Meet our top-notch and talented tutors
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The LHT Team
Ashley Smith
Early Childhood Education + Handwriting
Ashley Smith is the founder of LH Tutoring, LLC. A Lake Highlands native, Ashley is a 1999 graduate of Lake Highlands High School. She is also a Texas A&M Class of 2003 graduate with B.S. in Early Childhood Education. After college, she returned to the Dallas area and taught at a local Lake Highlands elementary school. She also began in-home tutoring with students from St. Patrick’s Catholic School. To further her experience, she took a first grade teaching position with Carrollton Farmer’s Branch ISD, in 2007, where she spent the next 5 years. In 2012, Ashley left the classroom to start a private tutoring business. During this time, she also worked part time for Frisco ISD as a small group pull out teacher for students at risk of failing the state test (STAAR). She and her husband made their was back to Lake Highlands in 2014 after purchasing their first home here. Closing her first company that served the Castle Hills neighborhood in Lewisville ISD, Ashley immediately started tutoring here in Lake Highlands. Out of this growth and expansion, LH Tutoring was born! LH Tutoring now strives to handpick the best teachers to serve the families in the Dallas area through tutoring and test prep services. Ashley’s main area of focus is handwriting and fine motor skills holding several certifications from Handwriting Without Tears.
Sarah Denton
Early Childhood Education
Sarah is a graduate of the University of Alabama. For 8 years, she taught pre-k and 1st grade at Hexter Elementary in DISD. She was awarded the Dallas Independent School AC teacher of the year award. From 2014-2018, during which time she became a mom, Sarah wrote as a freelance writer for Scholastic, a nationally acclaimed education resource for teaching professionals, as well as, a well-known children’s book company. She taught English to students in China for a couple of years via VIPKid, a former online tutoring company. In 2019, Sarah became the first tutor for Lake Highlands Tutoring! Today she remains a fantastic pre-k to 4th grade tutor.
Kelsey Kirkland
Elementary + Middle School Math
Kelsey holds a bachelor’s from Texas A&M University in Interdisciplinary Studies with an emphasis on 4th through 8th grade math and science. After college Kelsey served as an elementary math teacher in Burleson ISD. She then spent three years as a private tutor for both middle school and high school students. Kelsey has extensive knowledge and experience with fourth through eighth grade students. She has a gift of getting down on a middle schooler’s level and making math accessible and practical. After having her own children, Kelsey ventured on to teaching prek-3 at CCDC and prek-4 at Highlander School in Lake Highlands. She is now teaching kindergarten at Classical School of Dallas. Kelsey has a wide range of math levels that she is skilled at teaching and she looks forward to assisting students in the Dallas area with overcoming their mathematical challenges.
Jen Schenaman
Elementary Education
Jen is a graduate of Concordia University in Nebraska with a degree in Elementary Education as well as a Physical Education Endorsement. After college, Jennifer began teaching third grade at Our Redeemer Lutheran School here in Dallas. She also serves as a PE teacher to kindergarten to 4th graders and coaches basketball. Jennifer is a superb teacher with a coach’s drive and personality to both instruct and encourage her students. She joined the LH Tutoring team to assist students in achieving their full education potential. LH Tutoring would love to help your child succeed by working with an invaluable tutor like Jennifer.
Jill Creel
Pre-K + Elementary Education
Jill is a graduate of Texas Tech University with a degree in Human Development and Family Studies. Throughout her career Jill has served in various educational roles including teaching 5th grade language arts in Midland, serving as a community education coordinator, and teaching preschool and kindergarten here in Dallas. Jill has been a tutor for Lake Highlands Tutoring for two years and loves working with pre-k and elementary students.
Lauren Cammack
High School Writing
Lauren holds a Bachelor’s in History and a Minor in Government from the University of Texas in Austin and a Master of Education from the University of Texas in Arlington. She also earned multiple educational certifications AP/IB/GT) (while teaching at Plano East Senior High and Allen High School. Her final role at Allen High was working as the Advanced Academics Coordinator overseeing all AP/IB programming as well as the National Merit program. Lauren is an outstanding writing tutor and she has worked for Lake Highlands Tutoring for over a year.
Lauren Bonner
Elementary Math + Science
Lauren is a 2017 graduate of Hardin Simmons University and has a Bachelor of Behavioral Science in Early Childhood through 6th Grade . She has taught both 4th and 5th grade math and science at Hamilton Park Pacesetter Magnet School in Richardson. She also served as a dance coach for Hamilton Park’s Bobcat Belles Dance Team. Currently, she teaches 4th grade at Richardson Terrace Elementary. Lauren specializes in all elementary aged subjects specifically working with mid to upper elementary level students. Lauren has been a fantastic tutor for several students through Lake Highlands Tutoring for 2 years now!
Rebecca Paris
Elementary + Middle School
Reading + Language
Rebecca is a 2009 graduate of Dallas Baptist University earning a degree in Elementary Education. She has over 15 years of experience teaching and tutoring all levels from pre-k to 5th grade. She was also selected as a curriculum writer for 5th grade Reading and Language Arts in Dallas Independent School District. Rebecca focuses primarily on reading and language arts and is able to assist students in elementary and middle school. Rebecca has been tutoring many students at various grade levels for Lake Highlands Tutoring.
