Testimonials
& Success Stories
Sam Prestianni, writer & writing teacher
Sam Prestianni
"Our children enrolled in Sam Prestianni's middle school online summer creative writing program because I wanted them to continue improving their writing skills after the school year ended while creating something meaningful—a graphic novel. My goal was to combine one child's strength in storytelling with the other's passion for drawing and have them create an original story together.
"What gave me confidence in enrolling them was Sam's reassurance that he would help them enjoy writing without making them feel like they were simply taking a writing class. He truly delivered on that promise. At the beginning of the summer, they were not excited about creative writing and thought having a writing project during their break would ruin their summer. On top of that, collaborating as siblings on one project seemed like an even bigger challenge.
"From the very first lesson, Sam's enthusiasm, creativity, and encouragement completely changed their perspective. He transformed something they initially resisted into something they genuinely enjoyed. After their first class, they were not just looking forward to the next lesson—they were excitedly asking me when class was and making sure they would not miss it or be late. What impressed me most was that I never had to remind them to complete their assignments. Sam sparked a level of excitement and motivation that came entirely from within.
"Perhaps the most valuable lesson they learned was not just storytelling, but collaboration. They still had different ideas and disagreements, but Sam guided them in learning how to listen to each other, compromise, solve problems, and combine their individual strengths into one finished story. During class, I could hear brainstorming, lively discussions, teamwork, and excitement. Even after class ended, they continued talking about their characters, ideas, and how to make their graphic novel better.
"The fact that Sam accomplished all of this through an online class makes it even more remarkable. By the end of the program, they had created a graphic novel they are incredibly proud of and are already talking about revising and publishing it—an outcome I never imagined at the beginning of the summer.
"We are deeply grateful for the time, care, and encouragement Sam invested in our children. He helped them grow not only as writers and storytellers, but also as collaborators and confident creators. His positive energy and genuine belief in his students created an experience that went far beyond writing. We wholeheartedly recommend Sam's 21st Century LEARNING program to any family looking for an engaging, meaningful, and inspiring learning experience." - Robin Tu
"What gave me confidence in enrolling them was Sam's reassurance that he would help them enjoy writing without making them feel like they were simply taking a writing class. He truly delivered on that promise. At the beginning of the summer, they were not excited about creative writing and thought having a writing project during their break would ruin their summer. On top of that, collaborating as siblings on one project seemed like an even bigger challenge.
"From the very first lesson, Sam's enthusiasm, creativity, and encouragement completely changed their perspective. He transformed something they initially resisted into something they genuinely enjoyed. After their first class, they were not just looking forward to the next lesson—they were excitedly asking me when class was and making sure they would not miss it or be late. What impressed me most was that I never had to remind them to complete their assignments. Sam sparked a level of excitement and motivation that came entirely from within.
"Perhaps the most valuable lesson they learned was not just storytelling, but collaboration. They still had different ideas and disagreements, but Sam guided them in learning how to listen to each other, compromise, solve problems, and combine their individual strengths into one finished story. During class, I could hear brainstorming, lively discussions, teamwork, and excitement. Even after class ended, they continued talking about their characters, ideas, and how to make their graphic novel better.
"The fact that Sam accomplished all of this through an online class makes it even more remarkable. By the end of the program, they had created a graphic novel they are incredibly proud of and are already talking about revising and publishing it—an outcome I never imagined at the beginning of the summer.
"We are deeply grateful for the time, care, and encouragement Sam invested in our children. He helped them grow not only as writers and storytellers, but also as collaborators and confident creators. His positive energy and genuine belief in his students created an experience that went far beyond writing. We wholeheartedly recommend Sam's 21st Century LEARNING program to any family looking for an engaging, meaningful, and inspiring learning experience." - Robin Tu
"I just have to share a heartfelt thank you to Sam Prestianni at 21st Century LEARNING for all his help during the high school application process. Sam assisted my daughter specifically with planning, drafting, and editing application essays for a half-dozen private high schools in the South Bay—and she was accepted to her dream school, one of the most competitive schools in the region. Sam’s guidance was so valuable in helping my daughter refine her essays and improve both the content and structure. We also really appreciate him taking the time to write recommendations for the two schools that allowed extra submissions. As a parent, it was such a relief to know my daughter was in good hands. It gave me the chance to step back, let her take the lead, and trust that she was getting great advice along the way. Thank you again, Sam, for everything! I hope you’ll continue to be there to support my daughter." - Yi Tang
