Meet the Tutors
Cristina Pacheco
Owner/Founder
Cristina grew up on the east coast and moved to Golden, Colorado in 2013, where she fell in love with snow, the active Colorado lifestyle, and met her dog, Chompsky! After years of teaching kids everything from piano to rock climbing, she graduated with a degree in Mathematics and a minor in Education. Cristina has always loved math and the beauty it brings out in the world. She believes that math shouldn’t be perceived as just another curriculum that’s taught in a classroom, but rather a creative way to see and appreciate the world.
More about Cristina.
Sports & Video Games.
Cristina loves playing soccer and rock climbing, or any other competitive outdoor activity. While sports and video games aren’t a common duo, Cristina has had a deep appreciation for video games since she was a kid. Her current favorite games are Mario Kart, Cuphead, and Ori!
The Outdoors.
For as long as she can remember, Cristina has always been happiest outdoors. Being out in the wilderness on a bright sunny day and exploring different places in Colorado are some of Cristina’s favorite things to do!
Furry Friends.
If it wasn’t already apparent, Cristina loves dogs and you may even see her black lab, Chompsky in the background during tutoring sessions! If you have pets, she’d love to meet them!
Sam Murray
Tutor
Sam grew up in the foothills of Western Massachusetts and moved out to Colorado as soon as he could to find some real mountains! After studying environmental science at Colorado College, Sam became a teacher. He’s a science nerd at heart, but also enjoys teaching math. After teaching for 6 years, Sam went back to school to study science education with the Teton Science Schools and started working towards a masters degree in Natural Resource Management.
More about Sam.
Furry Friends.
When he’s not studying wildlife ecology, he can be found climbing or running around the mountains with his dog Hatcher. Hatcher is named for Hatcher’s Pass Alaska, and he’s a husky-shepherd mix who absolutely LOVES the snow.
Sports.
Sam is also a lifelong skateboarder, surfer, and snowboarder. It has helped him find more ways to have fun outside. Skateboarding was the first “sport” Sam really got into. If it moves fast and it has a board, he’s into it.
Climbing.
In addition to teaching science and math, Sam loves to take students rock climbing. For most of his life Sam was too afraid of heights to try climbing, but now he loves helping students get over that fear by learning how fun it is to swing around on the cliffs!
Kendra Layton
Tutor
Kendra grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah. She attended Georgetown University in Washington, DC where she majored in Spanish and minored in Mathematics and Education. She got the opportunity to study abroad in Santiago, Chile and Dhaka, Bangladesh where she researched intercultural education. A love of nature and teaching opportunity brought her to Denver, Colorado where she received a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction. She then taught in Denver Public Schools, most recently as a seventh and eighth grade bilingual math teacher. Kendra loves to “mathematize” the world and make real life connections to what she’s teaching and learning.
More about Kendra.
Ultrarunning & Hiking.
Kendra loves exploring the great outdoors and tops of mountains! She has run multiple marathons and ultra-marathons, the latest being a 60 kilometer race in the Never Summer Mountains. She is planning a big adventure to hike the Continental Divide Trail the summer of 2024.
Furry Friends.
Kendra loves animals of all shapes and sizes! She and her partner Lenny are pet parents to 15. Their two rescue pups are named Cooper and Page and their kitties are Hannibal and Clarice. They also have 11 chickens named after various baseball players.
Gardening & Cooking.
Kendra is happiest with her hands in the dirt. Alongside Lenny, she enjoys working in her garden and growing berries, grapes, and various vegetables. She turns these into tasty meals of lasagna, enchiladas, freezer jam, and pies.
Jacob St. Pierre
Tutor
Jacob grew up in Wyoming, where he has lived his entire life, enjoying the wide-open spaces and natural beauty of the state. He attended the University of Wyoming, where he graduated with a degree in Mathematics. After college, Jacob applied his math skills to real-world finance and investment banking, gaining valuable experience in the field. Now, with a passion for problem-solving and education, Jacob is looking to further his studies by pursuing a master’s degree. He believes that math is not just a subject to be learned, but a powerful tool for understanding and improving the world around us.
More about Jacob.
Travel.
Jacob enjoys discovering unique snacks from different countries, always eager to try something new and unfamiliar. Tasting these diverse treats gives him a greater appreciation for the wide variety of flavors the world has to offer.
Culture.
In his free time, Jacob enjoys traveling with his father. The unique lives and cultures they encounter inspire him and offer fresh perspectives on life.
Furry Friends.
Lottie, the golden doodle, enjoys hanging around and observing, but she's a bit camera shy. She loves ear scratches and occasionally checks in on everyone in the house.