For nearly two decades, Nathaniel Hannan has served as a travel tutor with Tutors International, specializing in educating students with special needs across the globe. After completing his studies at Oxford in 2004, Hannan faced a pivotal decision between pursuing a career in private equity or teaching. Ultimately, he chose the path of education, feeling that a finance career would be detrimental to his well-being despite the potential financial rewards.
Throughout his career, Hannan has worked with a diverse range of students, many of whom have special educational needs. These include various learning disabilities such as autism spectrum disorders, dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, and anxiety disorders. Despite lacking formal training in special education, Hannan has adapted his teaching methods to cater to each student’s unique requirements.
One of Hannan’s most notable experiences occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic from 2020 to 2023. He worked with a family in the film industry, traveling to six different countries for a movie shoot. During this time, Hannan became the primary educator for a child with special needs, ensuring consistent learning despite the challenges posed by frequent travel and a hectic filming schedule. This student later went on to attend an Ivy League university.
Hannan’s approach to education often involves integrating travel experiences into his curriculum. Having lived in 13 countries, he leverages local culture, history, and geography to enrich his lessons. This unique method allows him to spark interest in subjects like Latin and Roman history in ways that traditional classroom settings cannot replicate.
One particularly rewarding moment in Hannan’s career involved tutoring a dyslexic student in chemistry and mathematics over a summer. For the final exam, Hannan creatively incorporated gold dust from a shipwreck that the student’s father had panned. The task was to determine the gold’s purity percentage, a challenge that the student’s father initially doubted his son could accomplish. However, after days of dedicated work, the student succeeded, moving his father to tears. This gold dust, now preserved in Lucite, serves as a constant reminder of the student’s achievement.
Hannan’s experiences have led him to view wealth as an enabler rather than a corrupting force. He believes that financial resources allow his clients to fully implement educational strategies by removing many societal restrictions. However, he emphasizes that there isn’t a significant difference in teaching students from various socioeconomic backgrounds, aside from the ability to afford specialized tutoring services.
Looking ahead, Hannan plans to continue his work until he no longer needs to do so for financial reasons. His future aspirations include providing educational support for children undergoing cancer treatment at a hospital in Atlanta, where patients typically spend six to nine months without provisions for continuing their education.
Throughout his career, Hannan has found deep fulfillment in enabling students to overcome their educational challenges. He views teaching as more than just imparting facts; it’s about showing students new ways to approach academic tasks and empowering them to achieve what they might have previously thought impossible. This philosophy has driven his work with special needs students, allowing him to make a significant impact on their lives and educational journeys.