Tamara
Learning Specialist + Executive Functioning Coach
MS SPED
Hi! It's great to meet you. My name is Tamara, and I am a Learning Specialist. Born and raised in Southern California, I have over 20 years of experience in education in both classroom and corporate settings and have worked with students for almost nine years. I earned a Master of Science degree in Special Education and an Education Specialist Teaching Credential, focusing on Mild/ Moderate Disabilities from California Lutheran University. In addition, I hold dual Bachelor's degrees in Music, Voice Performance, and Music Education from Chapman University.
As an Education Specialist during the school day, I am entering my 7th year in the classroom with middle schoolers! While I love working with all grade levels, I truly enjoy helping middle schoolers bridge the gap between elementary and high school --it brings me joy to help them learn studentship skills and be more optimized learners. With a focus on reading and math interventions and teaching executive functioning skills, I work with students in both the general education and special education classrooms. At my school site, in addition to providing reading intervention, I teach Special Education Language Arts and Math classes, and Study Skills classes.
When I work one to one in my sessions with students who have diverse learning profiles, I have found it critical to help teach students to navigate through their unique learning challenges by teaching a variety of tailored strategies and “hacks” to thrive in their school environments. I believe in fostering personal connections with students to understand how they learn best and respect their communication preferences. And, I am super passionate about educational technology! I love to teach students how to leverage technology as an accommodation or support rather than something to shy away from.
Outside of teaching, I enjoy theater, museums, and volunteering with the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
I can't wait to work with your family!