About Kastner Hill Learning

Julia is a passionate human whose primary purpose is to foster positive connections among her peers. An extremely artistic and intuitive individual, she takes pride in promoting sensitivity and empathy as tangible strengths necessary to navigating the world. At the same time, she’s always down for a laugh about literally anything and takes herself the opposite of seriously.

She was born and raised in Northern California where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in English and Associate’s Degree in Music Composition. Over the past 12 years, she has built a career in the administrative and educational fields, working a variety of customer-facing and tutoring jobs in her native California before finding her home here at KHL. While she misses the Bay Area weather and food and will never neglect an opportunity to say so, Julia is grateful to have found such a beautiful community of hard-working, compassionate, and playful people in Austin.

Outside of work, Julia enjoys spending quality time with her beloved partner and cat, singing and metal screaming, eating excessively, and absorbing as many media sources as possible.

Aneesh is an undergraduate student at The University of Texas at Austin studying Electrical and Computer Engineering, with a passion for helping others learn and succeed academically. He has extensive experience tutoring students in mathematics, physics, and programming. His tutoring approach emphasizes conceptual understanding, problem-solving strategies, and developing the confidence to tackle new challenges independently.

Aneesh believes that learning should feel rewarding, not stressful. He tailors each session to match the student’s pace and goals, ensuring that progress feels steady and meaningful. His goal as a tutor is not only to help students improve their scores but also to spark lasting curiosity and confidence in STEM subjects.

Outside of academics, Aneesh enjoys staying active and creative. You can often find him playing pickup basketball, rock climbing with friends, or unwinding by playing Mario Kart with his roommates.

Jared graduated from Vanderbilt University with BAs in English and Political Science. He took on part-time work as a speech and debate instructor while in college, which set him on a path to continue teaching after graduation. After two years as an English and history teacher in a one-on-one environment, he is eager to continue working closely with students at KHL to recognize and fulfill their academic potential.

Naomi is a Junior at UT Austin majoring in Athletic Training and minoring in Business. With five years of experience teaching in ESL, Naomi has a passion for connecting with students while also helping them achieve their academic and professional goals. As a top ten graduate herself in high school, she understands the pressure felt by many students and is committed to creating an engaging and positive environment for them as they learn new skills.

Outside of KHL, you can find Naomi working on a creative writing project, trying a new food spot, convincing her friends to tag along for a workout class, or reading the latest fiction novel that has caught her eye.

Jeff is a post-graduate student working on his Master’s in Data Science after attaining his BS in Mathematics at the University of Texas in Austin. Having been raised by parents who both hold college degrees in Mathematics, Jeff is no stranger to the subject and has always had a passion for teaching and helping others.

In his free time, Jeff enjoys spending time with his girlfriend, reading, lifting weights, and watching soccer (or any other live sport).

Natalie is a PhD student in Interpersonal Communication at UT Austin. She specializes in health communication, looking at how young adults with chronic conditions successfully cope with their experiences. Before moving to Austin, Natalie received her BA in Behavioral Sciences with an Emphasis in Psychology at Concordia University Irvine. At Concordia, she found a passion for public speaking (competing throughout college) and tutored students at the campus writing studio. Natalie also recently completed her MA in Communication Studies at San Diego State University. In addition to coaching students on the San Diego State speech team, she taught several public speaking courses.

Natalie looks forward to getting to know students and helping them achieve their goals. As a tutor, she aims to ensure students feel comfortable as they work through the content together. Natalie knows how challenging it can be to admit something is difficult or confusing, so she aims to create an environment where students aren’t afraid to ask questions and feel empowered to go through the sometimes messy process of learning something new.

Outside of KHL and UT Austin, Natalie enjoys reading, embroidery, and hanging out with her friends. She also has an adorable cat named Millie and loves showing pictures of her to anyone who does (or doesn’t) ask.SAT English, ACT English, AP Literature, AP Language and Composition, College Admissions Essays

Analise grew up in Folsom, California – with a detour to Taiwan for a few years – and somehow wound up in Austin some eight years ago. Ever since she taught herself to read with a “Junie B. Jones” novel in kindergarten, she has held a deep appreciation for language and the ways we communicate stories.

