About Laura

Let’s Reach Your Goals Together

I believe that learning should be engaging, personalized, strengths-based, and nonjudgmental. With over a decade of experience as a classroom teacher and a background in inclusive education, I help students create and make progress towards academic and executive functioning goals, setting them up with strategies to support them throughout their academic careers and beyond.

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Laura Gould with her teaching setup behind her (laptop, microphone, light, and desk).

Hi, I’m Laura!

I’ve been in education for over a decade, with ten years of experience as a classroom teacher of students from kindergarten through twelfth grade. I spent my first two years in education as a middle school English teacher. After that, I went back to school to get my special education credential, and then worked as a special education teacher and case manager in a variety of settings, including as a high school math co-teacher, elementary resource teacher, and middle school modified language arts teacher.

As a tutor, I’ve spent the past eight years working with students on test prep for college readiness exams (SAT/ACT, all sections), private school and high school entrance exams (ISEE and HSPT), academic tutoring in ELA, math, and history, and executive functioning and study skills. I’ve worked extensively with students with learning differences (ADHD, autism, specific learning disabilities, dyslexia, etc), and have extensive experience creating engaging learning experiences online, even prior to COVID.

I hold a Bachelor of Arts in English from Northeastern University and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Tufts University. I also maintain teaching certifications in California and Massachusetts, having taught in both states. In California, I hold an Education Specialist Instruction Credential along with a Single Subject Teaching Credential in English and Mathematics, in addition to my English Learner and Autism Authorizations. In Massachusetts, I hold professional level licensure in English, Mathematics, and Mild/Moderate Disabilities for grades 5-12, in addition to a Sheltered English Immersion Endorsement.

In 2023, I transitioned from full-time classroom teaching to working with students primarily online, and I absolutely love it. This has allowed me to provide more individualized instruction, support students at their own pace and instructional levels, work with students and families across the US, and learn from incredible educators and disability advocates from around the world.

When I’m not working with students and families, I enjoy singing, writing music, hiking, and doing my best to keep my many houseplants alive.

My Approach

Connection-Based Learning

I love breaking down challenging concepts into concrete steps with students, as well as leveraging student strengths and interests to build success. I strive to figure out what level of understanding students are coming in with, and meeting them where they’re at to create a gradual but meaningful learning plan targeted to each student’s individual needs. Whether it’s test prep, academic tutoring, college essay planning, or executive functioning coaching, my goal is to create a relationship-based non-intimidating learning environment where students feel comfortable asking questions, taking risks, and making mistakes to learn in the way that works best for them.

In all areas, I also weave in executive functioning and study skills support to help them gain independence and ownership over their studies, which benefits them in their future academic endeavors and beyond.

I’m also mindful that many students may struggle with mental health and academics can also be stressful and bring up past traumas for some students, so I lead all sessions with a collaborative and trauma-informed approach.