Reader's Choice

5× Litchfield Magazine
Reader's Choice Winner

Serving Northwestern Connecticut

Expert K–12 Tutoring in the
Heart of Litchfield Hills

Learning begins with being known.

Reading, writing, math, and standardized test prep.

01

Truly Personalized

We begin with a comprehensive pre-assessment to identify each student's unique learning style and set clear academic goals. No generic programs — only instruction built around your child.

02

Certified & Experienced

Our instructors bring over 100 years of combined experience in education, with a specialized focus on 1-on-1 instruction — which requires the ability to foster a child's trust and imagination.

03

Lasting Results

We teach students how to learn — not just how to perform. The habits, reasoning skills, and self-awareness students build with us carry forward long after any test or grade.

Our Philosophy

Learning is not
one-size-fits-all

At Titus Tutors, we recognize that every student has a unique learning style — and that discovering the right approach begins with truly knowing the student. In prioritizing a trusting relationship with our students, we help foster engagement, curiosity, and motivation, and strong results naturally follow.

Since our founding in 2020, this philosophy has driven our work as a premier tutoring center in the Litchfield Hills region. Through expert guidance and tailored instruction, we empower students to achieve their goals with confidence.

Tutoring session

What Families Say

Mrs. Saxe has worked with our daughter to improve her reading, confidence and engagement. Our daughter LOVES the tailored reading and writing materials! This really made the summer more fun and interesting. And we loved the flexible plans and schedule.

Monica Thornton

Karen Saxe has taught our three daughters Natalie, Victoria, and Diana. Her genuine love for teaching shines through every day. She is creative, engaging, caring, and nurturing. She has a keen sense of each child's needs. The children are fulfilled, engaged and taught marvelously. I highly recommend her as a tutor!

Christina Klemm

Karen Saxe tutors our son and daughter and they love her! Karen sees them for who they are, and creates a learning environment that my children are excited about. We highly recommend Karen!

Jodi Utz

Ready to Begin?

Start your child's path
today.

Call or Text

203-942-0305

Email

karensaxe@titustutors.com

Woodbury Location

53 Main Street South, Suite 3
2nd Floor, Woodbury, CT 06798

Washington Depot Location

Saint John's Episcopal Parish Library
Washington Depot, CT 06794

Sharon Location

Get in Touch

Start the Conversation

Every relationship begins with a conversation. Tell us a little about your child and we'll be in touch.

Prefer to write? You can also email us directly at karensaxe@titustutors.com.

Karen reads every inquiry personally and will be in touch soon.

Our Team

Educators Who Truly Care

Collectively, our teachers bring over 100 years of experience in education — with a specialized focus on the individual 1-on-1 instruction that fosters a child's trust, curiosity, and love of learning.

“Our mission is to unlock the potential of every student through truly personalized instruction. We believe every child can learn, and we are dedicated to identifying their unique strengths, building their confidence, and fostering lifelong academic success.”

Karen Saxe

Karen Saxe

Founder & Director

Over Thirty Years Experience Helping Children Grow

Titus Tutors was founded by Karen Saxe, an educator in both Connecticut and Massachusetts with over 30 years of teaching experience. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Simmons University and a Master's Degree in Education with a concentration in Reading and Language Arts from the University of Saint Joseph.

Karen has taught students at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. At Rumsey Hall School, where she worked for over sixteen years, she served as English Department Chair for five years and as Director of the Lower School Afternoon Enrichment Program for five years.

She brings specialized training in Orton-Gillingham and the Wilson Reading System and was an early adopter of distance learning in ESL (English as a Second Language), working with students from around the globe. Her diverse experience and commitment to individualized instruction are at the heart of Titus Tutors' mission.

She specializes in K–12 reading, writing, grammar, literature, and mathematics, with particular depth in early literacy, comprehension, and foundational math skills.

Meet the Team

Our Educators

Each instructor brings deep subject expertise and a genuine love of teaching to every session.

