(206) 941-2098
About Us
With over a decade of experience working with Seattle public and private schools, we have the knowledge to help students academically thrive. We are familiar with curriculum and faculty at Seattle Academy of Arts & Sciences, Seattle Prep, The Bush School, University Prep, Bishop Blanchett, Holy Names, Lakeside, Garfield, Ballard, Lincoln, and most other Seattle area schools.
Each of our tutors is knowledgeable, friendly, and patient.
Who We Are
Our Team
Lori Dixon
Director
Born and raised in Mountlake Terrace, a suburb just north of Seattle, Lori graduated Valedictorian from Mountlake Terrace High School before she attended the University of Washington, where she majored in English. During college, she worked as a math and English tutor for elementary students as well as her peers. After university, she relocated to Philadelphia to trade stock options on the Philadelphia Stock Exchange before starting her own trading firm with her husband, Buddy Smith. In 2006, Lori changed career paths, rediscovering her true passion for teaching. She spent the next eight years as a tutor for Basic Skills Tutoring, Inc. in Seattle. Lori established Next Steps Tutoring in order to continue to help students and families in the greater Seattle area. During her eight years in the field, Lori has taught children from Kindergarten through twelfth grade, covering a wide variety of subjects from beginning reading to advanced calculus. Throughout these experiences, Lori has become intimately familiar with the curriculum of local public, private, and parochial schools. She has also become familiar with various teaching techniques and methods to reach students of all ages and learning styles. In addition to tutoring, Lori enjoys cooking, gardening, camping, watching football, and playing with her mischievous mutt, Lucy.
Buddy Smith, MIT
Operations Officer, Executive Function Coaching Lead
Buddy earned his Master's in Teaching and Washington State Teaching Certificate from the University of Washington in 2010, and then taught at Big Picture School for a few years. At Next Steps Tutoring, Buddy is an educator and mentor to tutors and clients. As our Executive Function Coaching Lead, he collaborates with staff and families to carry out customized techniques to increase impulse control and working memory or overcome task initiation and organization issues as needs dictate. In addition to Executive Function work, Buddy provides subject tutoring in Beginning Reading, Literary Analysis, Academic and Creative Writing, AP US History, AP World History, AP Economics, AP Human Geography, Algebra I&II, Geometry, and Seattle Prep’s Collegio. He also helps students with post-high school planning and college essays. Outside of the office, Buddy’s interests include Seahawks football, smoking beef briskets, fantasy sports, trout fishing, camping, local live music, spoken word poetry, and nerdy board games.
Andrew Turner, MIT
Tutor
Andrew graduated from the University of Washington in 2013 with a Bachelor's degree in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology plus a Minor in Mathematics. He earned his Master's in Teaching and Washington State Teaching Certificate from Western Governors's University in 2017. Andrew spent three years substitute teaching in Northshore and Highline School districts, favoring Math, Science, and Music. He also taught Summer School Biology at Mt. Rainier High School, where he had the opportunity to work with students with diverse learning needs such as Attention Deficit Disorder, Autism Spectrum, and Emotional Disturbance. He believes that education is more than filling a person's head with facts; education is about lighting the fire of curiosity in the student's mind. Eager to provide a more interactive service to struggling kids, Andrew sought out Next Steps so he could build the one-on-one relationships needed to inspire a lifelong love of learning. He tutors Organic Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Calculus, Pre-Calculus, Algebra II, Geometry, Algebra, Language Arts, College Essays, Executive Function skill-building, and Computer Science. In his free time, Andrew loves playing his ukulele, drawing, and cuddling his cats. He also plays Bass Drum and creates musical arrangements for the Seattle Sounders FC Marching Band, Sound Wave.
Kevin Glatt
Tutor
Kevin graduated from the University of Kansas in 2012 with a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics. He also earned his Teaching Certificate through the university’s program specializing in interdisciplinary STEM education. During his early experiences teaching middle and high school math, Kevin’s students amazed him with the unique strengths and interests each brought to the classroom. Inspired to pursue more authentic, joyful, holistic, and learner-centered approaches to education, he served as an educator at the National Museum of Mathematics in New York City. More recently, Kevin developed and coordinated STEAM projects at the upper elementary and middle school level at Eton School in Bellevue. Kevin is currently pursuing his Master’s degree in museum studies at the University of Washington and hopes to continue to create inspiring and meaningful experiences in museums, classrooms, and beyond. He believes the purpose of education is to enhance every human’s opportunity to be their fullest selves. He loves being a part of an environment at Next Steps where students are celebrated for who they are. Kevin supports students with Math subjects up to Pre-Calculus, Biology, Chemistry, History, Writing, College Essays, and Executive Function skill-building. Kevin’s interests outside tutoring include running, swimming, reading, and travel.
Omar Kaufman
Tutor
Omar earned his Bachelor's degree in Geology from Carleton College in 2015. His love for teaching began at Carleton when he was a teaching assistant for their Geology, Mineralogy, Petrology, Hydrology, and Geomorphology courses. This work made Omar passionate about helping students overcome barriers. After graduating, he taught Earth Sciences at John Dewey Academy in Western Massachusetts. In this setting, he led a student discussion group on healthy masculinity, which further assisted students in the transition to adulthood. He believes in a holistic approach to education and understands that managing a young person's emotional state is crucial for the education process. In 2019, Omar joined Next Step Tutoring. He primarily teaches Math and Science, focusing on Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Calculus, Statistics, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. Omar also does SAT and ACT preparation in addition to Executive skill-building. As part of the Next Steps Tutoring team, he focuses on forming a connection with his students first, encouraging them to identify what they already know and leading them to build upon that knowledge creatively. As education relationships are always a two-way street, Omar continues to learn from his students, particularly about the intricacies of Minecraft. Omar spends his free time playing volleyball, cooking, drinking tea, and playing board games.