Curtis Eames: Inspiring Learning and Achievement

Within the first two weeks of his sophomore year at Phillips Academy Andover, Curtis Eames achieved something rare: he tested out of the academy’s rigorous, year-long Competence in Writing requirement. From there, he didn’t slow down. In advanced English electives—courses typically reserved for upperclassmen—Curtis not only held his own, but often earned the only A+ in those classes. His passion for the written word deepened when he explored adapting literature for performance, a study that lit a fire for acting. That spark led him to Northwestern University, where he earned his degree in Performance Studies, diving headfirst into the world of theater and storytelling.

After several years navigating the unpredictable terrain of show business, Curtis realized he was being called to a different kind of stage: the classroom. Teaching, he found, combined the best parts of performance with his lifelong love of learning—and he’s been center stage in education ever since.

For over a decade, Curtis has taught and tutored high school English, both standard and honors, while also specializing in Test Prep (SAT, ACT, SSAT, ISEE, MCAS), theatre, public speaking, and Spanish. His college counseling work—especially his sought-after guidance on application essays—has helped 95% of his students earn admission to their first-choice schools. Curtis is known for his tireless dedication to his students’ success and takes genuine joy in celebrating their achievements.

In the classroom and one-on-one, Curtis draws on each student’s strengths while targeting areas for growth. A stickler for writing and literary analysis, he’s determined to help every learner achieve college readiness. But his energy and sense of humor keep things light. He often describes learning as “a mental and spiritual gym,” where effort builds both skill and confidence, and the journey should reap a s much joy as the reward.

When he’s not teaching, Curtis still performs, writes screenplays, plays tennis, strums his guitar, and whips up culinary experiments. His favorite role of all? Making his wife and kids laugh.