We had the good fortune of connecting with Katrina Martin and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Katrina, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I have multiple chronic illnesses that made holding down a typical 40-hour-a-week job challenging. I’m also neurodivergent, and I value choosing how I want to spend my time, rather than answering to someone else’s schedule and values. I wanted to create a life where I have more control over my schedule so I can plan time for writing, music, hiking, podcasting, and other things I enjoy.
In 2008 I started dreaming and planning for how I could start a full-time tutoring business (I had been doing it part time for eight years at that point). I took an intensive business course and launched Katrina Dreamer Tutoring as my sole means of income in 2015. Eight years later, I can say that was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
My tutoring style is different from most tutors, so I also wanted more autonomy. I incorporate a lot of social/emotional skills and I work with the whole student, not just what they need academically. It’s essentially a mix of tutoring and coaching. Many parents say that this approach is why they hire me and it’s also why they stay as clients for multiple years.
Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
As I mentioned, I’m not like most other tutors. I take time to really get to know my students and find out their likes, dislikes, and what makes them tick. I always tailor lessons to include things they enjoy; for instance, I might slip in a Roblox or Pokemon reference in the sentences they need to read. My writing students get to write about things that interest them so they stay motivated.
I mainly work with students with learning disabilities, so I want to find out how they feel about school and their disability and meet them in that space. It’s not just about imparting wisdom and teaching them how to read or write; it’s also about helping them navigate their feelings about disability and confronting their internalized ableism so they can see that there is nothing wrong with them. Rather, it’s the systems they encounter that are flawed. Our school system is not set up to help disabled students succeed, so I teach my students how to advocate for themselves, how to better understand their disability, and to mine their strengths so they feel more empowered.
It’s taken me a while to get here. I started tutoring when I was in my early 20s and I had one year of training through an intensive licensure program. During that program I got one class about special education, and it was inadequate. I’ve done a lot of reading on my own and sought out professional development that’s helped me understand my students better. And I’ve brought my own experience with disability to the table. I share my story with students so they know they’re not alone. I think they can see I understand on a personal level how challenging it can be to navigate systems that aren’t meant for us.
When I first started tutoring, I hid parts of myself because I wasn’t sure if those parts would cost me clients. Now I am out as queer and nonbinary, and I talk about my chronic illnesses and disability. On my website I discuss how I incorporate mindfulness and social/emotional skills, and that I have a particular aptitude for helping neurodivergent students. I’ve discovered that being open about these things attracts the clients that are meant to work with me. I have a number of queer, trans, and gender nonconforming students on my roster, and I absolutely love working with them.
Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’m an amateur birder, so I’d take them to Cherry Creek State Park, Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge, and Chatfield Reservoir, places where I’ve seen some spectacular birds. They also happen to be lovely places to spend time.
In that same vein, I’d plan a trip to the Denver Botanic Gardens, and then perhaps take them on a walk around Cheeseman Park or Washington Park. Afterward, we could have a picnic and do some excellent people-watching.
For a treat, I’d stop at Gelato Boy…I am dairy-free, so I appreciate being able to indulge in their dairy-free gelato now and then!
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My tutoring made a huge jump forward once I received training in the Orton-Gillingham approach from Peggy Price at The Stern Center in Vermont. I’m now trained at the Orton-Gillingham Academy Associate level and I know that this is a huge piece of what makes my tutoring a success.
Website: https://www.katrinadreamertutoring.com
Instagram: katrinadreamer
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katrinadreamer/
Image Credits
All images by Katrina Martin.