Our Staff
Instruction, Motivation, and Support
Breck Gordon
Breck is a teacher and comedian from Kansas and Texas. She has Bachelor's Degrees in English and French and a Master's Degree in French from the University of Kansas. She has a Certificate in Teaching English from the New School for Public Engagement. She has participated in the Literacy Assistance Center's Culturally Responsive Adult Education Institute and Literacy & Justice Institute. Breck founded BG ESL in 2021 as a way to stay connected with students who could not return to in-person classes and students who graduate out of government-funded programs. She is passionate about fostering a positive classroom environment, creating opportunities for student leadership, and helping students achieve their goals.
John F. O'Donnell
John grew up in New Jersey and has been living in New York since 2005. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Dramatic Writing from the University of Michigan. He is a national headlining comedian with over 20 years of experience who has been featured on Comedy Central and in the NY Times. John is a passionate ESL instructor who has taught immigrants and refugees from multiple countries, assisting students with vocabulary, pronunciation, and reading comprehension. John is also a certified mental health advocate, working with NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness). He helps to facilitate wellness discussions with people touched by mental illness in both inpatient and outpatient settings. In his free time, John enjoys playing pool, listening to music and writing in cafes.