Prior to joining LJL, Kayla spent over a decade as a special education teacher. Kayla has also served children as an SLP-A, Instructional Coach, Behavioral Coach, and Structured Literacy Coach. Kayla says her biggest accomplishment is learning and understanding the strengths of her son, who was identified with dyslexia in 2nd grade. This is what she remains most passionate about – helping parents understand that their child’s reading or spelling ability does not determine how smart they are, in fact, they have some incredible strengths that just need to be understood!
Bree has extensive experience with high school and adult students. She has worked at several colleges and also has experience implementing accommodations to students with IEPs. Over the past few years, she has started teaching reading strategies to students of all ages with Dyslexia. Bree is inspired to help students appreciate their own learning process and find joy in what they can discover about themselves and the world through learning.
Led hundreds of professional development workshops and conference presentations, conducted several large educational research projects, and has numerous publications in academic journals.
One of her favorite things to do is supervise student projects. She has helped K-16 students do projects on algorithmically-generated music, the “perfect” shuffles problem, Pick’s Theorem, Mathemagics, and tracing the historical development of mathematics concepts. Dr. Goodwin is also an avid reader, singer, and lover of holiday movies.
Misty has helped a variety of students with ADD/ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, anxiety, sensory processing disorder, and auditory processing disorder. Misty values the importance of developing the whole child and supports each child’s individual strengths, abilities, interests and needs.
Prior to coming to LJL, DeAnna lead classrooms in multiple preschools and kindergartens. DeAnna has been mastering the art of virtual learning since the pandemic started and successfully worked with children as young as 4. She has experience helping students with ADD/ADHD and sensory processing disorders. DeAnnas passion for education stems from the philosophy “I do, we do, you do” teaching adults or children has always been just as rewarding for her as it is for her students.
Prior to joining LJL, Jody spent over a decade helping start and run a parent volunteer reading program – Everyone A Reader – in her children’s school and working one on one with struggling readers. Before that, Jody taught both first and third grade. Jody has also worked tirelessly to advocate for her own daughter who was finally diagnosed with Dyslexia in 6th grade. This experience is why she decided to work with LJL– helping students feel more confident and understand that although they have struggles, they also have incredible strengths.
Yvanna believes learning should be done in a fun and interactive way to motivate and increase students’ confidence. All it takes to master a topic is practice and support and she aspires to be that support for all her students.
Jenny has been an elementary school teacher for four years. Prior to teaching, she has worked in education for over ten years in many different capacities. She has worked with a variety of students with different needs ranging from elementary school to high school ages. Jenny’s passion is teaching reading and writing. She loves being able to work one on one with students until they have that light bulb moment where what they are learning finally clicks. She feels that literacy plays a huge role in reducing inequities and that everyone deserves to feel empowered in their reading and writing abilities.
Leslie helps students who have struggled with reading comprehension and fluency, auditory processing, dyslexia, basic writing composition, anxiety, and autism. Her early background in the arts adds to the creativity in her work. She supports a variety of learning styles, modifies methods as needed to facilitate clarity, and champions each student’s strengths. Leslie believes in boosting confidence in an atmosphere of non-judgment, respect, positive rapport, and fun! She incorporates topics and materials of particular interest to the student. “Tell me and I will forget. Show me and I may remember. Involve me and I will understand.” -Chinese Proverb
Xander has six years of experience tutoring students from kindergarten through 12th grade in all levels of math. He believes in building a strong foundation to make math feel like a second language for his students. While in high school, Xander created a program where former peers tutored elementary students after school, sparking his passion for teaching. He enjoys getting to know his students’ learning styles so he can challenge them in ways that are both difficult and constructive.
Camila has been tutoring math, English, and Spanish for five years. She believes that knowledge and studying should be a fun and enjoyable process. Camila loves to create an environment that makes students comfortable and excited to learn. She encourages her students to think differently, especially when it comes to math. Camila approaches all students with empathy and joyfulness, aiming to help them get excited about complex topics.
Lindsey is a high school English and ELD teacher in the Poway Unified School District. She has spent her first four years of teaching focused on incorporating language and writing scaffolds into her teaching and supporting a range of students. She is continuously seeking to add new research based strategies and methodologies to her teaching practice, and loves to learn new ways of understanding the process of learning and student thinking. She believes all students have the potential to learn and produce complex and meaningful content as long as they are provided with the right tools to support and structure their thinking and creative processes.
Amanda has experience working as an Instructional Assistant for special education in the Poway Unified School District. Through this experience, she learned how to come up with creative ways to engage students who may lack confidence in their academic abilities. She believes that every student has a specific learning style, and being able to provide individualized support is something she feels passionate about. She believes it’s important to take the time to get to know each student and find out what motivates them and how to best support them to achieve their goals.
Marie has been a dedicated and passionate educator for over five decades, living out a childhood mission to look for the best in people and be of service to others by promoting total wellbeing. She is a retired public school teacher with over 23 years’ experience addressing learning differences due to cognitive impairment, dyslexia, emotional dysregulation, sensory processing disorders, ADHD, and autism spectrum disorder in preschool, elementary, middle and high-school classrooms, recreation centers and counseling facilities. She currently holds Multiple Subject K-12, Educational Specialist Mild/Mod and Resource Specialist credentials and certificates, enabling her to continue to support students as a private tutor, and as a Visiting Teacher and IEP Compliance Team member with San Diego Unified School District. In her free time Marie most enjoys playing with her cats, George and Tilly, making art in a variety of media and hosting monthly creativity circles on a lovely patio garden.
