About 

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I have held many roles throughout my career in education and mental health, including school social worker, behavior specialist, residential therapist, and classroom teacher. I suppose I have always been interested in understanding the larger interconnected picture in an attempt  to more fully support students and families. In that pursuit, I have worked across public schools, child welfare, juvenile detention, early childhood education, and clinical settings. But my most precious role came when I became a mother of  two amazing boys.

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When my youngest was born with a rare genetic condition, my professional and personal worlds collided. At the time, there were fewer than 200 known cases in the world of his genetic condition, Coffin-Siris Syndrome. I found myself searching for better ways to support complex developmental, medical, and educational needs while trying to protect quality of life for our family. My little one was fighting so incredibly hard for a chance to live this life and I was determined to make it one worth fighting for. Forty plus hours each week spent in therapies, doctor appointments, on top of educational demands, was not it. He needed a childhood and he deserved one filled with joy and happiness, just like every other child. 

 

To be honest, nothing I had learned in textbooks or graduate programs was working to meet and still balance these needs, and many of the professionals we were working with felt the same. Sometimes gifts are found when you need them most, one of the greatest gifts was stumbling into homeschooling and the freedom it gave us to try new things, to think completely outside of the box, and truly individualize and build support in ways traditional systems could not.

 

It was through this journey that Everybody’s Academics began to emerge. I needed to be home with my family but I also wanted to share all that I was learning and building for my son with others. I kept working privately with a small group of former students and EBA started to grow along with us. 

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Through both my professional work and my experience raising a beautifully neurodiverse family, I have developed an approach that seeks to integrate services while recognizing and supporting the whole student, not focusing solely on one challenge or isolated piece of who they are. My services and areas of specialization are designed to support and recognize a wide range of needs, strengths, learning styles, and ways of experiencing the world.

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I deeply believe that learning and development are inseparable from mental health, physical health, and neurology, all of which shape how a person learns and grows. To make the greatest impact, we need to understand the full picture and serve the many unique and interconnected parts of the whole person. Despite starting out to help just my son and children like him, the biggest lesson learned was that these principles are true for all learners, at every age and stage of life.

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My work focuses on supporting the whole person through an interconnected, wellness centered, strengths based approach. I strive to create individualized, flexible support that nurtures not only skill development, but also joy, confidence, curiosity, and quality of life.

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Professional Experience & Training 

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• Master's Degree in Clinical Social Work (MSW) - Boston College & University of South Florida

• Master of Education (M.Ed.) with a concentration in Special Education - Northeastern University

 

Educator Licensure

• School Social Worker (K–12)

• Elementary Education (K–6)

• Moderate Disabilities (K–12)

 

Specialized Literacy & Professional Certifications

• Certified Structured Literacy Dyslexia Interventionist (C-SLDI) – Center for Effective Reading Instruction (CERI)

• Certified Orton-Gillingham Interventionist – Institute for Multi-Sensory Education (IMSE)

• Certificate in Dyslexia Assessment – R.E.A.D. Evaluation & Dyslexia Center

• Handwriting Specialist Training – Handwriting Without Tears

• Wrightslaw Special Education & Advocacy Certificate

• Parent Consultant Training Institute (PCTI) – Federation for Children with Special Needs (FCSN)

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Who I serve​​​

All Ages | All Learning Paths |All Learners

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Including Students who:

• Struggle with reading, writing, or math
• Feel overwhelmed with organization or school demands
• Have or may have dyslexia
• Need support with attention or executive functioning
• Are navigating Special Education, IEPs or 504 plans

• Are seeking further enrichment or support with advanced study

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I'm looking forward to getting to know your family and grateful for the opportunity to help!

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- Sam Barrow, EveryBODY's Academics