Hello, I'm Cody. I have been working in the field of education since I was in the eleventh grade. I started out as a teacher’s assistant through the rop program at Duarte High School. In my twelfth grade year I conducted my senior research project on the various fields of counseling, which allowed gave me my first taste of peer outreach and conducting my own lesson plan. In 2007 Duarte Unified School district hired me as a classified employee fresh out of high school. I worked as a tutor for North view Intermediate and Duarte High School's (a.v.i.d) program, which was especially designed to prepare first generation college students and minorities to succeed in College. Through the AVID program I learned how to facilitate study groups, set up parent teacher conferences, help students build effective study and communication habits, research colleges of interest, discover their learning styles, personality types, set up clubs, organize fund raisers and work through the challenges that confronted them as first generation and minority students who were seeking a college education.
After working with the Duarte Unified School District for approximately 1.5 years, I began tutoring privately in late 2008. I liked the flexibility because it allowed me to put priorities such as my education and family first, while still having more time to work around the schedules of my clients. In addition, the responsibility helped me mature and stay organized because private tutoring is all about personal initiative. What better way to demonstrate self-reliance and independence to students than building my own business at 19? I love tutoring privately because the time, place and method are totally negotiable. That being said, I think these variables all make for a more intense, efficient and empowering experience.
In 2009, my Public Speech Professor asked me to tutor her class. I was then hired by Citrus College Tutorial Services. Working at Citrus College helped me to progress as a tutor greatly. I received training on working with disabled students, conflict resolution, assisting students with college application essay writing and was fortunate to work with students of all ages, nationalities and learning levels. My experience with Citrus College Tutorial Services allowed me to tutor in over ten subjects, work closely with college students and professors, receive an award as one of Citrus College's top 100 students in the Language Arts Department and provided me with skills that I would be able to use as a teacher in the future.
After receiving my Associates Degree in Behavioral Sciences and Sociology from Citrus College in December of 2010, I left to Niigata Japan to teach English in January of 2011. While in Japan, I completed a 100 hour online course that certified me in tefl (Teaching English as a Foreign Language). Also, I taught English at a cram school called Shingakou Zeminaru twice a week with elementary school students. Likewise, I continued to tutor many of my clients from the United States via Skype. In addition, I was introduced to Daniel Thatch who was the owner of Bridge English School and allowed to substitute three classes. In each class I taught adults who were twice my age and well into their professional careers. As intense as this challenge was, I welcomed it with a smile as I usually do and received positive feedback from every student. It was great working in Japan. Most English teachers were at least five years older than me and had Bachelor’s degrees so it was an honor to work amongst them.
While Japan was a life changing experience for me, I could not get approved for a working visa because I was already in the country. I returned to the United States in July 2011 and have continued tutoring, teaching English and giving Skateboarding instructions since. As of April 2012, I will only be able to offer essay revisions via email and tutoring sessions via Skype because I will return to Japan as a student for 1-2 years. During my time in Japan, I may work up to 35 hours/week teaching at an English School and go to School to study Japanese language and traditions 4 hours/day-5/days/week. None-the-less, I remain dedicated to servicing clients of all ages and learning capacities that live in The United States while I live in Japan. I have felt that teaching is my calling since I was a teenager. I am very passionate about helping others. I realize that the learning experience sometimes requires counseling, social work, disciplinary actions, and extra initiative on my part, aside from typical tutor/teacher roles. I am willing to go the extra steps for you or your child and do whatever is in my ability to exceed your expectations of me. Likewise, I will do my very best to serve you with your rules, parameters and preferences in mind.
Please, email me at your convenience so we can discuss your academic needs, challenges and hopes. I look forward to lending my skills and experience to you. I want to be a part of the great accomplishments you are eager to achieve.
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