Our Staff
Wontaek Yoo
Wontaek received a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Yonsei University in Korea and then received a M.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering(ECE) department at Purdue University. He grew more interested in teaching while being a teaching assistant for the Physics department and ECE department, and decided to switch his study focus and earn another M.S. degree in Physics from Purdue University. He then went to work for a test prep center in Atlanta, gaining much experience and insight into how best to complement the education students were receiving in schools. To become more knowledgeable in Math, the subject that is in most demand, and to keep up with the latest trend of making various tools for statistics much more available to everyone in the world, he studied and earned a third M.S. degree in Computational Mathematics from Duquesne University.
In addition to Mathematics, Statistics, and Physics, Wontaek studied how best to teach students other subjects like Chemistry, Biology, Computer Science, World History, Music Theory, and many other subjects. He often posts interesting Math or Science problems and solutions to the Complete Learning Academy’s blog sites. He is interested not just in elite students, but also students with special needs. He is actively involved with Special Olympics athletes and is a certified coach for Special Needs Basketball Players. He also has experience conducting many different types of choirs which taught him to successfully accomodate student at any learning level.
At Complete Learning Academy, Wontaek will teach any course related to Math, Science, History, or Music Theory. He is also the emergency Reading class instructor in case all other English instructors are unavailable for a specific time. Wontaek strongly believes that true learning can grow a person’s wisdom, helping the whole society become better, and a student should be praised if they improve their knowledge and mastery, no matter how small the improvement may be.
In addition to Mathematics, Statistics, and Physics, Wontaek studied how best to teach students other subjects like Chemistry, Biology, Computer Science, World History, Music Theory, and many other subjects. He often posts interesting Math or Science problems and solutions to the Complete Learning Academy’s blog sites. He is interested not just in elite students, but also students with special needs. He is actively involved with Special Olympics athletes and is a certified coach for Special Needs Basketball Players. He also has experience conducting many different types of choirs which taught him to successfully accomodate student at any learning level.
At Complete Learning Academy, Wontaek will teach any course related to Math, Science, History, or Music Theory. He is also the emergency Reading class instructor in case all other English instructors are unavailable for a specific time. Wontaek strongly believes that true learning can grow a person’s wisdom, helping the whole society become better, and a student should be praised if they improve their knowledge and mastery, no matter how small the improvement may be.
Dr. John J Zedolik, Jr.
John received his B.A. in English from Dickinson College and Ph.D. in English from Duquesne University. For thirteen years, he taught English and Latin at the Ellis School. He is an adjunct instructor at Chatham University and Duquesne University and has taught at the University of Pittsburgh and Slippery Rock University. His experience at these universities includes a variety of writing and literature classes, both in-person and online. John has had further experience teaching at private schools in Massachusetts and central Pennsylvania.
His dissertation, entitled “The Transcendent Comedy of the Canterbury Tales: Harmony in ‘Quyting,’ Harmony in Fragmentation,” argues that the Canterbury Tales as a whole is a comedy due to the “quyting,” or balancing, which tales and tellers enact upon each other. A chapter in the dissertation provided the germ of an article he published in Studies in Philology, entitled “‘The Gardyn is Enclosed Al Aboute’: The Inversion of Exclusivity in the Merchant’s Tale,” regarding literal and figurative enclosures in that particular tale, one of the comedic works from the collection that especially shows Chaucer exploring the sophisticated nature of comedy.
Additionally, John has published hundreds of poems in various journals in the US, Canada, UK, India, and Austria. He also has poetry forthcoming in journals based in The Netherlands and Australia. He recently published his first collection of poetry, entitled Salient Points and Sharp Angles (C.W. Books).
At Complete Learning Academy, he tutors students in ACT and SAT English, Reading, and Essay test preparation. Additionally, John has tutored students in Latin and Greek Etymology, English grammar, and general essay composition. He finds the small classes at CLA particularly rewarding, as student, tutor, and parents work collaboratively to construct lessons that best aid the student.
His dissertation, entitled “The Transcendent Comedy of the Canterbury Tales: Harmony in ‘Quyting,’ Harmony in Fragmentation,” argues that the Canterbury Tales as a whole is a comedy due to the “quyting,” or balancing, which tales and tellers enact upon each other. A chapter in the dissertation provided the germ of an article he published in Studies in Philology, entitled “‘The Gardyn is Enclosed Al Aboute’: The Inversion of Exclusivity in the Merchant’s Tale,” regarding literal and figurative enclosures in that particular tale, one of the comedic works from the collection that especially shows Chaucer exploring the sophisticated nature of comedy.
Additionally, John has published hundreds of poems in various journals in the US, Canada, UK, India, and Austria. He also has poetry forthcoming in journals based in The Netherlands and Australia. He recently published his first collection of poetry, entitled Salient Points and Sharp Angles (C.W. Books).
At Complete Learning Academy, he tutors students in ACT and SAT English, Reading, and Essay test preparation. Additionally, John has tutored students in Latin and Greek Etymology, English grammar, and general essay composition. He finds the small classes at CLA particularly rewarding, as student, tutor, and parents work collaboratively to construct lessons that best aid the student.
Hong-Thao Nguyen
Hong-Thao Nguyen received her Master’s degree in English with an emphasis in creative writing from the University of Iowa. She has designed and taught courses in rhetoric, composition, literature, and advanced poetry at the University of Iowa. She was also a Teaching Assistant Coordinator for the Iowa Writers' Workshop where she trained graduate teaching assistants in how to instruct English courses.
