Knowledgeable. Experienced. Effective.
A graduate of Dartmouth College and Wesleyan University, Philip Kalfas provides tutoring, home schooling, and test preparation services throughout the Aspen area.
With over 25 years of experience as a classroom teacher and private tutor, Philip can help improve a student’s academic performance and understanding in math, science, history, literature, and writing.
In addition to providing tutoring assistance to traditional classroom students, Philip can also serve as the lead teacher for students who are completing online coursework. He also helps students to prepare for the ACT, SAT, and SSAT.
“I believe that any student would benefit from learning in a one-on-one setting, free from classroom distractions, where the coursework can be explained and discussed according to the student’s personal needs, abilities, and interests. The benefit is even greater when the teacher is knowledgeable, experienced, and effective.”
— Philip Kalfas
Tutoring
As a tutor, I help students better understand the course material, improve the quality of their homework and written assignments, and properly prepare for tests and quizzes so that they can experience greater success in the classroom.
Ultimately, I hope to broaden their understanding and appreciation of their courses, while helping them to succeed on their assignments and tests.
My tutoring students are students who …
- understand the course topic better when they get a chance to have it explained to them a second time or in a different way.
- are hesitant to ask questions in the classroom or who want to discuss topics at greater length than class time allows.
- need help preparing for tests and exams or developing and practicing individual strategies for learning the material.
- miss school due to sports or illness, or family commitment.
- are preparing for the ACT, SAT, or SSAT and who need support, direction, and motivation to do well on these standardized tests.
ACT, SAT, SSAT Test Preparation
As an ACT and SAT test preparation tutor, I help students develop specific timing and test-taking strategies; review several years of math topics along with the vocabulary, grammar, punctuation, mechanics, and sentence writing skills that are emphasized in the critical reading and writing sections; and remind them of how to construct a thoughtful, organized essay.
I utilize practice tests to determine any areas of weakness and to refine specific strategies that will help students to improve their scores.
For the ACT, after determining an appropriate reading strategy, I make students aware of the common answer traps that may lead them to make careless errors on the reading section and the key information to look for on the science section. For both the ACT and the SAT, I remind them of how to construct a thoughtful, organized essay that stays on topic, provides good examples, and strongly supports a clearly stated position.
For the SSAT, I focus on extensive practice with the analogies and synonyms sections along with review of the math topics that are featured on the test. As students have a fairly wide range of reading abilities, I will develop an appropriate strategy for the reading comprehension section. In addition, I will discuss and model some suggestions for writing a successful essay.
Home Schooling / Online Courses
As a home school teacher, I guide students through their online lessons, explaining any confusing concepts, reviewing course work, preparing them for tests, and providing additional enrichment and support – depending on the time available and the interest level of the student.
Students who seek my support with online courses are students who…
- would greatly benefit from working one-on-one with a teacher who can explain the course topic and answer questions according to the student’s personal needs, schedule, and pacing.
- need a more flexible academic schedule so as to spend more time in sports training or participate in time-intensive extracurricular activities.
- want to graduate early or further advance their academic achievement while still in high school.
- desire a more personalized academic experience that enriches their understanding beyond what the classroom might offer.
- need to use the summer months to fulfill curriculum requirements.
- have learning differences that require individualized teaching strategies, techniques, and pacing that can best be accommodated outside the classroom.
- have special family needs or travel plans during the school year or who need more time for personal or family life.
Academic Mentoring
Often, as students get older and make their way from middle school into high school, their relationships with their parents begin to change and/or their motivation to learn begins to fade.
Many of these students don’t want any parental interference in their school lives. They want to be left to handle their schoolwork on their own and not be monitored daily by their parents. Which is fine – until their grades begin to drop.
In these cases, I serve more as an academic mentor, monitoring assignments and grades, making sure the student is keeping up with and understanding the course material, and providing the support and monitoring that won’t be accepted from a parent.
In a way, I am much like a coach, inspiring students to devote more time and thought to their coursework, to value their education, and to think seriously about their academic and professional goals.
My aim is to give the parents the assurance that their child will successfully complete the coursework and improve his/her GPA and to provide the student with a tutor and mentor who can help with the coursework while keeping parents at a comfortable distance.
