Fuquay - Varina

Greetings students, parents, and guardians! My name is Olivia Leonardo, and I look forward to tutoring at Best Brains in Apex, NC. I am originally from Montville, New Jersey, but I moved to Cape Carteret, North Carolina in 2010, and my family and I have lived here in the South ever since. I graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with a degree in English and minors in Secondary Education and Music Performance (oboe) in 2022. I’ve taught grades 9-12 English and Public Speaking since 2022. I’m currently getting a master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology at UNC-Chapel Hill. In addition to playing the oboe and teaching, I enjoy reading, hiking, and cooking. I can’t wait to get to know your children and help them reach their academic goals!

Keri Kelly is from New York and spent 15 years teaching Computer Science at the High School level. She now teaches CS for a Virtual High School here in North Carolina. Ms Kelly has been with Best Brains for 2 years and she enjoys bringing the world of Computer Science to each of her students. In her spare time, she likes to go to the beach, hang out with her dog Chloe and her son Devin, and visit her family back in NY.

Nathan is an experienced educator with more than two decades of experience working with elementary and middle school students. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a master’s degree in Middle Grades Mathematics. He has also completed additional graduate-level coursework and licensure in Academically and Intellectually Gifted Education.

Nathan currently works with gifted elementary students in both mathematics and language arts. He enjoys creating engaging learning experiences that encourage students to think deeply, solve challenging problems, and make meaningful connections. What brings out his best when working with children is seeing their confidence grow as they discover that they are capable of more than they initially believed. He strives to create a supportive environment where students feel comfortable asking questions, taking academic risks, and developing a genuine love of learning.