Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Petersen.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Skill Haven Learning was born out of a shared belief that students learn best when they have the right support, guidance, and personal connection. We saw a need for academic support that was not only high quality, but also personalized, flexible, and centered around the individual student.
The three of us, Rachel Gaunt, Tessa Kotch, and Jessica Petersen, come from different professional backgrounds, but our experiences all led us to the same place. Rachel brings more than 20 years of classroom experience, and a deep understanding of how differently students learn. Tessa has spent more than two decades working with families and building trusted, community-based services. Jessica, a longtime San Luis Obispo resident and parent, has nearly 20 years of experience in teaching, curriculum, educational services, and leadership.
As we talked about the challenges families face in finding the right academic support, we realized we could bring our experiences together to create something different. We wanted to build a trusted local network of tutors and mentors who could meet students where they are, adapt to how they learn, and help them build both academic skills and confidence.
That vision became Skill Haven Learning. Today, we are focused on connecting local families with exceptional educators and creating a more personal, supportive approach to tutoring. Our goal is not simply to help students improve a grade or complete an assignment, but to help them become more confident, capable, and independent learners.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Building something new naturally comes with challenges, but it has been incredibly rewarding so far. One of the most exciting parts has been seeing the incredible talent within our own community. We’ve been fortunate to connect with tutors and mentors who bring not only strong academic knowledge, but also genuine care for the students they work with.
Seeing those connections come together and hearing how students and families are benefiting from the support has reinforced why we started Skill Haven in the first place. We’re excited about what we’re building and look forward to supporting many more local students and families as we continue to grow.
We’ve been impressed with Skill Haven Learning, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Skill Haven Learning is a locally focused tutoring and academic support company serving families throughout San Luis Obispo County. We connect students with carefully selected tutors and mentors for personalized 1:1 and small-group support across a wide range of subjects and grade levels.
What sets Skill Haven apart is the emphasis we place on the right fit. We don’t believe tutoring should be a one-size-fits-all experience. Every student has different strengths, challenges, learning styles, and goals, so we work to connect families with educators who can meet students where they are and help them move forward with confidence.
We’re also proud of the incredible network of local educators we’ve been able to build. There is so much talent in our community, and we’re excited to create opportunities for those educators while making high-quality academic support more accessible to local families.
More than anything, we want people to know that Skill Haven is about more than tutoring. We’re creating a trusted community around learning—one where students feel supported, families feel confident in the people working with their children, and educators have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact.
We’re especially proud of the brand we’re building because it reflects who we are: local, personal, supportive, and focused on helping every student recognize what they are capable of achieving.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
Rachel: My favorite childhood memories were centered around outdoor adventures with friends and family. I loved spending summer days on the boat, waterskiing with my sisters, or tubing down the river with our close-knit circle of family friends. I was also fortunate to attend the same sleepaway camp for eight years, where I developed new skills, embraced outdoor adventures, and formed lifelong friendships.
Tessa: Growing up, some of my favorite memories were always spent with friends. We lost track of time making up elaborate dance routines and living room theater for our parents. Sleepovers were an absolute staple, guaranteed to involve late-night giggles and classic pranks on my little brother and his friends.
Jessica: Some of my favorite childhood memories are the everyday adventures, like playing outside, spending time with friends and family, and having the freedom to be creative and curious. My childhood was filled with outdoor adventures like hiking, skiing, and biking, and one of my favorite things now is creating those same kinds of memories and adventures with my own kids.
Pricing:
- Back-to-School Promotion – $399 for 6, 1-hour tutoring sessions.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.skillhavenlearning.com
- Instagram: @skillhavenlearning
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skill-haven-learning/posts/?viewAsMember=true