She is now in the last year of a bachelor’s of journalism at the University of Texas at Austin, with minors in philosophy and studio art. She’s held several roles at UT’s award-winning student paper, “The Daily Texan,” including associate editor, senior reporter, and senior illustrator. During the fall and spring semesters, she also works as a writing coach at the Moody College of Communication. Currently, she interns at “Tribeza,” an Austin lifestyle magazine, where she writes stories and creates editorial illustrations. Additionally, she joined the student-run, faith-based literary and academic publication “Terrain,” working as an editor, contributor, and social media manager. In the future, she either will continue working as a multimedia journalist or try her hand at law school.

Outside of school and work, Analise enjoys reading classic novels, creating art, bouldering, yoga, and exploring National Parks. She is extremely close with her three sisters and likes to think she is the Elizabeth Bennett of them all (she’s probably Kitty). Additionally, she has two cats, Snoopy and Charlie, who emotionally support her in times of distress.

She can’t wait to help students achieve the scores of their dreams. But most importantly, she hopes the relationships built at KHL help students realize their potential and come to love (or at least appreciate) the beauty of language.

Sophia is a recent graduate from UT Austin, where she majored in Art History. While at college, Sophia led multiple student organizations, took classes across a variety of disciplines, and wrote an honors thesis. She also tutored non-native English speakers in conversational and formal english.

Currently studying for the LSAT (Law School Admissions Test) herself, Sophia is in a unique position to understand her students’ motivations and struggles with test prep. She is thus able to encourage and support her students from a place of deeper understanding and empathy. Sophia’s tutoring style focuses on a fully-rounded tutoring experience, aiding students to be their best academic and personal selves.

In her free time, Sophia reads novels, sews quilts and clothing, and plays games with friends.

Paul Andega is an undergraduate student at the University of Texas at Austin, majoring in Biochemistry with a minor in Social and Behavioural Sciences. At UT Paul regularly volunteers with the Lions Club organization, an international humanitarian society providing service to local communities, and is a member of the National Society of Black Engineers. He’s also explored interests in a number of other clubs and organizations including UT Tae Kwon Do and Jiu Jitsu, French Learning Circle, and BSA. In academia, Paul is an avid researcher, currently working on a synthetic biology project as part of the UT’s iGEM team and with prior experience as a research assistant studying DNA transcription while at The University of Texas at Arlington. He also has previously worked as a Learning Assistant tutoring chemistry at UT and enjoys teaching his knowledge as much as he loves learning himself.

Paul’s long-term goal is to pursue a career in biomedical research after obtaining his BS in Biochemistry and PhD in Genetics. He hopes to make a lasting impact with his research in the future that will aid in the advancement of medical therapies. Despite his ambitions, he still enjoys taking the time to enjoy life’s simple pleasures like eating giant bowls of ice cream and cookies after exams or binging shows and movies he’s already seen 100+ times. Some of his other past times including calisthenics, reading, bass, and praying a million dollars will drop in front of him someday.

Andrea is a passionate educator committed to providing equitable learning experiences for students of all backgrounds. She has spent 5 years working as a high school teacher, interpreter, and IEP case manager. Additionally, she has tutored privately for the past 10 years.

Andrea earned her bachelor’s degree in Mathematics in 2015 alongside a teaching certification, after completing the UTeach program. As a UTeach student, she held multiple internships that allowed her to develop her skills as an instructor and interpreter.

As a teacher at a small charter school, she had the freedom and responsibility to write her own curriculum. This allowed her to put into practice many of the strategies and teaching methods she gained from the UTeach program, such as regularly developing engaging and meaningful lessons.

Andrea has also provided guidance and support to various math departments regarding best practices and ways to efficiently provide accommodations for students receiving special education services. Her diverse educational roles have equipped her with the skills and knowledge to mentor and support aspiring students, as well as her fellow peer teachers, as they gained more experience and confidence in the classroom. Andrea is committed to furthering education and improving the quality of instruction for all learners.

