I love how kids think and am forever curious about what motivates them, what worries them, and what matters to them. As the president and founder of PrepMatters, an education company that helps students succeed in high school and get into college, I’ve had the great opportunity as a professional “tutor-geek” since 1993 to spend more than 50,000 one-on-one hours helping students conquer an alphabet of standardized tests. My most rewarding work is helping students learn about their own learning, thinking, and effective ways to motivate themselves, handle stress, and perform at their best. In my work with students and Bill, I continue to explore every angle I can to help young people perform well when the stakes seem highest while also finding a healthy balance between what life asks of them and what they want out of their own lives.

I am a proud board member of CollegeTracks, which helps first-generation-to college students and students from low-income and immigrant households bridge systemic opportunity gaps to get to and through postsecondary education and on to a career pathway, and of the Safe Community Coalition, which provides programs and resources to reduce stress, foster mental wellness, and empower youth to thrive and make responsible choices about their health and safety.

I have written for the New York Times, The Telegraph, U.S. News & World Report & The Washington Post and to co-authored three books, two with my pal, Bill. I also host the The Self-Driven Child Podcast, where I talk with parenting and education experts. My colleagues finally convinced me to be active on his TikTok and Twitter, which remain works in progress.

I live in Washington, DC and hike and garden in rural NY with my college sweetheart and Latin-teacher wife, Vanessa. Our wonderful son and daughter attend college in Vermont and return occasionally to visit, mostly for the pizza at 2Amys.