After working in several schools and receiving her master degree in teaching, Ellen became aware that students--especially those with special needs--are not being served in today's schools, which are focused on standardized testing and on how well students perform on these tests. The mission of No Tears Tutoing (NTT) is to help all students learn in the style that best suits them and to build confidence in their ability, NTT initially focused on the needs of elementary school students. It quickly expanded to include teenagers and adults returning to school after many years. NTT also provides services for parents, e.g, navigating the IEP process and creating a better learning environment. Ellen received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Pratt Institute and she uses art with many students.