Our mission
Karma stakes its philosophy on the belief that no one person or policy can solve our social, economic, and environmental problems; we must do it ourselves — all of us, little by little — by committing to the people and things that matter. We dedicate our work to lifting up the next generation of leaders through education.
We work with students of all kinds, from those struggling with their coursework to those who want the extra challenge of supplemental instruction. In every case, no matter where the student is coming from, the goal is the same: to help kids perform at a higher academic level and to give them the confidence they need to excel.
But our efforts go beyond that. We also provide funding and labor for community service projects by donating a percentage of net profits and a lot of our time. As is the case in our practice, education is at the center of our philosophy, so most of our projects focus on giving students of all backgrounds access to top-quality educational resources. Furthermore, we encourage education through service: we provide opportunities for youth to get involved in our service projects, developing well-rounded, compassionate future leaders who value education, equality, and the environment.
We work with students of all kinds, from those struggling with their coursework to those who want the extra challenge of supplemental instruction. In every case, no matter where the student is coming from, the goal is the same: to help kids perform at a higher academic level and to give them the confidence they need to excel.
But our efforts go beyond that. We also provide funding and labor for community service projects by donating a percentage of net profits and a lot of our time. As is the case in our practice, education is at the center of our philosophy, so most of our projects focus on giving students of all backgrounds access to top-quality educational resources. Furthermore, we encourage education through service: we provide opportunities for youth to get involved in our service projects, developing well-rounded, compassionate future leaders who value education, equality, and the environment.
By nurturing a culture that celebrates education and by channeling resources into projects that support it, we provide equitable opportunities for students of all background, promoting justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in academics.
How it works
It's simple: we tutor your child. We then dedicate a percentage of what we make to non-profit organizations whose missions advance the goal of creating a more diverse middle class through equitable educational opportunities. Our main partner is a sister organization to ours: Karma Tutors Impact Fund. KTIF offers free, one-to-one educational support to students from low-income local families, with a particular focus on the immigrant community. As a certified non-profit, KTIF can operate tax-free and accept charitable, tax-deductible donations — all of which goes back into our communities. This relationship allows us to do real non-profit work while also securing the revenue to fund it through our private business.
Meet the team
Paul
After graduating from the University of Maryland with a BA in Mathematics, Paul worked at a tutoring center on the east coast, helping kids of all ages make sense of his favorite field. He went on to receive his master's in Mathematics from the University of Delaware and teach at the college level. Shortly thereafter, Paul packed up his things and followed a lifelong dream of moving out west. That journey brought him to Telluride, where he taught high-school math, tutored students across STEM subjects, and set the US record for reciting digits of pi from memory. Because MATH!
Throughout his experiences teaching and tutoring, Paul became increasingly aware of a common phenomenon: math anxiety. It's a real thing.
Paul found that a profound number of people — including full-grown adults! — are stressed out by math, and that math anxiety lasts their entire life. Too often, kids approach math problems like there's a trick: many second-guess correct solutions because they assume their instincts are wrong, while others check every corner of their math homework to make sure there are no hidden fractions lying in wait. Even adults wear the scars of their math anxiety; for many of us, it's a running joke that we have to pull out our phones to calculate the tip, and we brush it off with unfair generalizations like, "I'm so bad at math!" Paul believes that the only way to fix this collective disillusionment with math is by changing the narrative early, and that means getting kids to like math.
For years, Paul's motivation has been to help kids see the beauty of mathematics and the creativity that the subject inspires. His ambition is for more students to recognize that math is not some monster hellbent on nuking their GPAs, but a playground for critical thinking. In every session, he helps his students gain the confidence they need while also nurturing in them an appreciation for the art of mathematics.
Throughout his experiences teaching and tutoring, Paul became increasingly aware of a common phenomenon: math anxiety. It's a real thing.
Paul found that a profound number of people — including full-grown adults! — are stressed out by math, and that math anxiety lasts their entire life. Too often, kids approach math problems like there's a trick: many second-guess correct solutions because they assume their instincts are wrong, while others check every corner of their math homework to make sure there are no hidden fractions lying in wait. Even adults wear the scars of their math anxiety; for many of us, it's a running joke that we have to pull out our phones to calculate the tip, and we brush it off with unfair generalizations like, "I'm so bad at math!" Paul believes that the only way to fix this collective disillusionment with math is by changing the narrative early, and that means getting kids to like math.
For years, Paul's motivation has been to help kids see the beauty of mathematics and the creativity that the subject inspires. His ambition is for more students to recognize that math is not some monster hellbent on nuking their GPAs, but a playground for critical thinking. In every session, he helps his students gain the confidence they need while also nurturing in them an appreciation for the art of mathematics.
Mary
Mary earned her BA in English Literature and a minor in Spanish Language from the University of Delaware, where she worked in the University Writing Center. There, she coached all kinds of students in their composition skills, from nervous freshmen wading through English 101 to experienced grad students writing their final theses. In that role, Mary helped students with varied abilities and needs gain confidence in their mastery of the written word, giving them the tools to organize their own thoughts, develop their ideas, and elevate their word choice in order to produce sophisticated compositions. It was in her role at the Writing Center that Mary discovered her calling to foster and strengthen language diversity, as the majority of her students were nonnative English speakers.