Dierdre McGuire

Dierdre McGuire

K–8 Reading, Writing & Math  ·  Special Education  ·  Orton-Gillingham

dmcguire@rumseyhall.org

BS, Salve Regina University — Elementary & Special Education
MS, Western Connecticut State University — Education (Reading)
CT Certification: PreK–3 & Grades 4–8  ·  Orton-Gillingham Certified 2017

With 32 years of experience in elementary and special education, Dierdre brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to teaching students from Kindergarten through eighth grade. She joined the Rumsey Hall community in the fall of 2021 and has taught fifth grade for five years, specializing in multisensory techniques to support students in the classroom. Throughout her career, she has developed a deep understanding of the unique challenges and milestones in literacy development. She enjoys creating hands-on lesson plans that cater to students’ individual needs. Whether working on foundational skills or advanced techniques, Dierdre is committed to guiding students toward academic excellence while building their self-confidence.

Kip Faison

Kip Faison

Math, SSAT, ISEE & SAT Prep

203-482-5575  ·  kipfaison6@gmail.com

Washington University in St. Louis — Mathematics, Computer Science & Cognitive Neuroscience
SAT: 1530  (780 Math · 750 English)

Kip has received national and international awards for math and science and has taught at Titus Tutors for almost four years with over 300 hours of experience, earning rave reviews from parents and students alike. This summer, Kip is conducting academic research in creative learning, and independently exploring how tutoring systems can model and adapt to individual learners — both of which feed directly into his work with students.

Nicole Cowles

Nicole Cowles

SSAT Math & Upper-Level Math

Nicole brings over 30 years of experience teaching mathematics at every level, including SAT preparation at the high school and college level. She has served as a math coordinator and has tutored hundreds of students.

Krystianna Toth

Krystianna Toth

Reading, Writing, Math & Special Education

tothkrystianna@gmail.com

M.Ed. Curriculum & Instruction  ·  B.S. Early Childhood Education  ·  B.S. Psychology of Youth
Preschool Special Educator

Krystianna specializes in reading, writing, math, social skills, and special education, bringing both formal expertise and genuine warmth to every student she works with.

Melody Devlin

Melody Devlin

Reading, Writing & Math  ·  Grades 1–5

A retired Connecticut elementary school teacher with over 35 years of experience, Melody taught primarily 4th and 5th grade, as well as 1st grade, and ran a nursery school. She brings a cumulative 10 years of tutoring experience in reading, writing, and math — and a genuine love of helping children that comes through in every session.

Abby Cowles

Abby Cowles

Elementary Math & Reading

B.A. Child Study  ·  M.Ed. Curriculum & Instruction  ·  CT Certified K–8

Abby Cowles has been teaching third grade for two years in Region 1 Schools. She tutors math and reading for elementary-aged students.

Rising Educators

Our Interns

Natalie Klemm

Natalie Klemm

Summer Reading, Math & SSAT

The Hotchkiss School — Class of 2025
University of Chicago — Economics (Fall 2025)

Natalie has experience working with students across all age groups, from early elementary through high school — including tutoring middle and elementary students, co-leading read-aloud sessions for early elementary students, and leading writing clubs for both young adults and adults. She also designed and taught financial literacy workshops for high school students at public libraries in Connecticut, developing lesson plans and teaching students in Waterbury and Danbury.

Where We Work

Serving Northwestern Connecticut

Woodbury

53 Main Street South, Suite 3
2nd Floor, Woodbury, CT 06798

Washington Depot

Saint John's Episcopal Parish Library
Washington Depot, CT 06794

Sharon & Surrounding Towns

Available as a service area
across northwestern CT

In-Person & Online

Sessions at our locations,
in your area, or via video call.

Support, Remediation, or Enrichment

Programs Designed Around Your Child

Every program at Titus Tutors is built from the ground up around your child's individual strengths, needs, and learning style — from foundational skills to advanced academic enrichment.

