Rob didn’t attend an Ivy League college, and he didn’t have great SAT scores in high school. So why trust him and Pollak Tutors with your student’s education?
It is precisely because these tests didn’t come naturally to him that Rob is especially well suited to understand the unique challenges his students face. In the many many years since high school, Rob has worked hard to become a subject matter expert in all things SAT and ACT, and as a tutor, he’s earned perfect scores on both the SAT (1600, May 2021) and ACT (36, December 2017).
Rob attributes his unique teaching style to his experiences prior to starting Pollak Tutors. He earned a BA in Communication Studies from Hamilton College, where he fostered his love of learning and language, and a JD, cum laude, from Fordham University School of Law, where he picked up his socratic teaching style. He then practiced law in the white collar defense and investigations practice area at Skadden, Arps, which instilled in him a devotion to his clients and a tireless work ethic.
When he’s not working, Rob loves playing golf, woodworking, and, most of all, spending quality time with his wife Anne and their two sons, Owen and Will.
Anne has worked in education as a private tutor for over 12 years. She absolutely loves teaching and finds nothing better than the look of excitement and pride on her students’ faces when they understand a new concept, get a correct answer, or write a fantastic essay.
Anne’s students range from 2nd grade to college level, and she has experience with kids of any ability, including those with learning differences. Anne teaches all subjects, specializing in math and writing, as well as SAT and ACT prep. She has also advised numerous families with their applications for middle and high schools and college.
Students and parents love working with Anne for her patience, kindness, and professionalism, all of which build a working relationship of trust and open communication.
When she’s not working, you can find Anne visiting museums, seeing plays, or connecting with nature on the the hiking trails.
Nicole has over two decades of exceptional teaching and tutoring experience in New York, New Jersey, and online private schools. Born in England and raised in Jamaica, Nicole moved to the U.S. to attend college. She received her B.A. in Mathematics from Vassar College and her M.A. in Secondary Mathematics Education from City College of New York.
During her time in the independent school world, Nicole has worn various hats, serving as a math teacher, design teacher, head of department, associate head of school, college counselor, and more.
When she’s not working, Nicole enjoys creating designer clothing, singing, and spending time with friends and family.
Remy has worked as a tutor and high-school math teacher for over 10 years. He earned his honors degree in mathematics from the University of Chicago and has taught every subject from Algebra I to AP Calculus. He also specializes in SAT and ACT prep. While genuinely excited about his content, he is more excited about seeing students grow and achieve their goals.
Remy takes a holistic approach to tutoring, ensuring that in addition to acquiring the necessary skills to succeed, students also gain the confidence to persevere through stressful testing situations. By coaching students in both academic skills and mental fortitude, he helps students achieve material growth in their schoolwork and their standardized tests.
When he’s not tutoring, Remy enjoys reading, writing, and playing piano.
Rina is a journalist, editor, and tutor from New York City. She helped many students of all ages advance their writing, reading, and grammar skills. Her work as a journalist and editor for a wide variety of publications has provided her with a keen eye for detail and a unique perspective on a broad range of topics.
She is excited to continue her work as a tutor, where she is able to help students overcome academic obstacles and achieve scores that once seemed impossible.
Rina’s lessons are always well thought out and engaging. She’s a vibrant presence, who is somehow able to have an energetic and interesting conversation about punctuation.
When she is not teaching, Rina enjoys reading, baking, cooking and exploring new cities.
Thomas is our resident SAT/ACT verbal expert. He grew up in the suburbs of Philadelphia and earned his Bachelors degree at Harvard University in History. After spending his early career in Finance, he moved to South Korea and Vietnam, where he founded and successfully exited his own test prep company. Thomas is now back in NJ with his teenage son and excited to be teaching test prep again!
Thomas brings a data-driven approach to all of his sessions and provides his students with a clear and thorough understanding of what they need to do to improve.
When he’s not teaching, Thomas enjoys playing golf, watching movies, and trading cryptocurrency.
Micaela has worked in education for over 7 years with students from preschool to high school. She has taught in both public and private schools and currently works with students at an independent school serving children with dyslexia and executive functioning needs. Micaela earned a BA in psychology from Rutgers University and is currently completing a MA in clinical child/adolescent psychology with a certification in school psychology.
Micaela is an advocate of inclusive education and is passionate about fostering a life-long love of learning.
When she is not teaching, Micaela loves to read, travel, and spend time with her family and her puppy, Parker
Scott Rebholz has over fifteen years of experience working with students in public education, as both a teacher and a school administrator. He has an undergraduate degree in Elementary and Special Education from Seton Hall University, and a masters degree in Educational Leadership from Montclair State University. His passion for learning and student success is evident through the creativity, individualization, and enthusiasm that he brings to each lesson.
Scott has experience teaching and tutoring students that range from elementary school through college, creating the foundational skills necessary for success both in and out of the classroom. His personalized approach ensures students learn to plan and organize, while breaking down their academic coursework in a creative way that connects to their personal learning style. He believes in a comprehensive and collaborative approach that empowers students to love learning and reach their full potential. Scott forms a strong working relationship with each student and their families, and becomes an advocate on behalf of their success.
When he’s not working, Scott is soaking up quality time with his wife and four sons, coaching sports, reading, and running.
Nicole has 20+ years of experience in the test prep/tutoring business, starting in the last semester before she graduated from Stevens Institute of Technology with a B.E. in Civil Engineering. After discovering her true passion for teaching, she studied Education at the Post-Baccalaureate level at Kean University and was most recently a full-time tutor for a national test preparation company, earning recognition as their national Teacher of the Month in June 2023
Nicole takes pride in her wide range of subject knowledge, helping her students in Math from Pre-Algebra through AP Calculus and AP Statistics; in English with grammar, reading skills, and essay writing; and in several sciences including Earth Science, Chemistry, and Physics. She is an expert in SAT and ACT preparation as well as high school admissions tests like the ISEE. Her teaching philosophy centers around understanding, not memorization, and students benefit from her ability to approach problems and explanations from multiple angles. Most importantly, Nicole takes her role as a mentor very seriously and provides a safe and warm environment to foster learning and encourage personal growth.
Nicole has two kids of her own at home in Middle and High School, and when she's not busy being a mom or a tutor, Nicole enjoys singing with her community choir and playing Pokémon Go (yes, that's still a thing!).
Eric is a highly experienced teacher and scientist with a Bachelor's degree in molecular biology from SUNY New Paltz and a doctorate in biomedical neuroscience from Rutgers. He has spent the last 6 years teaching, tutoring and mentoring students from 4th to 12th grade as well as undergraduate students. He has taught all areas of science but primarily focuses on biology, chemistry, and physics. Prior to teaching, Eric spent 8 years in translational biomedical scientific research and has published his scientific findings on multiple occasions. In addition, Eric also has an associates degree in political science and is a multi-talented musician, who has spent most of his adult life playing in bands and producing and performing music.
