The teachers at Bridges are some of the most qualified and caring teachers specializing in teaching reading and writing. Unlike many other tutoring companies that hire tutors whose experience is outside the education field, we only employ teachers who have a teaching credential issued by the California Department of Education and at least 4 years of teaching experience. All of our teachers also hold a single subject teaching credential in English. However, the ability to teach and care for students is a gift. In addition to being experienced and certified teachers, each teacher has also been blessed with this gift of teaching and a genuine care for students. With this balance, we give uncompromising, top-quality instruction to students to help them reach their academic potential and gain a strong sense of self-confidence. In addition, at Bridges, your child will always have the same teacher. Each of our students will be assigned only one teacher who will consistently work with them until they finish their program. This will ensure that the teacher gets to know your child on a very personal level and will know how to best teach your child.
We also conduct a comprehensive background check of each of our teachers including a reference check, employment verification, credential verification and a criminal records search along with our interviewing process.
Our Teachers
Jeanne K. Wu is co-founder and the Vice President of Education. She handles the training of teachers and the development of the curriculum. Jeanne attended the University of California at Berkeley where she received her Bachelor’s degree in English Literature and cultivated her deep love for literature and composition. At Berkeley, she began her teaching career as an assistant teacher and workshop leader for the Freshman College Writing Program and Bridge Program. From there, Jeanne went on to two different high school teaching positions, in Beijing, China and Pittsburg, California. After receiving her teaching credential with honors at the University of California, Irvine, she began teaching for the Santa Clara Unified School District. She continues to refine her teaching methods, curriculum and assessment development as the head tutor for Bridges, thus making her one of the most sought after tutors in Orange County. In all her experiences with teaching, Jeanne has had to teach students from all walks of life, coming from various countries, socio-economic and educational backgrounds. She has learned to adapt her reading and writing curriculum to meet the needs of her students and has been mentored by some of the most well-respected and experienced teachers in California. She is accustomed to creating lesson plans that adhere to the content standards outlined by the state and continues to hone her skills as a teacher through tutoring and professional development. She was born and raised in Irvine, California and understands the pressures and lifestyle of the children who go to school here in Orange County.
Breann Kay specializes in teaching Kindergarten Readiness and the Kindergarten/1st grade class. Breann is a graduate of Arizona State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education.During her time at ASU, Breann, was enrolled in several classes that focused on and emphasized the importance of phonics and reading which fostered her love for teaching these essential subjects. She completed her student teaching in the Westminster School District and recently worked as a long-term sub for the district.Breann has hopes of continuing her own education by completing a Masters Program. Breann grew up in Orange County and spent several years working with and coaching kids from her community.She knew from an early age that she had a passion for education and is truly glad to be a member of the Bridges family.
Melissa Kitterman periodically contributes to the curriculum development of Bridges and occassionaly writes for The Preschooler blog and the Orange County Homeschooler blog published by Bridges Reading and Writing Institute. Melissa specializes in helping students in the pre-kindergarten through fourth grade cultivate a genuine love of reading and writing. She has thirteen years experience in Early Childhood and Elementary Education including six years as an elementary school teacher in the Garden Grove Unified School District. Melissa received a Bachelor of Arts from the California State University of Fullerton and earned her Clear Multiple Subject Teaching Credential and CLAD (Crosscultural, Language & Academic Development) certificate issued by the California Department of Education. In her off hours, and, for the past three years, Melissa also spends time as a Title I tutor for the Orange County Department of Education helping students covered under social services or the probation system, and living in group homes, shelters, and drug rehabilitation facilities. Recently, two of her students’ poems were selected to be included in the annual publication of Inkwell, a collaboration of writings by students receiving services under Title I. Finally, Melissa is writing her first children’s book which will be illustrated by her husband. Melissa has two sons.
Laura McWright is a staff writer for The Preschooler and the Orange County Homeschooler blogs published by Bridges Reading and Writing Institute. Laura has her early childhood and elementary certifications with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education. She has taught at a private Christian school, and facilitated a classroom in a cyber school where she utilized a home-school curriculum. She currently enjoys using her talents to help her three-year-old son, Brennen, and one-year-old son, Elliot, learn through play and creativity.
