Sarah
Learning & Reading Specialist
MS TC, MA SPED
Hi, my name is Sarah! My passion for education started when I went to Albania to teach English to a group of young children over 20 years ago. This experience completely changed my career path as I pivoted and decided to go into teaching instead of public relations. Although Californian born and bred, after graduating from the University of Arizona and my life-changing teaching career in Albania, I moved to London where I received my teaching credential and began my career as an educator. I worked for several years in a diverse inner-city school in east London- an incredible experience for a new, young teacher. I then relocated to Los Angeles where I taught at Corpus Christi School in the Pacific Palisades until I had children of my own. My family returned to London in 2013 where I was Head of Special Education at a private prep school in central London for seven years. I am glad to be back in sunny Southern California! I currently work as a Reading & Math Specialist at a private school for kids with learning differences in Los Angeles.
I specialize in teaching students with neurodiverse learning profiles, and specialize in both reading and math. Additionally, I help support students with ADHD and strengthen their Executive functioning skills. Many of my students have dyslexia, and I utilize the amazing Wilson Reading System, which is an intensive, multi-sensory, structured literacy program that is Orton-Gillingham based. It has been life-changing for my students who have language-based learning disabilities. I strongly believe in multi-sensory, systematic teaching methods in order to reach learners on a deep, meaningful level and in the ways they best acquire knowledge.
I have two amazing children (Emmy is 14 and Will is 12), you can find me at the beach, doing yoga, cooking or playing tennis in my free time. I enjoy traveling, adore my family and friends and love my job! I look forward to meeting more wonderful children as a Learning Specialist with Illuminate!