Today we’d like to introduce you to Valeria Oquendo
Hi Valeria, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My journey began in the midst of the pandemic. After being laid off from work, I started exploring ways to stay connected with children and their education. At the same time, I was continuing my college studies at the University of Central Florida.
It all started when family and friends reached out, seeking help with their children’s virtual learning. Realizing the growing need, I decided to post my information on a local neighborhood Facebook page. The response was overwhelming—I quickly found myself tutoring up to 20 families in their homes.
Motivated by this demand, my family and I set out to find a dedicated space to grow my business. Despite our efforts, we faced setbacks in securing a location. One day, while brainstorming solutions, my mom, Waleska Alamo, suggested an unconventional idea: transforming a van into a mobile classroom—just like the “van life” movement.
Inspired, we dove into research, watching YouTube conversions and exploring possibilities. Within weeks, we found a shuttle bus at an auction in Texas. By the summer of 2021, with the help of family, close friends, and neighbors, we began the remodeling process. By fall 2021, the mobile classroom was up and running, allowing me to visit students’ homes and provide lessons in an engaging, unique space.
The children loved the experience, but after a year and a half, we noticed wear and tear on the interior and had new ideas to enhance the space. Determined to improve it, we stripped everything down and rebuilt it—making it stronger, more functional, and even more beautiful. By August 2023, the newly renovated mobile classroom was ready to serve students again.
Since then, we have been dedicated to providing individualized instruction, especially for struggling learners, focusing on overcoming reading challenges. My favorite part of this work is witnessing the transformation in children who start with low confidence and a strong need for phonics intervention. Through phonemic awareness techniques, I assess their strengths and areas of growth while getting to know their personalities. From there, I build personalized interventions that, with time, patience, and encouragement, help students flourish into confident, eager readers.
This year marks an exciting milestone—our first year offering homeschool coaching and classes for up to 15 students. We are also proud to be part of the Step Up for Students scholarship program, making our services more accessible to families in need.
Looking ahead, we envision expanding our reach while staying true to our mission: providing personalized education to learners who need to be heard, understood, and taught with affirmation, love, and individuality.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It hasn’t been an easy journey. Our biggest challenge was turning our dream into reality—building such a unique business came with many obstacles. There were times when our efforts didn’t go as planned, but that’s exactly how life teaches us valuable lessons. I always remind my students that mistakes make us stronger; they show us what doesn’t work and guide us toward new paths and possibilities.
Our first major challenge came in October 2022 when the shuttle bus’s engine broke down due to a lack of mechanical knowledge about oil changes. This setback was significant—not only because of the costly repairs but also because it put our mobile classroom out of service, limiting our ability to provide lessons.
Thankfully, our clients have always been incredibly supportive, witnessing firsthand the dedication and hard work we put into keeping the mobile classroom running. During this unexpected hurdle, we adapted by returning to our roots—teaching students at their dining room tables, just like in the early days.
By November, the bus was back on the road, and we moved forward with renewed optimism and an even stronger commitment to our mission.
This setback was just one of many, but each time, we’ve found a way to overcome challenges while maintaining a positive outlook. Whenever obstacles arise, I share the experience with my students—explaining what happened and how I resolved it. I believe this not only inspires them but also teaches a valuable lesson: mistakes are opportunities to learn, perseverance is key, and there is always a way forward.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a 26-year-old eduprenuer who loves to teach elementary students, I love to make children aware of how beautiful and special childhood can be and to make the most of it. I enjoy helping others, it could be teaching a lesson, providing valuable information about administration or business ideas, as well as any other information that I could provide and I can see that it will help the other person in some way.
I’m passionate about teaching young children the foundational skills they need while also guiding students through phonemic awareness and helping them understand the unique patterns of spelling. I’m often recognized as the “teacher on wheels,” creating a safe, one-of-a-kind space within the mobile classroom. What I’m most proud of, however, is never giving up. Despite every challenge that’s come my way, I’ve stayed committed to my mission. The greatest reward has been seeing the students who were told by the system that they were falling behind—those who were labeled as “below grade level.” I’ve had the privilege of teaching them to focus on their strengths, ignore irrelevant judgments, and believe in themselves, pushing them to be better and stronger than ever.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
One of my favorite childhood memories was getting ready for school and playing with my friends during recess. Back home in Puerto Rico, the school system truly valued each child as an individual, not just a number. We had an hour-long recess where we would enjoy fresh food, run around, sweat, and simply have fun. It was like a breath of fresh air, giving us the energy to return to the classroom feeling refreshed and ready to learn.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://startbrightutoring.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startbrighttutoring/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/startbrighttutoring/#
Image Credits
Ms. V and the students of Start Bright tutoring The mobile classroom.
