From Humble Origins
Honor Academy started out as an after school program that was meant to support the traditional school curriculum.
We are here to provide expert instruction in math, science, writing, reading, and English to students who were not challenged enough in their day-to-day classes. At the same time, we are here to provide much needed extra help to students who are falling behind in their traditional classroom. As an immigrant, I also wanted to provide a home for students to learn English, so that they can keep up and get ahead in the classroom.
Over the years, our classes and students have grown, but we have never wavered from our commitment to small classes and individualized instruction. Instead of merely shoving more students into a class, we have scoured the various fields of education and extra curricular activities, as well as book clubs, speech and debate, and creative writing, to find expert instructors who are amazing at teaching young students.
Our faculty and our commitment to our principles is what sets us apart from other academies, demonstrated with our consistent track record of success.
Mission
Our mission at Honor Academy is to provide students with the skills and experiences necessary to expand their future opportunities in a world where education continues to become more competitive. As the barrier to higher education grows taller and taller, the public education system is under-equipped to give students the best chance at success whether they are the top of their class or under-performing. Honor Academy prides itself on helping our students achieve greatness in all levels of their academic journey.
Values
Honor Academy was founded on the values of a students-first approach to education. At Honor Academy, we strive to meet the student at their level and work with them to further their personal education goals. Our coaches and tutors are flexible and adaptable allowing them to fit each student's individual learning style. Small classrooms and private classes also ensure that coaches and tutors get to know the students on a more personal level, which helps them think of innovative ways to engage the student. We strongly believe that education should work for the student, not against them.
Our Teachers & Coaches
BJ Ryu
Director
Director BJ brings nearly a decade of full-time teaching experience across schools, colleges, and private academies. Through his career as an educator, he discovered that students thrive most in small groups with individualized instruction — yet this is rarely the reality for most students in the public school system, where a single class can have 30 or even 40 students. That is why he built Honor Academy into what it is today: to give as many students as possible access to the type of education that truly works. Throughout his career he has taught classes in multiple academic subjects, test preparation, public speaking, TOEFL, and TOEIC. As an educator, I have learned how to adapt and be creative to meet the needs of my students. Thanks to my students, I was given valuable opportunities to improve and over the years, I have learned two truths. First, each student has their own way of learning. Thus, a one-size-fits-all approach will inevitably leave students falling behind. Second, students work best when they are surrounded by like-minded, motivated students. Honor Academy was made to uphold these two truths and dedicate itself to the continued success of our students. "Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn." -Benjamin Franklin Kitiny Phumchun
Head Speech and Debate Coach
Kitiny began her debate career in policy and parliamentary debate in college, achieving accolades at the local and national levels. In her time with Honor, her high school students have achieved multiple qualifications for the CHSSA state championship, NSDA nationals, and qualified to TOC, while her middle school students have cleared at tournaments such as Jack Howe, Harvard, Stanford, and Georgetown. Kitiny enjoys seeing her students find competitive success, but she especially loves watching them find their voice and become advocates for themselves and their communities. "Do I dare Disturb the universe?" - T.S. Eliot Raven Rayos
Speech and Debate Coach
Raven Rayos is a fourth-year Political Science student at California State University, Fullerton and the President of the CSUF Speech & Debate Team. With over seven years of competitive speech and debate experience, Raven has competed at national and international tournaments and has earned multiple first-place finishes in platform and After Dinner Speaking. Beyond competing, Raven is passionate about mentoring and coaching students in public speaking, debate, and persuasive communication. Raven also brings international experience from living and competing in Japan, along with a background in Model United Nations and Harvard Model Congress. Their goal is to help students build confidence, think critically, and find their own voice. Ellie Estrada
Speech and Debate Coach
Ellie has been coaching speech and debate for many years and has extensive experience at the collegiate level. As a debate competitor, Ellie has experience in Policy, Parliamentary, and Lincoln-Douglas debate. As an individual events competitor, she has competed in extemporaneous, impromptu, informative, persuasive, and after-dinner speaking. In each event and style of debate, Ellie has earned numerous awards at the local, regional, and national levels. Aside from coaching at Honor Academy, Ellie is in a PH.D. program and is also a member of the school's nationally competitive coaching staff. Sam Semcheshen
Speech and Debate Coach
Sam is an accomplished debater and dedicated coach currently pursuing her degree in Political Science at California State University, Fullerton. A distinguished alumna of Honor Academy’s debate program, she has participated in competitive debate for many years, earning recognition at both the local and national levels. During her time at Oxford Academy, Sam revitalized the Speech & Debate Club, serving as Co-President and Public Forum Captain while leading competitive initiatives and mentoring developing debaters. Passionate about education and student growth, she discovered a strong commitment to supporting novice competitors and guiding them toward excellence, which ultimately inspired her return to Honor Academy as a coach. "True education is a kind of never-ending story — a matter of continual beginnings, of habitual fresh starts, of persistent newness." - J. R. R. Tolkien Dyego Perez
Speech and Debate Coach
Dyego started his debate career at his highschool's policy debate team, placing among top speakers and a city championship winner in the Los Angeles Metropolitan Debate League as well as going on to represent his school at the National Urban Debate League Tournament. In college, Dyego and his brother formed a partnership that lead to several successes ultimately resulting in an invitation for the National Debate League Tournament in Spokane Washington comprised of the top 79 debate teams among colleges in the United States and Military branches. Dyego enjoys instilling values of responsibility, hardwork, and critical thinking in each of his students striving to turn them into the leaders of tomorrow. "Until the day when God shall deign to reveal the future to man, all human wisdom is summed up in these two words—'Wait and hope.'" - Alexander Dumas Tanishka Joshi
