On this page you'll read about the creator of South Bay Tutors and how this tutoring network came into existence.

Growing up in Palos Verdes I had the good fortune to attend one of the best public schools in the nation, Peninsula High, where I graduated in 1994. I then went on to Long Beach State and received my bachelor's degree in finance in 1999....having completed courses in business calculus, finite math, and calculus as applied to economics. Some hobbies I had then and continue to have to this day include reading history, non-fiction writing, swimming, phiosophy, and much more. I also enjoy teaching kids and adults to swim....and in 2005 became red cross certified as a water safety instructor. I also have a strong passion for advocating for people who have fibromyalgia.....a sleep/pain/fatigue disorder affecting 2-4% of the population. Following my 1999 graduation I worked various jobs after that point but never seemed to find my calling.

In 2004 I had tutored a bit here and there and had taught some kids how to swim, but the thought of doing it for a living had never really entered my mind. Things took a radical turn in the winter of 2004 when I was hired onto the College Math Faculty at Marymount College in PV. (I spent a total of 3 years at Marymount; from 2004 to 2007)

Immediately I began tutoring in the learning center 7 hours per week...and learned that it was in explaining math that I excelled. During that first year at the college I learned as much as I could to develop myself as a tutor...working one on one and also in small groups. I read the college's handouts on math anxiety, test anxiety, and many other topics...and learned from my mentor Sharon about different techniques and especially how to be a great tutor to those students who had learning challenges such as ADD and other auditory processing disorders.

After several months on the math faculty I began doing private tutoring on a more regular basis....and when one student after another would tell me horror stories of inept tutors who would charge massive fees I began thinking of a way to remedy the situation. I also found out how awful tutors could be when I had to re-learn some trigonometry and tried to find a tutor in the private sector to aid me. In December of 2005 I created a web site with the purpose of matching up tutors I had hand selected with students in need of their services. With my knowledge ot web site design the only costs we incurred were in the ads we put up on the internet. Fast forward to today and we are a network of a dozen independent tutors in the South Bay and Los Angeles areas. Each is a great tutor and I am honored to share this web site with them.

Thank you

Joseph Tillotson

• Former Marymount faculty member 2004-2007
• Creator of South Bay Tutors
• Private math tutor.
  
  Phone...310-720-0174; email...Joey2276@aol.com