Education


Westmont College
1997B.A., English








Concordia University
1998







Multiple Subject California Credential
Walden University2006
​Master of Science in Education, Emphasis on Reading & Writing.

Owner and teacher Jill Sousa established Arden Reading Academy in 2007. She is a credentialed teacher has worked as an elementary school teacher for the Saddleback Valley School District for 10 years. She has a Master of Science in Education, with an emphasis on Reading & Writing. Jill established Arden Reading Academy in response to the growing need for individualized teaching and for the opportunity to home school her own two daughters.

About The Owner

Jill Sousa

About Arden Reading

Sign up for a free assessment today

Arden Reading & Writing

Tutoring Center

Arden Reading Facebook
Connect on Linked In
Arden Reading You Tube

(949) 229-3035


Parent Testimonials

"It has been my pleasure to have both taught and tutored elementary age children with Jill for the past eight years. An experienced and skillful teacher, Jill is able to recognize and implement a learning plan based on a child's ability, needs, and unique learning style. Teaching one-on-one or in small group instruction, Jill adds depth, complexity, and novelty to her lessons, reinforcing basic skills, as well as challenging each child.
Addressing the California State Standards in reading and writing for each grade level, her lessons are compatible with, and an extension of, your child's classroom instruction. Enthusiastic, yet sensitive to each learner, Jill creates sequential, skill based, high interest lessons through a variety of activities, She is an expert working with all children."


- Kathy Sokolosky, (Credentialed Teacher and Writing Specialist)

"Through Jill's education, patience, and love, she evaluated both our 3rd grader and 1st grader.  She found their strengths and weaknesses to pull out the best in my girls so they would not only love to read but also understand and be able to put in their own words what they had just read.  Jill has a gift for really listening and discerning where each of my children were struggling."  

-Stephanie S. (Lake Forest, CA)


"After taking a writing techniques workshop with Mrs. Sousa, my daughter enjoys her writing assignments and written reports in class.  She now has the confidence to complete her assignments without my help, and has asked several times to take additional classes.  Emily's teacher and I can't thank her enough!" 

 -Krista C. (Laguna Hills, CA)

"My children love being taught by Jill at Arden Reading. After a solid day of home schooling, I drop the girls off at Jill's in the later afternoon for more reading and writing once a week. One would think that a 1st and 3rd grader (at the time) would be exhausted, but they are excited to go, and when they leave they are peppy and filled with energy. Jill engages my kids in dialogue, asks interesting questions, gives them choices, and then clearly articulates the expectations. The group is intimate and allows the children time to think, be creative, all without pressure, while the kids accomplish a great deal.  As a parent, I appreciate the subtleties of Jill's teaching style. She provides positive feedback on increasing reading speed, comprehension, and tracking. She displays a command of The Language Arts and intuitively makes suggestions that work in reading and writing and penmanship."  

-Maia P. (Rancho Santa Margarita, CA)

"Jill gave my daughter a love for writing that I don't believe she would have had if not for Jill's patience and passion for teaching!"  

-Joni M. (Trabuco Canyon, CA)