We are a tight-knit group of educators who share similar values on creating a culture of dignity in the classroom, establishing trust and rapport, training for comprehension over obedience, and helping students achieve independence in writing. Because of these unique and high standards, our team is small, something you will likely notice as you browse this page. Our size means we offer less scheduling flexibility than larger centers, but it also means that we are wholly committed to making sure that every student in our program makes visible progress toward their potential.
Our instructors are…
- IEW-accredited educators,
- nurturing and patient leaders,
- well-read individuals,
- skilled and enthusiastic writers, and
- experienced educators from public, private, and homeschool settings.
Instructors
Each instructor brings a unique skillset and teaching style to our classrooms, so during our consultation process, we learn more about your child’s personality and interests so that we can make the best match.
Lauren Bridgeford
Instructor
Rebekah Gilbert
Instructor
Deanna Heikkinen
Instructor
Hollie Edwards
Instructor
Molly Bruening
Instructor
Heather Turpin
Instructor
Kathleen van Every
Instructor
Leadership
Sydney manages the admissions process and supports instructors in their work with students, while Christine works behind the scenes to make sure everything runs smoothly.
Sydney Hoff
Founder and Director
Christine Politte
Program Coordinator
In 2013, Ms. Lauren Bridgeford graduated with a BA in Languages, Literature, and Criticism from Hunter College. She has also obtained her DELTA (Diploma in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) certification from Cambridge University. Currently, Ms. Bridgeford is a Registered Instructor accredited by the Institute for Excellence in Writing, and she is pursuing her master’s degree in Secondary Education.
Deanna Heikkinen has been privately teaching writing as well as history, literature, and art history to students grades 2-12 for over six years. Prior to that, she was a tenured professor of humanities at Los Angeles Valley College with a focus on teaching the Great Books of Western Civilization. Additionally, she taught world history, western civilization, Native American history, and anthropology at the college level. Whether teaching elementary, middle, or high schoolers for Rose Writing Center, Deanna's diverse background allows her to serve as our test prep, academic support, and custom lesson specialist.
