I champion a Socratic method of teaching, ensuring that my students are consistently engaged and fully comprehending and applying what they're learning rather than simply being taught at. My approach involves equal parts participation from me and participation from the student(s): I do, we do, you do. It's important to me to connect positively with my students; above all, students should leave our sessions feeling heard and confident about tackling whatever subject(s) we touched on that day.
Born and raised in Los Angeles, I graduated magna cum laude from the University of Southern California where I earned a degree in Theatre and established the USC Musical Theatre Repertory’s inaugural dance workshop series, orchestrating and teaching the workshops myself. I have over 8 years of teaching experience, working with children ages 2-17 in subjects ranging from math to Shakespeare to stage combat. I've completed marketing internships at a number of the country’s foremost theatre companies including Center Theatre Group and the New York Musical Festival, creating marketing assets that appeared on billboards in Times Square and interpreting a variety of data analytics. I've taught for A-List Education and Bee Tutored in numerous high school classrooms and homes throughout New York City. Last summer, I taught a research writing course for incoming college freshmen through Harlem Children’s Zone at Columbia University. When I'm not teaching, I spend the vast majority of my time sitting in audition holding rooms, writing comedic scripts, and practicing hot yoga. I've helped hundreds of students improve test scores (raising SAT scores by as many as 350 points) and content comprehension through classroom instruction and private tutoring.
Sophie Thomason
Los Angeles, CA
EDUCATION
University of Southern California (GPA 3.67)
School of Dramatic Arts
Bachelor of Arts in Dramatic Arts, Acting Emphasis
Semester Study Abroad in London, British American Drama Academy
School of Cinematic Arts
Minor in Cinematic Arts
EXPERIENCE
Bee Tutored, New York, NY (August 2019-Current)
Private Tutor
-Creates lesson plans specific to each client and curates curriculum designed to target their challenge areas
-Monitors client progress through practice tests, homework assignments, phone communication with clients/parents, and in-person observation
-Aims to increase clients’ scores/GPAs
A-List Education, New York, NY (November 2018-Current)
SAT/ACT Classroom Instructor and Private Tutor
-Plans and executes two-hour sessions, teaching SAT test-taking techniques and strategies to high school students across New York City
-Monitors students using both score analytics and in-classroom observation
-Ensures that each student improves by at least 100 points by the culmination of the semester
Theatricum Botanicum, Los Angeles, CA (May 2018-October 2018)
Teaching Artist, Camp Counselor
-Lead ensemble games, stage combat, and Elizabethan dance workshops prior to performances for students ranging in ages 6-17
-Solo-taught students enrolled in day camps in classes including Acting, Voice, Ensemble Games, Theatre History, and Crafts
-Assistant directed two elementary age productions of A Midsummer Night’s Dream
USC Kaufman School of Dance & USC School of Dramatic Arts, Los Angeles, CA (August 2016-May 2018)
Receptionist
-Acted as the school’s primary receptionist, attending to all incoming visitors and leading building tours
-Assisted students and prospective families with questions pertaining to the school and application process
-Executed the office’s administrative needs quickly and proficiently such as answering phones, responding to emails, compiling informational packets, and scheduling campus visits
DC Dance Center, Los Angeles, CA (August 2010- June 2014)
Dance Teacher
-Instructed dance classes in ballet, tap, and jazz for children ranging in ages 2.5-11
ADDITONAL EXPERIENCE
USC School of Dramatic Arts, Student Ambassador
USC Musical Theatre Repertory, Dance Coordinator
Vera Yoga, Front Desk Worker
Marketing Internships with Pacific Resident Theatre, New York Musical Festival, and Center Theatre Group
7+ years babysitting experience
SKILLS
Computer Skills: Proficient in Microsoft Office, Apple Office, Photoshop, Garageband, iMovie, Avid, Hootsuite, Buffer, Mindbody, and analytics
Other Skills: Marketing Communications, Promotion, Management, Research, Team Building, Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Public Speaking, Negotiation, Critical Thinking, and Effective Listening
Sophie is brilliant and talented and and has an amazing sense of humor, which makes her an excellent tutor to my teenage son. She is completely trustworthy and even more than that she is a pleasure to work with for both parents and students. We have known Sophie since she and our daughter became best friends in middle school when they did the theater production of Hairspray. Sophie went on to study musical theater in college and she maintained a 4.2 average while also performing in many plays. She has a zen approach to everything she does. She manages her time very well and is responsible and dependable. She is focused on the task at hand and has an extraordinary gift for teaching. Because of Sophie, my son did very well on his SAT exams: she tutored him for his first exam and he scored a perfect 800 in math and 730 in English. Then she worked with him to finesse his second pass and he upped his English to 760 - so his combined score is now a 1560, and he is happy with that and will not take a third try. We wholeheartedly recommend Sophie as a Superprof tutor!!
