Onsight Education is just getting started, so our instructor roster is still small — but growing. Here’s a bit about the people teaching with us so far.
Benjamin Schulman
Founding Academic Tutor & Company Director
Ben started teaching almost by accident. In high school he picked up part-time work leading kids through climbing routes at a local gym, then coaching mountain biking at a summer camp — jobs that had nothing to do with academics, but taught him that most learning comes down to breaking a scary-looking problem into steps someone can actually follow. That idea stuck with him.
By college, he was tutoring classmates and working as a teaching assistant for math and science courses at Lewis & Clark College, where he earned degrees in both Mathematics and Biochemistry & Molecular Biology. He kept tutoring after graduation, and since 2019 has worked with students across nearly every subject and grade level — from a sixth grader stuck on fractions to a senior grinding through AP Chemistry.
His approach is patient and a little unconventional: he’d rather spend twenty minutes figuring out why a concept isn’t clicking than push through another worksheet. Students and parents have described him as easygoing and quick to adapt — switching explanations mid-sentence, or changing tactics entirely when the first one doesn’t land.
“I like the moment right before something clicks — that’s usually where the real work happens.”
Ben
Qualifications
- Tutoring experience across STEM and the humanities since 2019
- B.A. in Mathematics, Lewis & Clark College
- B.A. in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Lewis & Clark College
Graham Ring
Founding Music Instructor
Graham is a lifelong Portland native. His musical journey began in fourth grade on the cello — an instrument that didn’t quite fit, so he moved on to upright bass. He learned to play classical, jazz, and contemporary styles, and eventually began studying composition. He graduated from Lewis & Clark College in 2021 with an Honors diploma, and has been teaching full-time ever since, both in-home and at a dedicated school. His own experience trying out different instruments and styles now shapes how he tailors lessons to each student.
When asked what he prioritizes in lessons, Graham describes a compassion-forward approach rather than a results-forward one. He believes the right setting, the right person, and the right instrument can spark a lifelong flame — and that motivation has to come from inside to last, though that doesn’t mean a student has to find it alone.
With five years of experience teaching students from age 3 to 81, Graham is confident in his ability to listen, adapt, and restructure a lesson as it’s happening. That might mean working in some jazz improvisation at the end of a classical lesson to keep things fresh, or learning a piece that connects with the student rather than the next one in the book.
“The skills we learn in lessons and individual practice expand well beyond the confines of music. I teach students how to be confident, resilient, and self-assured. I believe that everyone is capable of success in music, especially with the right tools.”
Graham
Qualifications
- Teaching full-time (in-home and school-based) since 2021, with 5 years of overall teaching experience across ages 3 to 81
- B.A., Lewis & Clark College, 2021 (Honors)
- Upright bass and cello, spanning classical, jazz, and contemporary styles, with training in composition
Mara Halloran
Founding Academic Tutor
Mara still remembers the math teacher who completely changed their perspective on math — someone who reframed problems as fun puzzles and taught as if everyone belonged in the field of mathematics. That class helped set Mara on a path they’d never expected: studying mathematics in college. They graduated with honors from Lewis & Clark College in Biology and Mathematics, using math to model the effects of climate change on western forests.
Mara never forgot the impact that teacher had, and has spent the years since trying to extend the same welcome to their own students — showing them that yes, they can do this too. Over the last 8 years, they’ve worked as a TA and peer tutor in college-level mathematics and biology at Lewis & Clark, and have taught K-12 students across all math and reading curricula through roles at Sylvan Learning and Mathnasium.
Mara’s teaching style starts with a lot of structure around a topic, then gradually removes it as students build the skills to work independently. They especially love the moments when a student surprises themself by finishing a hard problem alone — and watching the confidence that grows from it.
Qualifications
- B.A. with honors in Biology & Mathematics, Lewis & Clark College
- Professional mathematics tutoring experience at Sylvan Learning & Mathnasium
- TA and peer tutoring experience at Lewis & Clark College
- Peer tutoring experience in high school
Want to be next?
We’re building out our instructor network in Portland and would love to hear from you if you tutor or teach music.
We only use the information you share through our forms — like your name, email, or phone number — to respond to your inquiry and keep you updated about Onsight Education. We don’t sell or share your information with third parties. Questions? Email us at info@onsighteducation.com.