"Sam taught me to be compassionate, critical, and creative at the same time, to write in a way that helps me make sense of the world, and to accept others as they are but not the world as it is." - Sarah Dey
“There are teachers, and then there are teachers who teach with purpose and passion. Sam knows how to help each child find their inner courage, voice, and heart. He ignites their interests and helps them build that into lifelong passions. We are fortunate that Sam's influence continues to guide my son Ryan in his pursuit of a more just and equitable society.” - Sandy Lo, Saklan School Parent Association Board President
"Thank you so much! I'm excited to start this new chapter of my journey in education, self-discovery, and self-invention. Thank you for teaching me how to write well, speak well, and start to find beauty in myself; I couldn't have gotten to this point in my life without you." - Izzy Ray
"Sam taught me to be compassionate, critical, and creative at the same time, to write in a way that helps me make sense of the world, and to accept others as they are but not the world as it is." - Sarah Dey
“There are teachers, and then there are teachers who teach with purpose and passion. Sam knows how to help each child find their inner courage, voice, and heart. He ignites their interests and helps them build that into lifelong passions. We are fortunate that Sam's influence continues to guide my son Ryan in his pursuit of a more just and equitable society.” - Sandy Lo, Saklan School Parent Association Board President
"Thank you so much! I'm excited to start this new chapter of my journey in education, self-discovery, and self-invention. Thank you for teaching me how to write well, speak well, and start to find beauty in myself; I couldn't have gotten to this point in my life without you." - Izzy Ray
"I am always amazed with your passion for teaching our children how to think critically and write well. With my daughter's reading challenge I was concerned if she could keep up in class. With your guidance I can see she is becoming more confident in her abilities and is thinking about things on a much deeper level. Honestly I wish that I had a teacher like you. My daughter is so lucky to have you as a teacher." - Geri Buhl, Saklan School Board of Trustees Chair
"My daughter (7th grade) has been taking Sam's class for 6 months. I never heard my daughter giggling and laughing so much during a class in the past. English is her least favorite subject but Sam is the wizard to introduce her a love of reading and writing. He is amazingly patient and also very thoughtful to create a customized class based on a child's interest. I feel so fortunate to find him! Thank you, Sam!!" - Y Midori
"My 13 year old took the Surrealist Writing Workshop and loved teacher Sam. He loved Sam’s enthusiasm, positivity and how personable his teaching style was. My son also enjoyed learning how to think in a different way when it comes to his writing. We would highly recommend this class!" - Sima Amin (via Creator School Summer Writing Camp)
"Sam Prestianni's brilliance as an educator cannot be overstated. As my very first guitar instructor, he not only laid the groundwork for my development with the instrument, but also inspired me to constantly challenge myself with the music I play and listen to." - James Rokas
"My daughter (7th grade) has been taking Sam's class for 6 months. I never heard my daughter giggling and laughing so much during a class in the past. English is her least favorite subject but Sam is the wizard to introduce her a love of reading and writing. He is amazingly patient and also very thoughtful to create a customized class based on a child's interest. I feel so fortunate to find him! Thank you, Sam!!" - Y Midori
"My 13 year old took the Surrealist Writing Workshop and loved teacher Sam. He loved Sam’s enthusiasm, positivity and how personable his teaching style was. My son also enjoyed learning how to think in a different way when it comes to his writing. We would highly recommend this class!" - Sima Amin (via Creator School Summer Writing Camp)
"Sam Prestianni's brilliance as an educator cannot be overstated. As my very first guitar instructor, he not only laid the groundwork for my development with the instrument, but also inspired me to constantly challenge myself with the music I play and listen to." - James Rokas
"My son really, really enjoyed his experience in Sam Prestianni’s 21st Century LEARNING songwriting workshop. He’s so much more relaxed and happy after the sessions. As a parent, I appreciate how Sam and I were on the same page to encourage my kid and use the moment to help him learn and also gain confidence to go for things he’s interested in like live performances and clubs at his high school. Thank you, Sam, for positively contributing to his well-being!" - Jennifer Wittman
"Thank you, Sam, for all you've given to both Finn and Evy. Teaching them to think critically and analyze the complexities of the world and to express their thoughts in organized and creative ways has been an enormous gift." - Lori Anders, Saklan School Board of Trustees
"Having Sam as a writing teacher when I was in middle school set the foundation for much of the success I see in my adult life today. Learning to write efficiently and persuasively helped me in college applications, job applications, and my current career in software sales. The best part of Sam's approach is the way he personalizes the methodology for each student. Sam helped me be more concise and direct in my writing without sacrificing the style I wanted to express. Thank you, Sam!" - Jesse Marseille
"You've been such an influential, inspiring, and talented teacher. Thank you for everything you've done for my daughter!" - Jennifer Cogen, Saklan School Board of Trustees
"Thank you, Sam, for all you've given to both Finn and Evy. Teaching them to think critically and analyze the complexities of the world and to express their thoughts in organized and creative ways has been an enormous gift." - Lori Anders, Saklan School Board of Trustees
