Ann

Howdy! I grew up in rural Antelope Valley, California, where I was raised by my mom who was a 3 rd grade teacher. Many of my values were shaped by my experiences with animals – my dogs, my dairy goats and my horse. After high school, I went from California State University, Northridge -- where I was awarded a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, with honors -- to Claremont Graduate University, where I earned a Master’s Degree in Organizational Psychology.

 After Claremont, I began a professional career in corporate training, working with financial services and health care companies. The events of 9/11, however, changed me. I decided to re-train as a schoolteacher, and so I completed a three-year post-graduate teacher-credentialing program and taught K-5th grade in public schools. Further, I received my Post-Master’s certification in Educational Therapy after enjoying my work with a neurodiverse population of learners. I also collaborated with private tutoring companies, which included summers teaching at Sylvan Learning Centers and Lindamood-Bell. In order to best support my students with dyslexia, I was trained in the Wilson Reading System, which follows the Orton-Gillingham approach. I have worked with a variety of students over the years, including those with ADHD, Executive Functioning needs, Autism, dyslexia, reading disorders (decoding, fluency, comprehension), writing difficulties, math stretches, auditory and visual processing disorders, and many more. 

I want every parent to know that Educational Therapy is therapeutic in that it addresses neurodevelopmental challenges that cause suffering and pain, not only for an individual, but also for the individual’s family and even members of their community. ET can improve these “symptoms” through targeted intervention using research-based teaching methods that align best with the way students with learning differences learn best. This 1:1 supportive relationship improves the quality of life for all, including those who love and care for an individual with a learning challenge.