Today we’d like to introduce you to Perry Callas.
Hi Perry, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
When I graduated from high school, tired of sitting in classrooms, I worked as a landscaper, a commercial painter, and general construction worker for five years. I sweated alongside people who had great skills but who often told me they wished they had got more education. One sweltering summer day, as I was working in the crawl space of a rundown house, I realized there had to be a better way to spend my time, so I crawled out and hitchhiked to the financial aid office at Portland State University. “Give me every form I need to fill out,” I said.
I completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature and then taught high school classes for several years. Next, I taught at community colleges while earning a Master of Arts in Teaching degree from Lewis and Clark College.
I’ve taught English composition, adult basic education, G.E.D. preparation, reading, study skills, English as a Second Language, and elementary-level math at several schools in Oregon and Washington, including Clatsop Community College, Clackamas Community College, Lower Columba College, Clark College, Mt. Hood Community College, and Canby Union High School. I also spent a summer filling in as a “Learning Assistance Counselor” at the University of Portland.
In 2012, Clatsop Community College went through a budget crisis and laid off a third of its instructors; I was one of them, so I moved to Salem and worked for a door manufacturing company. That experience really reminded me of the needs of hard-working folks who spend their days and their physical strength scratching out a living. Almost two years ago, I switched back to teaching, this time at online tutoring companies. Subjects I have tutored there include the ones I’ve mentioned above as well as public speaking, poetry analysis, and vocal training.
Now I’ve started my own online tutoring company, Lantern Bridge Learning, and my experience helping students build confidence, improve their academic performance, and strengthen their communication skills is coming in handy. I expect this year to be a period of growth for my business.
I listen to my students so that we can communicate clearly and I can help them in ways suited to who they are. I work with children (ages seven to twelve), teens, and adult learners. It’s enjoyable helping folks progress along their life paths and really exciting to see someone’s eyes light up when they “get” a new idea. All the while, my dog, Max, likes to sleep under my desk as I tutor, so I’ve included a picture of him.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
My road hasn’t always been smooth: like everyone else, I’ve had times when there was not enough money and too many bills. I remember that when I was doing my student teaching in a high school, there was one angry, unfriendly young guy in my classroom. One day I asked him to talk with me privately. I was hoping to find out how I could help him be happier, so I told him, “You seem to be mad all the time. I know you’re very intelligent, so I know that you’ll be successful in life. In fact, maybe someday I’ll be asking you for a job.”
He looked across the table at me and snapped, “I’d never hire YOU!”
I laughed in spite of myself. “Okay,” I said, and I realized that I wouldn’t really want to work for him, either. We walked back to the classroom as I reminded myself that every one of us is just doing the best we can. Since then I have just tried to be fair and frank without predicting anyone else’s future.
Yes, sometimes getting through a day is challenging, but the vast majority of people I have met and worked with have been decent, kind, and honest, and that has been a true blessing.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Besides teaching, I write and publish essays and short stories, and I’m working on a novel. I’ve also written, performed, and recorded numerous songs. My dad used to tell me, “You’ve got quite an imagination,” and that’s true. I love getting an idea and then writing about it, bringing it into material form. I’m most proud of having kept my ability to laugh, to play with words, and to envision new situations and possibilities. I think we’re made human in order to explore and appreciate each day.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Being able to look at myself objectively has kept me from pretending to be someone I am not. That has allowed me to recognize where I can improve and what I can be proud of.
Pricing:
- Elementary Reading/English $45 hourly
- Elementary Reading, Writing, Math $25 half-hour
- GED/Adult Education, High School Writing, English Composition $50 hourly
- College Writing $60 hourly
- Poetry Appreciation and Analysis $50 hourly
Contact Info:
- Website: https://lantern-bridge-learning-expert-o-13bcf11.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live/?page_id=7
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/perrycallas
- Other: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Alex-Karamanis/author/B00IZTZL34?ref=ap_rdr&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=de8894b2-7c56-46e1-a8f4-fb635c69d033
