Meridian
Tutoring

Michael Howard

Center Director

Michael Howard - Center Director

“The great thing about GradePower Learning is the transformation we see in children, and the positive impact on their families. We get to teach kids to learn how to learn! Nothing is more rewarding than to see that change taking place; to see that student reach his or her full potential.”

Michael is a native of the treasure valley and spent the first 20 years of his professional life in the business world. As the former president of an excavation company, he knows how to accomplish big goals. 

In 2014, Michael left the construction world. He felt like it was an ideal time for a significant change. He was looking for a powerful opportunity to do what was truly important to him, to follow his passion - working with kids! GradePower Learning presented a partnership that sparked his interest. After intensive research of the “GradePower Learning difference” and how it compared to other organizations in the supplemental education industry, his choice was easy to join the GradePower Learning family. While training to open his own center in Idaho, he witnessed the true transformation in children’s lives while working in active centers. Since then working with families serves as his guiding light and keeps him focused, productive, and accomplishing more of what is important to him every single day.

Michael is a proud father of four amazing children, and adores his wonderful wife. He is an active outdoorsmen, and truly enjoys spending time with his family and being an active member of his church. He feels truly blessed to live and work in the great state of Idaho, and to serve his local community. 

Michael is a firm believer in the philosophy “never stop learning”, and you can count on him to help your child achieve their highest potential.

Fun Fact:  Michael has a dream to be the best fly fisherman EVER!  (But he doesn’t practice enough…so….we’ll work on that.)

Ruth Hall

Education Director

Ruth Hall - Education Director/Little Reader's Teacher

I am thrilled to be part of the GradePower Learning team! There is absolutely nothing more rewarding than to see a child blossom when they finally “get it” and are aware of all they are capable of.  As a mother of two, I know what this feels like for a parent as well. GradePower Learning will give them the tools to truly be all they can be!

Ruth is a native of Idaho (Picabo, to be exact) and a graduate in Business Education from the University of Idaho. (Go Vandals!)  She has also continued her education, focusing on Elementary Ed, through NNU. “Miss Ruth”, as the kids call her, spent several years educating and mentoring students as a substitute teacher for K-8 in the West Ada school district. Prior to GradePower, she taught Transitional Kindergarten at a private preschool in Eagle. In addition, Ruth has lead children’s music for VBS and currently assists with teaching Sunday School at her local church.

Ruth has a distinct passion for children and teaching, which truly stems from raising her two amazing kids Ariana, 13 and Elijah 16. She and her husband, Clay, lived in the Seattle area for many years before “coming home” to Idaho to raise their kids around family. All of them enjoy camping at Redfish Lake, boating on Lucky Peak and spending time with family and friends in McCall.  They also love skiing at Bogus in the winter and spending time relaxing and fishing on Silver Creek in the summer. 

Fun Fact: Ruth was a University of Idaho cheerleader.  (Hence, the “Go Vandals!”) You will definitely find her “cheering on” your kids!

Robert Caldwell

Coach - ACT/SAT

Robert Caldwell – ACT & SAT, Advantage & Beyond Tutoring Coach

 Beyond Tutoring and Advantage

“It is refreshing to find a tutoring program that addresses the whole person instead of just momentary needs. It harkens back to the adage: ‘if you give a person a fish, he eats for a day, if you teach a person to fish, he eats for a lifetime’.  GradePower Learning addresses this philosophy, as do I.”

As a self-proclaimed “Native” Idahoan, Robert has lived here all his life; just wasn’t born here. His parents moved him here from South Carolina when he was 4. He graduated from Boise High School then went on to Boise State to study Elementary Education. He earned his BA in Elementary Education and his Master’s in Education from Boise State University.

Robert taught Elementary School, Middle School, and High School all in the West Ada School District for a combined 25 years. Although educationally well-rounded, Robert’s area of expertise lies in Mathematics and Science.  He taught all levels of high school math for 15 years at Meridian Technical Charter High School and was known as “Mr. C.”

Robert has 1 daughter, Erin, and two amazing grandsons, Cole (11) and James (7) and loves the Caramelizer at Dutch Bros. He loves to play tennis and golf, and can be seen schussing the slopes at Bogus Basin or Brundage.

Fun Fact:  Robert was selected for the Presidential Award for teachers and can write backwards in cursive.

Alyssa Pearson

Coach

Alyssa Pearson - Beyond Tutoring/Advantage Coach/Little Readers Teacher

“One of the greatest gifts we can give a child is to help teach them how to learn, and how to enjoy learning. GradePower Learning does just that—fostering study skills, providing support to engage and excite students, and ultimately showing that learning can be fun!” 

Alyssa is a Boise native who attended Centennial High School, and has spend the last six years completing her education at Chapman University in California and working at an elementary school providing support for first and second grade classrooms. She is in the process of getting credentialed to teach English as a Foreign Language and is looking forward to living and teaching abroad one day. Alyssa is passionate about creating a safe and friendly environment to help students develop their learning skills, and thrilled for the opportunity to continue growing as a teacher with GradePower Learning. 

In her spare time, Alyssa loves to be in the outdoors, hiking and camping and finding new adventures. She is an avid reader and podcast listener, and on the weekends you will most likely find her at one of the many coffee shops here in Boise, browsing the Saturday market, or hitting the trails outside of the city. 

