Leadership Team

Leadership Team

Breakaway Test Prep provides remarkable test prep to students in Minnesota, western Wisconsin, northern Iowa and anywhere in the world online. We earn our reputation through the consistent success our students achieve on their tests. Below, we invite you to meet Breakaway’s Minnesota leadership team.

Ron Michalak
President and Founder
St. Louis Park office
[email protected]
612-216-5133

Ron is the founder of Breakaway College Test Prep and is the lead instructor in Minnesota. Ron earned a BA in Economics from Northwestern University and an MBA in Marketing and Finance from the Kellogg Graduate School at Northwestern University. After college, Ron enjoyed a 25-year career in finance, marketing and business development as an executive with firms including Arthur Andersen, Coopers & Lybrand, BellSouth and IBM/Internet Security Systems.

Ron got his start in test prep nearly two decades ago with the Princeton Review, where he provided classroom-style instruction to SAT and GMAT students. In 2006, he helped his twin brother, Rick, a former vice president of operations for the Princeton Review, launch a new test prep company called Breakaway that would take test prep in a new direction: customized test prep solutions to help students reach their potential. Ron launched Breakaway a few years later in the Twin Cities, and together with his team, has since provided test prep to thousands of students in Minnesota.

In addition to working privately with students each year, Breakaway is the exclusive provider of ACT instruction to the Blake School and the Breck School in Minneapolis. Together with experts from Groves Academy, Ron helped to launch an ACT prep program specifically designed for students with learning disabilities and attention disorders. It is the only such program in Minnesota.

Ron lives in Edina, with his wife and two children. Please click here to visit the St. Louis Park webpage.

Matt McManus
Director
Eden Prairie office
[email protected]
612-578-9995

Matt McManus is the director and lead instructor for the Eden Prairie office. Matt focuses on providing instruction to students in Eden Prairie, Chaska, Chanhassen, Prior Lake, and surrounding areas. Click here to learn more about Breakaway’s Eden Prairie office.

Matt has been with Breakaway since 2014, and actively works with students on a weekly basis. Having provided more than 1,500 hours of instruction over the past two years, Matt works with students of all levels, with a primary focus on math and science. Matt is graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Minneapolis-native; he currently lives in South Minneapolis with his wife.

John Kingsbury
Director
Mendota Heights office
[email protected]
218-791-7910

John Kingsbury is the director and lead instructor for the St. Paul/Mendota Heights office of Breakaway. John provides instruction to students in St. Paul and its suburbs. Click here to learn more about Breakaway’s Mendota Heights office.

A talented and experienced math and science instructor, John earned a Ph.D. in psychology from Dartmouth College. He was a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard University’s School for Public Health and a graduate teaching assistant and guest lecturer at Dartmouth. Prior to that, John graduated magna cum laude from the University of St. Thomas and began his doctoral program in social psychology at Iowa State University.

Barbara Jeffers
Director
Plymouth/Northwest Suburbs
[email protected]
612-396-9676

Barbara Jeffers is the director and lead instructor for Breakaway’s Plymouth/Northwest Suburbs office. Barbara holds a B.A. in English from St. Olaf College and an M.A. in English from Northwestern University; she has also achieved candidacy for the Ph.D. degree in English at Northwestern. At Northwestern, she was one of six incoming Ph.D. students across all disciplines to receive a four-year President’s Fellowship. At Breakaway, Barbara teaches ACT courses at the Blake School, the Breck School and Providence Academy, and leads Breakaway’s ACT English and Reading bootcamps. In her free time, she mostly tries to keep up with her nine-year-old twin daughters.

Rachel Erickson
Director
Students with Learning Disabilities
[email protected]
218-201-2615

Rachel Erickson is Breakaway’s director for students with learning disabilities and became Breakaway’s first instructor back in 2011. Having provided more than 3,000 hours of instruction over the past seven years, Rachel works with students of all levels on all subject areas of the test.

In addition to ACT prep, Rachel is a full-time educator, working as a high school language arts teacher for students with a wide range of learning differences including dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, executive functioning, attention disorders, and processing issues at a small private school in the Twin Cities. Rachel is a graduate of St. Olaf College and holds a master’s degree in Learning Disabilities from the University of St. Thomas. She lives in St. Paul with her husband.

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT BREAKAWAY

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Breakaway does so much more than just college prep. Your holistic approach to the “whole” child is a gift that keeps on giving well beyond testing. My dyslexic son walked into your program believing himself a poor test taker and just plain “stupid.” He walks away with a 10-point improvement in his results, an ACT score in the 90th percentile, happily proving to himself that he is, beyond all doubt, really quite bright! We so appreciate all the time you took to meet with us, to identify and even change teachers to find the perfect personality and teaching style fit for our son. Thank you for all you do for our children, their futures and perhaps even more importantly, their self-esteem!

Suburban Minneapolis Family
Just wanted to touch base with you. My son `{`a senior at Minnetonka High School`}` scored 4 points higher! He was very excited. Thanks again for the excellent tutoring, you accomplished a lot in only 2 sessions. I will definitely be recommending you to all my friends and family.

Minnetonka father
Just wanted to let you know that my son got his ACT scores back and he scored a 35! Thank you so much for all Breakaway did to help him do so well!

