Our Team
Michael Hanson
MATH - Pre-Algebra, Algebra 1 & 2, Geometry, Pre-Calculus, Calculus AB & BC (aka 1 & 2)
Michael was born and raised in Santa Barbara, CA and graduated from UCLA with the class of '08, spending summers working for Theatre and Nature Camps with kids and teens. After graduation he began a dual career as a math tutor and actor. He has worked with hundreds of students and logged thousands of hours first in Los Angeles, then later in Atlanta. After years of being a one-man tutoring force, in 2024, he finally began to expand his team and officially founded "The Tutornator". He loves working with kids and finding ways to entertain them and put them at ease. In this way, he's able to empower the ones who already like math to excel and equip the ones who despise it to overcome their distaste and reach their goals. Every student is unique. Every student deserves to feel confident in their math class. Michael makes it his job to adapt to the goals and personality of each and every one so they develop confidence in their abilities and put them into action.
Jessica Spaw
Chemistry and Biology
Jessica is an artist with a love of learning and a passion for creative communication. With extensive experience working with students of all ages, she lives for sharing the spark of understanding. Jessica earned a B.A. in Drama from UC Irvine in 2010 and an A.S. in Ecological Restoration and Management from Santa Barbara City College in 2022, graduating with honors. While at SBCC, she tutored for "CHEM 104: Fundamentals of General, Organic and Biological Chemistry" and "BOT 100: Concepts of Botany", and named 2021 Outstanding Student in Concepts of Botany and 2022 Environmental Horticulture Department Student of the Year. In 2022 she received the California NanoSystems Institute PROPEL Startup Fellowship to study regenerative agriculture with White Buffalo Land Trust, and now works as an Herbarium Technician in the Pritzlaff Conservation Center at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden. The decade between drama and ecology was spent tutoring elementary school students in all subjects, and continuing her artistic pursuits. Through it all, Jessica most enjoys helping others explore the many facets of our world, and looks forward to helping your student thrive!
Andrés Pieschacón
Math, Physics, IB & Spanish for Foreigners
Andrés studied Mechanical Engineering in Bogotá and later completed a master’s degree in Thermodynamics in Turkey. He has been teaching since he was 17, so education has been part of his life for nearly half of it.
His experience spans engineering, research, languages, and seven years running a boutique restaurant, but teaching has always remained a constant. He tutors Mathematics from Pre-Algebra and Algebra through Geometry, Pre-Calculus and Calculus, as well as Physics and IB subjects, and also teaches Spanish to non-native speakers.
Andrés speaks Spanish, English, Italian and Turkish, and is currently learning French. What he enjoys most about teaching is connecting with students, understanding what motivates them, and helping them find a different way into subjects that initially feel difficult.