Background
After graduating from Dartmouth College in 1984, I began my career in the classroom, teaching at private schools in Ohio and Connecticut. I remained a student, as well, earning a masters degree at Wesleyan University (CT) in 1990. Seeking a change of scenery, I moved out to Colorado in 1994 to teach at the Aspen Community School for three years before moving to the Aspen Country Day School for five more.
In 2003, after 16 years in the middle school classroom, I began working privately as a tutor and home school teacher, providing assistance to students from 5th through 12th grade. In 2007, I formed an S-corporation, becoming president and sole employee of Kalfas Educational Services.
While I leave foreign languages to others*, my academic coursework, teaching experience, and personal interests allow me to tutor in a wide range of courses, including physics, chemistry, biology, history, literature and government, as well as algebra I and II, geometry, pre-calculus, calculus, and IB mathematics.
*French and Spanish referrals made upon request
Click here to view my resumé.
Philip B. Kalfas
Education
- Dartmouth College B.A. in History 1984
- Wesleyan University M.A.L.S. 1990
Teaching Experience
- Maumee Valley Country Day School Toledo, Ohio 1984-85
- St. Luke's School New Canaan, CT 1986-89
- The Foote School New Haven, CT 1990-94
- The Aspen Community School Woody Creek, CO 1994-97
- Aspen Country Day School Aspen, CO 1997-2003
Tutoring
- Private Tutor Aspen, CO 2003-present
- Kalfas Educational Services incorporated 2007
Contact
To learn more about how Philip can help improve the quality of your child’s education, or to schedule a meeting, you can contact him by phone at: (970) 319-5571 or by e-mail at pkalfas@aspentutor.com.
Kalfas Educational Services
Knowing that Philip was there to educate and inspire my daughter was extremely comforting. She always looked forward to her sessions with Philip. He took the stress out of homework, papers, and tests and brought life to every subject he taught. Not only did my daughter receive good grades, she gained real knowledge and understanding of the subject at hand. He has enriched my daughter's life and has helped set her up for great success in college”
Eleanor Meyer, Aspen
I have had several tutors over the years, and Philip is the best —so far. I have yet to meet another tutor like him. He can teach any subject: clarifying what's confusing, and simplifying what's complicated. He's interesting, fun, understanding, and flexible; all important qualities in a tutor. I recommend him highly.”
Matt New, Santa Barbara
If there is one person who defined my high school experience it was Philip Kalfas. At the beginning of high school, it was obvious that I needed help in a lot of subjects, ranging from math to English. I was concerned that I would not be able to find a tutor that would be able to work with my confusing schedule. Philip was perfect for the job because he was willing to work with me whenever we could find time, showing that he truly cared. I feel that his intelligence, his passion for teaching, and his determination to help me understand whatever we were working on are what helped me grow from a struggling high school freshman to a confident college sophomore.”
Betsy Carlson, Los Angeles
Philip became a mentor to me and helped me discover the love of learning. We remain close friends to this day.
Julien Hernandez, Aspen
Philip truly mentored and inspired my son who found it difficult to adapt to the traditional high school. He created a home school environment that opened up a whole new world to my son, motivating him to follow his passions while focusing on his academic responsibilities. Philip clearly has a way of relating to his students and tailoring his style to the developing teenage brain.”
Monica New, Santa Barbara
Philip Kalfas was my tutor throughout high school. I always found him to be positive, patient, and inspiring. He helped me understand when I was confused, taught me to organize my thoughts, and helped me to create good study habits. I always enjoyed my sessions with Philip. He made my difficult subjects something I no longer dreaded. His positive and encouraging attitude made me a more confident and successful student. I feel comfortable looking to Philip for guidance and I know that he is always there to help. His love for teaching and learning is truly contagious. Philip is much more than a tutor to me, he is a true friend and a mentor.”
Jordan Meyer, Madison
Phil Kalfas in an intelligent, articulate, gracious instructor. His help in preparing my son for the ACT test raised his score by 3 points and helped him gain access to the college of his choice. His help with essays and classroom assignments ensured success for both of my sons in high school. I would highly recommend Phil to anyone hoping to improve their academic abilities."
Holly Jensen, Aspen