Our Team
As educators, our experience spans more than 50 years, and we hold advanced degrees in English, education and mass communication. As parents, we understand the world our students navigate in their lives beyond the classroom.
Jane Hirschhorn
Writing Coach and Owner
Jane Hirschhorn has been offering writing support to students for more than three decades. She brings expertise, enthusiasm and a sense of humor to her work with students and their families. Jane has taught and tutored at several Boston-area schools, including two schools serving students with learning challenges. For nine years, Jane was a writing tutor at the Mount Ida College Writing Center, working with Stefanie Jeruss and serving as the Writing Center’s supervisor during her later years there. Jane has also published articles about writing tutoring in professional journals. She holds a Master of Arts in Teaching from Tufts, a Bachelor’s degree in English from Emory and has taken courses in Special Education from Boston College. Jane lives in Newton, MA with her husband and gray and white cat, Max. She is the mother to two young adults, both of whom are recent college graduates.
Sheza Alqera
Writing Coach
Sheza Alqera has been working as a tutor, teacher and advisor for the past eight years at Harvard University. She holds a master’s degree from Harvard Divinity School and a bachelor’s degree in English and Economics from Brown University, where she graduated magna cum laude. Sheza is currently pursuing a PhD at Harvard in Near Eastern Studies and Civilizations.
In her spare time, Sheza enjoys reading, writing, painting and playing with her Labradoodle, Leia. Sheza is also a yoga instructor and loves talking about mindfulness practices.
Sharon Finberg
Math and Science Coach
Sharon Finberg has been teaching and tutoring math and science for more than three decades. In the past, Sharon taught physics and mathematics at public and private high schools in Wakefield and Reading, MA and was a physics professor at Bentley University and Clark University. Sharon holds a Ph.D. from Pennsylvania State University, a master’s degree in optical sciences from the University of Arizona and a bachelor’s degree in physics from Johns Hopkins University. In addition to tutoring, Sharon works as a long-term substitute teacher of physics at Reading Memorial High School and is a Science Olympiad coach at Parker Middle School, also in Reading. Sharon lives in Reading, MA with her husband, younger children, three cats and four gerbils.
Beth Herbert
Writing Coach
Beth Herbert has been supporting high school students on writing assignments for nearly a decade, first as a high school English teacher and for the past five years as a college essay coach. Her blend of gentle encouragement and targeted feedback has helped hundreds of students with their college admissions essays. Beth holds two master’s degrees; one in public administration from Northeastern University and the other in Literary Cultures from New York University. Beth earned her bachelor’s degree in English from Boston College. She lives in Reading, MA with her husband, three school-age children and an inquisitive turtle named Peanut.
Amanda Madenberg
Writing Coach
Amanda Madenberg has worked as a college essay writing coach for the past five years. She holds master’s degrees in school counseling and education from Teachers College of Columbia University and certification in College Counseling. Amanda earned her bachelor’s degree in human development with a minor in writing and education from Cornell University. She currently serves as the director of college counseling and postsecondary planning at a New York city public school. She is also a co-author of Love the Journey to College. In her free time, Amanda enjoys reading, traveling and spending time outside.
Stefanie Jeruss
Writing Coach
Stefanie Jeruss has been a writing coach for more than 10 years, working both in schools and with tutoring companies. She has worked with students in middle school through college. For six years, Stefanie worked at the Mount Ida College Writing Center. Stefanie holds a master’s degree in Mass Communication from Boston University and a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Rochester. Stefanie also works as a writing coach at the Reading and Writing Center at Massachusetts Bay Community College. She lives in Needham, MA with her husband, her two school-age children and an orange cat named Oscar.
Cassandra Luca
Writing Coach
Cassandra Luca has more than eight years of experience as a writing coach tutoring middle school and high school students for both academic and enrichment work. She is currently pursuing a PhD in English at Duke University. Her research draws on computational methods to investigate reading publics; her primary interests are irony, contemporary literature, the effects of the internet on the novel and morality/ethics in contemporary novels and culture. Cassandra holds a master’s degree in English from McGill University and a bachelor’s degree from Harvard University, where she graduated magna cum laude. She is currently a PhD candidate in English at Duke University. A published writer, Cassandra enjoys climbing, running and knitting in her spare time.