Promoting Student Achievement in Education
Contact Steve at otooleeducationalservices@gmail.com with any questions.
Mr. O’Toole is one of the best teachers I know and the favorite teacher of my son. Mr. O’Toole has an extensive knowledge of mathematics and engineering and his classes are serious while encouraging and fun. I think Mr. O’Toole has built his credibility in our community; students and parents trust in his ability to teach. We respect him not only for his knowledge, but for his overall positive attitude, high expectations and actions. He doesn’t just teach students mathematics and engineering, but also important skills in life.
All three of my boys have participated in Mr. O’Toole’s math enrichment classes. I especially appreciate the math/engineering program because it keeps students engaged with math concepts that are challenging yet fun, like rockets and also using Microsoft Excel to build spreadsheets for their “businesses”. What’s funny about Mr. O’Toole’s math is that is so interesting and exciting that the kids do not even realize that they are learning. I not only admire his ability to teach difficult subjects but I especially appreciate his positive leadership in their lives as he encourages them not to be just great students, but caring, kind and all-around better human beings. He is an exceptional teacher and coach and I am thankful for the influence that he has had on my three young men.
We have had three kids -two girls, one boy – attend the math/engineering classes; all three have enjoyed and benefitted from the instruction. Steve is able to engage and maintain kids’ interest by using projects, such as model building and launching rockets, to demonstrate and drive home engineering and math concepts in a way they understand. In addition, last spring after NWEA testing, one of our kids came home and said, “You know, Mom, I think Mr. O’Toole’s math class helped me on my NWEA math test because I actually knew how to do things on the test that I would not have if I hadn’t taken the after school class.” That child’s math score increased over 20 points. I highly recommend the classes!
Both of my daughters have taken classes with Steve. They really enjoy learning about and “trying out” how math gets used in everyday life. Steve does a great job of showing, through hands on activities, how to apply math to all kinds of real life activities such as roller coasters, spreadsheets, hot dog stands and rockets. These classes have shown them that math is valuable and fun. They have been challenged to think creatively and have had their interest piqued for subjects that they are taking in school (robotics, model building, etc.). Steve is a very engaging instructor who finds interesting ways to teach the kids how to apply math through the use of matchbox cars, rockets, robots and other fun things. We are looking forward to the next class that he has available so that we can sign up.
Both of my daughters not only loved Mr. OToole’s Math/Engineering class but also gained confidence and mastery of skills that stretched them far beyond their current grade level. The benefits of his class have been immeasurable and I would highly recommend this course for anyone looking to stretch their child’s learning in science and math. The ability to work with challenging math and science concepts in a fun, collaborative and dynamic way has been valuable to them and has absolutely increased their achievement in school.
We decided to have our sons travel the extra 25 miles to Eden Prairie to attend Mr. OToole’s ACT Prep class because we heard it was a fantastic learning experience. We were not disappointed – the boys enjoyed Steve’s enthusiasm, expertise, and method of delivery. Although they had attended other ACT prep classes in the past, Steve’s class was far and away the most valuable and it showed in their increased scores on the test. They were much more prepared, relaxed, and confident as a result of Steve’s coaching.
Our daughter drove from Stillwater to take the ACT Review Course with Steve O’Toole. She thought very highly of Mr. O’Toole and said he was the best instructor she has ever had! Steve O’Toole provided individual guidance and even went out of his way to schedule separate review sessions for those who could not make all regularly scheduled classes. This ACT Review Course reviewed key skills and then focused on strategies for taking the ACT. He also included several practice tests to help the students become familiar with what to expect when taking the ACT test. We highly recommend this course for others!
I enrolled in Mr. O’Toole’s ACT class because I love his direct teaching style. He understands high school students are very busy, and has a well-designed class in which we learn the material in an efficient manner. Mr. O’Toole’s teaching style was a great fit for me. He teaches the concept to the class and during work time gives individual help as needed. Class was always fun because his engaging manner and humor with the students. He is very persistent and will make sure everyone understands the material. In class, we were constantly challenged with the most difficult problems we would face – this made the real test much easier by comparison. I felt the class was a great resource for me, and was the primary reason for my 3 point increase in score. While the class was only 11 sessions, we efficiently covered all the material along with test taking strategies.
Mr. O’Toole is an impressive teacher; both his PSAT and ACT classes are efficient, extremely well run and very helpful. I have taken prep courses from Kaplan and Princeton Review; nothing compares to his course. Mr. O’Toole’s personal approach, humor, energy, and course rigor are unmatched in my experiences! The net result of his instruction can be seen in the results of my ACT – my composite score increased by six points!!!
Mr. O’Toole excelled in all areas of his teaching. Regarding his ACT prep class, he had a comprehensive knowledge of the structure of the test, he solidified all of the skills and concepts that we would see on the test, and he gave us strategies for performing our best on test day. Not only was Mr. O’Toole very knowledgeable about what he was teaching, he presented the material in an engaging, exciting way. Humor and treats were always involved–which made going to class fun! Mr. O’Toole also cared about each and every student, and he made sure that every student succeeded. Mr. O’Toole has high expectations, he challenged us on a daily basis, and as a result, he got more out of me than I ever thought possible. He always held true to his Marine Corps mottos, “Semper Fi” and “Carpe Diem,” and he encouraged his students for reach for the stars! After completing his ACT prep course, I felt confident and ready to take the exam.
Steve has taught for 30 years in Eden Prairie School District where he also serves as a varsity football coach. Additionally, Steve has served as a Math Masters coach, accelerated math instructor, math/science tutor (elementary through collegiate courses), Lego Robots instructor and Science Fair judge.
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