• 443-690-8867
• s2stack@verizon.net
• 6031 Sandhill Ridge Drive; Lithia, FL 33547

Private Practice and Support for Students

For twenty years, I have offered private support to students from both homeschool and traditional K-12 backgrounds.  My work includes after-school tutoring and assisting homeschooling families in achieving their academic objectives.  Through collaboration with teachers or by following established curricula, I guide students in fulfilling their academic requirements and help them thrive in a variety of educational settings.

Tailored Approach and Multisensory Learning

My tutoring approach stands out because every session is customized to match each student's learning style and goals.  I integrate multisensory activities to encourage ongoing growth and engagement, adapting my instruction to address individual needs and preferences.  This personalized approach supports deeper understanding and consistent academic progress.

Personalized Support for Students

I provide individualized tutoring and learning support for students in grades 2 through 9, including both homeschoolers and those seeking summer tutoring.  With over forty years of experience, I help students develop confidence and skills in reading, writing, math, comprehension, organization, and study habits.  I focus on leveraging each student's strengths while addressing their areas of need, ensuring that the learning process remains supportive and effective.

Empowering Students and Fostering Independence

My ultimate goal is to teach students how to advocate for themselves and take responsibility for their own learning.  I stress the importance of active participation and self-reflection, supporting students in becoming independent, confident learners.

Specialization and Professional Background

I specialize in supporting students with dyslexia, ADHD, and executive functioning challenges.  My experience includes teaching in both public and private schools, leading tutoring programs, and facilitating dyslexia-focused summer camps.  As someone who has dyslexia and ADHD, as well as being a parent to neurodivergent learners, I bring personal insight and understanding to my practice.

Professional Qualifications and Instructional Methods

My teaching philosophy centers on building integrated, language-based skills such as reading, spelling, comprehension, and writing through structured, systematic language-learning approaches. This method enables me to effectively support students in a variety of academic subjects, including language arts, math, and essential study skills.

Certifications and Practices

My professional credentials allow me to address a wide range of learning needs, supporting students through individualized and classroom-based models. As a retired certified member of the Academy of Orton-Gillingham Practitioners and Educators, I apply multisensory teaching techniques that have been proven effective for learners with dyslexia and other language-based differences. I have also completed foundational training in the Wilson Reading System, Linda Mood Bell’s Visualizing and Verbalizing, and UFLI programs, enabling me to tailor instruction using evidence-based methods.

Background

Parenting and Professional Practice

Advocacy and Empowerment as a Parent

My parenting helped my twice-exceptional children learn to self-advocate and receive support in school. Despite challenges, both earned master’s degrees with honors, demonstrating their perseverance and resilience.

Parenting Experiences: Advocacy and Empowerment

As a parent of twice-exceptional children, I advocated for their needs and taught self-advocacy skills to help them navigate school challenges.  Their perseverance and resilience led them to earn master’s degrees with honors, reflecting both their determination and the value of supportive parenting.

Early Life and Educational Journey

With over forty years in teaching, I grew up in Crawfordsville, Indiana.  My experience with dyslexia and undiagnosed ADHD motivated me to help students facing similar challenges.  Thanks to my parents' dedication, especially my mother's, I attended schools that suited my learning needs.

After earning my master’s degree in 1989, I worked at Orchard Country Day School as a reading and academic specialist for elementary and middle school students, and also taught at Landmark and Jemicy—schools renowned for supporting neurodivergent learners through tailored programs and teacher development.

Family and Residence

I live in Lithia, Florida (Fishhawk), southeast of Tampa, with my husband Bob and our beagle mix, Holly.  Our adult children are JB, 32, an MBA graduate now in Whitefish, Montana, and Sarah, 30, a Teach for America alum who has taught third grade at Nashville Classical for seven years.

Hobbies and Community Involvement

When I'm not teaching, I spend time with loved ones, travel, stay active, enjoy creative hobbies like scrapbooking and gardening, go on vacations, and take part in church and community events.

• Overcoming Dyslexia: The 360° Guide for Children & Adults.: What Is It? How to Overcome It. Dyslexia Help? How to Live as a Dyslexic. Dyslexia Tool-Kit. Stories of Extraordinary Dyslexia. by Brenda Casey 

• The Dyslexia Empowerment Plan: A Blueprint for Renewing Your Child's Confidence and Love of Learning by Ben Foss and Random House

• He's Not Lazy: Empowering Your Son to Believe in Himself by Adam Price PhD, Shawn Compton, et al.

• Boys Adrift: The Five Factors Driving the Growing Epidemic of Unmotivated Boys and Underachieving Young Men by Leonard Sax 

• Overcoming Dyslexia: Second Edition, Completely Revised and Updated by Sally Shaywitz, Jonathan Shaywitz, et al.

• ADHD 2.0: New Science and Essential Strategies for Thriving with Distraction--from Childhood through Adulthood Paperback – January 4, 2022.

• https://reedcharitablefoundation.org

https://www.landmarkoutreach.org/

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1H7m3kGq9a/?mibextid=wwXIfr

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https://features.apmreports.org › sold-a-story