Lyfting As We Climb
Lyfting As We Climb is dedicated to empowering students and families through personalized guidance. Our mission is to provide the academic planning and emotional support necessary for students to navigate their unique educational pathways with confidence and excellence.
Tim (Tre) Mickens
Founder & Principal Consultant
Tre Mickens is a certified school counselor with 12 years of experience in youth development, academic planning, college admissions, and student success. He holds a Master’s in Professional School Counseling (PreK–12) and is a doctoral candidate in Educational Leadership. As founder of Lyfting As We Climb, Tre provides personalized support that helps students build academic achievement, resilience, and life readiness skills.
A former collegiate and professional basketball player with international experience in Europe and the U.S. Department of Defense, Tre brings valuable insight into NCAA recruiting, leadership, and cultural awareness. He has guided hundreds of families through college admissions, SAT/ACT preparation, athletic recruiting, and social-emotional development, helping students identify their strengths and confidently pursue their goals.
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Science Tutor
Ms. Edwards
Andrew Jean-Jacques
Mr. Labes
Ms. Edwards Dunkley is a certified Science and Biology teacher with 14 years of experience in the Palm Beach School District. She has taught all levels of middle school science, including Physical Science Honors and Pre-Biotechnology, and currently teaches Environmental Science and Biology at the high school level.
Beyond the classroom, Ms. Edwards Dunkley serves as the Assistant Coach for the JV Girls Volleyball Team, co-sponsors the Science National Honor Society, and provides Biology tutoring to support student success.
AICE Tutor
I have over 10 years of teaching experience and hold a Master's degree in Education. For the past seven years, I have specialized in teaching advanced courses, including AICE General Paper, AICE History, and Social Studies. I also have experience proctoring the SAT and ACT and understand the college admissions process.
I enjoy helping students improve their writing, study skills, and confidence. Whether it's preparing for AICE exams, strengthening academic writing, or crafting a compelling college essay, I provide personalized support and proven strategies to help students succeed. My goal is to give every student the tools and confidence they need to achieve their academic goals.
Math Tutor
Mr. Labes is a certified math teacher and has taught since 1985. His experience includes teaching in Athens, Greece and in U.S. private and public schools. He has taught in the Palm Beach County School District for 28 years and will retire in June 2026. He has taught middle and high school, including Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2, Algebra 2 Honors, Math for College Algebra, Probability and Statistics Honors, and Math for Data and Financial Literacy. He is married and has two children. Besides teaching and math, he enjoys reading, writing, running, and playing the guitar.
In addition to the subjects mentioned above, he is available to teach SAT prep.
Isabella Parissos
Tutor
Kathryn Polcz
Isabella is a dedicated and motivated tutor who will be attending the University of South Florida as a Pre-Med major. A recent high school graduate, she earned Florida’s Bright Futures Scholarship and completed the AICE Studies Diploma, while earning several college credits. She is fluent in American Sign Language (ASL) and is passionate about helping students build confidence and succeed academically through patient, personalized instruction.
AICE Tutor
As an experienced AICE tutor, I am dedicated to helping senior high school students build confidence, strengthen their academic skills, and succeed in advanced-level coursework. I provide personalized support, clear explanations, and effective study strategies tailored to each student’s needs. My goal is to make challenging AICE subjects more manageable while preparing students to achieve their academic goals.