Learning Specialists Archives

Nina Rich

February 12, 2024

Nina Rich brings over fifteen years of invaluable experience to her role as an early childhood educator, having taught at prestigious NYC independent schools such as Horace Mann and Packer Collegiate Institute. Her journey through diverse pedagogical approaches, spanning Montessori, Reggio-Emilia, and International Baccalaureate, reflects her dedication to exploring innovative teaching methodologies.

Over the past three years she has focused on structured multisensory literacy instruction. After training in PAF, a comprehensive program for teaching reading, handwriting, and spelling based on the Orton-Gillingham approach, she took a 60-hour training with the prestigious Orton-Gillingham Academy. She became an Associate member of the organization after completing a rigorous practicum. Nina has taught elementary and middle school aged struggling readers and those who have a dyslexia diagnosis.

Nina’s dedication to enhancing her teaching practice is evident in her commitment to ongoing professional development. She actively seeks out opportunities to expand her knowledge base following research in literacy, language-based learning disabilities, executive function, and ADHD.

With a wealth of experience working with children, Nina possesses a unique skill set that allows her to improvise, remain flexible, and explain new concepts in a manner that is both clear and engaging. Nina’s passion lies in crafting tailored lessons that cater to each child’s unique needs, leveraging their strengths, and integrating their interests. Her teaching philosophy seamlessly blends academic rigor with movement, joy, and laughter. She sees herself as a dynamic combination of detective, cheerleader, and coach. Her love for her work, and care for her students, shines through in every aspect of her teaching practice.

In addition to teaching students, Nina enjoys working with parents, sharing resources, her expertise in literacy instruction, and strategies for supporting their children’s literacy development.

Nina is certified as a Structured Literacy Dyslexia Interventionist from the Center for Effective Reading Instruction and is a member of the International Dyslexia Association.

Laurie Soherr

December 7, 2023

Laurie Soherr is a devoted educator, specializing in one-on-one instruction. She uses her teaching ability, and desire to encourage others, to motivate classes, small groups, and individuals alike. She is driven by her ability to create fun, customizable lessons which build confidence, skills, and knowledge for her students.

Laurie Soherr earned a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction with a focus on Early Childhood Education from George Mason University in Fairfax, VA. For the next ten years, she led her own public-school classrooms in first, second, and third grades in Loudoun County, VA.

After moving to Maryland, Laurie chose to teach small groups through a local tutoring center. She then received professional teacher status as an instructor for the Institute for Excellence in Writing. While continuing her skill development, Laurie was exposed to a variety of structured literacy curricula. She is trained in the Bowman’s Orton-Gillingham Plus program, using a multisensory approach for neurodiverse students. She has applied the principles of the teaching methodology to provide tutoring with a multisensory approach to teach foundational mathematics concepts. In Montgomery County, MD, Laurie has collaborated with teachers trained in different reading programs and has aligned the content to ensure that the tutoring is complementary to what is being taught in the classroom. Building her knowledge of the Science of Reading while working with public, private, and homeschool students, Laurie saw a theme in education: students, no matter what they are learning, will benefit from diving deep and having fun!

For the past four years, and while transitioning to remote learning, Laurie has been instructing students with dyslexia using the O-G approach. Additionally, Laurie has completed continuing education courses in executive functions, cognitive connections, and social thinking. As the scientific community reveals more about the learning process, Laurie leverages that knowledge to improve her own lessons and approach.

In her spare time, Laurie enjoys adventures with her husband from metal detecting or fishing to traveling and antiquing. At home, she has a variety of craft interests including soap making and felt art. Laurie and her husband live in Poolesville, Maryland with their Treeing Walker Coonhound.

Pamela Slifer

December 7, 2023

With a strong passion for educating all students according to their abilities, Pamela Slifer adapts her teaching style to the unique needs of each student.

Pam has had a lifelong affinity towards teaching and working with children and knew her calling upon entering college. Beginning as an undergrad, Pam worked towards a dual degree masters in both special and elementary education. As a central part of her training, she observed and assisted with cooperating teachers within several New Jersey public schools.

