Tutor Bios

Cristen Sprunger - Founder

Cristen Sprunger is a graduate of Indiana-Purdue at Fort Wayne, is certified in the Orton-Gillingham method, and is currently completing her training in the Wilson Reading Program, which will give her the unique status of being the only Wilson Reading Program instructor in Fort Wayne. She is a former home school parent, former volleyball coach, and worked as a Reading Specialist for the Westminster Christian Academy in Huntsville, Alabama. Her basic philosophy is that teaching equals ministry. "Teaching is about investing in the student, building mutual trust, holding students accountable, being genuine and caring, and knowing how to challenge students to reach their maximum potential." As Care 2 Learn continues to thrive and grow, Cristen's leadership and heart for students will be an example for all in the organization.

Dawn Wooten - English

Dawn Wooten has been teaching at the college level for 7 years. She holds a Master’s Degree in Rhetoric and Composition as well as a Bachelor’s in English from Indiana University. She also holds a Bachelor’s in Business Management from Indiana Wesleyan University. She has taught remedial writing at Ivy Tech Community College and Introduction to Composition, Freshman Composition, Advanced Expository Writing, and Business Writing at IPFW. In addition, Mrs. Wooten was a home school parent for 6 years and has tutored other homeschoolers for the past 3 years.

Mrs. Wooten believes that any student has the ability to learn to write well and has used a variety of texts and techniques to achieve success with her students over the years. Her specialty is advanced writing for high school and students preparing for college. Writing Across the Curriculum, a focus of her graduate studies, provides Mrs. Wooten the opportunity to teach students writing in any discipline, including science, history, political science, philosophy, religious studies, and more.

Her philosophy of teaching is simple: "There is no such thing as a bad writer. Students often think themselves bad writers when what they are actually having trouble with is mechanics. My desire is to show all students that their thoughts and beliefs have value and are worthy of putting on paper." Mrs. Wooten has enjoyed tutoring at our Southwest and Georgetown locations for the past year.

Denise Green - Reading

Denise Green holds a BS in Elementary and Special Education and is qualified to work with students who have learning disabilities, autism, ADHD, and other learning impairments. She is an alumnus of Indiana University, the University of Central Arkansas, the University of Northern Colorado, and has participated in Continuing Studies at IPFW, Saint Francis, and Indiana Wesleyan University. She has served at Village Elementary in Fort Wayne for 11 years as well as serving at schools across the country for an additional 18 years.

Denise is experienced in the Orton-Gillingham based Wilson Reading Program and has already served multiple students through Care 2 Learn. Her experience and past successes have translated to great success at Care 2 Learn’s Southwest location.

"I believe a teacher needs to be a master of instructional practices and a facilitator of learning. Imparting academic knowledge to the learner is the purpose of the teacher’s goal; however, a wise instructor understands that in order to be successful the students’ emotional well-being and self-confidence are paramount to the student’s rate of success. The instructor needs to form a personal relationship with the child, one which fosters success, positive self-esteem, encouragement and a genuine desire for the overall development of the child as a person."

Fride Irving - English

Fride Irving has been teaching at the college level for more than 10 years. She holds a Bachelor's degree and is certified to teach Basic and College Level English. She has taught remedial writing at Ivy Tech Community College. She also spent several years helping in the home schooling of her grandson. Mrs. Irving believes in the power of the individual and the potential of every student to succeed in all of their endeavors.

Kelly Hudson - Reading

Kelly holds a Bachelors Degree from Ball State University with a degree/license in special education-mild interventions. She is also trained in Orton-Gillingham and the Wilson Reading System. She is highly Qualified in Elementary Education as well as completing numerous Autism/ Behavior trainings. She has worked at Dekalb Central Schools, Delaware County Schools, and at the Children's Autism Center.

"I believe students need hands-on, connected learning from an instructor that is positive and supportive. To sum up in a quote from Confucius: I hear, I forget. I see, remember. I do, I understand.

Keaton Christiansen - Math

Keaton was homeschooled through gradeschool, then began high school, where he started tutoring friends and classmates who needed help. He holds a Bachelors Degree in English Literature from Hillsdale College, where he taught swing and ballroom dancing for several years. Today he pursues a call to the pastoral ministry at Concordia Theological Seminary-Fort Wayne.

Life is full of teaching moments. Whether those teaching moments are in a classroom with 23 other students, at home with homework, on a sports field learning how to be courageous, or in a tutoring room eagerly delving into a subject, Keaton Christiansen has been there. His focus on mathematics, written composition, and study skills, enriches the lives of the student both within the classroom and without -- i.e., how to learn math and study hard and still be a human being at the end of the day. Rather than just preparing a student for the classroom, he hopes to help everyone see the beauty of the world God has given them in all things.

Ellen Bentz - French and English

Mrs. Ellen Bentz has over 12 years experience as a French and English teacher in grades 7-12. She graduated with distinction with Bachelor's Degrees from Indiana University in English and French and has completed post-graduate work at IPFW. She is trained in multiple pedagogical techniques, including 4Mat, Choice Theory, Socratic Method, Creative Learning strategies, Instructional Best Practices, and group learning strategies. She is experienced in both individual and group tutoring.