Instructor Selection

Credentials Open the Door.
Teaching Gets You In.

A degree doesn’t make you a great teacher — and at ConnectPrep, we know the difference. Our vetting process goes beyond credentials to find instructors who are truly exceptional in the classroom. Most of our instructors bring 10 or more years of teaching experience, and every single one has proven they can transform how a student thinks — not just deliver content.

5
Vetting steps
10+
Avg. years teaching
5.0★
Average rating
ConnectPrep Origins
Born at Stanford. Built on Academic Excellence.
ConnectPrep was founded by a Stanford graduate with a singular belief: that teaching ability — not just academic pedigree — is what changes a student’s trajectory. A PhD means nothing if the student leaves the session more confused than when they arrived. That belief shapes every hire we make.
Stanford University Origins
Our instructors have taught at
Public & Private Schools Colleges & Universities Graduate Programs Research Institutions
3
References required
100%
Background checked
Live
Teaching demo required
10+
Yrs experience avg.
Our Standard

A 5-Step Process That Tests Teaching, Not Just Knowledge

Most tutoring companies look at resumes. ConnectPrep looks at something harder to fake: whether you can actually teach. Credentials matter — but the moment we care about most is the live teaching demonstration, where every candidate has to show us, in real time, that they can make something difficult feel clear.

01
Application & References
Candidates complete a detailed instructor application including contact information for three professional references who can speak directly to their teaching ability, subject mastery, and character. References are contacted and verified before the process advances.
02
Subject Mastery Interview
Every candidate faces a rigorous subject knowledge interview. This is not conversational — candidates demonstrate expert-level command of their subjects on the spot, under pressure. We want instructors who genuinely know their material deeply, because you cannot teach what you don’t understand. But we also look at how they explain their answers. Even here, at the knowledge test, teaching ability shows.
03
Live Teaching Demonstration
This is the step that matters most. Candidates deliver a live teaching demonstration to a ConnectPrep evaluator. We are watching for: Does the explanation land? Can they sense when something isn’t clicking and shift approaches mid-session? Do they make the material feel accessible without dumbing it down? Is there energy, warmth, and genuine engagement — or just information delivery? This is where most candidates fall short, and it’s exactly what we need to see.
04
Communication & Presentation Assessment
We evaluate general communication skills, the ability to present complex ideas in accessible language, and interpersonal effectiveness. ConnectPrep instructors must be able to build trust and rapport with students of all ages and backgrounds — not just explain the material.
05
Background Verification
All instructors undergo a comprehensive background check through the Criminal Records Bureau as a condition of joining the ConnectPrep team. Student safety is non-negotiable. Only after all five steps are completed — and only if each one meets our standard — does an instructor join our team.
Instructor Profile

What Makes a ConnectPrep Instructor

We respect impressive academic backgrounds — and most of our instructors have them. But the quality we weight above all else is this: can you teach? Not explain. Not lecture. Teach.

10+
Years avg. experience
Experience you can feel in every session.
Our instructors have seen every type of learner, every type of confusion, and every type of breakthrough. That depth of experience is what separates a great explanation from a transformative one.
Deep Subject Mastery — But That’s the Floor
Subject expertise is necessary but not sufficient. We expect every instructor to know their field at an advanced level — but the real test is whether they can explain it to a confused 15-year-old at 8pm on a Tuesday. That’s a completely different skill.
Relationship & Rapport
Students learn from people they trust. Our instructors are mentors first, teachers second — they build genuine connections with students and parents, creating an environment where confidence grows alongside academic performance.
Results Obsession
Our instructors are driven by student outcomes, not session hours. They track progress, adjust their approach when something isn’t working, and push every student toward their highest achievable performance level.
Local Curriculum Knowledge
Many ConnectPrep instructors are active classroom teachers at local public and private schools. They know the curriculum, the specific exam formats, and often collaborate directly with a student’s school teachers.
Confidence Building
Academic performance and self-belief are inseparable. ConnectPrep instructors use positive reinforcement, progressive challenge, and specific feedback to build the kind of confidence that sustains students well beyond the tutoring engagement.
Teaching Over Credentials
We have instructors with PhDs who are extraordinary teachers and instructors with bachelor’s degrees who are just as extraordinary. The degree is context. The teaching is the job. What matters is whether a student improves — and our instructors are obsessed with making that happen.
Meet the Team

A Few of Our Specialists

Every ConnectPrep instructor has passed our full 5-step process. Here’s a look at some of the specialists on our team.

Jeremy Fine
Jeremy Fine
Founder & Director
Stanford-trained educator and founder of ConnectPrep. Jeremy has personally guided hundreds of students to elite college admissions outcomes and oversees all instructor standards.
College Advising SAT/ACT Strategy
Matthew M.
Matthew M.
Mathematics Specialist
Ph.D. in Mathematics Education from University of East Anglia. Degrees from NYU and Columbia. Leads the mathematics department at Northeastern University–London. 8+ years teaching all levels of math.
Calculus Linear Algebra PhD
Ashwi B.
Ashwi B.
Sciences Specialist
Biology and sciences specialist with extensive experience in pre-med prerequisites, AP Sciences, and college-level coursework. Expert in translating complex biological concepts into clear, learnable frameworks.
Biology Chemistry Pre-Med
Katelyn B.
Katelyn B.
English & Writing Specialist
Specialist in English composition, literary analysis, college essay coaching, and academic writing at all levels. Recognized for helping students find and articulate their authentic voice.
English Writing Essays
Sarah J.
Sarah J.
College Counselor & Statistics
Nearly a decade of experience guiding 300+ students through college admissions. Certified in Strong Interest Inventory and Myers-Briggs Typology. Specialist in statistics and quantitative reasoning.
Statistics College Counseling SAT/ACT
ConnectPrep Instructor
Chris M.
Math & Economics Specialist
B.A. in Economics from Pitzer College. 10+ years of teaching experience, specializing in all levels of math, economics, and test prep for K–12, SAT, ACT, GRE, GMAT, and ISEE. Known for making even the most complex concepts approachable.
Math Economics Test Prep
ConnectPrep Instructor
Elena S.
SAT & ACT Specialist
8+ years as a college advisor and test prep specialist, guiding countless students through the complexities of standardized testing. Specializes in SAT and ACT with personalized strategies for each student’s strengths.
SAT ACT College Advising
ConnectPrep Instructor
Giuliana V.
Language Specialist
Born and raised in Argentina. Fluent in 6 languages: Spanish, English, Italian, Portuguese, Korean, and French. BA in International Relations. 10+ years teaching languages in person and online across diverse student backgrounds.
Spanish French Languages
Join ConnectPrep

Are You an Exceptional Teacher?

We’re not looking for the person with the longest resume — we’re looking for the person who lights up when a student finally gets it. If teaching is genuinely your craft and you have the experience to prove it, we want to talk. Most of our instructors bring 10 or more years in the classroom. All of them bring something that can’t be faked: a real ability to reach students.

Apply to Join the Team
Industry-leading hourly compensation based on grade level, subject, and credentials
Performance-based bonuses and clear pathways for hourly rate increases
Flexible scheduling across CT, NY, NJ and remote sessions nationwide
Become part of a team that is reinventing education — bold ideas, tech-driven approach
Genuine growth opportunities — ConnectPrep promotes from within