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!

Kayla torgerson
MATH TUTOR
Kayla has worked and volunteered with students of all ages for over 15 years. Her elementary school teaching career began in 2011 as a Teach for America Corps Member. She earned her Masters in Curriculum and Instruction in 2017. In 2020, she had a beautiful baby girl and is now a stay at home mom and tutor. She has a lifelong love of learning and helping students meet their goals.
Kayla enjoys tailoring lessons to meet each student’s needs and providing multi-sensory opportunities to understand mathematical concepts on a deep level. Kayla seeks to develop a strong relationship with each student to help ease anxiety and allow the student’s abilities to shine. She is flexible and adjusts lessons as needed so that the learner’s needs are being met.
In her free time, Kayla enjoys going to musicals, reading, camping, and crafting

Lisa Houdek
MATH TUTOR

Samantha Doyle
LANGUAGE TUTOR
I am dual certified in both elementary and special education and most recently completed my Orton Gillingham Certification from Fairleigh Dickinson University. For the past nine years, I have been teaching in a variety of special education settings from elementary to middle school grades as well as individual tutoring both in person and online. As a teacher, seeing my students shift from feeling overwhelmed about reading to picking out their own books for enjoyment has been the most rewarding aspect of my career.
In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my family and walking with our two Great Danoodles. My favorite time of year is summer here on the Jersey Shore where I am usually found relaxing on the beach with a good book.
Let’s Learn Together!