Hi! I want to share my story of how I have come to be the owner of Smart Future Tutoring!

I grew up having the hardest time reading! I remember my parents getting me extra help when I needed it though tutors or small groups in school!

Through middle and high school, reading clicked and I knew I wanted to help students get through their reading troubles! 4 years of undergrad in Elementary and Early Childhood was not enough! I went on to get my masters in Reading Education and become a Certified Reading Specialist and then started working as a first grade teacher in AACPS! I also worked for families in the Autism Waiver for 3 years while in school, and love helping students of all ability levels. While working in AACPS, I was trained in many science of reading curriculums like University of Florida Literacy Institute (UFLI), Wilson's Fundations, Heggerty, and more!

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6+ years later, I realized I wanted to stay at home for a while with my beautiful daughter! I was not done teaching though. I had been tutoring after school for a few years and knew I could continue helping students one-on-one to reach their reading and math goals! Here we are! I love what I do, and I love to see students make crazy growth in their grades, confidence, test scores, and more! 

 I want to share my story of how I became a tutor at Smart Future Tutoring! As I was growing up, my mom was an elementary school teacher. I always admired the way she made a difference in her students’ lives and I dreamed of being a teacher myself!

After earning my Bachelors of Science in Elementary Education, I followed in my mother’s footsteps and became a 5th grade teacher for BCPS! After years teaching 5th grade, I went on to support 2nd and 3rd grade students with Autism in Augusta, Georgia. Afterwards, I served as a preschool teacher for Towson University’s child care center for a couple years. At each school, my love for helping students grow in both their academic and social/emotional skills only grew but I wanted to find a place that also supported a healthy work/life balance. 

That’s when I found Smart Future Tutoring! Here, I’ll have the opportunity to spend more time a home while continuing to help students succeed academically and feel good about themselves! I’m so excited to work your family and help make a positive impact!

Hello! My name is Lynn Cottle, and I am excited and thankful for the opportunity to support the mission of Smart Future Tutoring . My original career plan was to be a physical therapist. Then, I discovered how this passion for helping children connected to my interest in the rapid brain development that occurs in the formative years and how it relates to learning, social-emotional skills, and education.

I became certified in Elementary, Middle, and Special Education and began to teach in K-5 classrooms as well as mentor student teachers in Maryland elementary schools. These years included AACPS and St. Mary’s Elementary School. During that time I earned a Master’s Degree as a Reading Specialist K-12, and extended my learning with Post-Master’s Certification courses in Gifted and Talented Education at Notre Dame of Maryland to gain additional information on implementing the specialized instruction that guides children. I am current in the Science of Reading. I have been trained and participated in multiple evidence-based programs, assessments, and interventions including Core Knowledge Literacy Arts (CKLA), mCLASS Intervention, DIBELS, University of Florida Literacy Institute Foundations (UFLI), Fountas and Pinnell, Wilson’s Fundations, Heggerty Phonemic Awareness, the Science of Spelling with Richard Gentry, writing with Ralph Fletcher, Common Core Math, Standards for Mathematical Practice, Number Talks, and the Concrete-Representational-Abstract (CRA) approach to math.

As a teacher and mother of three, I understand the importance and love of our children. I am dedicated to delivering multiple pathways for your child to succeed in a safe, joyful environment where learning experiences are developed using evidenced-based curriculum, data, and student observation that will build on strengths and target needs.  Your goals are my goals as we enrich learning with all roads leading to confidence and acceleration that will build on strengths and target needs.

Hi! Growing up, school generally felt easy for me. As an adult, specifically as a teacher, I see that a large part of that was my ability to find strategies and supports that work best for me in all areas of learning and to apply them consistently. I believe all students, of all abilities, CAN access learning and sometimes we just need to try different methods and/or build a stronger foundation for it to become accessible. 

I am excited to join the Smart Future Tutoring team to expand my reach on helping students within AACPS. I am a current AACPS teacher available for virtual or in-person tutoring. I can support your students in reading, writing, and math at the elementary and middle school levels, as well as for Algebra and Geometry at the high school level.  As a special education teacher, I specialize in finding the strategies and supports that work best for your student! I hold 10 years experience working with students with and without disabilities within a variety of content and classroom settings. I hope I can help your student find

Hi! I'm a math tutor with over 10 years of experience helping students in grades 6–10 build confidence and succeed. I hold a master’s degree in Data Science and am certified to teach math from grade 6 through Algebra 2. Whether you're looking to strengthen core skills or take on more advanced topics, I tailor each session to your learning style and goals.

I’ve been teaching most of my life—starting at age 15 with martial arts—and it’s truly what I know and love. As a kid, I remember forgetting much of what I learned over the summer, which is why I’m passionate about keeping the mind active during those months. Summer is a perfect time to catch up, get ahead, or deepen understanding. Give your student the advantage of personalized instruction that keeps their skills sharp and their confidence growing.

Outside of tutoring, you can find me in the gym, cooking, making music, or spending time with friends and family. I’m dedicated to making math approachable, enjoyable, and something you can succeed at with the right support—and I’d love to help you get there!

My name is Kathleen Erb, and teaching has been part of my heart for as long as I can remember. As the oldest of four siblings, I was always “playing teacher,” and that early love for helping others learn quickly grew into my lifelong dream of becoming an educator.

While I originally planned to teach high school, everything changed once I began working with younger students. I quickly fell in love with the curiosity, joy, and genuine connections that come from teaching little learners.

I am dual-certified in Early Childhood and Elementary Education and spent nine wonderful years at St. Mary’s of Annapolis Elementary School—five years teaching 1st grade and four years in Kindergarten. During that time, I also earned my Master’s in Education from Notre Dame of Maryland University. My passion for learning didn’t stop there, though. I’m always looking for ways to better support my students, so in 2022–2023 I completed NDMU’s Reading Specialist Program.

Throughout my teaching journey, I’ve also received training in several evidence-based literacy and math programs, including the University of Florida Literacy Institute (UFLI), the Heggerty Phonemic Awareness Program, Words Their Way, Literacy Footprints, Math in Practice and Number Talks. These experiences have given me a wide range of tools to help students grow in confidence and develop a strong foundation in reading and math.

When my second son was born in July, my heart led me to step back from the classroom so I could spend more time at home with my two little boys. While I cherish this season of motherhood, I truly missed teaching and sharing my love of learning with students. Smart Future Tutoring has been the perfect way to balance both of my greatest passions—being a mom and being a teacher.

I feel incredibly grateful to be part of such a wonderful program and look forward to supporting your family and helping your student grow, learn, and shine! ✨