Who We Are

Michael Leonard, Ph.D.

Mike earned a bachelor's degree in geophysics from the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at the University of California at Berkeley and was awarded the departmental citation for the highest academic achievement among his graduating class.  He then stayed on at Berkeley to earn a doctorate in geophysics,  State of California Teaching Credentials in math and science, and a wife, Terri.  Prior to opening Academic Improvement Center, Mike divided his time as a research scientist, consultant, and educator and has been a classroom teacher up to the college level.

Teresa Leonard, M.D.

Terri graduated Phi Beta Kappa and summa cum laude from U.C. Berkeley with a degree in psychology, State of California Teaching Credentials in math and science, and a husband, Mike.  After briefly attending U.C. Berkeley's Bolt Law School, she left to attend medical school at U.C. Davis, graduating in the top tier of her class. Upon graduation she was persuaded by her husband to join him in a blossoming business he had recently started.  Terri has also worked as a classroom teacher in math and science at the middle school and high school levels.

When not in the office working, Mike and Terri and their kids enjoy time on their farm in the Capay Valley.

                                  Mike, Terri, and kids 

Our Business

Mike and Terri's Davis Tutoring Center, officially known as Academic Improvement Center, opened in 1997 and has since tutored multitudes of students from Davis and surrounding communities.  Both Mike and Terri ventured off prior career paths to pursue the opportunity to work full-time together at a job they both find extremely rewarding.

For many of our students, our office becomes a school away from school, where they find they have one more teacher who can fill in the instructional holes for just about all of their classes.  Though by no means required, most students continue tutoring with us throughout high school, allowing us to foster long-term mentoring relationships.