Speech and Debate Coach
Tanishka began her debate career in high school, competing in public forum debate, impromptu, and extemporaneous speaking. At the varsity level, she gained recognition at local, regional, and national tournaments. Today, she coaches novice public forum debaters at the elementary and middle school levels. As a former Honor Academy debater, she developed a passion for advocacy through debate and works to empower young debaters to do the same. “When the world is silent, even one voice becomes powerful.” - Malala Yousafzai Miranda Munguia
Speech and Debate Coach
Miranda began her debate career in high school through the Los Angeles Metropolitan Debate League (LAMDL), where she consistently earned individual Speaker Awards and achieved strong team placements, including a high seed to Nationals. She was also inducted into the National Forensic League (now NSDA) Honor Society. While still competing, Miranda began teaching debate, later coaching students who went on to attend UCLA, UC Davis, Stanford, and Wellesley, while others continued debate on collegiate forensics teams at USC, CSUF, CSUN, and CSULB. Since graduating, she has continued to coach at her alma mater and judge for LAMDL, recently receiving her third Oscar Rosa Alumni Excellence Award. Next year marks her 10th year of coaching and judging. Miranda strongly believes debate is one of the most powerful ways to develop critical thinking and communication skills. “My favorite question when teaching is, “Wait, what does that actually mean?”, because jargon and philosophy is typically flowery language that obfuscates something we can handle/contend with.” - Miranda Munguia Kyra Colaco
English Program Director, AP Psychology Instructor
Since graduating from California State University, Fullerton with a degree in Psychology, Kyra has been working as an instructor at Honor Academy since 2017. Kyra has extensive experience tutoring K-12 students, as well as students in higher educations. Kyra’s teaching style is best suited for students who require intensive test preparation and/or students who prefer learning about challenging concepts. Her teaching philosophy is highly student-centered, and her curriculum focuses on topics that are both socially and culturally relevant to each student. "He who would learn to fly one day must first learn to stand and walk and run and climb and dance; one cannot fly into flying." - Friedrich Nietzsche Jessica Mendoza
English Instructor
Jessica is a professional writer, English tutor, and book club teacher. She earned her master's from California State University, Long Beach in writing, where she also began her journey as educator. Jess has experience teaching all ages with a teaching style that encourages deep critical thinking, creative application of academic concepts, and development of grammatical skills. She likes to get to know each student individually, allowing for a highly personalized lesson plan. When she’s not reading or writing, Jess loves going to see plays and musicals and watching cheesy black-and-white movies. "I think us here to wonder, myself. To wonder. To ask. And that in wondering 'bout the big things and asking 'bout the big things, you learn about the little ones, almost by accident. But you never know nothing more about the big things than you start out with. The more I wonder, the more I love.” - Alice Walker, The Color Purple Leila Haidar
STEM Instructor, English Instructor
Leila is an experienced K-12 tutor who specializes in both STEM and writing instruction. She earned her B.S. in Biology with a minor in Political Science from the University of California, Riverside, where she also completed her Honors Thesis in Disability Studies — demonstrating not only her strength in the sciences but also her ability to research, analyze, and communicate complex ideas in writing. Her research focused on science access and equity in higher education, a topic she is deeply passionate about. Leila creates an open and accessible learning environment where students are encouraged to challenge themselves, build confidence, and develop a deeper understanding of new concepts across both analytical and written subjects. Tyler Mackey
English Instructor, History Instructor
Tyler is a tutor who works with students of all grade levels and works to challenge each individual with the goal of improvement. He is a graduate of the University of California Los Angeles with a degree in History. Tyler has experience in proctoring students through independent research and online application. Tyler is trained to help students develop critical thinking skills through argumentative essay writing and engaging content. He aims to overcome the idea that writing is boring by introducing writing prompts tailored to each student’s interests. Last but not least, Tyler is also certified to teach ESL students. "There is no better than adversity. Every defeat, every heartbreak, every loss, contains its own seed, its own lesson on how to improve your performance the next time." - Malcolm X Olivia Gillespie
Math Instructor
Olivia is an instructor who specializes in middle school and high school math. She has completed two years of her undergraduate degree in mathematics at Cornell University and plans to finish her degree in California as a Math Education major. Olivia has a passion for teaching math and helping students on their own journeys towards developing a love and understanding of math and problem solving! She enjoys working with students of all math backgrounds and understands the importance of both guided learning and self-discovery during the learning process. Math can be challenging at times, and Olivia recognizes the importance of making sure to have fun while learning! Besides solving for x, Olivia loves to bake and even owns her own small baking business! “Don’t forget the chain rule!” -Olivia’s AP Calc BC teacher Mr. Drix Garrett Rutledge
Math Instructor
Garrett is a passionate learner who enjoys sharing that passion with others. He holds a B.S. in Mathematics and a B.A. in Philosophy. Throughout history, mathematics and philosophy have been deeply intertwined in the pursuit of knowledge and understanding. This deeper perspective on math—as a way of exploring and making sense of the world—is what drives Garrett’s appreciation for the subject. When working with students, Garrett understands that mastering formulas, calculations, and problem-solving techniques is fundamental to learning math. He also believes that motivation plays an important role. Because students learn in different ways and are motivated by different things, he adapts his teaching style to meet each student’s individual needs. Outside of teaching, Garrett enjoys spending time at coffee shops reading and writing. He also loves to travel and explore new places, most recently traveling in South America.