A Journey Worth Telling
From struggling reader to post-doctoral psychologist — and why every learner deserves someone in their corner.
My Story
Cue the trumpets. Philadelphia, somewhere in the 80s.
Where It Started
My childhood in the 1980s was an era of indulgence and wonder. On a special Thanksgiving Day in 1983, I sat with my favorite cousin at a private table pretending to sip champagne — really just Welch's grape juice in a fancy bottle.
After dinner, Rocky III premiered on HBO, and I was captivated. The motivational music and Rocky Balboa's struggle in the ring spoke to me. His slurred speech and unwavering determination mirrored the battles I faced in school and reading, feeling each challenge like a physical blow. Yet, just like Rocky, the key was to keep getting up, to keep fighting.
Like Rocky, I want to inspire others to find their strength, to stand up against the odds, and to recognize that sometimes, just going one more round can make all the difference.
My passion for movies helped bridge my connection to oral language. While audiobooks and my dad reading Aesop's Fables aloud were cherished, movies were more accessible and formed a clearer picture. This love led us to open a video store in 1986, which became a community hub where I bonded over films and helped neighbors and friends.
The Academic Journey
My elementary education was filled with confusion. Tasks that seemed disconnected from real learning — coloring worksheets, clapping out names, deciphering vowel fonts with measurement tools — left me questioning and frustrated. Yet my family's constant emphasis on the value of education and my grandmother's patience kept me pushing forward.
Despite being discouraged from pursuing higher education after leaving much of the SAT blank, my journey didn't end there. Persistence and strong executive functioning skills propelled me through community college and into Seton Hall University. Although doors to special education law closed due to the LSATs, opportunities in elementary and special education opened, reshaping my path.
Throughout my teaching career, I observed the gaps and misconceptions in teaching reading and recognized the limited discussion around dyslexia, autism, and speech and language challenges.
Experience & Expertise
I've gained a wealth of experience across diverse rural, suburban, and urban educational settings — classroom teaching, child study, and administration in public and private schools, as well as work in nursing homes, community volunteering, tutoring, adult literacy programs, and close community engagement.
Certified Dyslexia Specialist
Post-Doctoral Psychologist
School Psychologist
LDT-C (Learning Disabilities Teacher Consultant)
ESL Instructor
Special Education Teacher
Reading Specialist & Supervisor
Special Education Administrator
Exposure to Open Classroom methods, flexible Orton-Gillingham approaches, the independence of Montessori multisensory methods, explicit direct instruction, and positive behavioral environments have all shaped my approach. As I work toward further post-doctoral certifications in school psychology and applied behavior analysis, my mission remains clear: to demystify learning and support students and adults in carving their own paths.