Meet Teagan!

Meet Teagan, a student-teacher and dedicated tutor at The Sunshine Method. With a passion for helping children build confidence both academically and personally, Teagan brings warmth, encouragement, and heart to every session!

Join our conversation with Teagan below:

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I grew up in a super small town—our population was only around a thousand people. My middle and high school had about 75 kids total, and my elementary school had around 100. I’ve always been very people-oriented and involved in my community, which is what led me into education.

Right now, I’m student teaching to become an English teacher.

A fun fact about me: I have six siblings, and I absolutely love being part of a big family!

I started tutoring in high school, mentoring middle schoolers. Then in college, I was asked to help tutor students who were entering English classes. I started with The Sunshine Method in January, and I’ve loved being part of it ever since.

What inspired you to become a tutor?

I’ve always had someone in my corner. In high school, I really struggled with math, but I had a teacher who was incredibly supportive and helped me through it. That experience stuck with me—I wanted to give that same kind of support to others.

Becoming a teacher has always been my goal, and tutoring felt like the perfect first step. It gave me a way to start working in education while helping people the way I was helped.

What is one of the best experiences you’ve had since becoming a tutor?

I worked with a student who came in lacking a lot of confidence in math. I told her, “I was never super confident in math either, but having someone there to support and motivate you makes a big difference." I’ve seen her grow every single session—she gets more confident every time we meet. Her mom even emails me her quiz grades, and I love seeing her continue to improve.

She started out really shy and timid, but now we talk and laugh during sessions, and she’s just this super bubbly person I never expected to see. Watching her transformation has been such a rewarding experience.

What role do you believe education plays in a child’s life?

I think education is about so much more than just teaching content. It helps build key relationships and gives kids an outlet—especially if they don’t have that kind of support at home. School can be a safe space where they can take their mind off things, be themselves, and connect with others.

With the students I’m student teaching right now, I try to be someone they enjoy being around—someone they can say, “She’s fun, we love being around her.”

That’s the biggest part of education for me—building strong relationships and giving kids the support and connection they need.

What do you think it takes to be a Sunshine Method tutor?

I think you really have to want to work with kids—you have to enjoy being around them and genuinely want to help them improve.

It also takes a willingness to step out of your comfort zone. For example, I was never super confident in math, but now, after working with my students, I feel like a pro sometimes!

If you want to work with kids, you have to be open to learning and growing right alongside them.

Do you have any advice you’d give to other tutors?

Absolutely—motivate your students, build their confidence, and don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone.

Some of the students we work with at The Sunshine Method may be behind academically or come from tough circumstances, and that can feel intimidating at first. But honestly, those students have become some of my absolute favorites.

Just be open, meet every child where they are, and give them your best—you might be surprised by how much you both grow.

What advice would you give to a child who’s lacking confidence or struggling academically?

I always tell my kids, “Just because you're not there right now doesn’t mean you’ll never get there.” It’s all a work in progress, and every step counts.

I remind them that you can’t get better without failing—failure means you're trying, and trying is what gets you to where you want to be.

I use a lot of positive reinforcement and affirmations during sessions. Even a simple “good job” can light them up. It’s the little things we sometimes overlook that make the biggest difference.

Do you have a motivational quote or reminder you use when tutoring?

I’ve always struggled with feeling like I’m not doing enough for my students. But I remind myself:

“Even just being here is enough.”

I’m showing up, I’m putting in the effort—and sometimes, just having someone in their corner makes a huge difference. That reminder helps me stay grounded and know that I am doing enough, and I am here.

What are your hopes for your students in the future?

I’ve always dreamed that one day my kids will look back and remember me—Miss O.—as someone who was in their corner. I want them to think, “She was so good to work with, she made me feel so much more confident”.

I want them to see their own growth, remember how far they’ve come, and know they’re capable of continuing to improve.