Team Bios

Bethany Frey

Tutor

Bethany Frey brings a strong background in early elementary education. Her career as an elementary school teacher spans both public and private school settings. After stepping away from the classroom to raise her children, Bethany has continued to support students 1:1 as an Orton-Gillingham tutor.

With many years of experience, Bethany is passionate about helping students develop strong literacy skills and has also dedicated time to educating teachers and parents in the fundamentals of Orton-Gillingham. In addition to reading support, she provides support in elementary mathematics.

Bethany values collaboration, lifelong learning, and creating a supportive environment where students can grow in both skill and confidence.

London Smith

Tutor

London Smith is an experienced elementary educator with four years of classroom teaching at Immaculate Conception School. She is passionate about creating a nurturing, engaging learning environment where every child feels supported, confident, and motivated to grow.

Alongside her classroom work, London has extensive tutoring experience supporting students with a wide range of learning needs. She believes in meeting students where they are and helping them build both strong academic foundations and lasting self-confidence. Watching students discover their strengths and develop a love of learning is what inspires her most.

London earned her Bachelor’s degree from University of Baltimore and is currently pursuing her Master’s in Education to continue deepening her impact as an educator.

Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with friends, exploring new restaurants, and visiting museums throughout Washington, D.C..

Quad Dunnaville

Tutor

Since 2013, Quad has worked with Wright Academics, helping students navigate academic and life challenges while building the skills needed for long-term success. Having coached more than 500 students, he specializes in fostering motivation and developing practical, transferable skills. Students Quad has supported have gone on to attend universities including Johns Hopkins University, RIT, and NYU. In 2022 Quad partnered with Amazon AWS and Apple on a project supporting students in foster care pursuing careers in technology. Quad’s approach centers on meeting students where they are and building a clear, achievable path forward.

Tom Shannon

Tutor

Tom has dedicated his entire career to working with young students and young adults, supporting their growth both academically and personally. His experience spans mentoring and career guidance, team leadership, and coaching high school basketball, where he emphasizes discipline, confidence, and teamwork.

Tom brings a uniquely well-rounded perspective, having worked across family businesses, startups, non-profit organizations, and Fortune 20 companies. This diverse background allows him to connect with students from many walks of life and help them navigate challenges with empathy and real-world insight.

In addition to his professional work, Tom is a published author. He wrote a fiction novel exploring relationships and the theme of God’s perfect timing, titled Dona Nobis Pacem (Grant Us Peace). Tom is passionate about guiding students as they build confidence, purpose, and a sense of direction for the future.

Sarah Connell

Tutor

Sarah Connell has been a valued member of the Wright Academics team since the spring of 2021. She specializes in executive functioning tutoring for middle and high school students and also provides support in math and science. Sarah is especially passionate about helping students develop the organization, planning, and study skills they need to feel confident and successful both in and out of the classroom.

During the day, Sarah teaches science at a school in nearby Lutherville, bringing her classroom experience directly into her tutoring work. She completed her Master of Arts in Teaching with a focus in Secondary Chemistry in the fall of 2023. Sarah enjoys being part of a team that supports students holistically and helps them build skills that last well beyond a single class or subject.

Eileen Thiessen

Tutor

Eileen (M.S. in Chemistry from UIUC, M.A.T. in Secondary Science Education from JHU) is a veteran Academic Coach at Wright Academics, where she’s been supporting students since 2013. With a background in classroom teaching at Baltimore City College, holding advanced degrees in both science and education, Eileen brings deep expertise and a highly personalized approach to her work.

Her specialties include higher-level math through calculus and statistics, a full spectrum of sciences, and test prep for SAT, ACT, ISEE exams, and more. She’s even been known to help with Spanish homework—though she’ll be the first to say she’s far from fluent.

Eileen’s tutoring toolkit includes visual aids, gentle pep talks, and the occasional cat cameo during FaceTime sessions. She’s serious about learning—but never too serious to celebrate a small win with a high-five or a happy dance.

