Art Konrad
CEO

Art Konrad graduated from UC Berkeley with a Cognitive Science degree and an emphasis in Neuroscience and how the brain learns.  The name “Connexion” reflects his desire to integrate cutting-edge neuroscience research (“connecting” neural learning pathways in the brain) with a genuine tutoring experience.  He attended MCDS in Corte Madera and Lick Wilmerding High School in San Francisco and has had a very intimate experience with Bay Area education and programs.  He knows how much is demanded of students these days and experienced a first-hand lack of quality tutoring support when he was in school.  In fact he found some of the local Bay Area SAT courses actually lowered his SAT scores because of their inability to speak directly to the individual’s needs.

He has been a tutor for many years independently, with tutoring agencies, and directly at schools such as Martin Luther King Elementary.  He taught a very popular class at UC Berkeley to 300 students and has also developed education websites such as the “Universe Adventure” to help teach astrophysics to students.

Art has been involved in many research opportunities to help understand the learning process and better the lives of students.  He was a co-researcher on an ADHD study at Albany Middle School and is currently working on implementing programs to alleviate student stress and violence in San Francisco schools.

There are tools, techniques and tutors available that can immensely help students in their academic journey.  It is Art’s mission to make the dreams of our children accessible through our team of neighborhood mentors and tutors-  Connexion Tutoring.

David Shamszad
Managing Director

David Shamszad is a native of the Bay Area and a graduate of Dartmouth College. David has spent the majority of the last decade working as an educator in many different capacities. While a student at the Urban High School in San Francisco, he helped his underclassmen get through the tough classes and their SAT exams by offering private tutoring sessions and assisting teachers in class.

At Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, David helped Chemistry students stay on top of their coursework by supervising laboratories and running study sessions. In addition, David taught and mentored over a dozen youth with special needs outside the Dartmouth community. He did this all while leading his Varsity rowing team towards a 6th place finish at the National Championships of Collegiate Rowing.

After college, David spent the next two years working with Rhode Island’s Juvenile Justice system. As a residential counselor and teacher, he was a role model and an educator whose one goal was to help his kids realize every ounce of their potential.

David brings to Connexion the simple philosophy that every person has within them incredible intelligence, talent, and potential for greatness. It may take work to make young people realize this potential, but it is there, and the right tutor can help them see it.