{"id":92,"date":"2019-01-09T08:32:25","date_gmt":"2019-01-09T08:32:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/info.tlgwriters.com\/literacyguild\/?p=92"},"modified":"2026-02-05T02:19:31","modified_gmt":"2026-02-05T02:19:31","slug":"meet-our-staff","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theliteracyguild.com\/literacyguild\/2019\/01\/09\/meet-our-staff\/","title":{"rendered":"Meet Our Staff"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Dr. Tina Tsai, Ph.D<\/strong>.
Founder\/Lead Instructor<\/em>
Dr. Tina Tsai is the founder of The Literacy Guild (TLG) and manages curriculum and instruction for the program. She has a Ph.D. in Education from USC, an M.A. in Education from Claremont Graduate University, and a B.A. in Psychology from Claremont McKenna College. Along with 30 years of professional teaching experience at all grade levels including as a graduate school professor, she obtained a California Multiple Subjects Clear Credential with BCLAD (bilingual) in 2000. She also writes and publishes in educational research, print and online publications, and original novels. Her goal in life is to change the face of education so that all students have rich and truly productive educational experiences they can value and draw upon for life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Lisa Lu, M.S., LMFT, PPSC<\/strong>
Program Manager<\/em>
Lisa Lu is currently the Program Manager for The Literacy Guild (TLG) and oversees scheduling, enrollment and program communications. She has a Master\u2019s Degree in Counseling and is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and also has a Pupil Personnel Services Credential (PPSC) for academic school counseling. She received her B.A. in English Literature from UC Berkeley and has experience teaching English to middle and high school students. She speaks Mandarin, Cantonese and some Spanish. Besides working at TLG, Lisa also provides college counseling to help students succeed academically and prepare for college. She enjoys working with students of various ages and believes that all students, with the right motivation and tools, have the ability to reach their highest potential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Marissa Ayala, B.A.<\/strong>
Teacher<\/em>
Marissa graduated from UC Berkeley with a B.A. in English. She has worked with students of all ages throughout her life as a tutor and teacher. Marissa thrives when teaching students about the joys of reading and writing. She loves to help organize writing pieces into masterpieces! Marissa is always willing to discuss literature, music, art, and knowledge. In her free time, Marissa enjoys a wide range of hobbies other than reading, including gardening, baking and cooking, tennis, rollerskating, playing games like ping pong, hiking, crafting, and collecting vinyl records. She also loves spending time with family and is always eager to learn something new!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Minami Smith<\/strong>, B.A.<\/strong>
Teacher<\/em>
Minami studied Communications with a minor in Japanese at California State University, Fullerton. She plans to pursue further studies in communications and media to teach at the college level. She enjoys the collaborative learning environment of the classroom and supporting students in their academic journeys. In her spare time, she loves reading speculative fiction and crafting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Erykah Braga Edora, B.F.A., B.A. <\/strong>
Teacher<\/em>
Erykah graduated with a B.F.A. in Entertainment Art\/Animation, a B.A. in Sociology, and two minors in Asian-American Studies and Creative Writing from Cal State Fullerton. Erykah believes that every student is capable of great things\u2014many of which they have yet to discover\u2014and that through language, literature, storytelling and creativity, students can discover more about themselves, the world, and the path their hearts and minds can take them. Through teaching, Erykah hopes to help guide her students through their own unique paths, all through the discipline of language. Other than art and language, Erykah also loves learning new things, coffee, live music, going to museums, and visiting the goats at her local farm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Kait Mikkelsen, M.A.<\/strong>
Teacher<\/em>
Kait Mikkelsen graduated from California State Polytechnic University Pomona with an MA in literature as a double emphasis. She also completed her BA in English Education from Cal Poly in 2022. Along with working at The Literacy Guild, Kait also works as an adjunct professor at Mt. San Antonio College where she teaches Freshman Composition courses. She loves post-apocalyptic narratives and is working on her own book on the theory of the apocalypse. She is also a published poet and holds an abiding love for the Sturm and Dang<\/em> movement and the poetry of the French Revolution. When she’s not reading or writing, she loves to take nature walks with her dog, refurnish antiques, and collect old and rare books.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Sydney Sears, B.A.<\/strong>
Teacher<\/em>
Sydney earned her degree in English Literary Studies from California Polytechnic University, Pomona, consistently making both the Dean’s and President’s Lists throughout her undergraduate years. She is currently pursuing her Masters in English Literature at the same institution. Sydney has extensive experience tutoring writing across a wide range of college-level disciplines. She also has TESOL experience, having taught English at the university level in Thailand. Sydney loves sharing her passion for literature with others and hopes to inspire students to pursue their own love of reading. She enjoys reading, writing, snowboarding, playing video games, and playing board games.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Michelle Cheng, M.A., M.S.<\/strong>
Center Manager<\/em>
Michelle taught at a private international high school for nine years, managed Princeton Review\u2019s Walnut center for ten years, and directed the Flex College Prep Diamond Bar Center for one and a half years. Her mother was an excellent teacher, so teaching is in her blood. She came to the United States to study education, linguistics, and English teaching, earning a Master\u2019s degree in Education and a Master’s degree in Linguistics. Her three favorites in life are children, education, and English.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Annette Ortiz Diaz, B.A.<\/strong>
Office Manager<\/em>
Annette Ortiz Diaz is a studio manager, freelance video editor, and musician. She loves watching films, from foreign language films, independent shorts, all the way to Hollywood blockbusters and Disney\/Pixar favorites. When she is not working, you can find her performing in either of her two rock bands or taking her young children out to Disneyland. If you are planning a trip to The Happiest Place on Earth, feel free to ask her for tips on navigating the parks. Her favorite authors are Neil Gaiman, J.K. Rowling, Stephen King, and Dean Koontz. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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