Saga Education Online Tutor Donnie Damon Finds Purpose and Flexibility

Key Takeaways:

Pursuing a Passion for Teaching through High-Impact Tutoring:

After a career shift, Donnie embraced tutoring with Saga Education as an opportunity to explore his long-standing interest in teaching. His experience as a live-online tutor helped him develop essential skills, like flexibility and organization, while providing the confidence to pursue a teaching certificate and private tutoring opportunities.

Building Connections and Tailored Support for Students:

Donnie’s approach to tutoring emphasized building connections with students by understanding their individual interests and challenges. His ability to adapt lessons, such as incorporating a student’s passion for art into math discussions, exemplifies the importance of creating a safe, engaging learning environment for remote learners.

A Positive Impact on Students and Personal Growth:

Through his time with Saga Education, Donnie not only improved his teaching techniques but also witnessed students grow more comfortable with and even enjoy math. The experience reaffirmed his belief in high-impact tutoring as a transformative tool for education and inspired his hope to see programs like Saga expand to underserved communities.

When Donnie Damon joined Saga Education as a live online tutor, he was at a crossroads in his career. After seven years as a product manager at a startup, a layoff led him to reflect on what he truly wanted to pursue: teaching. While teaching had always been a dream, life circumstances had kept him from following that path—until he discovered Saga Education.

“I decided that would be the time to shift careers into something I always wanted to do,” Donnie recalls. “Saga seemed like the perfect entryway into teaching, but with a nice twist—it was remote, which meant I could stay home with my two-year-old son while pursuing something meaningful.”

A Transformative Experience in Teaching

In his first year, Donnie served as a tutor at the High School of Fashion Industries (HSFI), supporting students in algebra. He quickly found that working one-on-one with students solidified his long-standing desire to become a math teacher.

“Tutoring with these students showed me how much I enjoy simplifying algebra concepts for others. It built my confidence and gave me the skills to hone my teaching methods,” he explains. By the end of the year, Donnie had begun private tutoring and initiated the process to earn his teaching certification.

The Art of Flexibility and Understanding

Through his work with Saga, Donnie learned to approach teaching with flexibility and empathy. “One of the biggest lessons for me was realizing that education isn’t one-size-fits-all,” he says. “Each student has unique hurdles, and it’s important to adapt to their needs. Some students might not present as model learners, but often, they’re battling things we don’t see.”

Donnie recounts one student who preferred to communicate via chat rather than speak aloud. She often doodled during lessons, which initially seemed like a distraction. But by acknowledging her talent and finding ways to connect her interests to the lesson, Donnie helped her engage more with math. “She improved by about 30 to 40 percent over the year. It wasn’t instant, but building that rapport made all the difference.”

High-Impact Tutoring and Robust Tools

What initially drew Donnie to Saga was its commitment to high-impact tutoring—a model designed to provide personalized support to students who need it most. The curriculum and tools Saga provided helped him stay organized and focus on the individual needs of his students.

“I’m a tech nerd, so I was impressed by how robust the tools were, even from the start,” he shares. “The structured curriculum allowed me to spend less time gathering information and more time tailoring lessons for each student. Seeing continuous improvements in the system throughout the year was amazing.”

Beyond the Classroom: The Impact of Saga’s Model

For Donnie, the experience of working with Saga extended beyond tutoring sessions. Saga’s benefits, such as childcare assistance, helped him manage life as a parent, while the experience itself reinforced his desire to teach. “If I at all affected a student’s outlook on math, even just a little, that means the world to me,” he says. “Saga gave me the platform to do that.”

Donnie hopes to see programs like Saga expand to places like Newark, where he grew up. “If something like this had been available when I was in high school, it would have been a game-changer.”

A Recommendation for Future Tutors

When asked if he would recommend Saga, Donnie’s answer is unequivocal: “Absolutely. This experience has been invaluable. It’s not just about teaching—it’s about learning, growing, and making a real difference in students’ lives.”

For Donnie Damon, Saga Education is more than just a job—it’s a step toward fulfilling a lifelong dream while balancing the priorities of family and purpose. And for the students he’s tutored, it’s a chance to see math—and themselves—in a whole new light.