Tutor Q&A: Cathy Sears

1. Tell us a little about yourself.
Hello, my name is Cathy Sears, and I have been in the educational field for over 25 years. Honestly, I have been educating children for over 30 years as my oldest child is 32 years of age and my other child is 26. I have lived and worked in Des Plaines for just as long. I started in early childhood and went into elementary education. I taught kindergarten-aged students in an extended-day kindergarten program for eight years. I have worked in middle school as an 8th grade language arts and literacy teaching, as a reading specialist, and as an interventionist for 6th, 7th, and 8th graders. I have taught in middle school for 18 years. In addition to teaching, I have been tutoring students from ages 5 – 15 for at least four years.

2. Why did you want to become a teacher/tutor?
When I was a young student I struggled understanding things sometimes. I felt I learned differently than others. I had some wonderful teachers who took me under their wings and helped me understand the material in a different way. I wanted to do the same for future students. As I have grown and developed as a teacher, I realize what those teachers really did for me…they showed they cared about my education and me. As I work with students in a classroom or one-on-one, I find that building a relationship is just as important as teaching students the content.

3. Tell us about a positive experience that you’ve had with a student.
I have wonderful memories of positive experiences I have had with students and ones that students have had on me. Most recently, I have been working with a high school student who has been struggling with reading comprehension. The student and I take time to look at his grades and discuss what the problems were. Turns out, while he struggled with reading comprehension, his real problem was remembering to turn in work. I offered a variety of solutions. He chose one that has worked for months. In addition, we have increased his reading comprehension. He continues to thrive in school.

4. What’s the best part about being a tutor/teacher?
There are so many aspects of teaching that I love. I would have to say that the best part of teaching is building relationships with students. It is true that once a student knows a teacher cares the student cares to learn. I have seen many students grow academically over the years, but more importantly, I have seen many students learn to love and appreciate learning. That is a life-long skill.

5. Who was your favorite teacher growing up and why?
My favorite teacher was my first grade teacher, Sister Nicola. I was scared and did not want to be in school. She showed me that she cared about me as a person. She gave me a special job that made me feel important. I wanted to be at school and learn because of her.

6. What’s your favorite educational quote?
“The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.” Martin Luther King, Jr.

7. Why do you like working for iAchieve Learning?
I like working at iAchieve Learning because I meet the most wonderful students and families to whom I share my love for learn. I also like working for this company because Sarah has a passion for meeting the needs of children and their families. She is dedicated to providing the best service to help each and every student.

Would you like to work with Cathy or one of our other tutors? Please contact us today either by phone on 847.682.6116 or by filling out the contact form on our website: Use our contact form here.

Do you have a passion for teaching? Join our great team of tutors, we are looking for fun and energized people at iAchieve Learning. If you enjoy helping others, have a positive attitude, and want flexible hours, contact us today!