INSTRUCTOR PROFILE:
I grew up in the Midwest and spent most of my childhood in a Chicago suburb. For my undergraduate degree, I went to school at St. Norbert College in De Pere, Wisconsin and majored in Education with a minor in Social Studies. I have my Master’s Degree in TESOL (Teaching English as a Second/Other Language) from GCU and I am currently pursuing my EdD in Second Language Instruction. I am trained in LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling).
My previous teaching experience included working as an elementary school teacher. My current role is an EL (English Language) Intervention Specialist for grades K-8. In this role, I work with second language learners, their families, and our schools’ language teachers to provide small group instruction, advocacy, and professional development. I have worked with grades K-8 in a variety of educational settings such as tutoring, coaching, day care, and summer camps. I strongly believe that each student learns differently and uses different approaches as needed. My goal is to utilize kids’ strengths and help reinforce their weaknesses to build self-awareness, confidence, and a positive relationship with learning. Learning begins by creating an environment where children feel comfortable, respected, confident, and safe.
Outside of teaching, my passions include traveling, cooking/baking, spending quality time with loved ones, and staying active. I recently had the unique experience to teach English as a Foreign Language throughout summer camps in Northern Italy. This experience was a dream come true for me and filled with so many new perspectives to share - including how to make homemade pasta from scratch!
I have worked at Peak Academics since 2021 and support learners in Pre-K through 5th grade. I can help guide children who need extra support or enrichment in math, reading/writing, executive functions, and innovation. My teaching passions include language skills and academic vocabulary to maximize reading comprehension.
TESTIMONIAL:
“Ami has been such a great fit for both of my boys-- each with different personalities and learning strengths/weaknesses. She is super knowledgeable and knew within the first couple sessions just how best to get through to each kid and help them with their learning. My youngest can often get intimidated with new people/faces but he took to Ami right away-- she has a very calm and gentle presence to her which I think goes a long way to helping ease anxiety around school/homework/learning. Both my kids have made SO much progress since starting with Ami and it's shown in their confidence levels, which trickles into so many areas in their lives.”