Orono Parent
I appreciate the detailed feedback on my students. In a way, I think they are both looking forward to taking the ACT (and also be glad once it's over). I believe you have instilled a greater degree of confidence, subject knowledge and a positive outlook on the whole process for them....I thank you for that. They have both enjoyed your teaching process and how well you connect with them. My only regret is that we didn't hook up sooner

Benilde St. Margaret's parent
Holy Mother of God! Check this out! A 35! Amazing results – I’m glad he persevered and took it one more time. Thank you!

Breck parent
My daughter was so excited! I almost emailed you Saturday with her news that she scored a 35, but she wanted to tell you in person at last night's lesson. I am very happy for her - and so grateful for your help.

Blake parent
We really appreciated the ability of Breakaway to tailor test prep to our child’s needs. Our daughter began with group sessions and weekend test sessions. The feedback allowed her to efficiently address her weaknesses with one-on-one tutoring. Ron’s personal attention to matching his instructors to our daughter’s needs was greatly appreciated. His follow-through was impressive. Breakaway is a great option for a kid that is willing to work. A real difference-maker.

Edina parent
Thank you for all your great preparation. My daughter scored a 35 overall with 36s in English and Science. Math was a 33. I was very pleased with Breakaway and your personal attention to my daughter. I have already passed your name along to several other parents.

Breck parent
Thanks for all you do. You have given us so much hope for our son. If not for you, we never would have had our son tested for dyslexia.....nor would he have received the extra time he needs. Thanks again

Suburban Minneapolis family
I am so grateful to have had you for both of our daughters last year. My older daughter accepted an invitation to attend her reach school - tough to get into and just awesome. You helped her get from a 22 to a 26 (31 in Science and 30 in math). Without that, she wouldn’t have this opportunity next year. Thank you for all you do! I have one more daughter so if you are still doing this in a few years, we will see you again!

St. Paul family
Ron, I asked my son if he had contacted you about his test scores yet, and he said he had. So I won't be spoiling his surprise of telling you he received a composite score of 34!! Wow, quite an achievement. Most probably the biggest of his life to date. It will open more doors to him than he can imagine and that will also affect the rest of his life as well. Thanks for spending your time with him and obviously doing a fabulous job. I asked my son about the sessions and he said that besides going over the wrong answers on the sample tests, you helped him to understand what sort of thinking process they were looking for. Thanks for 'reaching' him and teaching him in a style he could comprehend. Great work!! You should feel a great sense of satisfaction for getting kids to achieve so greatly. You are gifted! Thanks again.

Parent of a Breck Student
I got a 33 composite!!! I wanted to thank you so much for everything you have done for me regardless of the outcome, but especially now that we can see all of our time and hard work pay off for me today. You took me from a very confused and hopeless but dedicated worker with a 21, my first test with you, all the way to a top tier 33 score. I cannot thank you enough.

Mounds Park Academy student
Thank you for the follow up Ron, and for your continued work with our daughter. It's truly rewarding to see her so motivated and proud of her own achievements. You have inspired her to reach beyond what she thought was possible. We knew she had it in her all along, but sometimes a 'non-parent' voice and coach makes all the difference. Thanks for being that difference in her life at a critical period!

Eastridge High School parent
Ron, you are great - thank you! I can't tell you the peace of mind my husband and I have about all of this stuff with your advice, guidance, and tutoring for our daughter.

Blake School parent
We’re grateful to you Ron. You spend so much time with the students AND the parents AND the follow up….you’re a busy guy!! I don’t know what we’d do without you and are so happy that your name was given to us. We will pass your name on!

Edina High School parent
Thank you so much for working with our son to prepare for the ACT test. I'm thrilled with his first test results.... this is a direct result of having more skills and more confidence in taking the test, which he has gained from working with you. He's so open and receptive to working with you. You're a great teacher!

Wayzata High School parent
Thank you for your lesson summaries. I read every bit. My daughter is re-energized by her new results. Thanks again for your excellent coaching. My daughter highly respects you.

Edina High School parent
We all agree that test prep with you has been time and money well spent. It's an added bonus that we got to know you in the process!

Breck Upper School parent
You accomplished in a few hours what years of schooling and countless explanations from me couldn't.

Mounds Park Academy parent
`{`I liked the`}` clear communication to parents and to student, very well organized, good rapport with student, very positive and encouraging but with high standards.

Edina High School parent
`{`I liked`}` the individual attention to areas of need – not to mention that the personality of the tutor was a great match.

Hopkins High School parent
Ron explained things in a way that made sense to my son and gave him useful strategies for the test questions. He felt like Ron was working with him towards a common goal and enjoyed their sessions. He did not feel ``tutored`` or like the sessions were turning summer into homework. Rather, he felt like they were a team and that Ron really cared about his progress.

Mounds Park Academy parent
Our family was very pleased with the ACT instruction our daughter received from Ron Michalak. We learned about his test preparation instruction from a neighbor and subsequently recommended him to several of our friends. Ron was well-prepared and organized, and he approached lessons with the perfect mix of focus and humor. He raised her practice scores significantly by focusing on the areas in which she needed the most review and continuing to help her gain points in her stronger subject areas.

Hopkins High School parent

Leadership Team

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT BREAKAWAY

Edina / Main Office

Eden Prairie

Learning Disabilities

Plymouth / Northwest Suburbs

St. Paul / Mendota Heights

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