Team
We know of no other company that provides the level of service that we do. Here is the incredible team that makes it all work.
Jay Bacrania
OWNER & CEO
Jay is the CEO of Signet Education. He has taken a broad academic path that encompasses both the sciences and the humanities. As a high schooler, Jay won awards for chemistry at the state level in his home state of Florida, and at Harvard, he initially studied physics. However, he soon realized he wanted to explore the unknown from a different angle, and graduated with a degree in the comparative study of religion. After graduating, Jay spent two years studying jazz trumpet at the Berklee College of Music.
Jay is values-driven in his approach to both tutoring and running Signet. He believes that education and career are twin pillars vital to building a meaningful life. Jay continually experiments with how best to promote deeper learning and personal growth for himself, his staff, and the students who work with Signet. When he’s not at the office, Jay can be found at his home in Somerville, finding new and better ways to make a cup of coffee and spending time with his family.
Sheila Akbar
PRESIDENT & COO
Sheila joined the Signet team in the summer of 2010, bringing with her a wealth of experience teaching SAT, ACT, GRE, literature, and composition in both one-on-one and classroom settings. Sheila loves both teaching and learning, and finds nothing more rewarding than working closely with students to overcome the challenges they face. After graduating from Harvard in 2002, she spent two years working in financial services before continuing her academic career, which culminated in two doctorates. She brings her significant business and academic experience to bear on her current role at Signet, which includes speaking to every client to craft an tailored solution for their needs, managing the administrative team, and providing educational thought leadership for the company. Sheila holds a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from Harvard University and two doctoral degrees from Indiana University.
Andrea West
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
Andrea is Signet’s Director of Operations and one of our top academic coaches. In her administrative role, Andrea makes sure Signet always runs smoothly and is a fun and productive place for all of our employees. When she works as a coach, she takes a student driven approach to encourage introspection and reflection. Her students flourish both inside and outside of the classroom, developing a deeper sense of who they are through coaching.
Before joining Signet, Andrea earned a degree in Psychology from Endicott College and minored in Dance. She still dances and performs in the community and is an acting board member for a local movement company. Andrea currently volunteers for Minds Matter Boston, a local nonprofit offering support to students applying to college, and she previously spent two years volunteering on Boston’s Samaritans crisis line. In her spare time, Andrea enjoys the Food Network, podcasts, Nintendo games, and finding cats to pet.
McKenzie Carver
COMMUNITY MANAGER
McKenzie joined Signet as the Community Manager in early 2022. She works closely with Andrea, Signet’s Director of Operations, to plan both fun and educational events for the Signet community and assists in ensuring a smooth workflow for all staff. Prior to her time at Signet, McKenzie received her Bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies from Northeastern University, where she also minored in Psychology. Outside of work, McKenzie loves to dance! She takes classes both in Boston and at her hometown studio and still tries to perform whenever she can. She loves meeting new dogs, spending time with her extended family, and playing the New York Times mini games.
Holly Schreiber
ACCOUNT MANAGER
Holly serves as Account Manager and Principal Tutor. She supports students in a broad range of subjects, from academic coaching to admissions, test prep, writing support, and subject tutoring in the humanities and social sciences. As Account Manager, she consults with families about their needs to offer tailored solutions, suggest tutor matches, and provide insight on the high school journey. She received her bachelor’s degree from Bowdoin College and her master’s and doctoral degrees from Indiana University, and she has served as a tenure-track professor at the University of Maine.
Ethan Feuer
ACCOUNT MANAGER
With over 15 years of education experience, Ethan serves as an Account Manager, helping to connect families and students with Signet’s wonderful coaches and tutors. He received his bachelor’s degree from Brandeis University and a Master’s degree in Education from the University of Michigan, with a focus on student development and higher education. Before joining Signet Education, Ethan directed student life offices at MIT, University of Mary Washington, and Framingham State, taught high school history, and worked as an Assistant Director of Admissions at Brandeis University. He is constantly inspired by students’ curiosity, growth, and insight and is excited to support Signet in helping students and their families achieve their goals. In his spare time, Ethan can be found exploring Boston by bike, walking his stubborn dog Ernest, and (sometimes successfully) fiddling with DIY projects.
Principal Tutors
Academic Coaching
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Standardized Testing
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College Admissions
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