About Us
Empowering students through personalized learning.
At Diamond Learning Center, we believe that every student deserves the chance to learn with confidence — and to have fun while doing it. Founded by longtime educator Mike Carney, our team of experienced tutors, teachers, and counselors is dedicated to providing personalized academic support for students of all ages.
From one-on-one tutoring and small group classes to SAT prep and college counseling, we tailor our approach to each learner’s unique goals and learning style. Whether a student needs help catching up, staying motivated, or getting ahead, we create a supportive environment where they can truly shine.
For over two decades, Diamond Learning Center has built lasting relationships with families across Los Angeles and beyond — helping students gain skills, confidence, and a lifelong love of learning.
Our Story
In 1988, Mike Carney began his teaching journey as a biology teacher at Dorsey High School in Los Angeles. After fifteen years and thousands of students, his passion for helping kids learn in creative, meaningful ways led him to start something new — Diamond Learning Center.
What began as one teacher’s dream to make learning fun has grown into a vibrant community of dedicated educators, supportive parents, and curious students — all working together to help every learner shine.
Meet the Team
At Diamond Learning, our team brings more than just subject expertise; they bring a passion for making learning "click." We believe that every student’s path to success is unique. Whether it’s mastering the Digital SAT, navigating college admissions, or building confidence in the classroom, our educators are here to guide, encourage, and challenge your student at every step.
Your student’s potential is our priority.
CEO & Test Prep Expert
Mike Carney
With over a decade of dedicated experience in Southern California’s elite educational landscape, Mike Carney brings an award-winning approach to Diamond Learning. After a successful six-year tenure at Dorsey High School, Mike transitioned to La Cañada High School, where his commitment to student success earned him “Teacher of the Year,” “Founder’s Day” award, and numerous other professional accolades.
Driven by a passion for mentorship and the desire to build a legacy for his four daughters, Mike founded Diamond Learning to provide a more personalized, effective approach to test prep. As a test prep expert with 25 years of experience, he has helped thousands of students improve their SAT/ACT scores by an average of 250 points through his signature “unlimited hours” prep course.
A true Californian at heart, Mike is an avid Dodgers fan who finds his best inspiration by the water. Whether he’s at the beach or with his family, Mike considers himself a lucky man to be doing what he loves: helping the next generation reach their full potential.
Tutor
Karina Quevedo
Karina is a third-generation educator with a B.S. in Biochemistry from UC Riverside and over six years of tutoring experience. She tutors chemistry and other sciences for students in grades 9–12 and college/adult, with a focus on test-taking skills and problem solving while adapting to different learning styles. Karina loves seeing the moment when chemistry finally “clicks” for her students. She enjoys Pilates, shopping, and traveling.
Tutor
Maricela Toops
Maricela (Marcie) is a PhD student in Plant Pathology at UC Riverside with a B.S. in Microbiology (2024) and a CRLA Tutoring Level I Certification. She served as a Supplemental Instructor at Riverside City College, tutoring pre-nursing classes like anatomy, physiology, and microbiology, and as a Learning Assistant for organic chemistry at UC Riverside. Marcie tutors biology, microbiology, and general chemistry for grades 9–12, college, and adult students. Her adaptive approach accommodates all learning styles, and she uses funny mnemonic devices and analogies to make learning entertaining. Marcie believes hard work always pays off and loves commending students for their efforts. She enjoys reading WebToons, gardening, video games, baking, and hanging out with her senior calico cat. Spanish is her second language.
Tutor
Junior Diaz
Junior is in the inaugural cohort for the B.S. in Building Performance at College of the Canyons, graduating in June 2026 as he trains to become an architect. He holds an A.S. in Architectural Drafting and Technology (2023) and serves as a Teaching Assistant at COC. After being tutored himself in elementary school—an experience that made learning fun and helped him earn a 4.2 GPA—Junior now tutors middle school and higher math (pre-calculus, calculus), writing/composition, history/social studies, and Spanish for grades 9–12. His supportive, patient, fun, and adaptive style makes learning enjoyable rather than a chore. He enjoys tennis, running, escape rooms, and video games.
