Leadership

Alexis Avila - Prepped and Polished

Alexis Avila
Founder/CEO

MA, Cert. in Guidance Pre K-12 alexis@preppedandpolished.com

About Alexis

Frequently quoted by U.S. News & World Report, Alexis founded Prepped and Polished to help elementary, secondary, college-level, and adult students improve their grades and test scores. While tutoring for several small and large commercial test prep companies, Alexis envisioned growing his own independent educational services company run entirely by educators, for the love of education. Alexis and other tutor of the Prepped and Polished team have collectively traveled one hundred thousand miles to educate students in person, working with well over a thousand families both nationally and internationally.

Described by students as supportive, patient, as well as enthusiastic, Alexis has helped students and adults gain confidence, maximize academic potential, and achieve dramatically improved grades and test scores. Said by one of his clients “I have know Alexis personally as well as professionally for over 25 years. Since we met at the University of Michigan until now with my daughter receiving tutoring from his company, Alexis has always approached life with a great drive for success, empathy and compassion for others as well as enthusiasm to find the joy and humor in whatever he does.  With these attributes and outlook coupled with his pride for his Puerto Rican family and traditions, Alexis has always looked for and drawn to him a diverse group of individuals in his life.

A perfect example

For example, through the Big Brothers/Big Sister program he has served as a big brother to a young man from Cape Verde for over 15 years and truly treated this individual as family.  In college, Alexis tutored students at the local middle school. This passion to help young persons evolved into his successful business which has not only tutored 1000s of kids but also employed many tutors and grown into a global Social media platform that brings together experts to help students and families cope with countless issues that confront families. He is a shining example of how one can have great business and personal success and also have a Tremendous impact to the community”.

Alexis is a certified school guidance counselor, grades Pre K-12, and holds a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (a US News ranked top-five Counseling Psychology program), as well as a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. He also spent his junior year living in Seville, Spain through the Cornell, Pennsylvania, University of Michigan study abroad program. He completed a two day seminar in Executive Function disorder, a one day seminar on Advanced Strategies to Improve Executive Function Skills, as well as a 15 hour online course in Study Skills: Strategies to Support Executive Function all through the Landmark School Outreach Program in Beverly, Massachusetts.

Alexis regularly speaks nationally about tutoring, test preparation, and students with learning challenges to parents and professionals at schools and conferences across the US, including SEPAC organizations in Dover, Sudbury, and Wayland, MA, the IECA, CollegeWeek Live, the National Test Prep Association (NTPA), and at the BIPOC Business Owner’s Panel presented by Wisconsin Alumni Association. Alexis writes and produces videos for his educational blog and podcast, which has over 300 videos, and 1 million views/listens.

Some notable guests who appeared on the Prepped and Polished podcast include ex NBA player, recovering addict and motivational speaker Chris Herron, and NY Times Best Selling Author and frequent CNN guest Frank Bruni. Alexis leads SAT Math Strategies and SAT Strategy Secrets Workshops at various local high schools, as well as administers the ACT-SAT Test Prep Selector Diagnostic and Evaluation at several college fairs.

A Dedicated Tutor & Leader

Alexis is a member of professional organizations such as the University of Michigan Alumni Association (Alumni Student Recruiter), the Wellesley Community Children’s Center (Board of Directors), the Charles River Metrowest Chamber of Commerce (Scholarship Committee), the National Test Prep Association (NTPA), and also of non-profit organizations such as Bridge over Troubled Waters, Mass Mentoring, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, Community Servings, and Recovery Works. An active member of the Big Brothers, Big Sisters of America since 2003, Alexis was nominated in 2010 as one of the final five finalists for Big Brother of the Year. Alexis ran in three Boston Marathons from 2012-2014, collectively raising 15,000 dollars for two youth mentoring programs, Mass Mentoring and Big Brothers, Big Sisters of America. In 2020 and 2023, Alexis was honored to be named one of the 50 most influential business people of color in the Charles River Metrowest Region of Massachusetts.

Director of tutoring Prepped and Polished

Aaron C.
Director, Test Preparation

MA, Boston University aaron@preppedandpolished.com

About Aaron

As Director of Test Preparation at Prepped and Polished, Aaron brings over 10 years of dedicated work with students to improve test scores (standardized and classwork) to achieve academic success. He is passionate about building accessible learning through one-on-one counseling and development. In this role, Aaron not only works with students, but also manages Team Prepped and coordinates with students and their families. He trains and develops tutors to maintain the highest levels of excellence in tutoring.

