MEET OUR TUTORS

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

 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.” 

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.