Tutor
Nareg Attrukenian
Nareg is a UCLA graduate (B.A. in Middle Eastern Studies, 2020) and current chiropractic student with over five years of tutoring experience. He tutors early literacy, writing, elementary/middle school math, history/social studies, and executive function/study skills for students from K through college/adult. His patient approach focuses on developing critical thinking skills, helping students create personal systems to solve problems independently and retain what they learn. Passionate about learning, Nareg aims to instill curiosity and foster lifelong learners. An avid reader of everything from gothic fiction to non-fiction biographies, he tutors with care, patience, and a wide-ranging enthusiasm.
Tutor
Kimberly Cood
Kimberly is earning her Master of Biomedical Sciences (2026) at the California University of Science and Medicine after completing a B.S. in Biological Sciences and B.A. in Public Health from UC Irvine (2022). She tutors elementary and middle school math, algebra, geometry, biology, and AP Biology for students in grades 6 through college/adult. Her approach is supportive, fun, and interactive, focused on breaking complex ideas into manageable, intuitive concepts while helping students’ confidence grow. Kimberly enjoys spending time with friends and family, traveling, and trying new coffee shops.
Tutor
Roberto Argote
Roberto is a retired teacher with 31 years of experience, primarily in elementary bilingual (Spanish) education (grades 2–6) with the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). He holds a B.S. in Health Education from California State University Northridge (1992) and a BCLAD Bilingual Teaching Credential (Spanish). Roberto tutors early literacy/reading, elementary math, and middle school math for grades 3–8. His supportive, methodical, and patient approach is tailored to every individual student. He enjoys watching students progress and grow in confidence, believing all children can reach their full potential when confidence is nurtured. Roberto is fluent in Spanish and enjoys sports (especially football—he’s a Rams season ticket holder), cheering for all Los Angeles teams, and traveling.
Tutor
Andrew Creighton
Andrew holds a B.S. in Education from the University of Arizona and teaching credentials in California and Arizona. A math tutor for about three decades, he also tutors physics, chemistry, and biology for grades 3 through college/adult, covering elementary/middle school math, algebra, geometry, pre-calculus, calculus, and physics. His good-humored, sympathetic approach recognizes that math can seem boring or difficult; he avoids over-explaining and prefers to “figure it out” alongside the student. Andrew loves building rappprovert as students grow more comfortable. When not teaching, he plays guitar or drums in several bands, composes music for film and TV, and works on home projects. He relates to students because his own school experience mirrors theirs: he loved friends and extracurriculars (soccer, rock band) but loathed homework.
Tutor
Leonie Sarkissian
Leonie Sarkissian is a recent UCSD graduate with a B.S. in Biological Anthropology (2025) and a biomedical researcher currently working in cancer research with plans to pursue a career in medicine. She has been a tutor for five years, serving as an anatomy teaching assistant at UCSD and working in biomedical research labs along the way. Leonie tutors early literacy, reading, writing, elementary/middle school math, algebra, geometry, pre-calculus, calculus, biology, chemistry, physics, statistics, history, English, and Spanish for grades 9–12, college, and adult students. Her supportive, clear approach focuses on breaking complex ideas into simple, manageable steps, helping students see learning as a skill they can actively improve. Leonie enjoys reading, skiing, and traveling.
Tutor
Emily Cohen
Emily is am art teacher with a BFA from the Rhode Island School of Design, and a Master’s in Education, Multiple Subject Teaching Credential, and Supplementary Art Credential from UCLA. She has been a teacher her entire life—working in academics, art, and even swimming—and loves helping young people develop skills for success. Emily tutors early literacy/reading, writing/composition, elementary math, history/social studies, and executive function/study skills for students in grades K–5 and college/adult, with extraordinary strength in college essay help and any language-related work. Her approach is supportive, personable, and motivating. A Los Angeles native and mom of two successful children, she enjoys drawing, reading, writing, relaxing, and watching documentaries, and fun fact: she’s a lefty. Emily is patient, smart, and easy to get along with.
