Our Tutors

Our tutors are expert instructors who understand how to bring out the sharpest thinking and strongest writing from middle and high school students. Comprehensively trained in our unique curriculum and teaching approach, each tutor receives continuous feedback on their sessions to ensure they are delivering transformative writing support while inspiring students of all backgrounds through genuine personal connection.

David Drabkin (Founder)

David is a third-generation educator and credentialed secondary school teacher. David has served as an instructor of literature and composition at The Nueva School, Town School for Boys, Phillips Academy Andover, and San Quentin State Prison. He is an alumnus of Bay Area independent schools (Town School for Boys and Crystal Springs Uplands School) and the recipient of a National Endowment for the Humanities scholarship. David holds a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy from Cornell and a Master of Liberal Arts from Stanford.

Katrina Madsen (Associate Tutor)

Katrina is a multi-credentialed teacher who has worked extensively with students and families in the San Francisco Bay Area, most recently at The Hamlin School for the past 13 years. Previously, she taught at SF Day School and SFUSD elementary, middle, and high schools. Besides having three California teaching credentials, she earned her National Board Certification at Stanford, an M.Ed. from SF State, and a B.A. in English from Chico State. Katrina is excited about finding a way into each student’s unique writing process and is passionate about supporting students to realize their personal and academic goals.

Lily Brown (Associate Tutor)

Lily has been teaching and tutoring college, high school, and middle school students for 20 years. She worked at The Nueva School as an English teacher for six years and has taught literature and creative writing courses at Northwestern University, Columbia College Chicago, and the University of Georgia, among others. Lily is a published poet and loves helping students to communicate through writing, whether it be analytical, rhetorical, creative, or otherwise. Lily holds degrees from Harvard College (A.B.), Saint Mary's College of California (M.F.A.), and the University of Georgia (Ph.D.).

Sam Timinsky (Associate Tutor)

Sam has been teaching at the university, high school, and middle school levels for the past 15 years. He has served as an instructor in history and debate at The Northwest School, The Nueva School, University of Wisconsin-Madison, and the Robinson Center for Young Scholars. Sam has received numerous teaching awards including the University of Chicago’s Outstanding Educator Award. He received his Ph.D. in History from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a M.A. in International Studies from the University of Washington, and a B.A. in History from Marist College.

Vivien Drabkin (Associate Tutor)

Vivien (David’s sister!) has been a middle and high school humanities educator for 15 years. Vivien has served as a writing instructor at Columbia University, Rodeph Sholom School in New York City, and Austin Jewish Academy in Austin, Texas. She currently works as a literacy specialist at Austin Independent School District in Austin, Texas. She is a published author who enjoys helping all students awaken the writer within themselves. Vivien graduated with honors from Middlebury College, earning a Bachelor of Arts in English, and holds a Master of Fine Arts degree from Columbia University with a focus in creative writing.