About Me

At the age of twelve, I had a major identity shift to disabled after being diagnosed with osteosarcoma (bone cancer). The sudden experience of being an amputee, learning to walk again, advocating for myself, and being differently-abled, or "adaptive," deeply informs my educational style. Advocacy is my passion. My goal goes beyond teaching reading and comprehension, as many of the students I work with struggle with self-regulation and identity. 

 

I began tutoring students at Lindamood-Bell Learning Processes® in 1999. I worked in their Washington, D.C. and Berkeley, CA clinics for four years, where I learned a lot and met some of the best folks I've ever known. I worked as a tutor, lesson plan developer, and trainer. In 2003, I had the amazing opportunity to run a private practice inside The Listening Center in Walnut Creek, CA. I had a cute little office with lots of toys and my trusty pup, Cookie. I sold my business in 2007 to finish school and moved back east where I worked for non-profits and government agencies. I have 23 years of experience working with children and families.

 

I am a certified The Safe & Sound Protocol practitioner and can integrate listening therapy into tutoring sessions for improved emotional regulation. 

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I am trained to teach in the .b curriculum through the Mindfulness in Schools Project (MiSP).

 

I also deliver mindfulness programming through Awaken Pittsburgh, where I provide mindfulness training in schools for educators to help their students become kinder humans. 

 

With the Zoom Boom of 2020, I moved by business exclusively online through Zoom and can accommodate students all over the world. 

 

I live in Pittsburgh, PA with my partner, our two dogs, and two cats. I love cooking, hiking with our dogs, gardening, building backyard fires in the summer, and laughter.