TEACHERS’ BIO 

PSAT/SAT/Critical Reading/Writing/Language Art 

Ms. Murphy has over 30 years of experience as a teacher of English in both public and private schools, serving as Department Chairperson of English High Schools. Ms. Murphy was the member of the new 2016 SAT Revision Committee.

Ms. Murphy was also the Instructional Leadership Specialist in English and content literacy specialist with the Springfield, Massachusetts Public Schools. Ms. Murphy was appointed to represent her school district on the Model Curriculum Writing Project for Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and was recognized as a top author of standards-based English curriculum, winning note from achieve.org, a nationally well-known Education Think Tank.

Ms. Murphy’s students like her classic teaching style, her one-to-one coaching in writing, her individual attention to each student, her in-depth knowledge and information on the contents and scoring of the new designed SAT and PSAT. (Link: New SAT).

Her students gained solid knowledge on grammar, reading comprehension, and essay writing from her teaching and lecturing. Students come from various local high schools: TJ, Oakton, Madison, McLean, Langley, Chantilly, as well as students from further areas of Fredericksburg, Leesburg, Loudoun county, and Maryland counties. For students’ testimonies, please review the link: New SAT

Math Instructor (SAT, PSAT, AP Calculus AB/BC, PreCalculus)

Math Professor N. has taught Math for over 20 years at all levels, from middle and high school through advanced college level. He helped establish the advanced mathematics program at the new Governor’s School at Innovation Park, serving as the Mathematics Chairperson and liaison between the School, and the George Mason University Math Department. He taught AP Calculus AB/BC, Multivariable Calculus, SAT Math, as well as supervised student STEM projects and served as student adviser.

Professor N. is a dedicated Math teacher and delivers his Math teaching with enthusiasm: engaging students, sparking curiosity, and jump-starting motivation. He taught SAT Math at our summer camp, and received overwhelming praise from the students and parents. We are very proud of having him bring his 22 years’ Mathematics teaching experience to Oakton Academy.

Comments from Professor N’s students:

“I loved his class and he was so helpful and made calculus more fun despite it being incredibly hard. The key to pass is practice.” “This is my second time taking one of his math classes. I highly recommend taking him. His quizzes are difficult but his tests are straightforward and he gives you a practice test that pretty much resembles exactly what you will see on the actual test. He really cares about his classes and makes the long lectures interesting.”

PSAT/SAT, AP Calculus Instructor:

Our excellent teacher Ms. J. graduated from Georgetown University with Magna Cum Laude. She successfully majored in three key areas: Mathematics, Accounting, and Finance. She worked as senior adviser for Georgetown’s Business Strategy Challenge Case Competition. At Georgetown University, she has been teaching and tutoring SAT, PSAT, AP Calculus, Statistics, Finance and Accounting courses. Ms. Jenny has also been reviewing college essays for high school students. She coaches, advises students in college admission and application.

Ms. J. worked for Wall Street J.P. Morgan in New York at the risk management department. She also worked at DC law firms and PCAOB accounting firm. Ms. J. serves as the Associate at PwC Financial Service Assurance, and she plans to pursue Ph.D in Mathematics. 

Advanced Reading/Creative Writing

Ms. Ivy graduated with greatest honor of summa cum laude from the English and Political Science Department. Ms. Ivy has a JD Degree, as well as a MFA (Master of Fine Arts) in Creative Writing. She has published many essays and poems. Back in high school, Ivy was the recipient of an International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma, as well as a National Merit Semifinalist Award.

Ms. Ivy taught  “Creative Writing” and “English Composition” and other college level courses at English Department, George Mason University. She also taught at Washington DC, a local private school English and Writing.  

Ivy has experience teaching college and high school writing, which includes helping students with college applications and essays. She reviewed students’ essays, and most recently a student who was accepted in transferring from George Mason to Purdue University.  Ms. Ivy brings her impressive writing talents and publication accomplishments to Oakton Academy. Ms. Ivy won Academy of American University & College Poetry Prize in 2008, awarded and judged by the poet Scrikanth Reedy, who was a graduate from Harvard English Literature department.

Ms. Ivy has exceptional writing talent and outstanding standard test experience (SAT, LSAT). In additional to her J.D. from University of Alabama, she was also an Associate Editor of the Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Law Review, as well as a “Truman Capote Fellowship” recipient. It is our privilege to have Ms. Ivy teach teach at our center.

