning, reading, writing, theatre, and history. I believe reading is the key that jumpstarts all learning. Reading is a joy, not a chore. I love tutoring because my students and I grow as we learn from each other. My students discover the beauty of language and how words and ideas connect. When students are provided with a safe space to grow, they are more willing to take chances, experiment, and experience authentic growth. One-on-one tutoring is a freedom from distractions, where students are encouraged to explode with their own thoughts and patterns of thinking to tie these discoveries together. Hopefully, this will result in life-time learning.
In my spare time, you will find me with my kids, Kamryn (15), Austin (27), his wife Brandy (26), and our adorable dachshund/beagle mix, Copper "Cuteness" Hill. We love to read, write, travel, play games, listen to music, watch movies, and be anywhere near the water.
Mr. Cameron - in person & virtual private tutor
Hello! My name is Cameron. I am a private tutor here at Learning with Ms. M. I have worked in education for 3 years, doing a mix of after school programs and 1:1 tutoring. I was born and raised in San Diego, California and received my Bachelor's degree in Biology from Cal Poly Pomona. I have a huge passion for math and science fields and love changing people's perception of “their least favorite subjects.” I want to give every student the opportunity to love these subjects as much as I do. I believe every student starts, and develops, in their own unique way and it's my duty to cater to their learning needs and spark a passion for lifelong learning.
Outside of my professional life, I enjoy a ton of different hobbies. I love to play video games, watch anime, play guitar, go bowling, play with my German Shepherd (Riley), play Magic The Gathering, Dungeons and Dragons, and many more.