Antone Cruz

Biography

Ever since my first teaching experience at Southside Elementary School’s migrant education summer program as a high school freshman, I have had a deep passion for connecting with students to advance their educational journeys. It was so rewarding to watch students grow and share excitement about learning. As I pursued my BS in Chemical Engineering and MS in Sustainability Science at Stanford University, I deepened my enthusiasm for education as a teaching assistant for multiple graduate level courses, where I graded exams and assignments, led vibrant discussion sections, and held office hours. After finishing both degrees, I joined Blue Planet Systems in a process engineering role focused on scaling up novel carbon mineralization technologies. I enjoy using my talents to help build a more sustainable world and I hope that the students I tutor will do the same. 

Many notable media influences cultivated my passion for chemistry and physics, most notably They Might Be Giants’ Here Comes Science, Breaking Bad, and Neil Degrasse Tyson’s revival of Cosmos. I always found my learning in STEM classes to be joyful experiences, and I want to share that joy with others. I understand that high-stakes exams are a major source of angst for young students and am disappointed that there are few effective remedies available to students. I was very fortunate to have developed strong test-taking strategies and mindsets from a young age and I hope to share them with our clients. 

My tutoring philosophy centers dialogue and delving questions. In my experience, I have found that worksheets and flashcards alone are insufficient to develop a deep understanding of science, especially when students are struggling to grasp fundamental concepts. My methods always start and end with asking and answering questions for my students so that they understand how to think deeply about the curriculum. 

Outside of AJ, I enjoy cooking, reading, and golfing at Shoreline Links.