She’s a people person through and through, and she loves collaborating with families and teachers to find out what works best for each student. Whether it’s mapping out deadlines, adjusting explanations, or cheering on progress, Eileen brings steady encouragement and thoughtful care to every step of the journey.

Outside of Wright Academics, she enjoys reading, knitting and crocheting, singing in her church choir, and spending time with her cats—who are always ready to supervise a tutoring session.

Jeanne Winsor

Tutor

Jeanne Windsor brings extensive experience in education, with a particular strength in teaching mathematics. She earned a Master of Administrative Science from Johns Hopkins University and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Goucher College.

Jeanne began her teaching career in Baltimore County elementary schools before leaving the public school system to teach at St. Paul’s School, where she taught both science and math. She spent nineteen years at St. Paul’s, retiring as Middle School Math Department Chair. In addition to her classroom work, Jeanne also coached boys’ soccer and lacrosse teams during her time at the school.

Outside of tutoring, Jeanne enjoys gardening, reading, and spending time with her grandchildren. She has been a valued member of the Wright Academics team since 2023.

Lisa Grogan

Educational Testing Specialist & Tutor

Lisa Grogan resides in Maryland with her husband, their two children, and their yellow Labs. Her career includes extensive experience as a reading specialist, clinical practice in the pediatric neuro-comprehensive unit at Kennedy Krieger Children’s Hospital, and many years in private practice. She is also a professional member of the American Educational Research Association.

Lisa has worked with children ages 4 to 19 as a diagnostician, therapist, and academic coach, specializing in executive functioning disorders, neurocognitive dysfunctions, generalized learning disabilities, dyslexia, and dysgraphia. She also has extensive classroom observation practicum and school placement experience, allowing her to collaborate effectively with educators and tailor recommendations within real-world learning environments.

Dedicated to supporting the academic and developmental needs of her clients, Lisa brings a comprehensive and compassionate approach to her work. Outside of her professional life, she most enjoys spending time with her family and dogs.

Allison Michael

Client Intake Manager & Tutor

Allison Michael is an experienced educator with a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education and a Master’s degree in Reading. She currently tutors with Wright Academics, specializing in Orton-Gillingham reading instruction and executive functioning coaching. In 2026 Allison will expand her role at Wright Academics by joining the administration team. Allison will administer OG specific consultations for new clients.

Allison is passionate about helping students build confidence and independence in their learning. She believes in the power of one-on-one instruction to unlock each child’s potential and loves witnessing the moment when reading “clicks.” In her sessions, she prioritizes relationship-building, creating a safe and supportive environment where students feel comfortable taking risks and growing as readers.

Jen McGuire

Office Manager

Jen, a graduate of Loyola University Maryland, serves as the Office Manager at Wright Academics. You can often find her at the WA Tutoring Center during our busiest times, working closely with students, families, and tutors to ensure everything runs smoothly.

Jen truly enjoys interacting with students and finds it “gratifying to see students become more comfortable and successful after spending time with their tutors.” She values being part of a team that helps students achieve their best and learn in ways that suit their individual needs.

Outside of Wright Academics, Jen enjoys reading and spending quality time with her family.

Jenny Daum

Finance Manager

Jenny, our Finance Manager at Wright Academics, holds a B.S. in Business Administration and Accounting from the College of Charleston. Prior to joining our team, she served as the Director of Operations for a women’s clothing line, where she played a key role in its growth into an Inc. 500 top-performing company.

A passionate reader and outdoor enthusiast, Jenny enjoys balancing her professional life with family time, yoga, biking, and community involvement. She volunteers at her children’s school, participates in book clubs, and enjoys connecting with others through a Pikler Study Group. Jenny is always seeking new ways to foster meaningful community connections and personal growth.

