MEET OUR TUTORS

JENNIFER DANNENFELSER, M.ED.
CEO/FOUNDER
Jennifer was a Montessori elementary teacher for over a decade. She knew that each and every one of her students was learning in their own way, yet many could not show their knowledge or gain knowledge through the written word despite adequate instruction. Like most classroom teachers, she didn’t have the tools that one in five children need to master our language: systematic, multi-sensory direct instruction. In 2013, Jennifer took Orton-Gillingham training in with the intention to better serve these children in the classroom. She also studied different techniques to support children with specific learning disabilities in math to better inform math instruction. Her passion for helping these different learners turned into Mindguide Learning, and she has never looked back.
Mindguide now serves elementary and middle school students who attend all kinds of schools in person and online throughout the Portland metro area and beyond

ANAÏS ALEXANDER
MATH TUTOR
For the last two decades Anaïs has worked as an educator. For twelve of those years, she taught grades 1-8 at a Waldorf school. In addition, she has also served communities and schools as a parent educator, a nutrition educator, educational consultant and teacher trainer for programs in the U.S., Mexico, and, as a Peace Corps Volunteer, in Southern Africa.
Curiosity has always been at the center of Anaïs relationship with students. She believes that each child has an innate desire to learn, and our task as educators is to find the key that enables them to find joy in learning. Creative and multisensory experiences have always been at the cornerstone of her teaching.
As a mother of a child with dyslexia, Anaïs has seen firsthand the tremendous impact that one on one, multisensory instruction can have on non-traditional learners. “It feels like such an incredible gift to be able to design and tailor lessons that truly meet him, allow him to understand all the ways he is smart and capitalize on his gifts.”

SAMANTHA PISANO
LANGUAGE TUTOR

Darlene M. Geddes ED.D
LANGUAGE TUTOR

DENISE PEPPERS, PH.D.
MATH TUTOR
Dr. Denise Peppers is a retired math teacher from Alabama who has 22 years of classroom teaching experience and five years experience providing professional development to K-12 math teachers. She has taught a variety of math courses in grades 7-12, as well as at the community college level and is familiar with the challenges facing children who struggle to learn math. In addition, Dr. Peppers has taught mathematics courses for elementary teachers and math methods courses for middle grades teachers. She has presented numerous times at the local, state, and national levels at conferences for math educators. In her free time, she enjoys being outdoors, spending time with family & friends, and cooking.

BRYAN BLACK, B.A. ENGLISH
LANGUAGE TUTOR
After graduating from the University of Oregon with a degree in English, I worked with children as an ice skating instructor and as a volunteer in my children’s schools. With over twenty years in production management positions, I decided to make a career change to a field that would appeal to my educational background and also make a direct and positive impact on the lives of young people learning to read. I completed the classroom educator series at the Blosser Center for Dyslexia Resources in 2019. Since then, I have been tutoring several students in Portland. I recently passed the Knowledge and Practice Examination for Effective Reading Instruction (KPEERI), an exam that measures an educator’s knowledge of the principles and practices of Structured Literacy. tm

Stephanie Mayoral, M.Ed
LANGUAGE TUTOR
As a child, Stephanie had difficulty learning to read. Growing up in New Orleans and visiting family in Puerto Rico for holiday breaks helped her see the need for quality literacy and education programs firsthand. When Stephanie became a teacher, zie sought out training in a quality Orton Gillingham program. While living in Austin, Texas for 13 years, Stephanie has served in a variety of roles: Talented and Gifted Specialist, STEAM Specialist, ESL Teacher, Tracking Teacher or Case Manager and Reading Specialist for Dyslexia Services.
Stephanie is an enthusiastic, collaborative educator. Zie looks forward to helping each student enjoy making the best progress in all aspects of their lessons together!

Jan Brown
LANGUAGE TUTOR
Jan Brown has been a Massachusetts public school teacher at both the elementary and middle school levels for 15 years. She is currently working as a reading specialist at the elementary level and loves to share her passion for learning with her students. Jan is a certified reading specialist who is an Orton Gillingham associate as well as being certified in the Wilson Reading Program. She is certified as a reading specialist, a special education teacher, and as an elementary teacher. As a parent of a dyslexic daughter, Jan offers the perspective of an educator as well as a caring parent. Jan holds a masters degree from Lesley University and a CAGS in language and literacy from Mass General Institute of Health Professions. Outside of school, Jan loves to spend time with family, garden, and spoil her pets.

Lisa Houdek
MATH TUTOR
Let’s Learn Together!