Dr. Chris received a PhD in urban education from the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. He received a Masters degree in special education from Hunter College, also of the City University of New York. He has spent much of his 25-year career as a literacy specialist working with students with learning disabilities. He has been a tutor, public and private school teacher, a literacy specialist, an administrator, and a college professor. His focus in all of these positions and stages of his career has been to teach children to read. As a teacher and tutor, he developed literacy skills in children of all ages but mostly older children, between 10 and 18. As a professor, he has taught special education methods with a focus on literacy instruction. He has made it his personal mission to teach his graduate students how to teach children who struggle with basic reading skills such as decoding and fluency and, of course, comprehension. Throughout his career, he has been shocked by how many teachers, special education teachers included, are unprepared to help children who struggle with reading. He has many years of experience using and teaching Orton Gillingham-based decoding methods (Wilson Reading System, Recipe for Reading, etc.) and reading comprehension instructional methods such as Reciprocal Teaching, Visualizing and Verbalizing, among others. He is also experienced in writing instructional methods such as Basic Writing Skills (Hochman), and Framing Your Thoughts (Project Read). He is also versed in helping children develop executive function skills.

Kaitlyn is a childhood (Grade 1- Grade 5) special education teacher at a public school in Brooklyn. She obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Childhood Education (Grades 1-6) from The College of Staten Island. She continued at The College of Staten Island to obtain a Master’s Degree in Special Education (Grade 1- Grade 6). Kaitlyn recently completed the CITE program through The College of Saint Rose to obtain advanced certifications in School Building Leadership and School District Leadership. Kaitlyn has six years of experience working with students with diverse backgrounds. She has experience working with students with ADHD, autism, speech and language impairments, and dyslexia. She prides herself in differentiating her instruction to meet her students’ unique needs. She has experience teaching the Common Core Standards and newly adapted Next Generation Learning Standards. Kaitlyn incorporates the Wilson/Fundation program in her teaching and applies the Orton-Gillingham approach. She is currently teaching in a 4th grade ICT setting as the special education teacher and also has experience as a 1st grade special education teacher. Kaitlyn worked at A+ Academy as a 4th and 5th grade test prep teacher specializing in math instruction and summer school for the Department of Education during the summers of 2018-2019.

Kaitlyn works with a student-centered approach celebrating their accomplishments and building their self-confidence. Kaitlyn teaches with the use of manipulatives and scaffolds. She specializes in teaching test preparation skills in reading, writing, and math. Kaitlyn provides support to students with phonics instruction, decoding, developing comprehension skills using a variety of sources. She has experience using the programs Go-Math, NY Engage, Envisions, and Everyday Math. She teaches strategies for students to apply classroom learning to real life.

Kaitlyn teaches that communication is key for forming meaningful relationships with teachers, parents, and service providers in order to support student’s wellbeing and development. Every student is a success story!

Megan graduated from Boston College with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Elementary Education and Human Development/Applied Psychology, with a minor in Special Education, and with a Division I Athletic Scholarship to play softball for four years. She then received her Master’s Degree in Special Education & Childhood Education, and a NYS Teaching Certification from Fordham University. Megan received Certification in the Orton-Gillingham method to teach reading to students with reading difficulties.

Throughout Megan’s seven years of lead teaching experience, she has taught in various educational settings across Manhattan, meeting wonderfully diverse students. For three years, Megan taught in a general education setting and is experienced in the Common Core curricula while working with General Education students, English Language Learners, and students with disabilities, teaching core subjects (e.g., reading, writing, math, social studies, science) to second through fifth graders. For the last four years, Megan has been a Special Education Head Teacher at a private special education school. She is responsible for creating and implementing individualized instruction across academic domains to meet the specific needs of students with a variety of learning and physical disabilities, and learning differences including students diagnosed with autism, dyslexia, speech and language impairments, social pragmatic language disorder, ADD/ADHD, learning disorder in reading/math, dysgraphia, developmental coordination disorder, mood disorders, and students with hearing impairments. Due to the pandemic, Megan gained experience teaching remotely, as well as teaching on-ground students simultaneously with remote learners each day.

Tamara is a veteran early childhood educator with over 25 years of experience in the field. She holds an MST and MsEd from Fordham University, an MBA, and an Ed.D from Johns Hopkins University where she researched the impact adults have on children’s social/emotional development.

Tamara taught kindergarten for over 10 years, with experience in Pre-K, and first grade. She has also worked one-on-one with students from 2 to 20 years old in all areas of literacy acquisition, including phonics, phonemic awareness, writing, fluency and comprehension. She has been trained in Wilson, Fundations, Fountas and Pinnell, the Teacher’s College Reading and Writing Project, Reading Rescue and Reading Recovery and is currently the Associate Director of Professional Learning for Reading Rescue.

Tamara’s methods of instruction focus on the reading science through a multisensory approach to instruction, as well as on the fun. She prides herself on students LOVING her sessions. She works with students on not only their literacy skills, but also focusing on their self-esteem and comfort level so they are prepared to take their learning back to their classrooms.  She has experience working with students with various needs including ADHD, autism, anxiety, behavior disorders, and dyslexia.

Tamara has experience working with pre-K through fifth-grade math curricula. She supports students in developing all aspects of mathematics using a multi-sensory approach. Students use real-world situations and manipulatives to not only learn the HOW of math concepts, but also the WHY. Tamara has experience working with Everyday Math, Go Math, Singapore Math, and state test prep.

In addition to literacy support, Tamara provides test prep, executive functioning skills coaching, as well as study skills.

Natalie Lombardo is a New York State Licensed Literacy Specialist (ages birth-grade 12) and Elementary Education Teacher. She holds a Bachelors of Science Degree and Masters in Literacy from St. John s University where she graduated Magna Cum Laude. She has training from Columbia Teachers College Program as well as Orton-Gillingham.

Natalie has worked with students for over 16 years and has a passion for working with students struggling to read. She has provided instruction using the Orton-Gillingham Approach, Wilson Fundations Program, Learning Without Tears, Fountas & Pinnell, Journey s Literacy Program, Go Math and Everyday Math. She is a part of her school’s instructional team and is involved in curriculum planning and writing.

Natalie believes that ALL children can learn and uses a multisensory approach and individualized instruction to ensure success. She uses her training, evaluation of the student’s needs and experience to develop a curriculum tailored to each child. She keeps her students engaged by using multisensory materials and student interest. Natalie also specializes in Executive Function Coaching. She assists students to focus, develop organizational skills, plan and prioritize, and time management. She helps students set individual learning goals and works with the parents to help her students achieve these goals and develop a love for learning.

Nicole is currently a New York State certified Middle School English Teacher in Brooklyn, NY. She has worked with many different types of budding scholars from 5th graders through undergraduate college students. Her master’s degree was obtained at CUNY Brooklyn, where she graduated with distinction. Also, Nicole graduated Magna Cum Laude from Seton Hall University with a B.A. in English Honors. Her personal teaching philosophy is rooted in the words of the late, great educator Rita Pierson, “every child deserves a champion.” Nicole strives for a classroom that is inclusive, built on respect and rapport, and serves as a safe space for all learners. Each child deserves an equitable education that meets his or her needs.

Heading into her eight-year teaching, she has supported students with autism, ADHD, auditory processing disorders, visual processing disorders, dysgraphia, and struggling readers and writers. Nicole has been trained in the following programs: Engage NY, Google Apps for Education, and Expeditionary Learning. She is a Level 1 Google Certified Educator who alpha and beta tested Google Classroom in its inception in 2013. In school, her classroom is marked by students’ intrinsic motivation to learn, the inquiry process, student-centered learning, technology implementation, and fun!