Fun fact: Alyssa spent a semester abroad in Sydney, Australia. And yes, she did hold a koala. 

Teresa Eardley

Coach

Teresa Eardley - Beyond Tutoring Coach

"GradePower Learning is a program that not only helps children academically, but helps them gain confidence in their abilities.That confidence not only shines at GradePower Learning, but in their lives. It is that confidence that helps each student take off and achieve all that they desire.”  

Teresa is from Utah, but has lived in Alabama, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Tennessee. She has a BA in Elementary and Early Childhood Education and has had the opportunity to teach every grade from Pre-K to 5th. She is currently teaching 3rd grade at a local school. She loves working with children and helping them achieve that "Ah-Ha" moment. She and her husband and daughter enjoy traveling, playing games, and spending time with friends and family. 

Fun Fact: Teresa studied abroad in Israel during college.

John Wallace

Coach

-Beyond Tutoring and Advantage Coach

“If there were no night, we would not appreciate the day, nor could we see the stars and the vastness of the heavens. We must partake of the bitter with the sweet. There is a divine purpose in the adversities we encounter every day. They prepare, they purge, they purify, and thus they bless.”
James E. Faust

I was born in Libertyville Illinois and raised all over Missouri. I finished high school at Branson High in Branson MO. I Joined the Marine Corps shortly after graduating. When my fantastic career in the Marines lead to me being medically retired, I had the time to follow my passion for teaching kids.  I joined a program to help trouble youth in juvenile detention. I also had the privilege of being a youth pastor before finally moving to Idaho in 2014.

My education is in psychology, information technology in mobile application development, and teaching. None of this education would be possible without the absolute support of my family. I have been happily married to my wife Brianne for ten years. My wife and I are blessed to raise three amazing children. Hannah is going into high school, Jeremiah is now a sixth grader, and Johnathon is moving into fourth.  

I am looking forward to my career as an elementary teacher and doing what I can to help with child development at GradePower Learning Meridian.

Francis Bacon proclaimed, “Knowledge is power”. 

Ben Parker encouraged, “With great power comes great responsibility”.  

Fun Fact:  I once held a salute for four hours while the president walked the carpet in Amsterdam.

Becky Sparks

Coach

Becky Sparks - Beyond Tutoring Coach

“I am excited to be a part of the GradePower Learning team! I love the fact that GradePower Learning teaches students to learn how to learn.  Students not only get help with academic skills, but also with learning skills and learning awareness; learning that lasts for life, not just the next test.”

Becky is a two-time Boise State University graduate, earning her Bachelors in Elementary Ed in 1997 and Masters in Literacy in 2011. Becky has taught kindergarten and first grade in the West Ada school district. She currently teaches first grade at Galileo STEM Academy.

Becky has lived in Idaho for the last 26 years. She grew up in California, spent a few elementary years in Virginia, a couple of adult years in Texas, and has been in Idaho since 1990. Becky has 3 adult children, Zoe, Geoff, and Hayden, and a precious 1-year-old granddaughter named Presley. Teaching reading, and reading as a hobby, are her passions. She spent many hours reading with her children when they were younger and now gets to enjoy it with Presley. It is her goal that all children have a love of reading and feel confident in their ability to read.

Fun Fact:  Becky has run a marathon, ran Robie Creek twice, and a handful of other events. It takes hard work and perseverance to train for such events. Becky puts this type of determination in helping children learn to learn.

Debra Purdy

ACT & SAT Coach

Debra Purdy – ACT/SAT Test Prep Coach

“ GradePower Learning is based on the core belief that learning and school, like living, can be a passionate, joyful, and positive experience and embraces the idea that understanding is active. Throughout my nearly twenty years of teaching at the college level, I have worked to provide as many active learning moments as possible for my students. Those moments multiply the joy of learning for my students, increase their engagement, and build stronger connections among their classmates and myself as their instructor. I’m excited to create those moments with the students I meet through GradePower Learning!”

Professor Purdy earned her undergraduate degree at the University of Idaho and her master of arts in technical communication at Boise State University in 1997. In addition to her role as a senior lecturer at Boise State, Debra has taught business and technical communication, technical writing, composition and research writing. She has focused on becoming a teaching scholar through participation in multiple continuing education seminars and workshops, attending relevant conferences and, most recently, engaging in primary research with department colleagues to study student persistence and retention in the classroom. As a technical communication professional, Debra worked in industry as a corporate trainer, a clinical research associate, a research librarian and in regulatory affairs.

Debra’s family includes her husband, daughter (18), and son (14). Together they love to watch movies, go camping and travel to tropical climates. Debra shares a love of baking with her daughter and a deep love for history and reading with her son. As a mom, Debra is thrilled that GradePower Learning’s approach to preparing students for the SAT and ACT not only sets them up to earn the highest score possible, it provides them with the advanced learning and study skills that are needed to succeed at the university and beyond!

Fun Fact: When the weather’s warm, you can find Debra traveling around downtown on a bright red scooter, wearing a neon-striped safety vest and helmet, of course! She really enjoys riding as it evokes memories of riding motorcycles and snowmobiles on the little ranch she grew up on in North Central Idaho. One of her favorite outings is to the farmers market on Saturday mornings.