Dave Ickowski is a master at teaching and building mentor relationships, and equally important, he understands the student/parent connection and disconnect. I think of myself as an excellent teacher with my master's degree and awards of excellence in teaching to back that up, but with my own sons, it was like pulling teeth to have any real impact on their study or organizational habits. I wanted them to achieve, but more importantly I wanted them to develop their own academic ambitions and love of learning.
Dave began working with my younger son in mid elementary school and continued working with him through his freshman year in high school. They met weekly and worked on homework and study skills, slowly incorporating a way of seeing evaluation as a stepping-stone to success rather than an embarrassment or judgement. Dave is a certified teacher himself, came to our home for tutoring sessions, and was always willing to work with any scheduling challenges we faced.
The camaraderie that Dave was able to build with my son to encourage, challenge and guide him into effective study and organizational skills has built a foundation of learning for my son that continues now in his advanced high school studies. I know it will help equip him for a smoother college transition where self-advocacy and self-directed study largely determine overall success.
Dave cares about students and learning. I know that his involvement in Teacher Tutors means that it is a winning organization that puts students first. We feel lucky that he took the time to care about our son and his success. He has earned a place in our hearts, and we value his insights and expertise in learning. read more