Bailey is a compassionate and student-centered elementary school teacher with 3 ½ years of classroom experience and nearly a decade of working with students in various capacities. Her educational philosophy is centered on the belief that all children are unique and deserve a stimulating and inclusive learning environment. With a focus on creating a safe space for students to grow physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially, Bailey is dedicated to fostering their overall development and helping them thrive. Passionate about making a difference through education, Bailey’s commitment was profoundly influenced by a 2014 mission trip to Borel, Haiti. This transformative experience highlighted the power of education in changing lives and deepened Bailey’s resolve to create meaningful and impactful educational opportunities for students.
Fernanda has 7 years of experience with one-on-one tutoring in physics, chemistry, and all levels of math. She is guided by her background in physics to help her students achieve a meaningful understanding of mathematical concepts, and encourages them to find connections between what they study and what they encounter in everyday life. Her aim is to share her passion for science and math to get students excited for and invested in their educational journey, with the foundational skills and confidence they need to succeed. Fernanda also has experience teaching reading, writing and Spanish.
Miki graduated from UC Davis in 2021 and is deeply committed to helping students become more confident and capable readers and writers. With nearly three years of experience in education, Miki’s background is in preschool teaching and she has recently transitioned into a 5th-grade learning support teaching role. In this position, Miki works with small groups to create personalized lesson plans that help students strengthen their skills in reading, writing, and math, fostering both confidence and growth.
This fall, Miki plans to pursue a single-subject teaching credential in English and a Master’s in Education. As she continues her journey as an educator, Miki strives to be an advocate for equitable education and to cultivate a classroom environment where every student feels safe and supported. Having been diagnosed with a learning disability in high school, Miki draws on her personal experiences and empathy to connect with her students and guide them toward success — her philosophy and approach is to meet every student as the individual they are.
With years of experience in education, Kate is passionate about helping children develop a love for learning. After teaching in the classroom for 7 years in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, she thrives on creating calming, nurturing environments where kids feel valued and supported. Kate believes in empowering her students to discover their unique potential and become confident, independent thinkers. Outside the classroom, she enjoys spending quality time with her family, friends, and her dog, as well as exploring new places.
Jesse has been working with neurodivergent children since 2020. He has served as a Lead Registered Behavior Technician, a Substitute Teacher, and is currently providing one-on-one instruction at a San Diego Elementary School, where he supports students with diverse needs and ensures they have access to the general education curriculum.
A dedicated educator, Jesse is passionate about creating equitable learning environments and supporting children to reach their full potential. He has mentored and provided academic support to students in school settings, with experience in illustrative math and phonics. Jesse has developed a strong understanding of the challenges faced by students with learning difficulties and limited resources, and is committed to providing them with the necessary tools to succeed both academically and personally.
With three years of experience supporting students with ADHD/ADD and autism spectrum disorder, Jesse has gained extensive knowledge in differentiated instruction and individualized support. His background in these areas has been instrumental in addressing and reducing inequities in the classroom. By employing inclusive teaching strategies and advocating for diverse learning needs, Jesse works tirelessly to ensure that every student has the opportunity to thrive and overcome obstacles to success.
Khushi has seven years of experience tutoring students from kindergarten through 12th grade in math, science, reading, and writing. She is passionate about making learning accessible to all students, regardless of their learning styles, by adapting her approach to meet individual needs. In high school, Khushi spearheaded her school’s virtual tutoring program during COVID-19, reinforcing her commitment to equitable education. She strives to create a supportive and engaging environment that helps students build confidence and develop lasting skills.
Nina has over nine years of experience supporting struggling readers through both classroom instruction and individualized tutoring. For five years, she worked at Carson Elementary with the Bayside Academic Club, an after-school reading program focused on ESL students and students facing reading challenges. She is passionate about helping students build confidence, develop strong literacy skills, and discover a love of reading. Nina finds joy in celebrating each student’s progress and achievements. Outside of her work, she enjoys traveling, volunteering, and exploring new cultures.
Samantha has over 4 years of experience working with students with learning disabilities in grades- 6-12th. She truly values the act of learning that is unique to the individual. She enjoys connecting with her students and making learning fun and calm. With her bubbly and understanding personality, she can get to know her students more than what kind of learners they are, but as people.
Since graduating from UC Santa Barbara, Samantha has served as an instructional aide at High Tech High and the Preuss School UCSD. At Preuss, she has genuinely fallen in love with working with students. She empowers them to advocate for themselves so they feel seen and supported.
La Jolla Learning is a San Diego-based education company offering a range of services, including educational therapy, academic tutoring, and test prep. Our instructors offer one-on-one individualized instruction to students with learning challenges, as well as students who are looking for enrichment opportunities outside of the classroom.
Our Locations:
La Jolla | Carmel Valley | Mission Valley | University City
Our administrative team is available:
All sessions by appointment only.
Starting July 21st-24th @ 10AM-12PM
Our summer program helps students learn strategies tailored to their learning style so they can reach their full academic potential and enjoy learning!
