I am a California Credentialed and Montessori Teacher specializing in English Language Arts.

I approach teaching with the goal of encouraging critical thinking, self expression, and creativity in my students; teaching not what to think, but how to think. I encourage my students to treat challenges as possibilities and subsequently, my students come to each session enthusiastically. My primary goal in teaching reading and writing is to celebrate the joy inherent in these subjects and to encourage children to be life long readers. I have worked as an educator with children of all ages for over 20 years and have been teaching classes and tutoring exclusively on Zoom since the early days of the pandemic. I have found this platform to be highly effective  for my students. Parents, and some of my college students, have been happy with both the outstanding results and the flexibility that teaching remotely offers. I currently have students from all over the United States.

How to Begin:

Contact me to set up an informal no cost Zoom meeting in which you can tell me a little bit about your child and his or her current needs, we will discuss costs, and I will answer any questions you might have, including providing references if you wish. If you decide to go forward, we will set up another Zoom session at your convenience for your child’s first lesson. I normally meet with students once or twice a week, depending on what help is needed. There are no contracts, I teach as needed for as long as you feel it is helping your child succeed.

Summer is a great time to start tutoring. The student has an opportunity to avoid the common “summer learning loss”, build a stronger foundation, and go back to school with more self confidence.

Donna Burke Esgro – Educator

Academic & Enrichment Language Arts Tutor

Elementary, Middle & High School

Background:

Higher Education: UCLA

California Credentialed Teacher 

Montessori Teacher & Director 

Recommended Tutor – Viewpoint School, Calabasas High School, Montessori of Calabasas

Tutor for Students Diagnosed with Dyslexia- Orton-Gillingham Methodology

Gifted Students Tutor – LVUSD

Home School Tutor

Experienced in Traditional, Waldorf, Reggio-Emilia, and Montessori Pedagogies

Founder of The Butterfly Book Club-An after school enrichment program

Founder of Save The Bookworms-An organization dedicated to the encouragement of reading

Instructor with The City of Calabasas Recreation Department:

Book Clubs for all ages

Creative Writing Programs

Nature Journaling Classes

Member of  California Teacher’s Association, NEA,  LAUP, First5LA, and NAEYC

References Available Upon Request