Our Teachers
The teachers at Bridges are some of the most qualified and caring teachers specializing in teaching reading and writing. Unlike many other tutoring companies that hire tutors whose experience is outside the education field, we only employ teachers who have a teaching credential issued by the California Department of Education and at least 4 years of teaching experience. All of our teachers also hold a single subject teaching credential in English. However, the ability to teach and care for students is a gift. In addition to being experienced and certified teachers, each teacher has also been blessed with this gift of teaching and a genuine care for students. With this balance, we give uncompromising, top-quality instruction to students to help them reach their academic potential and gain a strong sense of self-confidence. In addition, at Bridges, your child will always have the same teacher. Each of our students will be assigned only one teacher who will consistently work with them until they finish their program. This will ensure that the teacher gets to know your child on a very personal level and will know how to best teach your child.
We also conduct a comprehensive background check of each of our teachers including a reference check, employment verification, credential verification and a criminal records search along with our interviewing process.
Our Teachers
Jeanne K. Wu is co-founder and the Vice President of Education. She handles the training of teachers and the development of the curriculum. Jeanne attended the University of California at Berkeley where she received her Bachelor’s degree in English Literature and cultivated her deep love for literature and composition. At Berkeley, she began her teaching career as an assistant teacher and workshop leader for the Freshman College Writing Program and Bridge Program. From there, Jeanne went on to two different high school teaching positions, in Beijing, China and Pittsburg, California. After receiving her teaching credential with honors at the University of California, Irvine, she began teaching for the Santa Clara Unified School District. She continues to refine her teaching methods, curriculum and assessment development as the head tutor for Bridges, thus making her one of the most sought after tutors in Orange County. In all her experiences with teaching, Jeanne has had to teach students from all walks of life, coming from various countries, socio-economic and educational backgrounds. She has learned to adapt her reading and writing curriculum to meet the needs of her students and has been mentored by some of the most well-respected and experienced teachers in California. She is accustomed to creating lesson plans that adhere to the content standards outlined by the state and continues to hone her skills as a teacher through tutoring and professional development. She was born and raised in Irvine, California and understands the pressures and lifestyle of the children who go to school here in Orange County.
Breann Kay specializes in teaching Kindergarten Readiness and the Kindergarten/1st grade class. Breann is a graduate of Arizona State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. During her time at ASU, Breann, was enrolled in several classes that focused on and emphasized the importance of phonics and reading which fostered her love for teaching these essential subjects. She completed her student teaching in the Westminster School District and recently worked as a long-term sub for the district. Breann has hopes of continuing her own education by completing a Masters Program. Breann grew up in Orange County and spent several years working with and coaching kids from her community. She knew from an early age that she had a passion for education and is truly glad to be a member of the Bridges family.
Melissa Kitterman periodically contributes to the curriculum development of Bridges and occassionaly writes for The Preschooler blog and the Orange County Homeschooler blog published by Bridges Reading and Writing Institute. Melissa specializes in helping students in the pre-kindergarten through fourth grade cultivate a genuine love of reading and writing. She has thirteen years experience in Early Childhood and Elementary Education including six years as an elementary school teacher in the Garden Grove Unified School District. Melissa received a Bachelor of Arts from the California State University of Fullerton and earned her Clear Multiple Subject Teaching Credential and CLAD (Crosscultural, Language & Academic Development) certificate issued by the California Department of Education. In her off hours, and, for the past three years, Melissa also spends time as a Title I tutor for the Orange County Department of Education helping students covered under social services or the probation system, and living in group homes, shelters, and drug rehabilitation facilities. Recently, two of her students’ poems were selected to be included in the annual publication of Inkwell, a collaboration of writings by students receiving services under Title I. Finally, Melissa is writing her first children’s book which will be illustrated by her husband. Melissa has two sons.
Laura McWright is a staff writer for The Preschooler and the Orange County Homeschooler blogs published by Bridges Reading and Writing Institute. Laura has her early childhood and elementary certifications with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education. She has taught at a private Christian school, and facilitated a classroom in a cyber school where she utilized a home-school curriculum. She currently enjoys using her talents to help her three-year-old son, Brennen, and one-year-old son, Elliot, learn through play and creativity.
Liz Dulaney
Andrea Tellez
Trang Tran