The approach I've developed:
I began my education work in a most peculiar field: Children's Yoga and Mindfulness.
In the spring of my sophomore year of college, while scouring the internet for summer jobs, I came across the role of "Yoga Camp Counselor" at Breathing Space Family Yoga. I was elated to see such a thing even existed. I loved yoga, and I had enjoyed working at summer camps in high school, so it felt perfect for me. After beginning my work there in that summer of 2018, I was hooked. I discovered I really loved working with kids — not just because teaching them new skills was fun (though it is! Shout out to my sisters for allowing me to play teacher with them all those years), but because the kids themselves are fun. Every child is unique in their humor, curiosity, and earnest approach to learning how they fit in the world, and it is such a joy to be able to witness and help give direction to each child's uniqueness.
So, I came back to Yoga Camp in 2019, and I kept in touch with the company through the remainder of my time in college. As I was getting ready to graduate in 2020, I was preparing to come back to DC for more Yoga Camp fun, but the pandemic threw a wrench into my plans — as it did for so many of us at the time. While scrambling to find a path forward, I stumbled into my next foray in the DC education space — as a nanny for a "pandemic pod."
I cared for three wonderful boys. Two were in Pre-K 3, and one was in Pre-K 4. We built a schedule around their virtual classes, attempting to simulate some semblance of school in the midst of quarantine. After the 2020-2021 school year, schools started attempting to go back to normal, which meant my three boys could finally see in the inside of a school building! I transitioned to nannying for a family in the same neighborhood — a 2 year old boy and his two older sisters. We had a wonderful time reading, making crafts, and practicing our fine motor and gross motor skills together in various silly and fun ways. I also began to teach yoga and work at Yoga Summer Camp again, which was such a joy! Ah, the thrill of things opening up after a year of quarantine.
As 2022 rolled around and Pre-K began to creep up for my toddler, I wasn't ready for my role as a teacher to end. Moreover, I wanted to have a bigger impact. I adored the kids I had worked with so far, but most of them were set up for success long before they met me. I thought about the town where I grew up — a place where your success or failure was often determined by your school, which more often than not was determined by your tax bracket. So, I applied for Teach for America — an Americorps program whose goal is to provide underfunded communities with quality teachers. I was accepted into the 2022 Corps, and I committed the next two years to becoming the best educator I could be for as many students as I could reach.
The entirety of my corps service was spent at KIPP DC: Valor Academy, a public charter middle school in Northeast DC. In fact, I stayed there long after my service was completed, determined to see my students continue to grow year after year. This is where I really learned how to teach, and how to reach any kid. Don't get me wrong, I learned a lot through teaching yoga and nannying — especially when it comes to motor skills, early literacy/numeracy, and self-regulation. But teaching middle school is a whole different ball game! Each middle schooler is their own unique person, with a decade of experiences behind them — some helpful, and some harmful, to their education. Nonetheless, my love for each kids' uniqueness made it a fun challenge to break through each kid's walls and figure out exactly what they needed to grow. In my four years at Valor, I grew from a general education teacher to a special educator, even earning accolades for my efforts in the field (Case Manager of the Year 2024-2025!). I taught special education classes in both core subjects (Reading and Math), and I was trained to provide specialized intervention for both reading and math, helping kids bridge gaps from the pandemic and otherwise.
Though I loved teaching in the classroom, I left after this most recent school year (2025-2026) with the goal of creating a job that would allow me to see my family more. I have older relatives who live in Florida (as well as younger relatives! My two year old nephew), and the schedule of a public school teacher does not allow for many days off. As my family ages, I want to be there to spend time with them. So, I am bringing my services out into the DMV. I hope I can help even more students grow to be their best selves and push through their greatest challenges!
Contact Me
(202) 688-5661
teachermorgantutors@gmail.com