More about Rheanna Bates, founder of Luminous Minds
Harvard Grad with Over Twenty Years of Professional Teaching Experience
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Associate Member, IECA
IECA is the largest professional organization of independent educational consultants in the world. Our 2,800 members are dedicated to the highest standards of excellence, ethics, and integrity in the profession.
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UC Irvine Certificate in Independent Educational Consulting
Completed coursework on working with students with learning disabilities and neurodiversity, college counseling resources, and advising students and families about financial aid.
More about Rheanna
Harvard College, Class of 2002
I was admitted to Harvard at age 16, graduating cum laude at age 20 with a concentration in English and American Literature. I studied Shakespeare, dramatic literature, and Victorian novels, and also took several courses at the Harvard Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. While at Harvard, I deepened my passion for teaching as a volunteer tutor for local elementary school students.
Certified in Special Methodologies to Teach Students to Write
I am trained in several University of Kansas’ Strategic Instruction Model (SIM) writing strategies, including Fundamentals in the Sentence Writing Strategy, Proficiency in the Sentence Writing Strategy, and the Paragraph Writing Strategy, to help students master the writing skills required for high school writing.
Five Years of Experience as a Hollywood story editor
I worked as a story editor at Everyman Pictures, based at 20th Century Fox and then at Universal Pictures, on the films “Meet the Fockers,” “Borat,” “50 First Dates,” and “Charlie Bartlett.” I shepherded projects from concept through shooting by discovering stories to adapt and scripts to acquire, finding screenwriters, and then revising and editing script drafts. Five years of work in the film industry taught me how to shape a story, give constructive suggestions and feedback, and help writers sharpen the integrity of their voices.
Writing Coach since 2002
After graduation, I moved to Los Angeles and began tutoring ESL students in writing in English, expanding into college essay and academic essay coaching in 2013. Since then, I’ve taught hundreds of students in the U.S. and abroad how to write, both virtually and in person, and have been based in the San Francisco Bay area since 2012.
Volunteer for ScholarMatch and BATS Scholars
To promote greater equity in higher education, I volunteer hands-on support for underserved and lower-income students, many of whom are first-generation college students. For my ScholarMatch and BATS Scholars students, I provide pro-bono college advising, academic mentorship, and support with navigating learning disabilities.
Ordained at San Francisco Zen Center in 2009
Fun fact:: my ordination name translates as “Luminous Mind.” My Zen study has informed every aspect of my teaching, from my attentiveness to students’ well-being to my compassionate approach to helping students gain confidence in themselves and their abilities. In 2008, I moved to San Francisco Zen Center, and over nearly three years, I managed the kitchen, apprenticed in the Green Gulch Bread Bakery, and completed my lay ordination.
What People Are Saying
“My child feels they were accepted to universities due to an accurate representation of themselves, not an overly-crafted, edited generic submission. Due to Rheanna's support of them writing an authentic essay, they feel a huge amount of success, which is invaluable as they take the steps toward being a college student. Thank you, deeply!”
— Parent, High School Class of 2023
“Both of my children worked with Rheanna. She had a good working relationship with them and me, provided comprehensive, detailed, and pragmatic feedback to them and me, and ultimately helped them improve their performance.”
— Parent, Marin Academy
“Rheanna was great—very patient, smart, and really customized the tutoring to what my daughter needed. A pleasure to work with. ”
— Parent, Convent of the Sacred Heart
“Rheanna is a great tutor and works diligently and methodically to address needs to such caring, specific detail. ”
— Student, San Francisco School of the Arts (SOTA)
“Rheanna was amazing, providing encouraging and supportive tutoring without pressure. She was patient and calm and very hands on. She was able to identify areas my daughter needed help in and she delivered focused attention in those areas. She was a joy to work with. ”
— Parent, Marin Academy
“Rheanna has been a pleasure to work with. She focused on our daughter’s weaker areas and reinforced her strengths. ”
— Parent, Justin-Siena HS
