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.

Amy Kanell

Amy has been an educator for nearly 30 years. She began her teaching career in Budapest, Hungary before moving to the Middle East, where she taught at United Arab Emirates University, the national university of the UAE. Amy earned her Masters of Education with a TESOL certificate from the University of Pittsburgh. Currently, she is […]

Katie Mikita

Katie Mikita is a certified, experienced K-6 teacher!

Jess Carnahan

Jess is an experienced educator with a passion for making learning fun and engaging while setting students up for success! She holds a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and master’s degree in Special Education, both earned from Temple University. Jess comes to Absolute Value Tutoring with a decade of teaching experience.

Edith “Edie” Raphael, Ph.D

Dr. Raphael graduated from Penn State University with a BA in International Relations, which included a semester studying Chinese in Beijing. She earned her MA and PhD in Sociology from the University of Virginia studying ethnicity, nationalism, and culture. Dr. Raphael has taught as an adjunct professor at Case Western Reserve University and Towson University, […]

Alek Stefanov – Teaching Assistant

Alek is a graduating senior from Mt. Lebanon High School’s Class of 2024. He was recently granted early admission to Carnegie Mellon University, where he will continue his academic career with a focus on finance and applied mathematics. At Absolute Value Tutoring, Alek created and taught Python Coding summer camps and continues to work with […]

Emma Skeel

Emma graduated as Valedictorian of Upper St. Clair High School in 2021. She is a junior in the Honors College at the University of Pittsburgh majoring in Biological Sciences with a minor in Chemistry on the pre-med track. Emma is an Undergraduate Teaching Assistant for Organic Chemistry II, Biology I, and General Chemistry II. She […]

Janet Sinopoli

Jan brings almost thirty years’ education experience to Absolute Value Tutoring! In addition to teaching high school mathematics in the Pittsburgh Public School District, she is a member of the author team for a middle- and high school-math textbook series and has served as a reviewer of assessment items for the ACT Test. Jan holds […]

Sean Eliot Martin, Ph.D

Dr. Sean’s academic credentials are as impressive as they are varied. He holds six degrees – two Bachelor’s, two Master’s, and two Ph.Ds

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!

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