Meet Our Team

Phyllis Koppelman

Board Certified Educational Therapist

Founder and President, Strategies For Learning

A graduate of University of California at Los Angeles with a B.A. in English/Speech, Phyllis went on to earn her M.A. and teaching credential in Special Education from the University of California at Berkeley. In her capacity as founder of Strategies For Learning, a private clinic in Oakland, California, Phyllis has managed the organization, provided educational therapy, consultation, assessment and advocacy for families and schools. For over twenty-five years, in both the public and private sectors, she also served as an elementary and secondary classroom teacher, reading specialist, curriculum designer, teacher trainer, and school administrator.

She is a contributing author (“From Assessment to Intervention”) to the textbook, The Clinical Practice of Educational Therapy: A Teaching Model, edited by Maxine Ficksman, MA and Jane Utley Adelizzi, PhD. (Routledge 2010)

TaCorra Anderson -McCullough

TaCorra Anderson-McCullough earned her BA in Sociology, her Educational Therapy certificate, and is currently working toward a Masters in Education, all from Holy Names University. While she believes in the development of the whole student, her areas of special focus are elementary math, reading fluency, reading comprehension, and handwriting. TaCorra enjoys reading and writing for pleasure, but treasures the time she gets to spend with her family.

Maggie Baker

Maggie received her B.A. from San Francisco State University and her M.S. in Education from Dominican University. She holds a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential and worked as an elementary school teacher in 3rd and 4th grades. She earned Teacher of the Year award in 2006. Maggie is knowledgeable in an array of teaching styles in order to effectively address learning differences/disabilities in both math and reading. She spends her free time chasing after her two daughters under the age of five. She loves reading, traveling, being outdoors and participating in marathons, 1/2 marathons, relays and triathlons.

Jean Bishop

Jean holds an M.A. in Special Education and an Education Specialist Teaching Credential, K-12th grade. Beginning as a one-on-one behavioral assistant in a preschool setting, she continued her path in the special education classroom as a middle school and elementary teacher before working as an Educational Therapist with students in the foster care system. She is also a certified Yoga Instructor.

Lauren Fong

Lauren earned her B.A. in Mathematics from UC Berkeley in December of 2008 and the most important thing she discovered about herself during college was how much she LOVES math!  Her favorite subject in school was Real Analysis, which is just a fancy name for Calculus Theory. She has tutored every mathematical subject through Differential Equations and Linear Algebra, in addition to statistics and chemistry.  Lauren has been tutoring for over eight years, and has coached softball and basketball for five years.

Laura Hoffman

Laura earned her certificate in Educational Therapy from Holy Names University.  She specializes in working with reluctant readers and students with significant reading weaknesses.  She also focuses on math topics for grades K-5: Math Facts, the Four Operations, Time and Money, 9-lines multiplication, and more.  Laura has had experience working with teachers to create optimal learning environments with students, and assisting parents in understanding neuropsychological evaluations.  Her favorite activities include hiking, reading books by a fire and Zydeco dancing.

Special training: Orton-Gillinham training for reading remediation, LindaMood-Bell LiPS training, Making Math Real

Megan Jensen

Megan has taught middle school math and science for several years and holds two teaching credentials: a multiple subject credential and a single subject credential in Biology.  She holds an M.S. in Teacher Education - Curriculum Design from Cal State East Bay, where she is also finishing her M.S. in Molecular Biology.  She loves engaging students with her passion for Molecular Biology.

Naomi Kaye

Naomi Kaye earned a B.A. in Liberal Arts (specializing in creative writing, history, and dance) from Sarah Lawrence College.  She is experienced in working with children and teenagers as a language arts/humanities and organizational skills tutor.  For leisure, she loves reading, traveling, hiking, and yoga.

Belinda Lesser

Belinda Lesser earned her BA in International Economics from the American University in Paris.  She holds clear credentials in Mathematics, French, and General Subjects.  Armed with a passionate interest in quality education, Belinda attended Harvard and earned two masters' degrees: one in Education and one in Public Administration. She has worked for many years in California public schools as a teacher, counselor, remediation instructor and assessment coordinator.  Belinda was the financial manager of the Parent Board that reorganized El Cerrito Preschool coop into its secure financial status since 2005.  She has also served as an interviewer for Brown University undergraduate admissions.  Currently, she tutors math and works in Continuing Education.

Special training: Making Math Real (Elementary through Pre-Algebra level)

Jan Leuin

Jan Leuin has a B.A. in English from San Francisco State University, a certificate in Educational Therapy from Holy Names University and her M.A. degree in education from Holy Names. Before becoming an educational therapist she was a computer programmer, systems analyst and human resources professional in the insurance and leasing industries as well as a stay-at-home mom and school volunteer.

Special training: Slingerland reading methodology, Lindamood-Bell Visualizing and Verbalizing

Clarissa Louie

Clarissa Louie holds a B.A.S. in English and Mathematics from the University of California, Davis, and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Mills College. She has worked with students ranging from pre-kindergarten through college, providing assistance with language arts, mathematics, test preparation, study skills, and organization. Her interest in both English and Mathematics has given her unique insight into the difficulties students have with either subject, knowledge she uses to further assist her students. In her free time, Clarissa is a foodie who enjoys teaching and taking ballet.

Chia Okwu

Chia earned her BA in Psychology with honors from California State University, Long Beach, and later pursued educational policy work at UC Berkeley. She has experience working with students from pre-K through college. For the past year, Chia has worked on program development for elementary schools, and currently serves as an educator to children in grades K-5. Her areas of focus include writing, reading, elementary math, handwriting, study and organizational skills, and much more. For leisure, she enjoys reading, poetry, traveling, and film-making.

Theresa Rezentes

Theresa Rezentes holds an MA in Elementary Education. She has a California Clear Credential and ten years teaching experience. She is certified by The Slingerland Institute in dyslexic screening and treatment. She is also trained in Lindamood-Bell. She has previous experience and success as a writing teacher and has treated students with dysgraphia become successful, confident writers. She was raised in the midwest and enjoys tennis, travel, reading, music (from cajun to folk), and her family.

Special training: Slingerland dyslexic screening and treatment, Lindamood-Bell