"Having Sam as a writing teacher when I was in middle school set the foundation for much of the success I see in my adult life today. Learning to write efficiently and persuasively helped me in college applications, job applications, and my current career in software sales. The best part of Sam's approach is the way he personalizes the methodology for each student. Sam helped me be more concise and direct in my writing without sacrificing the style I wanted to express. Thank you, Sam!" - Jesse Marseille
"You've been such an influential, inspiring, and talented teacher. Thank you for everything you've done for my daughter!" - Jennifer Cogen, Saklan School Board of Trustees
"Ever since my middle school daughter's time in Sam Prestianni's summer writing program, her mental block around writing has completely disappeared! Earlier this school year, she was working on a humanities assignment and casually mentioned that she was actually enjoying the writing process. That was a big moment. Sam really worked some magic. We can't thank him enough. She continues to use the materials and tools Sam shared with her, and they’ve made a real difference in her writing. The skills Sam taught her are lasting gifts she’ll benefit from for the rest of her life." - Toshie Baba
"My 6th grade daughter Simone loves writing and LOVED Sam Prestianni’s summer writing class. She also enjoyed the community of middle school writers in the workshop. She looked forward to every class. She enthusiastically worked on all the writing assignments and, again, LOVED doing them, even when they were challenging. Sam is very thoughtful with how he designs the structure of his classes, and he made them fun and engaging for all the kids." - Jean-Pierre Duboucheron
"Sam is the only middle school teacher and summer writing coach my son still remembers with deep respect, years later. He is now a high school senior where he incorporates 'Mr. P’s emphasis on critical thinking' in all of his writing assignments. Reading one of his recent essays (in which he directly referred to Mr. P.), I was struck by how clearly Sam’s influence still guides his writing, with a spirit of curiosity and independent thought instilled in him years ago. It continues to shape the way he questions information and forms his own opinions today. Sam’s ability to teach students to write concisely and think critically, while caring deeply about each student’s success, has had a lasting impact. Sam is truly one in a million." - Linda Comelo
"My 6th grade daughter Simone loves writing and LOVED Sam Prestianni’s summer writing class. She also enjoyed the community of middle school writers in the workshop. She looked forward to every class. She enthusiastically worked on all the writing assignments and, again, LOVED doing them, even when they were challenging. Sam is very thoughtful with how he designs the structure of his classes, and he made them fun and engaging for all the kids." - Jean-Pierre Duboucheron
"Sam is the only middle school teacher and summer writing coach my son still remembers with deep respect, years later. He is now a high school senior where he incorporates 'Mr. P’s emphasis on critical thinking' in all of his writing assignments. Reading one of his recent essays (in which he directly referred to Mr. P.), I was struck by how clearly Sam’s influence still guides his writing, with a spirit of curiosity and independent thought instilled in him years ago. It continues to shape the way he questions information and forms his own opinions today. Sam’s ability to teach students to write concisely and think critically, while caring deeply about each student’s success, has had a lasting impact. Sam is truly one in a million." - Linda Comelo
Renee Kirby, artist & art teacher
Renee Kirby
"My daughter Sophi has been interested in creating art since she was little, but she lacked confidence in her abilities. Through Renee’s instruction, she gained the skills, knowledge and confidence to trust herself as an artist. Her dream was to attend the Baltimore School for the Arts, and we just found out that she was accepted into the program and will start classes in the fall." - Tiana Melis
"My daughter Delaney's patience and hand-eye coordination, as well as proportion awareness, benefited from taking Renee's workshops. Her confidence as an artist also increased as she mastered new skills." - Sara Kroft
"Renee has saved me so many times. Whenever I get stuck with a drawing, she comes to my aid with spot-on instructions. Not only does she show me what needs to be done but explains why—a real gift." - Roger Lippincott
"When I came to Renee Kirby for art lessons, all I possessed was a deep love of art and a desire to learn drawing and painting. Renee understood I was a beginner, and over the course of a year and a half she patiently taught me shading, drawing and painting techniques, including working with analogous and contrasting colors, something I knew nothing about. Each class was interesting, fun and challenging. I developed confidence and abilities I never had before. It was a joy to be taught by Renee.” - Veronica Beasley
"My daughter Delaney's patience and hand-eye coordination, as well as proportion awareness, benefited from taking Renee's workshops. Her confidence as an artist also increased as she mastered new skills." - Sara Kroft
"Renee has saved me so many times. Whenever I get stuck with a drawing, she comes to my aid with spot-on instructions. Not only does she show me what needs to be done but explains why—a real gift." - Roger Lippincott
"When I came to Renee Kirby for art lessons, all I possessed was a deep love of art and a desire to learn drawing and painting. Renee understood I was a beginner, and over the course of a year and a half she patiently taught me shading, drawing and painting techniques, including working with analogous and contrasting colors, something I knew nothing about. Each class was interesting, fun and challenging. I developed confidence and abilities I never had before. It was a joy to be taught by Renee.” - Veronica Beasley