What We Teach

Subjects & Tutors

Every subject, with the educators certified to teach it at each grade level — from foundational skills to advanced coursework.

Mathematics

Number sense and fluency through calculus — building the reasoning, problem-solving, and confidence students need at every stage.

Elementary · K–5

Karen Saxe, Melody Devlin, Abby Cowles, Dierdre McGuire, Krystianna Toth

Middle & High · 6–12

Kip Faison, Nicole Cowles, Dierdre McGuire

Reading & Writing

From phonics and early literacy to literary analysis and essay craft — developing clear, confident readers and writers.

Elementary · K–5

Karen Saxe, Dierdre McGuire, Krystianna Toth, Melody Devlin, Abby Cowles, Natalie Klemm

Middle & High · 6–12

Karen Saxe, Dierdre McGuire, Krystianna Toth, Natalie Klemm

Standardized Test Prep

Exam strategy, pacing, and test-taking skills that build scores and confidence.

SSAT · ISEE · SAT

Kip Faison, Nicole Cowles

AP Math & Science

Course-specific tutoring in the most demanding AP math and science subjects — reinforcing rigorous material and building the fluency these exams reward.

Precalculus · Calculus AB & BC · Statistics · Chemistry · Biology · Physics · Computer Science

Kip Faison

Special Education Support

Structured, specialized instruction — including Orton-Gillingham — for students who learn differently and benefit from a tailored approach.

Elementary · K–5

Karen Saxe, Dierdre McGuire, Krystianna Toth

Programs

Beyond the Subjects

Dedicated programs that keep students engaged and growing year-round.

Summer Reading Buddy Program

A dedicated one-on-one reading partnership that keeps young readers engaged, confident, and growing through the summer months.

Tutors Natalie Klemm

Year-Round Support & Enrichment

Catching up, staying sharp, or leaping ahead — a consistent academic partner across the school year and summer months.

Tutors Karen Saxe, Kip Faison, Nicole Cowles, Dierdre McGuire, Krystianna Toth, Melody Devlin, Abby Cowles

$125
Per Hour · 1-on-1 In-Person or Online

All sessions are fully individualized. No group classes, no pre-packaged curricula — only focused, expert instruction tailored to your child.

In-home sessions (tutor travels to you) are $150 per hour.

Inquire About Enrollment
$50
Per Hour · Intern Sessions

In-home sessions (intern travels to you) are $60 per hour.

Customized Programs

Not Sure Where to Start?

Call or email Karen directly to discuss your child's needs. Every relationship begins with a conversation.

Call 203-942-0305 Send an Email

Evidence & Practice

Our Approach

Rooted in research. Driven by data. Built around the student in front of us.

The Student Profile

Three sources of knowledge — research, data, and the tutor’s firsthand understanding of the child — feed a single, continuously updated learning plan.

Research Backbone

Evidence-based principles that tell us how learning works — from motivation science to scaffolding to retrieval practice.

Student Engagement & Motivation

Growth mindset▼

Students who view ability as developable — rather than fixed — persist longer and achieve more. We reinforce this belief in every session.

Dweck, C. S. (2006). Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. Random House.

Intrinsic motivation▼

Intrinsic motivation — driven by autonomy, competence, and connection — produces deeper and more durable learning than external pressure alone.

Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2000). The “what” and “why” of goal pursuits. Psychological Inquiry, 11(4), 227–268.

Scaffolding & Productive Struggle

Zone of Proximal Development▼

Learning happens most efficiently in the Zone of Proximal Development — the space just beyond what a student can do alone. Skilled tutors find and work in that zone.

Vygotsky, L. S. (1978). Mind in Society. Harvard University Press.

Productive failure▼

Letting students grapple with problems before direct instruction deepens conceptual understanding and improves long-term transfer.

Kapur, M. (2008). Productive Failure. Cognition and Instruction, 26(3), 379–424.

Study Habits & Retention

Retrieval practice▼

Retrieval practice — actively recalling information rather than re-reading it — is one of the most effective strategies for long-term retention.

