Hello!
My name is Karen Majesky, but if you saw me heading to work as a teacher and tutor you might be tempted to call me Mary Poppins, what with my bags full of more bags as well as the many tricks of my trade (minus the coat rack!). When I’m not working, you can find me hiking the local trails – rain, snow or shine – with my Australian Shepherd, Hwiggins. Or at home I’m likely cooking up some crazy concoction of greens, beans, seeds, and whatever other delectables the earth provides.
But my true passion is words. I deeply believe that words have power! Whether I’m meandering through a beautifully crafted poem, a riveting novel, or any of my beloved inspirational quotes, repeatedly reading skillfully combined words has the power to make them sink into my soul.
Sharing that feeling is what I love best about my job. However, like many of my students, I had to work extra hard to earn that reward. Like so many children, I struggled to read and connect the words on a page to build meaningful comprehension. I lacked confidence in my abilities and dreaded the moment the teacher would call on me to read in front of the class or give an answer. Fortunately, I’ve always believed that anything is possible and can be achieved with determination and effort. I would often read and reread a sentence until the ideas became clear (and never without my trusted dictionary!).
It was those experiences as a struggling reader that taught me how invaluable extra support can be. There are few things that bring me more joy than making a difference in someone’s life, helping change the focus from the problem to the solution, and bringing excitement and confidence into my students’ learning. For me, teaching is more than imparting knowledge; it’s about encouraging the development of growth and confidence. I love seeing children make the connections that bring learning to life. I love seeing their reactions and the excitement in their eyes when words and sentences and numbers and ideas make sense.
Each of us has a spark of inspiration inside, and the goal is to connect with that spark. I’ve been able to connect with so many of those who’ve “been there,” people who have faced struggles and difficulties and found a way to thrive. And watching my students thrive inspires me deeply – it’s the greatest reward I could ask for.
Professional Biography
After moving from her childhood home in Bridgewater, New Jersey, Karen Majesky received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Arizona State University. However, an unyielding desire to learn sign language and a yen for changing seasons led her to Boulder, Colorado, where she earned her A.A.S. in Interpreter Preparation in 2000.
Karen then launched her career in education by providing communication access to students who were Deaf or hard of hearing in a variety of Boulder Valley School District classrooms. Watching these skilled teachers craft their lessons, combined with her affinity for working with children, led to her epiphany that teaching was her life calling.
She ventured on to receive her Elementary Teaching License from The Stanley Teacher Preparation Program in 2005, subsequently teaching fourth and fifth grades. Her desire to continue helping those who needed it most eventually led to an eight-year career as a language therapist with a local company, providing intensive, individualized training for children with learning disabilities. It was in this capacity that Karen taught foundational math and writing and helped countless students improve their reading using the Lindamood Phoneme Sequencing (LiPS) Program.
She started her own tutoring business, and 4 years later, with encouragement from friends and clients, she launched Spark Tutoring LLC. Karen has built a solid foundation of clients, and she is well-respected in the Boulder community. She is known not only for her professionalism and expertise, but for her patient, caring approach and ability to build strong personal relationships with her students.