Spotlight On: Mary Rossi

Spotlight On: Mary Rossi

As part of our ongoing series, we are interviewing people of interest in the area who are having a positive impact on our community.

This time, we reached out to Mary Rossi, a local tutor who is passionate about teaching.

How did you get into tutoring and what is your educational background?

I started tutoring in college when I got a job at a Sylvan Learning Center near my university where I was studying education and human development. I learned a lot about individualized education for all of my very individual students during my time there. Students are assessed and then given instruction at the level they are working at. I worked with families, classroom teachers, IEP teams, social workers, principals, and school districts to ensure my students were set up to meet the goals the team had set. It seems like a no-brainer now, but it did first illuminate me that the “one size fits all, no child left behind” model of education has not been serving our students. I stayed with Sylvan for the duration of my undergrad, and when I graduated, I left with the title of Director of Education.

I left Sylvan early in 2020 because I had been accepted to UC Santa Cruz’s Master of Education program. It was a year-long program, and at the end of it I had my MA in Education and my teaching credential. I was so looking forward to attending school on the campus, in the redwoods and on the coast. The pandemic had other plans, however, and I earned my masters and credential from my parents’ spare bedroom as we all waited out lock down. Eventually, when restrictions lifted, I moved to the bay and was allowed to enter my student teaching assignment in person. There were challenges, such as engineering ways to “socially distance” students during lock down drills. But, there were high points, too. I learned the value of community in the classroom setting. After being distant for so long, my students craved interaction and teamwork. I’ve made sure to intentionally foster both in my classrooms since.

I spent the next 3 years teaching 5th grade in inner city San Jose. It had its highs and lows. I’m happy to be back in the valley and out of the city, and have the opportunity to serve the kiddos of the OV. I’m currently teaching 2nd grade at an online charter school. Working from home is great – but there is a lot I miss about the classroom. I’m looking forward to finding an opportunity to jump into one of the local schools when something opens up.

What ages do you typically tutor?

I tutored all ages at Sylvan, Pre-K through SAT Prep. I’m happy to peer review college-level papers. However, in my teaching career I have the most experience with grades 2-5.

Do you have a particular subject that you specialize in?

My teaching credential is in elementary education, but I’m comfortable with any subject outside of advanced math. Even if that is the issue, I can help with things like study skills, organization, test prep, etc.

I can also help with other things like music, horseback riding, 4H/FFA, etc.

What is your tutoring philosophy or approach to tutoring?

Nelson Mandela said, “Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world”. I believe that. On both a personal and global scale, education has changed my world as well as the world around me.

I firmly believe I had one of the finest educations in Big Pine by world class educators who sparked a love of learning in me that has propelled my higher education and career in directions I would have never expected. I feel called to be that kind of educator and pass that love of learning along and curiosity to the next generation of awesome Owens Valley kids.

All kids can learn to the highest levels. Given the proper tools and support, I know that every child can meet their goals. School can be hard. My classroom in San Jose has 30 kids at any given time, and while I did my best to support each and every one of them, it was impossible to meet all of their needs simultaneously at all times. So, it makes perfect sense that a student may need extra support outside the classroom. That’s where I come in!

Lastly, what are your rates, and which areas of the valley do you cover?

My rates are not totally fixed due to the varying needs of different families and kiddos – but, let’s say, hypothetically, I’m helping your 6th grader get caught up on work, I would ask $20 for the first 30 minutes and $15 for every 30 minutes after that. Also, if I’m traveling out of Big Pine I would appreciate $5 to cover gas. 🙂

I am a credentialed/cpr certified teacher and would be happy to facilitate small group sessions if families were interested in group rates. I’ve accumulated lots of curriculum and resources for different age levels that we could use to get caught up in any content area, or I could offer homework support. We’ll work together to make a plan to get your kiddo feeling confident and meeting their goals.

I’m located in Big Pine, and have a home classroom/office where I keep a lot of resources/curriculum/books I’ve collected. However, I’m happy to meet at your house or a coffee shop in Big Pine/Bishop/Independence.

A big thank you to Mary Rossi for answering our questions!

TM Rush