She currently is an instructor at University of Pittsburgh and CCAC. In addition to instructing postsecondary students, she has experience in teaching various styles of writing to high school and middle school students. She constructs her classes with the objective of improving her students’ skills in critical thinking, interpretation, and communication through engagement with the reading materials and their peers. She enjoys sharing her passion for language with others and looks forward to helping students succeed in their goals, whether they are preparing for standardized tests, such as the SATs/ACTs, or need additional assistance in their English classes. When she is not teaching, she edits for the national journal the Iowa Review and is currently working on a manuscript. Her publications can be found in the Colorado Review, Lana Turner: A Journal of Poetry and Opinion, Critical Quarterly, and elsewhere.
She currently is an instructor at University of Pittsburgh and CCAC. In addition to instructing postsecondary students, she has experience in teaching various styles of writing to high school and middle school students. She constructs her classes with the objective of improving her students’ skills in critical thinking, interpretation, and communication through engagement with the reading materials and their peers. She enjoys sharing her passion for language with others and looks forward to helping students succeed in their goals, whether they are preparing for standardized tests, such as the SATs/ACTs, or need additional assistance in their English classes. When she is not teaching, she edits for the national journal the Iowa Review and is currently working on a manuscript. Her publications can be found in the Colorado Review, Lana Turner: A Journal of Poetry and Opinion, Critical Quarterly, and elsewhere.
Jessica Kwiatkowski
Jessica received her B.S. In English and B.A. in Education from Duquesne University. While attending the university she tutored students at the Writing Center. She taught tenth and eleventh grade Language Arts at Clairton City High School for two years while obtaining her Masters in Special Education from Slippery Rock University. After obtaining her Masters she became the Special Education Supervisor for grades 6-8 and taught sixth grade Language Arts at Community Day School. At Complete Learning Academy she tutors students in Reading and Writing at various grade levels (K-12). She carefully constructs each lesson to target the student’s specific learning needs. She also provides SAT and ACT English, Reading, Writing and Essay instruction. She creates and prepares each lesson and individualizes the materials to the specific criteria in which the student needs to improve and practice on. In addition, she strives to create lessons that not only engage her students, but also encourages them to develop a love for learning.
Anne-Lise Girard
Anne-Lise Girard has a Chemical Engineer diploma, a M.Sc. in Molecular Chemistry and a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from France. Since 2014 Fall semester, she is teaching General and Organic Chemistry at Robert Morris University (RMU) as an adjunct. In 2015 Fall semester, She also taught as a substitute for the M.S. program in Green Chemistry at Chatham University. Besides, she is tutoring Chemistry (high-school and college level) and French (any level) online and in-person. At Complete Learning Academy, she tutors students in ACT, AP, SAT and Olympiads of Chemistry. She has 10 years of teaching and research experience. She finds it most gratifying to assist students in their growth and development. It is a pleasure for her to watch a student come to understand something new and gain confidence. It is also important to realize that her teaching can positively influence a student’s future. CLA small classes are perfectly adapted to student’s individual needs.
Through her work experience, she has presented and defended her research on various occasions (seminars, symposia, and grant writing) in front of different audiences (children, college students, professors and researchers) and in different languages (French, English and Portuguese). Through her international experiences in France, Japan and Brazil, she has gained a broad work perspective in a multicultural environment. These management experiences have afforded her additional opportunities to teach and to gain understanding of the learning characteristics of student populations that vary in age, culture, motivation and background.
Through her work experience, she has presented and defended her research on various occasions (seminars, symposia, and grant writing) in front of different audiences (children, college students, professors and researchers) and in different languages (French, English and Portuguese). Through her international experiences in France, Japan and Brazil, she has gained a broad work perspective in a multicultural environment. These management experiences have afforded her additional opportunities to teach and to gain understanding of the learning characteristics of student populations that vary in age, culture, motivation and background.
Laurel Hilliker
Laurel Hilliker received her Bachelor’s degree in Asian Studies and History cum laude with a minor in Classics from Pomona College. She has many years’ experience working with students to aid in all parts of the college application process and has worked as a teaching assistant for first-year undergraduate writing seminars and subjects spanning the liberal arts, including courses in literature and history. She was also a Fulbright Fellow in Kyoto, Japan from 2018-2019.
She presently (student) teaches eleventh grade English and enjoys most providing students with a platform to strengthen their aptitudes for analysis and composition, focusing on source texts that correspond with student interests and provide access to a wealth of world literature in translation. She has worked with students of all ages to create a foundation for success on standardized tests (including the ACT, CogAT, SAT, TOEFL), in coursework, and written communication skills and enjoys collaborating with students of all ages.
Outside of classes, she takes time to read, write, run, and cook and is keen on exploring new (to her) places, ideas, music, and food.
She presently (student) teaches eleventh grade English and enjoys most providing students with a platform to strengthen their aptitudes for analysis and composition, focusing on source texts that correspond with student interests and provide access to a wealth of world literature in translation. She has worked with students of all ages to create a foundation for success on standardized tests (including the ACT, CogAT, SAT, TOEFL), in coursework, and written communication skills and enjoys collaborating with students of all ages.
Outside of classes, she takes time to read, write, run, and cook and is keen on exploring new (to her) places, ideas, music, and food.