英文写作老师 Ms. IVY G. 获得J.D. degree，在GMU英文系任教，为英文系的主力. 她教授大学二年级学生的英文写作. 曾在DC私立学校(Cornerstone Schools of DC)教英文写作。IVY已发表二十余篇诗歌文和章，侧重于创意和诗歌写作(creative writing and poetry), 钟爱教学和写作. Ms. IVY 曾任美国大学诗歌协会的副编辑，荣获2008 Academy of American Poets 诗歌作品大奖. 此届比赛由著名诗人Srikanth Reddy为裁判 (其毕业于哈佛大学英文系).

Science (Chemistry and Biology)

Ms. Lindsay currently teaches Biology and Chemistry at FCPS.  She is certified in Biology, Chemistry, and Mathematics.  Ms. Lindsay has taught Biology, Genetics, and Microbiology to college students at Illinois Wesleyan University, where she graduated with cum laude.  

Ms. Lindsay holds a Master of Science degree from College of Agricultural and Life Science, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Wisconsin, Madison. Her thesis was on “Aminoglycoside Antibiotics Resistance in Wisconsin Apple Orchard Soil.” (2009)

Her chemistry and biology teaching includes bubble lab (looking at properties of a membrane), an enzyme lab (using yeast and hydrogen peroxide). She adds a focus on graphing a data interpretation to strengthen many students’ science skills and to perform well in the science test.

Ms. Lindsay’s teaching philosophy and goals are to provide a positive and safe learning environment for all enrolled in the class; to utilize her broad biology training in the naturalscience teaching; to expose modern techniques of science to increase students’ academic achievement.

She has worked with students on genetics unit, including classical and Mendelian genetics, molecular genetics, protein synthesis, and an introduction to molecular research techniques, including DNA sequencing, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), and cloning. We are very excited to have Ms. Lindsay lead the summer science, reading, writing, and debate program for 5/6/7th graders.  One parent commented: “It is the best science camp I have ever attended. I will definitely sign up again next summer.”

English Language: Classic Reading, Creative Writing, Debate

Instructor Ms. C. brings her excellent English language and literature background, and her years of experience in working with children to Oakton Academy. She loves Shakespeare’s work, and directs plays for the children as they learn Shakespeare’s work. She majored in English Creative Writing, and has had extensive experience working with advanced and gifted middle and high school students in George Mason University’s Early Identification program (EIP), a program designed to promote promising college-bound students.

Ms. C. has been mentoring, tutoring and teaching to students from K – 12. Her master’s major is on Curriculum and Instruction. She is bringing her creative and unique teaching style to our classic reading and writing program.

Ms. C. also has years of experience working with the Girl Scouts of America, helping prepare young students for a successful future academically and professionally. She won the Presidential Volunteer Service Award. She has also won a variety of academic awards, including the AP Scholar Award presented by the College Board. Ms. C. brings her talent and passion for Literature, Language, and Education to the students at Oakton Academy.

Classic Reading/Writing/History 

Ms. Sanda received Master degree of “Educational Instruction and Curriculum”. Her focus is on curriculum design, writing and teaching for K – 8 th graders. Ms. Sanda has taught in Arlington and Fairfax counties, and she is currently teaching AAP at FCPS.  Ms. Sanda has successfully taught 4th – 8 th Graders “Advanced Reading & Writing, ” “Science and Writing.” Ms. Sanda’s creative, and effective teaching style has received overwhelming praise from parents and students. One parent commented: “It was the best camp the kids ever had.” Ms. Sanda provided the most unique and creative way to teach students reading, writing and science.

Ms. Sanda graduated from UVA with honors. Her strength and skills of of WRITING, SCIENCE, and EDUCATION add to this vibrant and creative learning environment. Students love her “bingo and jeopardy games”, which are used to test students’ knowledge on vocabulary, contents of reading materials, characters from the books, and authors’ figurative language. It is amazing to see how each student enjoys her efficient and enriched, and fun teaching style.

Math Teacher (PSAT/SAT, AP Cal)

Our excellent Math teacher Ms. J. graduated from Georgetown University with Magna Cum Laude. She successfully majored in three key areas: Mathematics, Accounting, and Finance. She worked as senior adviser for Georgetown’s Business Strategy Challenge Case Competition. At Georgetown University, she has been teaching and tutoring SAT, PSAT, AP Calculus, Statistics, Finance and Accounting courses. Ms. Jenny has also been reviewing college essays for high school students. She coaches, advises students in college admission and application.

Ms. J. worked for Wall Street J.P. Morgan in New York at the risk management department. She also worked at DC law firms and PCAOB accounting firm. Ms. J. serves as the Associate at PwC Financial Service Assurance, and she plans to pursue Ph.D in Mathematics.

