Phoebe Belza-Barrientos
Phoebe Belza-Barrientos is a Brighterly math tutor with 13 years of teaching background. Her passion is to turn complex concepts into easy-to-understand facts.
Math is far more than just another basic subject for Phoebe; it’s a passion she now channels into every lesson. She builds study materials in a way that her students begin to feel the same discovery and enjoyment as she did in her school years.
As one of the most beloved math tutors on the Brighterly math tutoring platform, she combines a passion for learning with a genuine commitment to nurturing each student’s development.
Education and professional skills
Phoebe’s educational background and professional training have sculpted her into a versatile and innovative math educator. While her academic qualifications include a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education from the Philippine Normal University, her continued professional development and certifications have kept her at the forefront of STEM education.
Phoebe’s major areas of expertise after university:
- Certified STEM Expertise: With more than a decade in tutoring, Phoebe has sharpened her ability to make even the most boring school math concepts easy to understand.
- Engaging Communication: Known for her friendly teaching style, she builds strong connections with her students, encouraging them to explore math and ask any questions.
- Demonstrator Teaching Method: Phoebe describes her teaching style as demonstrative: she shows how math works through clear, step-by-step examples.
- Adaptability: According to Phoebe, her favorite aspect of teaching is interacting with students and finding an approach that fits each kid perfectly. She likes to see sparks in students’ eyes and how their interest in math becomes more prominent with each session.
Phoebe’s experience before Brighterly
Before joining the Brighterly team, Phoebe Belza-Barrientos built a robust teaching career that spanned various educational settings. She started her journey as an English Language teacher in Singapore back in 2016. Later, she became interested in more disciplines, so she started a new part of her journey as the remote Curriculum Developer for California-based startup Park Tutoring.
It made her realize that to achieve success, kids need a fun yet productive atmosphere in the math class. So now, Phoebe shows her students that math can be fun and fascinating despite all the stereotypes formed around this subject.
“I’m proud of all of my students. They are the best!”
I take great pride in children's math development, and I'm genuinely glad that Brighterly shares this vital goal wholeheartedly.
This statement encapsulates the passion and dedication that have characterized her career from the very beginning.
Current activities and approach to students
Phoebe has been working as a Brighterly online math tutor for almost two years. Today, her role at Brighterly not only sees her teaching but also mentoring young minds to love and excel at math. Her approach is innovative, student-centered, and infused with her own deep-seated enthusiasm for mathematics.
Phoebe’s journey began as an avid math learner during her elementary and middle school years. So, she knows the importance of sparking curiosity from such a young age. Now, when she became a tutor, Ms. Belza-Barrientos aims not only to educate but also to instill the same sense of wonder and discovery that first drew her to the subject.
She also encourages parents to use various extra materials, including free math worksheets and real-world problems, to support the child’s desire to study math. She believes that a combination of tutoring sessions and additional practice with parents shows the best and fastest results.
As a “demonstrator type” educator, she ensures no student is left behind. She explains the topic in different ways until the child understands the logic behind it.
Her friendly, approachable nature shines through every session, and even her approach to students’ homework. She doesn’t scold. She gently explains the specifics of each task so the child will naturally understand the logic behind it. Her current endeavors are creating educational content and helping her students graduate from elementary and middle school.