After initially working in some other educational institutions, in 2016, Pam began working in her current role at a school for students with language-based learning disabilities. Over the past 8 years, she has taught 2nd, 3rd and 4th grade children. Pam’s training is multi-faceted having trained in Heggerty, a phonemic awareness program that sets the foundation for a child’s ability to manipulate sounds. Additionally, she is trained in PAF, an Orton Gillingham-based program to teach reading. For math, she has learned with Marilyn Zecher, who created a multisensory math program to complement common core aligned math curricula. She was also trained in Judy Hochman’s The Writing Revolution, an evidence-based program that takes students from just writing sentences to composing paragraphs, helping them to write in a coherent and structured manner.

In addition to her classroom experience, Pam has done extensive private tutoring for students in 1st through 5th grades in reading, writing, and math.

Pam has broad experience with reading neuropsychological evaluations in order to come up with the best plan for her students. She is passionate about infusing executive function skills into her tutoring work and with the support of her school, has implemented a number of techniques developed by Sarah Ward.

While not teaching, Pam spends her time baking, playing board games, and exploring Prospect Park in Brooklyn.

Cameron Skinner

October 12, 2023

Cameron Skinner is a dedicated educator with over ten years of experience working in the education sector. He has traveled the world tutoring students, teaching courses, creating curricula, conducting workshops, observing classrooms, and leading education organizations. He now wants to share his knowledge, experience, and expertise with his clients.

Cameron has taught multiple grade levels at schools in the United States, Africa, and Europe. Currently, Cameron is a faculty member at TASIS Portugal, where he teaches fourth grade and acts as the curriculum lead for his grade level. Before joining the faculty there, he worked as a teacher and private educator in Colorado, and an experiential educator for Where There Be Dragons in Senegal and Rwanda. He also served as the Associate Director of Friends of Guéoul, a non-profit that provides scholarships to hundreds of young women in Senegal. In addition, he worked as an ESL teacher for about two years in Rwanda with the Peace Corps. Throughout his career, he has enjoyed working to empower children through his work as a private tutor and remains committed to helping students reach their full potential.

Cameron specializes in teaching math from 3rd through 9th grades and writing from 6th grade through the doctoral level. He also tutors students in the Reading, Writing, and English sections of the SAT and ACT. He is especially adept at teaching Singapore Math and Core Knowledge content, central parts of the curriculum at TASIS Portugal. In addition, he has many years of research experience in the Social Sciences. Cameron earned his B.A. in English from Tufts University, his TEFL certification from the University of Toronto, his iPGCE from the University of Sheffield, and his M.A. in International Education from New York University. He has also completed his certification in IB Mathematics, Applications and Interpretation, Categories 1 and 2.

Elizabeth Tallon

September 6, 2023

While working full time and raising a family, Elizabeth Tallon completed her Master’s degree in General and Special Education at Touro College, graduating with honors. She specializes in working with students from grades PreK-6, and she is particularly skilled at differentiating her instruction and motivating students with learning differences and autism. Over the course of her career, Elizabeth has served in many roles, including consulting and coaching for Cooke School and Institute. Such broad ranging experience has allowed Elizabeth from early in her career to pull from multiple resources and disciplines to serve her students in an individualized and thoughtful manner.

Growing up with a cousin who was hearing impaired exposed Elizabeth to the challenges of language-based learning disabilities and provided opportunities to coach and teach verbal strategies. Elizabeth believes that teaching students with dyslexia, ADHD, speech delays, specific learning disabilities, and autism are opportunities to instill confidence and awareness of strengths. As shared by a previous client, “Elizabeth made my son feel confident, and that is what helped him improve his writing, which now, even he can read!”

Elizabeth is trained in Orton-Gillingham methodology, including PAF and Wilson Fundations. As a private tutor, Elizabeth has the opportunity to use her wealth of experience to personalize and facilitate literacy instruction specifically in writing, reading comprehension, and grammar. Elizabeth is an expert at teaching and coaching students to write with enthusiasm, detail, and clarity. She is convinced that when students can take ownership of their work, they can become principled and inquisitive learners. Elizabeth maintains that teaching is not solely academic, and values the importance of instilling perseverance and integrity. Thus, teaching students to make connections from the classroom to the real world.

In her free time, Elizabeth enjoys hiking with her family, photography, cooking, and traveling. She also enjoys Film class and the New York Film Festival.

Nina Rich

Laurie Soherr

Pamela Slifer

Cameron Skinner

Elizabeth Tallon

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