Vina Marie Cataloctocan
Vina Marie Cataloctocan came to teaching from an unusual starting point: a business degree, not an education one. Four years later, she joined Brighterly as a Reading and ELA tutor for students in grades K through 12.
Education and Professional Skills
Vina earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, majoring in Marketing, from the University of St. La Salle in Bacolod back in 2014. TEFL and TESOL certificates followed, giving her the classroom credentials her degree didn’t originally cover.
Vina Marie Cataloctocan’s Experience Before Brighterly
Before Brighterly, Vina ran one-on-one virtual lessons and kept parents updated with regular feedback on how each student was coming along.
“I help students grow into well-rounded, confident English learners.”
I bring stories to life with expressive reading and room for every child's imagination.
Current Activities and Approach to Students
Picking the right story matters as much as teaching it, in Vina’s view. She looks for material that fits a student’s age and actual interests, past whatever level a chart assigns them.
Expressive reading brings a story off the page. Vina leans into voice and imagination during lessons, and she makes space for students to share their own take on what they’re reading, so their ideas feel heard rather than sidelined.
Comprehension work opens the door to a wider set of skills. Vina wants students leaving each lesson a little more well-rounded, with skills that stretch past reading itself.
That shift, watching a student move from dreading a book to reaching for one, is what Vina points to when asked what keeps her in this work.
