Tutor Description

Rita Phillips is a veteran teacher of 28 years. She has taught in five districts in Oregon and one community college. Subjects taught have been as varied as the age of students she has taught. Mrs. Phillips graduated in 1979 from Western Oregon University with a Bachelor of Science in Education. She began her teaching career in Bend, Oregon teaching English, drama, and speech to middle school children. Her first group of “kids” are 44 this year. In 1983, Rita completed her Master’s program at Oregon State University.

Rita moved to the Rogue Valley when she met her first husband and began teaching at Fleming Middle School in Josephine County. Soon after she took a position at Phoenix High School in Phoenix, Oregon and taught English and P.E. there for two years. Then, she was recruited to teach at nearby Eagle Point High School where she spent thirteen years teaching English and World History. While there, seniors named her “Outstanding Teacher” two years in a row.

Mrs. Phillips took a sabbatical in the 1998-1999 school year to write a novel. She published her novel, Bloody Instructions – a tale of corruption and murder in a small school district – in 2000. Following that she left Eagle Point High School and taught writing classes to adults at Rogue Community College.

Currently, Rita is teaching at North Middle School in Grants Pass where she has taught English and U.S. history for the past seven and a half years. In 2002 she was named Wal Mart Teacher of the Year and awarded a monetary prize. She has been nominated for Oregon Teacher of the Year for the past four years.

Both of Mrs. Phillips children are grown. Collin, 22, lives in Fairbanks, Alaska, and Brady, 19, lives in Medford, Oregon. Rita makes her home in Central Point, Oregon with her husband of five and a half years, Steve.

Please visit Rita's website at:  www.protutor.org