Influential Woman · Education author
Doreen Pullof Feisch
Virtual Tutor, Sunshine Method
Manalapan, NJ
Her Story
About Doreen
I'm a children's book author and virtual educator specializing in helping young children with learning disabilities. For the past 10 years, I've been teaching virtually, working with children ages 5 to 10 who have various learning struggles, including children on the spectrum and those with learning delays. I currently work with the Sunshine Method in Florida, where I conduct virtual teaching sessions helping students with reading and math. Before joining the Sunshine Method a year ago, I worked for another company called I2 to Virtually, also working with children who had problems with reading and math until that company closed. I'm a former LPN nurse who transitioned to virtual education after having back surgery and needing to find work-from-home opportunities. Over the past 4 years, I've written 3 children's books and am currently working on my fourth. I use my books during virtual teaching sessions because many students work with textbooks they don't like, and they love it when I read my stories to them. I also hold a TEFL certification and work with students from China and Korea, helping them with English. I love working from home and seeing the children progress with their virtual learning - when they have consistent online sessions with me, I do see a difference, and that really makes me feel good.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Doreen
01What do you attribute your success to?
Honestly, the last few years I've had several medical problems and a lot of surgeries on my body, and I think just getting through them keeps me going. I just feel like I get stronger with every medical illness crisis I've been through. I just want to show people that no matter what happens that's really bad, you can get through it and you can keep going. You just have to think positive and keep going - you just have to set goals for yourself.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've ever received was just do what makes you feel happy. Do what you enjoy. And always do what you dream about doing, and don't ever give up on your dreams. I've been told that many times.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would tell them to try and get some kind of experience first, probably by volunteering, just to see if they like it. People jump into things that they don't know a lot about, and then they end up not liking it. I did do volunteer things before I went into this just to see how I would like it, and I loved it.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge is probably competition - there's always people that are better than you, there's a lot of people that may have more experience than you, so competition with other workers is a challenge. As far as opportunities, there's a ton of them in education, especially if you have higher education. There's even more opportunities if you have higher education.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
What's really important to me is honesty, and also a good work ethic - to always be your best, and just work hard, and always be reliable. That's how I was brought up.
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