KnowledgePoints Staff
At KnowledgePoints, we maintain the highest standards for our instructors. We use only certified teachers, many of who completed advanced degrees in education and who have broad and deep experience as professional educators. We match our instructors specifically with the needs of each child, from reading specialists to kids with learning disabilities (for which we have numerous special-ed certified intstructors on staff) to instructors who pass rigorous SAT and ACT assessments.. All of our tutors receive ongoing training in KnowledgePoints instructional systems.
Center Director
Kimberly Hermanns, B.A, M.A. Kim is passionate about teaching and helping kids. Within New Jersey, she’s taught in the Chatham and Pompton Lakes school districts. She has a B.S. Degree in History from Fairleigh Dickinson University, summa cum laude, as well as an M.A. in Education, also from Fairleigh Dickinson. She is the recipient of the Peter Sammartino Education Scholarship for outstanding achievement in Education, and was accepted into Phi Alpha Theta History Honors Society, Phi Omega Epsilon Senior Honors Society, and Phi Zeta Kappa Junior Honors Society.
Intructors (Partial List)
Mary Ellen Murray B.A, M.A. - MaryEllen is a highly experienced elementary education teacher and reading specialist. She’s taught in the South Orange-Maplewood school district for the past 15 years, tutored privately, and is a certified Orton Gillingham instructor. Maryellen is a graduate of Boston College, Summa Cum Laude, and received her M.A. in Reading from Kean University.
Deanna Micallef B.A. M.A. pending -- Deanna is a highly experienced elementary and special education teacher. She has taught in the Pennsville, New Providence, Glen Ridge and West Orange school districts.
Deanna holds a B.A. in elementary education from the College of Saint Elizabeth, with a concentration in special education. She holds the following teaching certifications: Teacher of the Handicapped, Elementary Teacher, and Teacher of Art. She is currently working towards an M.A. in Counseling Psychology with an Art Therapy specialization at Caldwell College in Caldwell, NJ. In her spare time, she is a freelance artist and muralist.
Dragana Trivic, B.A. Dragana is a highly experience math and SAT/ACT instructor, helping high school students make large gains in all areas of these tests. She holds a B.A. in Mathematics and Economics, summa cum laude from Drew University where she was inducted into three honors societies: Phi Mu Epsilon (Mathematics Honor Society), Omicron Delta (Economics), and Phi Beta Kappa (overall academics). al
Valerie Towers, B.A. Valerie is a summa cum laude graduate from Montclair State University with a bachelor’s degree in Human Ecology and a certificate to teach Elementary students, K-8. She received the Edward J. Bloustein distinguished scholar award early on in her collegiate career and went on to be inducted into the Golden Key International Honor Society and Kappa Omicron Nu Educational Honor Society.
Valerie has worked as an elementary teacher in Randolph’s school district as well as an administrator at the Lakeland Hills Family YMCA’s Early Learning Center. From there, she spent what she considers the most valuable years of her education experience in the homes of the inner city students of East L.A. tutoring for the Academic Advantage, a program associated with the No Child Left Behind legislature.
After pursuing such fields as architecture, journalism, and the performing arts, Valerie feels she can contribute most by impacting the education and the lives, of our future leaders.
Heather Bergmann, B.S., M.A.
Heather is an experienced teacher working with many different levels and types of learners. She currently works for a non-profit organization as a teacher of students diagnosed with multiple disabilities. Heather received her B.S. in childhood education from SUNY New Paltz with a concentration in mathematics. In addition, Heather earned her M.A. from Kean University in special education, with a concentration in high incidence disabilities (learning disabilities).
Art Meisler, President
Prior to opening the KnowledgePoints Learning Center, Art enjoyed a diverse career in Technology & Management Consulting. He delivered business solutions for Fortune 100 and mid-tier companies in Life Sciences, Health Care, Media, Entertainment, and Sports.
He is a graduate of Boston University as well as Coach University where he trained as Life Coach.
Art takes great pleasure in helping students reach their potential – academically and in all aspects of their lives. In addition to operating KnowledgePoints, Art has an independent Life and Career Coach practice, helping clients of all ages with personal development and life transitions, including career changes.