Aaron holds a B.A in History from the University of Minnesota Twin-Cities and an M.A. in History of Art and Architecture from Boston University. He also worked in Minneapolis, MN as a high school coach for AmeriCorps’s College Possible. Aaron currently lives on the North Shore with his wife and two sons, exploring the beaches of New England, learning historical and movie trivia, and enjoying life as a dad.

Boston tutor

Jacqueline O.
Director, Executive Function Coaching

MA, Boston College josterdahl@preppedandpolished.com

About Jacqueline

Jacqueline has been working in academics for over 8 years, both in the classroom and through one-on-one instruction. As the Director of Executive Function Coaching, Jacqueline empowers students by bringing them into the educational process and helping them to dictate their own learning by recognizing and addressing their specific needs. Since completing the online course “Study Skills: Strategies to Support Executive Function” through the Landmark School Outreach Program in Beverly, Massachusetts, Jacqueline has developed an Executive Function training program here at Prepped and Polished.

She wrote and constructed our workbooks on Executive Function, which guides students through a set of modules that address each component of the learning process, from organizing workspace and materials to planning and following through on academic assignments. Our program establishes foundational organization and study skills, implementing individualized learning methods to address and support specific clusters of executive function.

Alongside her weekly sessions, Jacqueline trains new tutors, helping them translate their unique skillsets to targeted, one-on-one teaching environments. Jacqueline graduated with honors from the University of Vermont in 2013, earning a Bachelor’s degree in History and English, and went on to complete a Master’s degree in English literature from Boston College in 2016. She currently lives in Boxborough with her partner and daughter, where she enjoys hiking with her dogs and writing poetry.

Boston tutor

Stacie R.
Admissions Specialist

MA, School Counseling sross@preppedandpolished.com

About Stacie

Stacie has 15 years of experience working with high school students as a guidance counselor. She values relationship building with students and working with them individually. She has a focus on leading students to discover their own questions, particularly asking themselves to look inward at their own individual values and interests so they feel empowered in their decision making. She sees the future planning process and college search to be an invaluable opportunity for young people to begin learning skills that will carry into their adult lives as they begin exploring careers and their own life pursuits.

Stacie brings into her work her appreciation for Mindfulness and Growth Mindset practices. She has studied and practiced yoga for 20 years which has included 200 Teacher Training along with many workshops and retreats.
Prior to becoming a guidance counselor, Stacie worked in radio and tv news and studied architecture and design. She has a masters in School Counseling from Suffolk University, an Associates in Architectural Technology from Onondaga Community College, and a Bachelors in Communications from SUNY Oswego.

Stacie is originally from Central New York – the Finger Lakes Region – and has been in the Boston area since the early 2000’s. She loves being outside, walking, reading, swimming, design projects, and being with her two goofy German Shepherd dogs.

Tracy S. Assistant to CEO

Tracy S.
Office Director

tstewart@preppedandpolished.com

About Tracy

Tracy joins Prepped and Polished as an experienced Office Director.  Over a 23 year career she has worked in the Middle East and the UK. She was an EA for a major Management Consultancy company, and also worked as an Office Manager for 2 startups. Tracy and her family moved to the USA in 2011 and she now brings her skills to Prepped and Polished. She lives in MetroWest and is also a keen gardener. Tracy is also an avid cook and enjoys hiking with her husband and dog.

Diane F.
Creative Specialist

About Diane

Diane is a graphic designer and illustrator and has worked with many small businesses and organizations to establish and support their visual identities. She earned her BFA in Illustration from Syracuse University. Her portfolio includes a broad spectrum of marketing and promotional materials, and custom invitations and stationery.

While she enjoys running, hiking, and watching true crime documentaries, Diane is happiest when spending time at Lake Winnisquam and wandering southern Maine beaches with her family. She especially loves cheering on her children during their many extra-curricular activities.

Tutors

Aaron C.

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Abdul A.

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Alex D.

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Alexis H.

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Alyssa K.

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Amber W.

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Angela M.

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Brian W.

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Casey A.

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Christopher D.

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Dr. Dana M.

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Daria H.

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Emma G.

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Eric T.

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Gilbert W.

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Izzy S.

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Jacqueline O.

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Jenny B.

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Jo-Ellen F.

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John C.

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Josh S.

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Joshua K.

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Judy C.

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Kaitlin W.

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Kari P.

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Kayla O.

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Kyle R.

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Lauren K.

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Lucas G.

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Madisen C.

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Maggie C.

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Marcy S.

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Mark G.

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Megan D.

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Natalia T.

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Nicholas B.

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PJ R.

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Rachel S.

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Rashid A.

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Ray M.

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Ryan M.

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Sarah L.

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Stacie R.

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Suzanne C.

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Tom S.

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Wendy F.

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