Samantha Dougherty

Director of Student Placement and Client Management

Samantha (B.A. in Psychology & Sociology; M.A. in Early Childhood Education from UMBC) is the Director of Student Placement and Client Management at Wright Academics. In her role, she works closely with incoming families seeking executive function and academic support, helping them understand the Wright Academics process and vision.

Samantha joined the leadership team with a creative perspective aligned with the heart of Wright Academics. As she says, “I enjoy being part of a team of strong, intelligent women—it feels so special to support our community together.”

Before stepping into this leadership position, Samantha served as an executive functioning and academic coach, working with students across multiple content areas since 2018. Her background as a classroom teacher, combined with training in executive skills coaching, gives her a deep understanding of how students learn best. She values weaving movement and nature into her approach, finding that students connect more authentically through active engagement.

Outside of Wright Academics, Samantha is a spunky indoor cycle instructor, iced coffee enthusiast, and a mom to three energetic boys. She loves spending time outdoors with her family whenever she can.

Callie Morreau

Operations Manager

Callie (B.S. in Secondary Math Education and M.A. in Intercultural Studies) is our Operations Manager. She began at Wright Academics in 2014 as a math and Executive Functioning tutor and quickly became a valued member of the administrative team. Prior to joining Wright Academics, Callie worked as a classroom teacher, coach, college adjunct professor, and administrative assistant. She has a passion for developing leaders who embrace learning and gain perspective through worldwide experiences.

Her favorite part of working on the leadership team is having a front-row seat to the heart of Wright Academics. As she says, “Working for an organization with the vision and heart to truly help students succeed is inspiring and makes all the hard work worthwhile.” After six years working in person in Towson, Callie’s family relocated to Lusaka, Zambia, where she now works remotely with our team. She enjoys coffee, international travel, reading, and spending time with friends and family—and you might even catch her sending an email before heading out on a safari, her favorite African experience so far.

Ev Wright

Director and CEO, Wright Academics

Wright Academics is truly a dream come true for Ev Wright. Built on the strong foundation of Bowman’s Educational Services, which supported families in Columbia, MD, for over 35 years, Wright Academics carries forward that legacy of care and commitment. With more than 30 years of experience as an educator, Ev has dedicated her life to helping kids and families navigate the ups and downs of school. She pours her heart and soul into ensuring that students and parents feel understood, supported, and — most of all — helped.

Ev’s passion for teaching and learning is backed by years of training and education. She is trained in Executive Function Coaching, Orton-Gillingham, and Visualizing and Verbalizing through Lindamood-Bell. She earned her B.S. in Elementary and Special Education from the University of Delaware and her Master of Education, with certification as a Reading Specialist, from Goucher University. In addition to her work with students, Ev also leads engaging presentations and workshops for teachers, parents, and students, sharing practical strategies to support learning, executive functioning, and academic success.

Outside of work, Ev’s greatest joy is her family. She has been married to her best friend, Chris, for 36 years, and together they’ve raised three daughters and now enjoy a growing family. Ev splits her time between Amelia Island, Florida, and Towson, Maryland, where she treasures moments with loved ones, long bike rides, hikes, travel, and curling up with a good book. Her two Golden Retrievers, Gus and Chloe, are always by her side—especially on the long walks she loves so much.

Ev Wright

Admin Team

Callie Morreau

Samantha Dougherty

Jenny Daum

Jen McGuire

Allison Michael

Lisa Grogan

We have over 30 well qualified tutors-meet a few of them.

Jeanne Windsor

Eileen Thiessen

Sarah Connell

Tom Shannon

Quad Dunnaville

Bethany Frey

Do the Wright thing...

Team Bios

Ev Wright

Admin Team

Callie Morreau

Samantha Dougherty

Jenny Daum

Jen McGuire

Allison Michael

Lisa Grogan

We have over 30 well qualified tutors-meet a few of them.

Jeanne Windsor

Eileen Thiessen

Sarah Connell

Tom Shannon

﻿Quad Dunnaville

Bethany Frey

Do the Wright thing...

Quad Dunnaville