How Jasmine Berry Is Redefining Student Success Through Personalized Tutoring

For many families, academic struggles aren’t about effort; they’re about access, confidence, and being truly seen. Jasmine Berry, founder of Bridging Gaps Tutoring, understands this deeply. As a former classroom teacher turned entrepreneur, she has built a tutoring and coaching practice rooted in one belief: students thrive when education is personal, relational, and intentional.

Through one-on-one tutoring and coaching for students in grades 3 through 12, Berry is helping families move beyond survival mode and toward sustainable academic success... on their own terms.

From the Classroom to Calling

Berry’s journey as an educator began shortly after earning her bachelor’s degree from George Mason University in 2014. She relocated to Phoenix, Arizona to join TNTP (The New Teacher Project), a fast-tracked alternative certification program designed to place educators in high-need classrooms.

Her early teaching years spanned 3rd and 2nd grade classrooms in Arizona before bringing her back to the East Coast, where she concluded her in-class teaching career as a 4th grade teacher in Washington, DC. Her final year coincided with the height of the pandemic; a season marked by remote learning, licensing challenges, and major life transitions as a new wife and mother. “I realized the classroom was no longer where I wanted to be,” Berry shares. “I didn’t want to prioritize other people’s children over my own.”

But teaching never left her heart.

The idea for Bridging Gaps Tutoring had quietly taken root a year earlier, scribbled onto a sheet of paper during a conversation with a close friend about alternative paths in education. At the time, she couldn’t yet see the vision... and fear kept it buried. Motherhood brought it back into focus. “After having my son, I was looking for a way to generate income while still being present,” she says. “That’s when God reminded me of that plan. I found the paper and started working on it. That’s how Bridging Gaps was born.”

Teaching the Whole Child

Throughout her career, one constant has shaped Berry’s approach: relationships.

During her first year teaching in Arizona, a coach once noted how strongly her students interacted with her... a sign of trust and connection. That observation stayed with her and continues to guide her work today. “I want my students to know that I care; not just about grades or data, but about them as people,” she explains. “I show up to games, recitals, pageants. And I build relationships with parents too. They know they can come to me for advice, encouragement, or a pep talk.”

That sense of care is deeply influenced by Berry’s early involvement in children’s ministry, where lesson planning, creativity, and community went hand in hand. “This is a tutor who prays,” she says without hesitation. “I believe in covering my students — academically and spiritually. I also believe God created each child uniquely, and they learn differently. That’s why one-on-one tutoring matters.”

Bridging the Gaps Others Miss

The name Bridging Gaps Tutoring reflects what Berry saw repeatedly in traditional classrooms. “You have the high flyers. You have students who need intensive support. And then you have the middle... the kids who are coasting,” she explains. “Those are the students who often get overlooked.” Her work focuses on moving students from mediocrity to excellence by revisiting missed concepts, presenting material in ways that resonate, and serving as a bridge between families and schools.

With her insider knowledge, Berry often helps parents ask the right questions and advocate effectively for their children.

Beyond tutoring, Bridging Gaps now offers:

• PSAT and SAT preparation

• College admissions coaching

• Scholarship and entrance essay support

• Digital learning tools and courses in development

• A growing YouTube channel offering academic support and documenting Berry’s homeschooling journey

Confidence as the Real Metric of Success

While improved grades matter, Berry says the most powerful transformation she witnesses is confidence. “The biggest moments for me are when students tell me they took notes we worked on together to school — or when they advocate for themselves in class,” she says. “Students who were once afraid to ask questions start speaking up. That’s everything.”

She intentionally avoids relying solely on standardized data, choosing instead to combine assessments, observation, and (especially with older students) direct conversation.

“Sometimes I just ask students how they feel they learn best,” she says. “Children are more capable than we give them credit for.”

Parents play a key role in the process, receiving guidance on what to reinforce between sessions and how to support autonomy without pressure.

Navigating Business as a Woman Educator

Like many women entrepreneurs, Berry admits the business side has come with its own learning curve, particularly marketing.

“I’m straightforward. No frills,” she says. “The pressure to constantly post felt overwhelming.”

Her solution was to reframe marketing as education. By sharing tips and insights with parents and students, she allows her expertise to speak for itself.

“What better way to market than to teach?” she asks.

A Back-to-School Mindset (and Beyond)

As families prepare for new school years, Berry encourages parents to stay visible and engaged. “Meet teachers. Ask questions. Join the PTA. Education shouldn’t stop at the classroom door,” she says. “Cooking teaches fractions. Civics can be learned through watching C-SPAN. Learning is everywhere.”

She also urges families to seek help early. “Catching misconceptions early is much easier than trying to undo them years later,” she explains, noting that long-term tutoring relationships allow for continuity that schools often can’t provide.

Culture, Equity, and the Road Ahead

As a Black woman educator, Berry has worked across underserved and affluent communities and those experiences reshaped her understanding of equity. “The gaps aren’t about ability,” she says. “They’re about opportunity.”

Her vision for Bridging Gaps Tutoring includes expanding into faith-based microschool services, STEAM and project-based learning models, and a nonprofit arm to sponsor educational field experiences for children in underserved communities. “True equity isn’t giving everyone the same thing,” Berry reflects. “It’s meeting students where they are and giving them what they need to thrive.” Through Bridging Gaps Tutoring, Jasmine Berry isn’t just helping students succeed in school; she’s redefining what success looks like when education is personal, purposeful, and rooted in care.

Follow Ms. Jasmine on Instagram @bridginggapstutoring to learn more and book your consultation here!