Tutor
Angie Gomez
Angie is a behavioral technician currently earning her MSW (expected 2027) from Liberty University after completing a BSW (2023) at Cal State LA. She has several years of experience working with elementary and middle school students in classroom and one-on-one settings, and currently works as a 1:1 behavioral interventionist using ABA strategies and positive reinforcement. Angie tutors reading, writing, elementary/middle school math, algebra/geometry, and Spanish for grades K–8. Her approach is patient, encouraging, and structured; she believes every student learns differently and uses trial and error and clear support to help students stay confident and engaged. She loves seeing students’ confidence grow when they realize they’re capable of learning new things. Angie enjoys traveling, spending time with her dog, going to concerts, being with family and friends, and finding fun, creative ways to keep learning enjoyable.
Tutor
Yakov Fuhrman
Yakov is a substitute teacher with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan (2009) and an M.A. in Math Education from Touro University California (2019). He tutors mainly math, physics, and statistics, as well as chemistry and biology, covering elementary math, middle school math, algebra/geometry, higher math (pre-calculus, calculus), AP Physics, and SAT/ACT test prep for students in grades 6 through college/adult. His approach is supportive and structured, tailored to each student’s needs while making learning interesting and fun. Yakov enjoys seeing his students’ eyes light up when they work out the puzzle and realize they do know how to answer the question. He started working in schools after several tutoring students said, “I wish you were my math teacher instead.” When he’s not teaching, Yakov enjoys reading, sketching, and recreational math. He tutors online only.
Tutor
Jake Ferraiola
Jake holds a B.S. in Adolescent Education and Social Studies from SUNY Oneonta and an M.S. in Educational Technology — and he's currently pursuing his doctorate. He works with middle and high school students across writing, history (including AP), math, and Spanish up to Level 4.
Jake's approach is straightforward: break complex ideas into clear steps, ask good questions, and build the kind of confidence that sticks. His sessions are interactive and supportive — focused on real understanding, not just getting through the homework. What he enjoys most about tutoring is watching students start to believe in their own ability to succeed. When he's not teaching, Jake is watching sports, playing music, hiking, or experimenting in the kitchen.
Tutor
Tristen Fabre
Tristen is a full-time math teacher in Santa Clarita with a B.S. in Math for Teaching from UCLA and an M.Ed. from Alder Graduate School of Education, along with a Single Subject Math Credential. He has been tutoring for over 10 years — and credits those early one-on-one sessions with sparking his love for teaching. She works with students from elementary through high school, covering everything from foundational math to Pre-Calculus, Calculus, and SAT/ACT prep. Patient, structured, and student-centered, Tristen focuses on helping students build genuine mastery — not just pass the test.
Outside the classroom, she enjoys reading, going to the beach, watching movies, and playing the piano.
Tutor
Nitya Chawla
Nitya is a Neuroscience major at Scripps College in Claremont and an aspiring neuropsychology PhD. She works with students in grades 3 through 12 across a wide range of subjects — including Biology (AP included), math from Pre-Algebra through Trigonometry, Spanish, English grammar and writing, and test prep for the SAT, ACT, and ISEE.
Her teaching philosophy is simple: when students feel confident, the grades follow. Nitya creates a positive, patient environment where asking questions is encouraged and learning feels less like a chore. She is experienced working with students of all learning styles, including those with learning disabilities, and is happy to tailor sessions to whatever works best for each student. In her free time, Nitya draws intricate Zentangle and mandala art, listens to music, and lifts weights.
Behind the Scenes
Meet the dedicated professionals who keep Diamond Learning running smoothly behind the scenes. From website development and administrative support to advertising and public relations, this team ensures every student and family has a seamless, positive experience with our programs.
Renee Rubanowitz
Web & Operations Coordinator
Trisha Sanchez
Administrative Officer
Adam Neiberger & Jaden Bottarini
Meta Ads and AI Systems Specialists