Thom Waddill graduated from Davidson College in North Carolina in 2019 with a B.A. in English with Honors. In college, Thom explored his love of creative writing and literary theory, edited the campus literary magazine, and studied interwar Modernism and the contemporary English novel for a semester abroad at Oxford University. In his senior year, he wrote his honors thesis on the politics of language in George Saunders’ short fiction. Since graduating, he’s reviewed prose submissions for the national literary journal Adroit and continued to write fiction and poetry.

Thom has been the singer of dance-rock band Font since he co-founded the band in 2021. Font has since played across the country and is preparing to release its first record in the summer of 2024. The band was picked up as support for UK band Yard Act’s 2024 North American tour and has landed spots in festivals such as Austin City Limits, Levitation Fest, and the Pitchfork Music Festivals in London and Paris.

Outside of KHL and making music, Thom journals, reads, paints, watches movies, cooks, and talks to his cat. He is excited to develop personal connections with students, and knows that learning is always improved when tutor and student can find common ground. Thom knows from personal experience what a comfort books can be to teenagers in a time of pressure and transition, and he hopes that demystifying the subject and sharing his own love for language can help students develop their own relationship to reading.

Mai is a highly accomplished professional with a wealth of experience in the education field. With over 10 years of math tutoring expertise, she has established herself as a highly knowledgeable and sought-after tutor for math courses and SAT/ACT math test prep.

Mai has built strong and meaningful relationships with her students throughout her career, earning their trust and respect. Her effectiveness as a tutor stems from her extraordinary ability to understand each student’s unique learning style. By tailoring her teaching methods to match their individual needs, she ensures that her students grasp complex math concepts and excel in their tests, exams, and daily homework.

Born in Sylmar, California, Mai recently relocated to the vibrant city of Austin, Texas. She has also served as a Lead Academic Coordinator throughout her tutoring career. Her extensive experience in educational leadership has equipped her with an understanding of the intricacies of running successful educational programs and ensuring optimal student outcomes.

As Director of Operations, she leverages her experience and expertise to streamline processes, enhance the overall efficiency of educational programs, and create an environment that fosters student success. Her genuine love for mathematics and her students’ success serves as a driving force in her ongoing professional development. Her vast experience as a tutor and in key educational leadership roles makes her a highly knowledgeable and influential Director of Operations. With a deep understanding of each student’s learning style and an unwavering commitment to their success, Mai continues to profoundly impact the lives of many students and the educational community.

Owen has traveled the world in his quest for knowledge. His math career began at a young age in MathCounts competitions, where he competed twice at the national level, ranking as high as 82nd in the nation! After graduating high school, Owen left his home state of Missouri to attend the College of William and Mary in Virginia where he received a B.S. in Mathematics and was recognized with the Leiba Rodman Excellence in Research award. During his junior year, he spent a semester abroad attending the Math in Moscow program. In 2017, he graduated with a Master’s in Mathematics from the University of Waterloo, in Ontario.  He then spent two years near Washington D.C. teaching at Loudoun Test Prep, a three time “Best of Loudoun” award-winning tutoring company. He received a perfect 36 on the ACT Math and Science sections as well as a perfect 800 on the SAT Math II Subject Test.

In his studies, Owen has mastered a breadth of mathematics including Algebra through Multivariable Calculus, Linear Algebra, Differential Equations, and plenty of advanced undergraduate and graduate level courses. He loves teaching and helping students develop creative problem solving techniques. Owen has taught for two years in college classroom settings, two years in SAT/ACT small classroom settings, and tutored over 500 students. In his spare time, Owen enjoys playing soccer, weightlifting, and of course, continuing his research in mathematics. He aspires to one day return to being a student and to attain a doctorate in mathematics.

Ash is a junior at UT Austin from Dallas, Texas studying Math and Data Science. She is a co-president of the quantitative finance org Texas UCF, where she leads recruiting and social efforts. After graduation, she is interested in working in management consulting, finance, and product management. In her free time, Ash likes to go on long walks, find the best restaurants, and bake chocolate goods!

Justin is a recent graduate from the New Writers Project at the University of Texas, where he received an MFA in Fiction. During his time at UT, he also taught undergraduate students as both a teaching assistant and instructor for classes like British Literature, American Literature, and Intro to Fiction Writing. More than teaching any specific subject, Justin is passionate about helping students learn— he firmly believes teaching is about making connections, and he is a strong proponent of finding common ground with students to better help them understand material they’re struggling with.

