WHO WE ARE

Katie Connor — Founder, Director, & English Teacher

Katie founded Bloom Literature & Learning in 2021 to offer literature and writing classes shaped around individual student’s needs. She holds a BA from Oberlin College and an MFA in English (Fiction) from Purdue University. She has taught English composition, creative writing, and literature since 2007, with experience in universities in the United States and South Korea, school classrooms, and online learning. Katie believes every student brings a unique perspective to reading and writing. Her lessons help students engage critically with classic literature and express their ideas with clarity and originality, supported by personalized feedback that builds confidence.

​

Carlos García Rodríguez — Spanish Teacher & Curriculum Designer

A native Spanish speaker from Cuba, Carlos holds a PhD in Spanish from the University of Ottawa and a master’s in Spanish and Hispano-American Literature from the University of Barcelona. He has taught Spanish at the University of Ottawa and Western University and has taught at Bloom since 2021. As Bloom’s Spanish teacher and curriculum designer, he creates lessons that connect language with literature and culture. He adapts his teaching for students from kindergarten through high school, helping them develop the skills and confidence to communicate in Spanish.

​

Jess Nash — English Literature & Writing Teacher

Jess has taught at Bloom since 2023 and holds a PhD in English Literature from the University of Ottawa and an MA in English Literature from McGill University. She has taught English composition at the University of Ottawa and English online to students in China. Drawing on her background in literature and professional editing, she helps students understand challenging texts and express their ideas clearly. Her lessons bring together discussion, shared reading, and practical activities, with individual feedback to support each student’s progress as a reader and writer.