Today we’d like to introduce you to Brooke Chapman.
Hi Brooke, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My path into education wasn’t traditional. I earned a degree in International Business with a minor in Japanese language and tourism because I have always been drawn to different cultures, languages, and the way people learn and communicate around the world.
In 2012, my husband Aaron and I moved to Kauaʻi, Hawaiʻi. While volunteering in my son’s first-grade classroom, I discovered how much I loved teaching. I began substituting and was later accepted into Kahoʻiwai, the Center for Adult Teaching and Learning Programs under Kanu o ka ʻĀina Learning ʻOhana (KALO), which prepares educators to teach in Native Hawaiian-focused charter schools grounded in Hawaiian culture, values, and language. I went on to teach at Kanuikapono, a Hawaiian-focused public charter school serving grades K–12, where instruction was deeply rooted in ʻĀina (land), culture, and community. Education was relational, hands-on, and connected to identity.
In 2020, our family relocated to Middle Tennessee, where I continued teaching in first grade. As I transitioned into public education on the mainland, I noticed a significant contrast from the culturally grounded, relationship-centered approach I had experienced in Hawaiʻi. Middle Tennessee is richly diverse in culture and language, yet traditional instructional models were not always evolving to reflect that shift.
I began tutoring at the Smyrna Library on my own time. In those focused 50-minute sessions, I saw something powerful: when learning was individualized, hands-on, and built from concrete to abstract understanding, students made remarkable progress. That growth — both academic and personal — led me to establish RuCo Learning Center. My goal has always been to do more than help students succeed in the moment. I want to equip them with the tools and confidence to become independent learners who can navigate the classroom — and life — with clarity and capability.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Starting and growing a business while serving students full time has required balance, resilience, and steady focus. In the beginning, I worked with a small group of committed families. As they shared their children’s progress, word spread organically, revealing a clear need for individualized, one-on-one instruction in our community.
Earning trust has been both the greatest responsibility and the most meaningful reward. Families are placing their children’s academic foundation in my hands.
One ongoing challenge has been helping families understand that homework help and tutoring are not synonymous. By the time many parents seek out tutoring, their child is often too far behind for simple homework support to be effective. What they truly need is direct instruction in the foundational skills they missed — delivered in a way that is engaging, structured, and memorable. When we intentionally address gaps and teach strategy, students gain more than improved performance; they gain confidence and independence. Once that shift happens, growth accelerates.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My first job was as a face character at Disneyland, and that experience shaped me in ways I still carry today. As cast members, we were taught that we are always “on stage” — whether in the park or behind the scenes. We learned resilience, professionalism, and how to anticipate needs before they were spoken. Most importantly, we were trained in storytelling — fully embodying a character and sharing a narrative in a way that felt authentic and memorable to families from around the world.
That foundation continues to influence my work as an educator.
At RuCo Learning Center, I specialize in individualized, hands-on instruction that builds strong academic foundations while fostering curiosity and confidence. I am known for designing structured, engaging learning experiences that meet students where they are and move them forward with clarity and intention.
Storytelling remains central to my approach. I believe learning should feel immersive and purposeful. When students understand the “why” behind what they are learning and can connect it to the world around them, knowledge becomes lasting. I encourage questions, exploration, and thoughtful discussion. I want students to interact with ideas, wrestle with them, and ultimately make them their own.
What sets me apart is the combination of cultural awareness, classroom experience, and creative presentation. I bring intentional design to every session. I anticipate where a child may hesitate, adjust in real time, and create an environment where they feel both supported and appropriately challenged.
There is a quiet truth I’ve come to believe — children do not need to be awakened so much as invited. Much like a timeless story unfolding page by page, each student carries within them the capacity for growth. When given structure, encouragement, and space to think, their understanding rises naturally.
My work is about creating that space — where confidence takes root, curiosity is protected, and students begin to recognize that they are not simply participants in learning, but authors of their own becoming.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
When it comes to finding a mentor, my advice is simple: keep looking until you find the person who reminds you of that one teacher you never forgot.
Most of us can picture them — the educator who saw something in us before we fully saw it in ourselves. The one who challenged us, encouraged us, and quietly shaped the direction of our story. That is the kind of mentor worth searching for.
Networking, for me, has never been about collecting contacts. It has been about building meaningful relationships rooted in shared values and mutual respect. The most impactful connections in my journey have come through authentic conversations, serving others, and showing up consistently in my community.
A strong mentor does more than offer advice; they create space for growth. They ask thoughtful questions. They challenge your perspective. They help you refine your thinking. Much like in education, the right mentor does not write your story for you — they help you see it more clearly.
When you remain open and willing to grow, the right people tend to enter your path when you are ready for them.
Pricing:
- Free Consultations
- 50 Min. Sessions Starting at $40.00
- In-person and Virtual Learning Options
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.RucoLearningCenter.com
- Instagram: @rucolearningcenter
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RucoLearningCenter/