Math instructor Ms. F. has been teaching Mathematics to students in Northern Virginia since 1992. Her teaching experience ranges between all subject areas in mathematics from Pre-algebra, Geometry, Advanced Algebra 2, and Calculus; through undergraduate college Mathematics (Multi-variable Calculus; Linear Algebra, etc). In addition to these subject areas, she has developed differentiated instruction for standardized tests including AP Calculus, AP Statistics, SAT Math Reasoning, SAT Math Subject Tests, and GRE Mathematics section.

In addition to teaching, she is also involved in research on the professional development of mathematics teachers funded by the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE). She is very well recognized and respected by local students and parents.

English Teacher (Creative Writing, Poetry and Essay Writing, College Application & Essays) 

Ms. Ivy graduated with greatest honor of summa cum laude from the English and Political Science Department. She also received Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Writing, published many poems and articles. Ms. Ivy taught “Creative Writing” and “English Composition” courses at English Department, George Mason University.

Ms. Ivy brings her impressive writing talents and publication accomplishments to Oakton Academy. Ms. Ivy won Academy of American University & College Poetry Prize in 2008, awarded and judged by the poet Scrikanth Reedy, who was a graduate from Harvard English Literature department.

Ms. Ivy has exceptional writing talent and outstanding standard test experience. She holds a J.D. from University of Alabama. She was an Associate Editor of the Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Law Review, as well as a “Truman Capote Fellowship” recipient. It is our privilege to have Ms. Ivy teach our students at Oakton Academy.

Physics Teacher (AP Physics, SAT Physics, Physics Fundamental)

Instructor:  Dr. Frank Lu is an experienced teacher with PhD in Physics & Artificial Intelligence. He received degrees from Fudan University, University of Maryland, and Duke University. Dr. Lu tutored and taught college students at UMBC (MD), and American University (DC). He also taught students from TJ, Oakton, Langley high school,  as well as other private schools. Most students who took the classes received excellent scores in SAT Physics (700 – 800) and AP Physics (5).

Since 2014, Dr. Lu’s AP and SAT Physics students got admitted to the following top schools, Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Chicago, Duke, NYU, UC Berkeley, Georgetown,  Upenn Wharton, Columbia University,  etc. Congratulations to our seniors!

Oakton Academy Senior Adviser 

Professor Bintong holds a Ph.D from Wharton Business School, Upenn. He has since taught business in Washington State University, and University of Delaware. He is the Associate Dean and Professor of Business Administration at U. of Delaware. Professor Bintong has coached and guided students in college applications, and essay writings. His students were admitted to top schools, some graduated with careers in Goldman Sachs and Blackstone, and some of his students got admitted to Harvard Business School. Professor Bintong has more than 25 years research and teaching experience. He has been a consultant for major companies, AT&T, Nordstrom, Inc., North Railroad, Blackstone, etc.

Oakton Academy Senior Consultant

Dr. Zheng is the lead in Environmental and Water Resources Engineering. He holds Ph.D from Marquette University, Wisconsin. Dr. Zheng has successfully advised high school students in SAT preparation, college application preparation as well as career strategy and management. His students got into Stanford University, Medical Schools, and prestigious Ph.D programs. He has in-depth experience in reviewing college and medical schools’ application essays, is highly regarded as the best adviser to students and parents.

Public Speaking and Debating

Coach Edmond mentors, coaches, and teaches Public Speaking skills to a wide range of students, from elementary aged to adults. His teaching style enables all students to overcome stage fright, refine their speech message, allow the inner voice to be heard. The coach is currently teaching at local Hope Chinese School, Chantilly Campus.

Coach Edmond is the 2009 District 27 Toastmasters Humorous Speech Champion which included over 4,500 Toastmasters in the Northern Virginia, Southern Washington DC and Southern Maryland. He earned the Toastmaster International Highest Honor, the Distinguished Toastmaster Award in 2012.  He holds a Master’s degree and PMP certificate. He has been a Program and Project Manager for major companies, including AT&T and the Patent Office.

Coach Alice graduated from Georgetown University with Magna Cum Laude, and majored in International Finance & Business. She was the Director of Business Strategy Case Competition, and Partner of Innovo Solutions. Alice worked at Georgetown Career Center, coached students for college admissions,  mock interviews and job applications. As a local TJ graduate student, Alice received a leadership award from TJ. She organized Children’s Reading Clubs, and taught Public Speaking to high school students at Oakton Academy. Alice has also delivered more than 10 seminars and speeches to the local community on College Application, Admission and Interviewing. She has helped recruit college students to the well-known management consulting firm Price Waterhouse. We are excited to have Alice bring her public speaking talent and college admission knowledge to Oakton Academy.