Autumn Winder
Pre-K + Elementary Education
Autumn graduated from The University of Texas with a Bachelor of Science in Public Relations. After a year in the business world she realized that she wanted to become a teacher. She then went to Dallas Baptist University and received a Masters of Education in Elementary Education. Upon graduating, she became a kindergarten teacher. She taught kindergarten for 3 years and then became a pre-k teacher in Richardson ISD at Merriman Park Elementary, where she is at presently. Autumn is a great tutor for pre-k through 2nd grade students.
Felisa Welkener
Pre-K + Elementary Education
Felisa is a Plano native and graduated from Wheaton College. Since graduating she has served as a kindergarten teacher at Classical School of Dallas. Her diverse background working with children includes 3 years of private tutoring 3, directing ministry chapel at Grace Church in Allen and 8 years as a private swim instructor. She also comes from a large family. Felisa is an ideal tutor for students in pre-k through 2nd grade.
Kalli Kruse
Elementary + Middle School Math
Kalli is a graduate of Fort Hays State University where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Education and a Master of Science in Education. Kalli has extensive experience working with middle school aged students in her home state of Kansas and in Texas. Kalli taught 5th and 6th grade math and science in Kansas and coached girls’ basketball. Later, she became an assistant principal and athletic director at a middle school for 6th through 8th graders. In 2021, Kalli moved to Texas and taught and then became an Instructional Coach for teachers at Hamilton Park Magnet School in Richardson. She decided to enter the business world, but still loves to work with students one-on-one via tutoring after school or on weekends. Kalli has served Lake Highlands Tutoring families as an upper elementary and middle school math tutor for over two years!
Natasha Browne
Elementary - High School Grammar, Composition, Spanish, Greek, and Math
Natasha has a Bachelor of Science from University of Tennessee Chattanooga in Interior Architecture and a Minor in English. She holds a Master of Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary. Currently, she is starting the CiRCE Institute Apprenticeship in the summer of 2025. Natasha worked with churches and nonprofits to help with communication and outreach via newsletters, manuals, devotionals, and through various media outlets. She has taught 1st grade through high school. She is a fantastic math teacher for 1st grade through Algebra. Natasha has been a tutor for Lake Highlands for over a year. She can tutor in Grammar, Composition, Spanish, Greek, and Math.
Chesley Garcia
Pre-K + Elementary Education
Chesley graduated from Texas A&M University with a major in History and a minor in Sociology. She decided to become a teacher. Her first position as a classroom teacher was in 2nd grade in Mesquite ISD where she taught for 4 years. Chesley later worked with 2 year olds through 3rd grade in various teaching and tutoring positions while also being a mom to four boys. Currently, she teaches 3rd grade at Classical School of Dallas. Chesley is a fantastic tutor for students from pre-k through 4th grade.
Sarah Hargis
Elementary + Middle School Math
Sarah received a Major in Musical Theatre from Abilene Christian University and a Bachelors of Arts in Liberal Studies from Texas A&M Commerce. Her first teaching position was teaching Spanish at Lucas Christian Academy. After having children, she gained first-hand experience in teaching as she homeschooled her children. She became a 2nd grade teacher at Classical School of Dallas in the fall of 2023 where she is currently still teaching. In addition, she has been teaching Theatre to middle school students at the end of the school day at Classical School of Dallas.
Susan Thompson
Pre-K + Elementary Education
Susan graduated from Texas Tech University with a Bachelors in Early Childhood Education. Her first teaching position was teaching 1st grade In Garland ISD. She then taught 1st grade in Richardson ISD at Merriman Park Elementary. After having children, she later returned to teaching and taught a wide range from 2 years olds through 6th grade at CCDC at Lake Highlands United Methodist Church, White Rock Elementary in Richardson ISD, and St. John’s Episcopal School of Dallas. Susan is a fantastic pre-k through 3rd grade tutor in any subject, as well as, a great tutor in Language Arts for upper elementary.
Kim Saroni
Elementary + Middle School Math and Science
Kim received her Bachelors of Arts in Psychology and Education in 2012 from Southern Methodist University and a Masters of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Texas at Arlington in 2018. She taught in the Dallas Independent School District for 6 years. During this time, Kim was a math and science team lead teacher for both 2nd and 4th grade teachers. She then became an assistant principal in DISD and remained in this position for 3 years until she decided to stay at home with her son. Kim has been tutoring for Lake Highlands Tutoring for 2 ½ years now. She has tutored elementary through middle school students.
Maria Carbajal-Butler
Elementary Math and Spanish
Maria is a graduate of University of Texas at Arlington with a Bachelor of Science in Architecture and a Master of Architecture. After working in the business world in architecture for almost 10 years, Maria decided to make a career change and become a teacher. In 2010, she became a 5th grade self-contained (teaching all core subjects) bilingual teacher in Mesquite ISD. Later, Maria came to Richardson ISD as a tutor at both Hamilton Park Elementary and at Lake Highlands Elementary, while also tutoring students and coaching a new teacher at her former school in Mesquite ISD. Maria is now teaching at Lake Highlands Elementary in a self-contained 3rd grade bilingual classroom. Maria is a great private tutor especially in math and Spanish.