When my fourteen year old daughter's beloved tutor of three years moved away, we were worried we'd never be able to find a replacement who'd be able to cultivate a warm personal relationship with Kasey while simultaneously giving her the tough love she needs to improve academically. Boy, was I wrong. Sophie was recommended to us through a friend and she has done all of the above and more. My daughter struggles with connecting to her teachers and has a learning disability, but Sophie's patience, kindness, humor, and expertise have garnered my daughter's trust and we're already seeing an improvement in her algebra grade. I can't recommend Sophie enough. - Judy Watts
I've worked with Sophie professionally as a fellow tutor and teacher. Sophie is incredibly organized and thorough. She understands how to shape lessons to the individual needs of each student while holding them to a very high standard. She would be an excellent academic tutor for Superprof members!
Sophie was my son's SAT tutor last year, and she went above and beyond any tutor he's ever had. She made this incredibly abstract test super clear for him through a variety of strategies and tricks--I would have never thought of the some of the tips she recommended for the Math! She was always super well prepared, patient, and energetic, but what impressed me the most is how effortlessly she connected with my son; she challenged him to be his absolute best, while empowering him to meet this level she held for him. He absolutely loved Sophie, and I think you will too!
I have worked alongside Sophie for a long time, and I can't speak more highly of her as an instructor and a colleague. She's knowledgeable, patient and incredibly articulate, and she knows how to meet each student where they are in order to help them through even their most troublesome academic subjects. I've seen her tutor students one-on-one through a variety of classroom topics as well as lead test prep classes with upwards of thirty students. In all settings she is unwaveringly professional, effective, and kind. She gets results! Have no doubt, you will love working with Sophie!
Sophie and I have worked on several projects together where she has expertly exhibited her professionalism and tactful grace. Sophie is an incredibly patient, competent, and eloquent teacher with a great deal of experience. She skips no steps in the process of helping her students understand a given concept, and in doing so, provides an enriching educational experience. You'll feel extremely confident after working with Sophie!
Sophie is an excellent academic tutor. My daughter was struggling with her SATs; she understood the concepts but had a very hard time applying them to the test. Sophie taught her how best to apply her knowledge and my daughter saw immediate results in her score. Sophie is patient, effective, and thorough, and I would recommend her to anyone!
Sophie is the BEST! Senior year of high school I won a raffle that guaranteed free SAT tutoring with a recent grad and I was assigned to Sophie. I had a total of four complementary, hour long sessions with her and I just can't say enough. My weakest sections were algebra and writing, but Sophie was so patient, kind, and lightened the mood when I thought about giving up. She literally knows anything and everything without seeming overly pompous. Excellent for all age levels!
Sophie is the tutor you’re looking for. Now only is she academically knowledgeable, her personality makes her so fun to work with. I was able to learn so much from her in a short period of time. I struggle with math in particular and Sophie is SO patient and helpful. I highly recommend her!
I met Sophie in geology class that we shared during sophomore year of college. I felt extremely behind in that class and was too embarrassed to go to the peer leadership council. I was afraid I'd lose my scholarship. When I confided in Sophie, she went out of her way to set aside biweekly two-hour periods to catch me up on all the material; her lab notes were meticulously organized, and she communicated every concept in ways that were accessible, clear, and entertaining. Because of her, I went from a C average to an A-, and kept my scholarship! I can't recommend Sophie enough to anyone who feels that they have too much ground to cover; with Sophie as your guide, you'll be caught up in no time.
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at her home | at your home | By webcam | |
1 hour | Not available | Not available | $75 |
5 hours | Not available | Not available | $375 |
10 hours | Not available | Not available | $750 |