"I love tutoring! And I’ve found my tutoring passion: reading! I‘m an experienced educator (almost 50 years) with seven teaching certificates from three states.

Whether your child - of any age - is a beginning reader who needs a firm base, an intermediate reader who hasn’t yet found joy in reading, or an advanced reader who needs to hone his/her comprehension skills (the highest level of comprehension is ‘technical comprehension; it is subject-specific, and needed for excellence in high school and college reading), I can help. I would consider it an honor & a privilege to be part of your child’s educational team.

I have been tutoring since 2016 when I retired after 47 years teaching in elementary and high schools, working as a school and district administrator, and working for the Minnesota Department of Education. It is delightful to now have the time and opportunity to work individually with children and young people, finding their strengths and areas needing strengthening, sharing my love of reading and the skills I’ve learned over the years.

My certifications are: Elementary School, Elementary School Principal, Secondary Social Studies, Reading (remedial & advanced), Specific Learning Disabilities, Mild to Moderate Mentally Handicapped, and Director of Special Education.

“Sparkie’s approach was engaging, patient, and highly effective. She helped Stella become genuinely interested in stories, invested in characters, and motivated to improve her skills. Under Sparkie’s guidance, Stella’s retention and vocabulary grew significantly, and her confidence as a reader blossomed.

What stands out most is Sparkie’s genuine care and personal investment in Stella’s growth. She didn’t just tutor Stella- she became a trusted friend and mentor, providing encouragement and inspiration that went beyond academics.“

If it sounds like I could be helpful, please contact me. I’d love to explore what I might be able to offer you." less...