Ironwood Advantage is a tutoring service available to both traditional and homeschool students in the Middle Tennessee area providing both 1:1 and small group tutoring to supplement and enrich student achievement. Students who need short-term or long-term support in a single subject, multiple subjects, test preparation, or help developing the skills necessary for academic success can find amazing tutors to help them reach their full potential.
Parents are encouraged to read through the tutor profiles listed below and contact each directly to inquire about their services. Each tutor works as an independent contractor and engages directly with the families and students they are supporting. Each tutor is highly qualified and will custom-build a support system and learning plan designed to meet the needs of each specific student they tutor.
Linda Oursler
K-6th grade Reading and English/Language Arts
Linda is a Neuro-Educational certified evaluator and educator. In addition to her bachelor’s and master’s degrees, she is a certified Wilson Reading and Orton Gillingham learning and language development reading specialist and has been tutoring students of all ages since 2011. She consistently receives highest praise from parents as she sees incredible success with students progressing through their reading levels. She loves her work and loves the students she has the privilege of tutoring.
KATIE HOEPFNER
4th-9th grade Mathematics
Katie is a graduate of Illinois State University, where she obtained her master's degree in Teaching and Learning and her bachelor’s degree in Middle Level Education with a focus on math education. She has over 11 years experience teaching and tutoring kids in grades 5 through 9. Katie’s lessons are well thought out and planned, and she delivers them in a way that makes it easy for students to understand. One of her favorite things about teaching is seeing the math confidence of her students grow over time.
Interested in Small Group Summer Math Tutoring
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ABBIE JENNINGS HAYS
K-4th grade Reading and K-2nd grade Math
Abbie has a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education with a minor in Human Development and Family Studies from Auburn University. She has taught second grade in Nashville for 6 years and is currently teaching a first/second combination class at Ironwood Academy. Abbie is trained in the Orton-Gillingham method for reading instruction. She is looking forward to engaging in one-on-one and small group tutoring sessions.
ELizabeth elfers
6th-12th grade English Literature and Composition
Elizabeth Elfers first began teaching in 2007 and has worked in the complementary fields of education and ministry ever since. In addition to her Bachelor's Degree from Xavier University, she also has a Master's Degree from Vanderbilt University. She has extensive experience teaching and tutoring students in middle school and high school. Her passion is to help students use writing as a vehicle for communication and self-expression. She loves helping students improve their writing in the areas of grammar and mechanics; structure and organization; and transitions and flow. She also has experience helping students explore their own creative writing and helping college-bound students perfect their college essays.
julie lankford
K-2nd grade Reading and Math
Julie is an Early Childhood Specialist with a degree in Education from Baylor University. Ms. Lankford taught for Metro Nashville Public Schools for ten years before taking time off to homeschool her children and is currently teaching kindergarten at Ironwood Academy. She is very familiar with early elementary learning standards in all subjects and is an expert at designing and implementing curriculum plans to meet the needs of individual students.
Kathy boyd
K-3rd grade Reading, Writing and Math
Kathy is a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University with a Master’s of Education Degree. She has recently retired with 38 years of teaching experience in first grade and kindergarten. Kathy has over 30 years of private tutoring experience in reading, math, and writing. She is trained in the Wilson Reading Program and Kathy Richardson Math, as well as experience in the Lucy Calkins writing program. Kathy loves observing the growth in every child when their individual learning needs are addressed in a small setting!
Amy SKILLICORN
3rd grade - College Level Latin
Amy graduated from UGA with her Masters in Classical Languages and is currently finishing her PhD in Latin. Her expertise is building foundational English skills through Latin: Grammar, Vocabulary/Derivatives, and Sentence Structure. She has curated a Latin tutoring curriculum focused on grammar, vocabulary (English derivatives & Greek and Latin roots), sentence structure, and Roman mythology + culture (through Latin stories) as it relates to students today. She has a passion for student engagement and loves making games and activities to reinforce the academic rigor!
paige wilson
3rd-8th grade Mathematics
Paige graduated from Lipscomb University with a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science and minor in Pure Mathematics. She continued her education at Colorado State University and earned a Masters and PhD in Civil Engineering. She served as a Teaching Assistant in graduate school and has tutored mathematics for students ranging from kindergarten to college ages. She recently began the homeschool journey with her own kids and has loved instilling a passion for mathematics into their daily curriculum.
Ironwood Advantage Tutoring allows parents to contract directly with tutors with no administration fee. Rates and terms are set at the discretion of the tutors.
Ironwood Academy provides classroom space and its facilities for tutors to work at a convenient location open to all Middle Tennessee families. Ironwood Academy assumes no responsibility or liability for the outcomes of tutoring or activities while students are working privately with tutors on campus.
Franklin, TN 37067
Our state-of-the-art campus is conveniently located in the center of the thriving Aspen Grove Corporate Center, off of Seaboard Lane in Cool Springs.