After graduation and a financially ill-advised but not-once-regretted move out to Telluride, Mary continued tutoring in writing and led the Spanish Immersion program at a local preschool. There, she exclusively spoke to the children in Spanish, bringing our youngest native and nonnative English speakers together through a culture of celebrated language exchange. Eventually, she put her writing expertise to use as a middle- and high-school English and History teacher, a position which she enjoyed for three years.
Mary pursued language diversity by continuing her study of Spanish, earning a master's degree in 2017 in Spanish and Hispanic-American Literature from the University of Barcelona. Now, she integrates her Spanish skills, background in teaching, and commitment to equity in education through her work at Karma Tutors.
After graduation and a financially ill-advised but not-once-regretted move out to Telluride, Mary continued tutoring in writing and led the Spanish Immersion program at a local preschool. There, she exclusively spoke to the children in Spanish, bringing our youngest native and nonnative English speakers together through a culture of celebrated language exchange. Eventually, she put her writing expertise to use as a middle- and high-school English and History teacher, a position which she enjoyed for three years.
Mary pursued language diversity by continuing her study of Spanish, earning a master's degree in 2017 in Spanish and Hispanic-American Literature from the University of Barcelona. Now, she integrates her Spanish skills, background in teaching, and commitment to equity in education through her work at Karma Tutors.
Destan
Destan has been a tutor for seven years now, and helping students achieve their academic dreams has been a long-standing goal of his. His tutoring experience includes subjects such as Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Algebra, and Calculus. In addition, he also tutor for exams such as the SSAT, SAT, ACT, MCAT, GMAT and GRE. Outside of tutoring, Destan has designed tests and curricula along with creating educational videos. He is also pursuing his dream of becoming a doctor by attending med school.
When Destan tutors a student, he tailors his instruction style to meet each student's needs. One-size-fits-all is definitely not his motto, as he believes that students have the most success when educators can connect with them on a personal level and give them an educational experience that is in line with their learning style and goals.
Destan loves seeing the look on a student's face when they fully grasp a concept and have that "Aha" moment. He has helped several students achieve their desired grades in classes and scores on exams. However, he also believes that education is about so much more than grades and scores: it is about developing a life-long love of learning and gaining an ability to engage in real-life problem solving. These values are what he wants to instill in each and every one of his students, along with helping them out in their academic progress.
When Destan is not tutoring, you can find him hiking, cooking, playing sports, and tending to his cat, Kara.
When Destan tutors a student, he tailors his instruction style to meet each student's needs. One-size-fits-all is definitely not his motto, as he believes that students have the most success when educators can connect with them on a personal level and give them an educational experience that is in line with their learning style and goals.
Destan loves seeing the look on a student's face when they fully grasp a concept and have that "Aha" moment. He has helped several students achieve their desired grades in classes and scores on exams. However, he also believes that education is about so much more than grades and scores: it is about developing a life-long love of learning and gaining an ability to engage in real-life problem solving. These values are what he wants to instill in each and every one of his students, along with helping them out in their academic progress.
When Destan is not tutoring, you can find him hiking, cooking, playing sports, and tending to his cat, Kara.
Testimonials
Our son has been struggling with school for a while and resisting getting his work done. Mary started working with him a few months ago. She is kind, empathetic, organized, funny and smart. Our son responds really well to her and is no longer resisting. She is helping get organized, they are coming up with systems to make sure the work gets done and turned in and he is actually on board. Certainly not his attitude when it was his mother trying to help him with school! I highly recommend Karma Tutors!
Laura - Telluride, Colorado
January, 2022
Laura - Telluride, Colorado
January, 2022
Mary and Paul are incredibly brilliant! They have been tutoring my two teenagers for several years, as well homeschooled them for one year. My son says it was his best and most favorite school year he ever had. They both have thrived to new heights under the wings of Mary and Paul. They are currently tutoring 2-3 times a week and have gone from believing they "weren't smart enough" (in certain subjects) to acing exams, but more importantly understating and LOVING subjects again. Mary and Paul create a curiosity spark with whomever they teach. I hate to share the secret of Mary and Paul because we want to keep them all to ourselves because they are a gift to the educational arena. If we had more teachers like Mary and Paul, we would have more children realizing their natural potential.
Jennifer - Denver, Colorado
September, 2022
Jennifer - Denver, Colorado
September, 2022
Mary and Paul teach with with great care and attention. I am constantly struck by their ability to patiently coax the inner voice and critical thinking from both of our two, very different children while ever so deftly nudging towards a more refined and deeper understanding of math, English, science, history, and Spanish. Karma Tutors are an asset to our daily routine and have enhanced every aspect of our school experience— as homeschoolers and as traditional students.
Elisabeth - Telluride, Colorado
January, 2023
Elisabeth - Telluride, Colorado
January, 2023
My son Graham is taking AP Calculus this year. Paul Hearding is his tutor. Paul has been so helpful and instrumental in Graham's success. Paul breaks down the equations and then explains the process in a way that makes sense to Graham. And if he is still having difficulty understanding, Paul keeps breaking it down until it makes sense and is understood. Graham’s school teacher thinks that Graham has a good chance in passing the AP exam. This would not have been possible without Paul and Karma Tutors.
Tricia - Telluride, Colorado
March, 2023
Tricia - Telluride, Colorado
March, 2023