Before that, Justin earned his bachelor’s degree in English with a concentration in Creative Writing at the University of Houston. As a writer, he has long since dabbled in mediums from playwriting to screenwriting to poetry, and he is currently working on a short story collection.

Justin’s interest in writing and storytelling across multiple mediums extends to his other interests: on top of reading and writing fiction, he is an avid comic book reader with a passion for visual arts like drawing and animation. Some of his other hobbies include close-up magic, playing the drums, and talking in the third person.

In November of 2021, Caleb joined Kastner Hill Learning as an instructor, becoming the second tutor whom KHL ever hired. In the years since then, Caleb has filled many other roles at the company, including Director of Operations, Tutor Manager, and Director of Curricula. Caleb now serves as the Head of Personnel and leads the hiring, training, and managing of the best tutors in Austin. While Caleb enjoys being an integral part of the continued growth of KHL, the best part of the job will always be teaching and mentoring students.

Before Caleb became a tutor at KHL, he tried out every other job he could. While tutoring at an in-home tutoring company and teaching technical writing and world/food history at a culinary school provided him with his most applicable experience to KHL, one could argue that his roles as a wine bottler, Walmart grocery clerk, landscaper, boat mechanic, process server, movie theater manager, bartender, and bar trivia writer provided him with character and stories to tell. 

Caleb holds a B.A. in Multidisciplinary Studies: English and Psychology from the best university in Austin (CTX Woosh!) and a M.F.A. in Creative Writing: Fiction from Queens University of Charlotte.

In his free time, Caleb reads fiction and history, writes stories, plays tabletop games, and looks for birds. He identifies as a “theme park adult” and believes there’s no good reason to look at a real rock when you could see a fake one and ride a roller coaster. His Letterboxd top four movies are The Thin Man, Beau Travail, The Thing, and Muppet Treasure Island.

Born and raised in Rockville, Maryland, Nathan has had a passion for words since he was a child. First, as a fifth grader, he began working on a series of novels, only to abandon them in favor of playwriting. Finally, at the age of eleven, he settled on songwriting—a passion that would define him from then until now. Throughout high school he wrote hundreds of songs, performed with a band, recorded albums, and ultimately gained admission to New York University’s prestigious Tisch School of the Arts to be a part of the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music. During his time in New York, he continued to write, record, and perform. In addition to his studies in music, he enjoyed courses in political science, economics, philosophy, and literature. In May, 2016, Nathan graduated with a BFA in recorded music and political science.

After graduation, Nathan worked at political fundraising and lobbying firms in Washington, D.C. before finally settling down at Loudoun Test Prep, an award-winning tutoring company in Northern Virginia. At LTP, Nathan taught classes in English SAT and ACT prep, although his curriculum often deviated into subjects as diverse as U.S. foreign policy, lost generation literature, and existential absurdism. While students routinely saw their English scores increase dramatically, they also left his class having had meaningful intellectual conversations with their peers, something they often lacked in school. Nathan also taught students in essay writing, AP U.S. history, AP U.S. government, AP Comparative government, AP literature/language, music theory, and songwriting.

In the fall of 2019, Nathan and Owen Hill—his friend, colleague, and soon-to-be business partner—packed up and moved across the country to Austin, Texas, where Kastner Hill Learning was born only a few months later. At KHL, Nathan has brought the same excitement, enthusiasm, and intellectual curiosity that characterized his classes at LTP to a new group of students and a talented team of educators.

In all, Nathan has been tutoring for over a decade in a diverse array of humanities-related subjects. He enjoys few things more than conveying to students a passion for words and a love of learning. Nathan scored perfect 800s on both the reading and writing sections of the SATs (out of 2400), as well as 36s on the ACT reading and English sections.

Evan hails from the land of Kyle. He has been known by some as the greatest air breather and to others a math tutor who knows how integral math is to the college process. ACT or SAT, he has tutored many a student through these god forsaken tests. They have thanked him and bestowed upon him praise. Currently this soothsayer teaches at St Andrew’s Episcopal School, having taught everything from Algebra 1 to Multivariable Calculus. We here at KHL have become smarter and more enlightened just by his presence.