Instructors

Meet Our Instructors

17 Bachelors degrees
11 Masters degrees
3 Ph.Ds
1000’s of hours of teaching

Absolute Value Tutoring offers professional educators who are experts in their fields. Please browse through our experienced staff below.

Reasons to consider Absolute Value Tutoring

We are small and plan to stay that way. Think of us an an educational boutique. Our classes are either one-on-one or small groups with a maximum of six students.

The Latin definition of the word “tutor” is “to guard or watch.” For this reason, we hire teachers who are passionate stewards of education. All of our tutors are professional educators who possess mandatory state and federal clearances.

Nestled inside the Galleria with an updated space and the latest technology, Absolute Value is designed for a positive experience.

Leslie Long

Leslie is a highly-qualified secondary-level math teacher with 10 years’ of classroom experience in applied, advanced, honors, college prep, and conceptual courses for middle and high school. After obtaining her Bachelors degree from Boston College, Leslie went on to earn her Master of Arts in Teaching from Simmons College and has completed graduate-level work at […]

Mary Beth McNamee

Mary Beth McNamee is a dedicated educator who believes that education should meet the unique needs of every child. She received her elementary teaching certificate from Penn State University after receiving her BA in Political Science from Denison University. Mary Beth taught elementary school in the Pittsburgh Public School District for several years and has […]

Lisa Marinacci

Lisa holds a Masters in Professional Writing from Carnegie Mellon University, where she won the Mary Michael Gifford Award from the CMU School of Drama. (She holds a Bachelors degree in Drama and Creative Writing as well — also from CMU.) Lisa co-wrote the musical THE DEVIL AND DAISY JANE and is an accomplished […]

Gabriel Petesch

A Fide Master (FM) since 2014, Gabriel is a full-time chess coach and instructor.

Yucheng (Josh) Xie

Josh earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics and Philosophy from the University of Pittsburgh. He was a Teaching Assistant in the Mathematics Department and a tutor in Pitt’s Math Assistant Center (MAC). Josh enjoys working with students of all math levels from Algebra 1-Calculus, although he especially likes teaching Analytic Geometry and Trig/Pre-calc.

Heather and Tom Earley

As the founders and co-owners of Absolute Value Tutoring, Heather and Tom have been educating students of all ages for over a decade. Heather, a graduate of Sewickley Academy, studied at American University in DC and spent many years working in broadcast television before pivoting to her true passion: education. She holds a degree in […]

Simon Ainsworth

After obtaining his Bachelor’s degree from Penn State University, Simon went on to earn a Master of Arts in Teaching from Chatham University and another Master’s in Applied Mathematics from California University of PA. He holds teaching certifications in Middle Level Math (grades 4-8) and Secondary Math (7-12). Equally comfortable with classroom and online teaching […]

Martin Cohen, Ph.D.

An Emeritus Associate Professor of Mathematics at the University of Pittsburgh, Dr. Cohen (or “Marty,” as he prefers to be called), enjoys working with students of all skill levels. He is one of the primary instructor for our SAT prep programs. Fun fact: Over a five-year period, Marty wrote several math problems for College Board, […]

Schedule an appointment or stop in for a visit!

Have specific questions for us? Reach out to us anytime in one of the following ways: Call us at 412-206-7010; fill out the form below;, or stop in to our center on the 2nd floor of the Galleria. We’re there 7 days a week!