Nialla Sumbry

Meet Nialla Sumbry - Expert K-2 Math, English & Special Education Support Tutor

Nialla Sumbry is an assistant teacher and behavior specialist who tutors early elementary math, English language arts (ELA) and social studies, and provides special education and behavior support, with a preference for pre-K through 2nd grade students. At Rocketship Infinity Public Charter School in Washington, D.C., she co-teaches kindergarten, leads small groups, and serves as a kindergarten behavior specialist and special education paraprofessional. She has also taught English in Ghana, worked as an assistant teacher for middle school, and served as a dedicated aide providing behavior support at The Social Justice School and as a behavioral technician at Two Rivers Public Charter School, working with students ages 7 to 15. Nialla tutors in person in students' homes and at local libraries across Alexandria and Arlington, going back over previous lessons and using materials that help each student remember and stay engaged.

Areas Of Expertise

Early Elementary Math (Pre-K–2nd Grade): Nialla tutors math for young learners from pre-K through 2nd grade and co-teaches kindergarten, including small-group instruction, at Rocketship Infinity Public Charter School. When a student is struggling, she goes back over the previous lesson before moving forward.
English Language Arts (ELA) (Pre-K–2nd Grade): ELA is one of Nialla's preferred subjects for pre-K through 2nd grade, and she has also taught English in Ghana. She helps students who are stuck by rereading part of a text with them.
Social Studies: Nialla has a background teaching 7th grade social studies and has worked as an assistant teacher for middle school. Depending on the student and subject, she brings in materials to help them remember or engage more.
Special Education & Behavior Support (K–8th Grade): Nialla has experience with non-verbal education, IEPs and autism, and as a dedicated direct aide, and she is able to help students from kindergarten through 8th grade. She has served as a kindergarten behavior specialist, a special education paraprofessional and a behavioral specialist for grades 5–8.
Grade Levels: Pre-K through 2nd grade, plus special education support through 8th grade. Nialla's experience and preference are with pre-K, kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade students.

Teaching Philosophy

"We can go back over the previous lesson or reread part of a text. Depending on the student and subject, we may use materials to help them remember or engage more."

What Makes Nialla Special

Assistant Teacher & Kindergarten Behavior Specialist, Rocketship Infinity Public Charter School: Since October 2025, Nialla has co-taught kindergarten, led small groups and provided behavior support as a kindergarten behavior specialist and special education paraprofessional. She also supports students in other grades.
Teaching in Ghana & Middle School: Nialla has taught English in Ghana and worked as an assistant teacher for middle school, with a background teaching 7th grade social studies. She has also taught in first grade and kindergarten classrooms, where her work included lesson planning.
Dedicated Aide, Behavior Support, The Social Justice School: From 2024 to 2025, Nialla was assigned to observe and support particular students on her caseload, including making house calls. She also covered classes, lunch and testing when needed.
Behavioral Technician, Two Rivers Public Charter School: From 2020 to 2023, Nialla observed and evaluated students ages 7 to 15 during academic and social interactions. She co-created student care plans that encouraged acceptable replacement behaviors on the path to improved communication and problem-solving skills, and she monitored progress and collected data.
Youth Mentor: Since 2020, Nialla has been a mentor and behavioral technician with a Restorative Justice organization in Washington, D.C., and she has worked with at-risk youth in support of the Restorative Justice Program and Mentoring DC.
Communication: Nialla brings strong interpersonal communication skills, a positive attitude and attention to detail. She is comfortable using text and email to stay in touch.