Roediger, H. L., & Karpicke, J. D. (2006). Test-enhanced learning. Psychological Science, 17(3), 249–255.

Spaced repetition▼

Spacing practice sessions over time produces substantially better retention than massed “cramming,” even when total study time is equal.

Cepeda, N. J., et al. (2006). Distributed practice in verbal recall tasks. Psychological Bulletin, 132(3), 354–380.

Student Data

Structured information we collect before, during, and between sessions to track where a student is and how they’re moving.

1

Pre-Assessment

A structured intake assessment before the first session maps exactly where a student stands — strengths noted, gaps named — and sets the priorities for the learning plan.

2

Homework & Practice Review

Assignments aren’t just checked — they’re logged. Patterns in errors and effort between sessions reveal what is consolidating and what still needs work.

3

Ongoing Assessment

Periodic check-in assessments confirm what has consolidated and surface new gaps as the student advances — keeping the learning plan current and its priorities accurate.

Tutor Insight

What only a consistent tutor who knows this child can observe — the things no test captures.

The relationship between a tutor and student accumulates something no assessment can measure: a working model of how this specific child learns. Tutors track:

• The student’s goals — academic, personal, and longer-term

• How the student responds to challenge vs. praise

• What kinds of explanations make things click

• Where confidence breaks down and why

• What motivates them on a given day

• Which approaches have worked before — and which haven’t

This is the knowledge that turns research principles into real decisions in the room.

Personalized Curriculum & Pedagogical Strategy

This is not a generic program applied to your child — it is a living document that exists only for them. The data tells us where the gaps are and what to address first. The tutor’s knowledge tells us how. Together, they produce a lesson plan and pedagogical approach that is updated after every session as the student develops.

✓ Clear priorities from assessment data ✓ Strategies selected for this learner ✓ Updated after every session

Exam Preparation

SSAT, ISEE & SAT Prep

One-on-one test preparation led by experienced Math and Reading/Writing educators — structured to build genuine confidence, sharpen test strategy, and deliver real score improvement.

Grades 5–8

SSAT

Secondary School Admission Test

Grades 5–8

ISEE

Independent School Entrance Exam

Grades 10–12

SAT

College Entrance Exam

What's Included

How We Prepare
Students

Official Materials

We draw primarily from materials produced by the test makers themselves — College Board for the SAT, the Enrollment Management Association (EMA) for the SSAT, and the Educational Records Bureau (ERB) for the ISEE — so practice questions mirror the actual exam as closely as possible.

Full Test Simulation

Prep begins with a full-length practice test under real exam conditions — timed, structured, section by section. Students build familiarity with the format, develop pacing, and practice the focus and stamina the test demands. Results drive everything that follows.

Test-Taking Strategy

Content knowledge alone doesn’t determine score. We teach time allocation by section, process of elimination, when to skip and return, and how to manage pressure — skills that are learnable and that we treat as such.

Test prep session
$125
Per Hour · 1-on-1 In-Person or Online

All test prep is fully individualized. We work with each student's specific weaknesses, timeline, and target school requirements.

In-home sessions (tutor travels to you) are $150 per hour.

Begin Prep Today

Questions?

Talk to Karen directly.

Phone

203-942-0305

Email

karensaxe@titustutors.com

Also Reachable At

ksaxe@rumseyhall.org

Student Placements

Where Our Students Go

Titus Tutors students have earned admission to some of the most selective secondary schools and universities in the world. These placements reflect not just academic achievement, but the confidence and preparation built one session at a time.

Secondary Schools

Boarding & Prep School Admissions

Students prepared for the SSAT and ISEE at Titus Tutors have been accepted to these highly competitive schools.

    Universities

    University Admissions

    Titus Tutors students have gone on to earn places at prestigious universities.

      Start the Journey

      Your child's name
      belongs on this list.

      Call 203-942-0305 karensaxe@titustutors.com