BA in English - Experienced English/ESL Educator, MS, MHSA

Upendo M.

I'm Upendo and I have a BA in English, MHSA (Master of Health Services Administration), and MS in Interdisciplinary Studies (Focus in Education and Counseling). In college, I enjoyed my English classes as they gave me room to sharpen my communication skills while exploring different ideas. Furthermore, my graduate school classes gave me an opportunity to appreciate the learning process on a deeper level as I learned about leadership, student wellness, mental health, and more. Overall, I am very grateful for the support of my loved ones and educators from K12 to university. They each played a key role in encouraging me while challenging me to grow as a student and person in and out of the classroom.

Furthermore, I am a licensed English and Special Education teacher who is also TESOL, TEYL, and TEFL certified. I have over ten years of experience working with students of all ages from around the world. I have taught (online and offline) English in public and private settings such as schools, summer camps, afterschool programs, and more. In these educational settings, I have worked with students individually, in small groups, in big groups and in classes with over 30 students. Besides English and ESL, I have also helped students preparing for the STAAR, ASVAB, GRE, TOEFL, and more.

I love getting to know my students and maximizing their strengths in a way that empowers them to overcome different academic challenges. I also do my best to help students enjoy their lessons while developing the confidence and skills needed to succeed. My teaching methods are flexible and designed with student engagement in mind. For example, I use lesson plans and a variety of supplemental learning tools to enhance the learning experience. I am open to feedback from students and/or parents on how to best customize the lessons. Please, feel free to contact me with any questions/suggestions or to schedule a lesson.